Japan Travelers Recommend

Japan will enjoy a rare, extended Golden Week in 2019: a full 10-day holiday beginning April 27. This presents a golden opportunity for a longer vacation. From trips to see cherry blossoms and cultural festivals around Japan to city breaks in Singapore, Vietnam, and South Korea, plus beach getaways in Hawaii and Bali, here are the top spots to spend Golden Week 2019. Find the best experiences for your trip below.

The snow-capped peak of cone-shaped Mount Fuji can be seen from Tokyo on a clear day. Regardless of the weather, it can be reached by bullet train or coach bus in a matter of hours. Day trips to Mt. Fuji allow visitors to explore one of Japan's newest UNESCO World Heritage designated sites and the incredible surrounding attractions while leaving time to explore other parts of the country. Situated in Hakone and surrounded by Mount Hakone, a volcano, the scenic crater lake Ashi provides unparalleled views of Mt. Fuji. Pleasure boats and ferries traverse its famously blue waters. See both Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi on a bullet train day trip from Tokyo, complete with lunch on the iconic mountain and panoramic views of Hakone National Park. If you prefer the waterways to the railways, opt to see Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi on a sightseeing cruise from Tokyo. If you plan to visit Japan in winter, visiting an onsen, or natural hot springs bath, should not be missed.

Day 1: Get Oriented Tokyo is an enormous city, and with so much to do, it’s best to get yourself oriented (heh). A great option for those with a limited stay in Tokyo is the Tokyo Tower, Tea Ceremony, and River Cruise, which. provides stunning views.Day 2: Sights, Sounds, Smells Now that you’ve got some idea of what Tokyo is like, it’s time to immerse yourself in all that the city has to offer. Consider a morning tour to visit local shrines and the world-famous Ginza shopping district, or sushi lovers can head to breakfast at the hub of worldwide sushi fish commerce, the Tsukiji Fish Market Day 3: Tokyo and Beyond For a spiritual outing, a visit to the Great Buddha at Kamakura is a serene retreat, complete with views of the Pacific Ocean. Of course, no trip to Japan is complete without a visit to its snow-capped icon, Mt FujMt Fuji. Want to squeeze in one more city? Take a day trip to Kyoto from Tokyo.

A visit to Tokyo is a feast for all the senses—thanks to everything from the sight of neon lights plastered onto soaring skyscrapers and sounds of festivals to the scent of tiny noodle stalls crammed into back alleys. See below for our top picks and experiences you can't miss in the Japanese capital.

As Japan's national sport, sumo wrestling is a major part of the country's culture. The vast majority of Japan’s sumo wrestlers live in Tokyo's Ryogoku district, which has served the sport's hub for the past two centuries. With its heavyweight athletes, traditional mawashi stiff belt uniforms and long history, the sport remains a fascinating experience for spectators. Sumo dates back to ancient times and still involves hints of the religious Shinto rituals it originally involved. Before a tournament begins, the ring is sprinkled with salt and the wrestlers stomp their feet in order to purify the ring and rid it of any evil. Once that's done, the two male competitors face off in an attempt to knock the other over. The first wrestler to leave the ring or touch the ground with any body part other than their feet loses.

Known as the cradle of Japan's cultural heritage, Kyoto was Japan's capital. Today it's the country's seventh largest city, thoroughly modern while remaining Japan's most traditional city. Day 1: Kyoto in a dayTake a one-day sightseeing tour to acquaint yourself with the layout of the city and its highlights, such as Nijō Castle, the Golden Pavilion, Kyoto Imperial Palace and Kyoto Handicraft Center. Day 2: Sushi and NaraTake a guided walk through the mile-long, covered Nishiki food markets and eclectic back streets of Kyoto, then learn how to make Japanese home-cooked food from market ingredients. Follow that up with a visit to a sake brewery museum to really cover all your Japanese gourmet bases. Day 3: Bamboo groves and neon lightFor a totally tranquil start to the day, stroll the rural bamboo groves and mountain temples of the Arashiyama and Sagano districts just outside of Kyoto.