Japan National Tourism Organization launches Insider Guide to Japan

Although no foreign spectators will be present at this summer’s Tokyo Olympic Games,  it is  still a landmark year for Japan.

To mark it, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is launching a new Insider Guide to Japan, celebrating the country’s diverse traditions, innovations, natural wonders, and under the radar adventures.

Starting this month, JNTO will launch a series of newsletters featuring the most exciting things to see and do in Japan.

The newsletters will serve as an insider’s guide to Japan’s many traditions and innovations.

Due to the sheer variety of tourist attractions, destinations and experiences available across the country, JNTO has categorised Japan’s travel into seven travel themes. These ‘seven passions’ span Cuisine, Outdoors, Relaxation, Nature, Tradition, Art, and Cities.

Content will encompass Japan’s 10 regions and the many World Heritage Sites, natural wonders, modern cities, and year-round calendar of traditional matsuri (festivals) that set Japan apart as a top destination, including:

Nature – From hiking the Kumano Kodo Trail or the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, to rowing down the mythical Takachiho Gorge or trying your hand at the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) in Akasawa Natural Recreational Forest, Japan offers the ultimate escape in nature. The  country  has 36 National Parks.

Outdoors – Japan’s natural wonders encompass a variety of exhilarating activities. It ranges  from diving, paragliding over dunes, river rafting, canyoning on the Tone River, paddle-boarding through the famous shrine gates of Miyajima, or log-riding down the Kitayama River.

Tradition – Japan’s rich cultural heritage is accessible at the country’s 36 World Heritage Sites. Japan’s approach to history and heritage makes for a transformative travel experience: become a ninja for the day, participate in yamabushi (the mountain ascetic tradition), live like a Japanese Buddhist monk, or train with a mountain mystic in Yamagata.

Cuisine – With 863 Michelin-star restaurants (22 of them three-star) Japan is one of the world’s top foodie destinations and its culinary offering is one indelibly tied to the land, the seasons, and the people. Travellers can watch the day’s catches being  hauled in at a historic fishing village or enjoy the hospitality of Japan’s ama (the traditional free-divers). Stay overnight in the green tea heartlands, dine in a snow hut, or learn how to create edible art at a wagashi workshop.

Relaxation – Japan can be the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern day life. Practice the Japanese tradition of onsen (bathing in hot water springs), camp under the stars on the Goto Islands, or experience the Japanese way of life first hand on a traditional homestay.

Art – Japan’s art scene is a fascinating fusion of the ancient and modern; the natural and man-made. Green-fingered travellers should visit the 41-acre Adachi Museum of Art – voted the best Japanese garden in the world – or explore the Benesse Art Site Naoshima project, a collection of interactive works across three different islands.

Cities – Japan’s urban landscapes are a microcosm of the nation’s past, present and future; a melting pot of age-old traditions and modern technology. Think high-tech 3D art collectives, ancient waterways, underground temples, abandoned cities, and the world’s longest suspension bridge.

JNTO has also launched ‘Experiences in Japan,’ a website that showcases activities based on these seven passions. This collection of curated experiences unlocks the essence of Japan through a series of exciting – and largely unknown – activities and destinations.

https://www.japan.travel/experiences-in-japan/en/