You can easily fall in love with the land of the rising sun.
Japan is a country with a fascinating heritage and exciting history. From ancient temples to futuristic skyscrapers, tranquil tea ceremonies to over-the-top arcades, relaxing hot springs to cosplay go-kart rides, Japan is a bewildering, beautiful country.
Here are the experiences you should enjoy in Japan:
1. Relax in a bamboo grove
The bamboo grove is so enchanting and relaxing that you'll want to come back over and over again.
The entire park is filled with a gentle chill breeze, and at the far end, you'll find a traditional, yet refurbished, Japanese home that's open to the public.
The park is open 24/7, but the house is accessible from 9:30 - 15:30 Wednesday through Sunday.
2. Party with robots in Tokyo
Tokyo is one of the world's most modern cities.
The Shinjuku Robot Restaurant is one bombastic and lively spot where you'll find regular nightly shows that feature its staff dressed like robots and futuristic machinery.
The Robot Restaurant has 4 different showtimes, with the first show being usually the cheapest to book. The robot cafe and bar is basically a lounge area for visitors who arrived early at the site.
The shows are entertaining, and they really encompass modern Japanese culture as a whole. They include a mix of the campy, zany, and sexy that Japanese people, especially the younger generations, seem to enjoy.
It opens at 16:00 - 23:00, located at the Kabukicho district.
3. Immerse Yourself in the Ghibli Museum
Anime is one of Japan's most essential and most significant cultural exports.
One of the biggest names in anime is Hayao Miyazaki who created the legendary Studio Ghibli. The Ghibli Museum allows its visitors to take a peek into the genius mind of Miyazaki.
Its quirky interior design mimics the animation studio. There's also a play area for kids, a reading room full of books recommended by the museum, and a rooftop garden that features character sculptures, including the silent robots from "Castle In The Sky."
Open hours are from 10:00 - 16:00 and closed on Tuesdays. Cost is at 1,000 yen, and it is located at Mitaka.
4. Soak in an Onsen
The classic Japanese experience is soaking in the steaming hot waters of an onsen (hot spring bath).
Onsens come in indoor and outdoor, simple and luxurious, small and large.
Onsens can be a challenge for foreigners, as you must be completely naked. Most are divided by gender.
5. Watch a geisha dance
You've probably read Arthur Golden's famous novel Memoirs of a Geisha about these highly-skilled women who entertain using traditional arts.
Miyagawacho is the perfect area to stay in Kyoto for spotting geishas. In a traditional street in Miyagawacho in Kyoto (near the more well-known Gion area), you'll see them in brightly coloured kimonos emerging from wooden teahouses.
Watching them perform at one of the annual dances that take place every spring and autumn. The most famous is the Miyako Odori in April.
Come and experience Japan's high-tech world mixed with the politeness and respect of their past.
