Japan: Another World - A Traveller's Guide

J A P A N

A N O T H E R W O R L D

J A PA N // I N T R O D U C T I O N

anothe r wo rl d A T R AV E L L E R ’ S G U I D E As travellers, we’re always searching for that pure escape. That feeling of being transported to another time, or another realm.

In Japan, you have that rare example. It’s weird and wonderful.

Its anything-goes cities and myth-rich wilds offering a cultural dimension all of its own, mixing extreme modernity with untouched heritage, so that even time itself seems warped. And the invitation to indulge in its dreamed-up hotels and incredible culture lies at every turn.

Fascinating, beautiful, and more than a little bit eccentric, in this guide, let us show you Japan’s other world.

J A PA N // I N T R O D U C T I O N

J A PA N // O V E R V I E W

J A PA N // O V E R V I E W

Left page: Tokyo metropolis

cit y vs c o u n trysi d e URBAN DELIGHTS Whether a futuristic metropolis or a time-worn town, step into the alternate universe of Japan’s urban centres.

Frenetic, neon-clad and infinitely

NAP

mesmerising—nowhere else feels

The dizzying heights that come with

more otherworldly than Tokyo. It’s

the Aman Tokyo, an urban retreat

the drawcard of Japan’s urban milieu.

perched atop a skyscraper, are

With temples and techno clubs,

worth it for the spectacular views of

skyscrapers and postage-stamp

the city’s futuristic skyline.

restaurants; whatever your taste, Tokyo will provide.

DO An intimate cocktail tasting at Gen

EAT

Yamamoto. It’s just you eye-to-eye

Grab one of the gold-dust seats

with the prized bartender at his

at Sukiyabashi Jiro’s eponymous

tiny, no-frills bar as you sample his

and hard-to-find restaurant. Three

exemplary cocktail creations.

Michelin stars are just one of the many accolades under the sushi master’s belt.

J A PA N // U R B A N D E L I G H T S

J A PA N // U R B A N D E L I G H T S

For a riff on Tokyo, Osaka’s vivacious cosmopolis is another high-energy option where lights flash above designer hotspots and Dotonbori’s exclusive bars and bright arcades set the scene for another galaxy of urban explorations. Its culinary prowess is well-lauded so foodies won’t be disappointed.

Left page: Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel Right page: St. Regis Osaka

EAT For out-of-this-world cuisine, head to Hajime Yoneda’s restaurant to taste intricate, experimental dishes such as ‘chikyu’ (planet earth), artfully constructed from 110 ingredients.

NAP Retreat from the bustle and bunker down in cream-and-gold serenity at The St. Regis Osaka, where your room is kittedout with Egyptian cotton, marble bathrooms and rainforest showers.

DO Ride the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel perched 369 feet up on top of a skyscraper. Unreal views come guaranteed.

J A PA N // U R B A N D E L I G H T S

J A PA N // U R B A N D E L I G H T S

Hop onto a bullet train from Tokyo

EAT The 290-year-old Omi-cho

and discover Kyoto’s heritage-rich

Market is the foodie mecca. Dine on

rival. Kanazawa is a pocket of

snow crab and raw oysters plucked

urbanity in Japan’s rural West Coast

fresh from local waters or head to

brimming with old-world charm.

gourmet hotspot Sento for to-die-for

Lose yourself in its wonderfully

Szechuan-style dishes.

preserved temples, castles, and geisha districts.

Image: Beniya Mukayu Hotel

NAP Get zenned out in the nearby

DO Visit the city’s beloved Kenroku-en,

mountains in your minimalist

a stunning pond-peppered and flower-

Roykan-style room at Beniya

filled Edo period garden in the city’s

Mukayu. Indulge in the spiritual spa

heart and one of the ‘Three Great

boasting ancient treatments used by

Gardens’ of Japan.

monks to cure and heal.

J A PA N // U R B A N D E L I G H T S

Left page: Lake Ashinoko and Mt. Fuji

J A PA N // R U R A L B L I S S

Right page (top): Matsumoto Castle Right page (bottom): Sunset in the Noto Peninsula

ci ty vs c o u n t r ys i d e RURAL BLISS From cloud-tickling peaks to remote and misty wilds, Japan’s countryside scenes have to be seen to be believed.

Red torri gates rising out of serene lakes, lush mountains shrouded in blue mist and a healthy sprinkling of steaming hot springs—it’s hard to imagine Hakone’s beauty lies just on the fringes of Tokyo’s concrete jungle.

Crowned by the iconic Mt. Fuji, it’s the perfect antidote to the bustle.

THE INSTAGRAM MOMENT Taking in world-class sculpture against a panoramic mountain backdrop at the Open Air Museum.

For fresh alpine air, Nagano is just a bullet train away from Tokyo and is home to some of the country’s most spellbinding mountain scenery. Hike the endless trails in summer or ski the powder-soft slopes in winter and share your après-ski hot spring with the region’s wild monkeys.

THE INSTAGRAM MOMENT Catch the beautiful Matsumoto Castle in spring when it’s surrounded by a pink haze of cherry blossoms.

Rugged and dramatic, the Noto Peninsula is Japan’s raw and wild side with beguiling seascapes where Japanese aesthetics and mystics went in the search of solitude.

THE INSTAGRAM MOMENT Watching the red sun as it melts into the Sea of Japan from a clifftop.

J A PA N // R U R A L B L I S S

J A PA N // Z E N B O LT H O L E S

z en b o lth o les

WHERE TO REST YOUR HEAD

Sky-scraping hotels, ancient royal retreats and remote, tucked-away jewels—nowhere does luxury like Japan. Get Zen in some of our favourite hotels, onsen and ryokan.

For an extraordinary rural escape,

Surrounded by glittering skyscrapers,

minimalist Amanemu hits the

Hoshinoya’s futuristic re-imagining

mark with its modern take on the

of the traditional ryokan is Japanese

restorative ryokan. Built around hot

luxury in its finest form. Bamboo and

springs in Ise-Shima National Park,

shoji paper sliding doors come as

your room comes with mineral waters

standard in rooms fragranced with

on-tap in your private tub, and the

incense and flowers, while the rooftop

kitchen serves up a contemporary

hot spring is an oasis of tranquillity in

take on kaiseki cuisine.

the thick of Tokyo’s buzz.

From left to right: Amanemu Hoshinoya Tokyo Lamp No Yado Gôra Kadan

This ancient ryokan ringed by sea

The former retreat of the imperial

cliffs off the Noto Peninsula is a

family, Gôra Kadan is regarded as one

hidden gem. Its black lacquered roofs

of Hakone’s most indulgent ryokan

and interiors are beautifully framed

boltholes. A stay here is an invitation

by brilliant blue waves that swirl and

to immerse yourself in ancient

collide from every window, pool, onsen

Japanese opulence. Just lie back in

and private balcony; you’ll feel like

your private open-air stone bath and

you’ve reached the end of the earth

you’ll get the idea.

itself here.

J A PA N // Z E N B O LT H O L E S

J A PA N // B E F O R E Y O U G O

before yo u g o THERE AND BACK

For lovely temperatures and out-of-this-world scenery, it’s best to visit in spring when you can try to catch the cherry blossoms, or autumn when leaves flood the landscapes red and gold. Summers are very hot and humid so are best avoided.

You can fly direct to Tokyo from most US airports and some airports also offer nonstop flights to Osaka. Flight time to Tokyo is 14 hours from New York and 11 hours from Los Angeles.

BY CAR Only main roads are marked by romanji, Japanese in Romanised lettering, so car hire is suitable only for day trips in rural areas. We recommend getting the train, or a private car hire. Taxis are easy to catch in the cities and come with automatic door-opening systems.

BY TRAIN This is by far the easiest way to travel. The cities are well-connected by trains with the efficiency that is the hallmark of Japanese service, while super-fast Shinkansen bullet trains make reaching the incredible countryside an experience in itself.