Japan travel guide

The mountainous centre of Shikoku is gorgeous. River cutting through steep sided valleys covered in forest with a winding road clinging to the hillside. Oboke Gorge is one of those spectacular sceneries, but with a few more tourist facilities as the racing Yoshino River below is attracting both white water rafting groups and tourist boats (obviously not on the same stretch). The train even runs along the gorge, which must offer some pretty amazing views. It's popular to combine Oboke and Koboke Gorges with a visit to the even more spectacular Ivy Valley.

Japanese communal bath is a keystone in Japanese culture. They come from very simple to extravagance luxury bath with outdoor pools, but they all work the same way. Women and men bath separately (unless it's one of the few mix ones, which work differently). First you strip fully naked in the changeroom. Then you enter the bathroom, where there will be small shower hoses and mirrors along the wall. You take a stool, shower it, and sit in front of the mirrow. Here you wash yourself thoroughly (some baths provide soap, others don't, in that case, bring your own) and rinse equally thoroughly. Then you can join the other naked people (of your sex of course) in the hot tub. Some bigger places have multiple tubs with different temperatures and mineral enriched water.
Note that many places don't accept tattoos, since historically they were a symbol of connection to the Yakuza and other "anti-social groups".

Kappabashi street is lined with shops selling restaurant related items. Knives, pots, chopsticks, ceramics, ice shaving machines, uniforms, signs, lanterns, you name. But the most famous things are probably the plastic dishes many restaurants have on display outside their shops. The realistic masterpieces don't come cheap, but you can always settle for a nigiri sushi fridge magnet.

Leafy Yoyogi Park is a favourite among people who need some space (or an audience) for their activity. On Sundays (usually between 2 pm and 5 pm), Rockabillies are congregating at the Harajuku Gate. They are dressed in 50s clothes with slicked-backed hair. The different "gangs" have names like Strangers and Tokyo Street Rebels, which are sewn on the backs of their jackets. They dance to rock'n'roll hits and each "gang" have their own dancing style and routines, some very energetic. They don't perform for money, just for their own sake.

This outdoor ancient religious site is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which also includes other historical sites on Okinawa from the Gusuku period (12th-15th century). It served as a place of worship, religious ceremonies and rituals for the Ryukyuan people (also way after the 15th century), but was later used as a Shinto shrine. The area is a densely forested hillside with an ancient stone path leading to a couple of simple platforms under some cliff overhangs. It's a very tranquil site with plenty of shade.

When you approach popular Sesoko Beach from the paid parking lot, you will pass the usual Japanese setup with lockers and venders of floating toys before standing on a beautiful white beach with views over the aquamarine waters. To the left people crowd with parasols and beach tents in front of the enclosed swimming area with lifeguards informing over the loudspeakers to stay within the designated area. However, to the right the beach is almost empty. A few people have taken cover in the shade of some limestones. Further to the right the limestone boulders get bigger. Here some overhangs the beach providing paradiselike pockets of shaded privacy with views of only the blue sea.

When the kings of the Ryukyu Kingdom weren't at Shurijo Castle, they spent time here in the royal garden. It was constructed in the 18th century in a blend of Chinese and Japanese landscape styles with ponds and bridges (since Okinawa was trading with both Japan and China at the time). The garden was completely destroyed during WWII, but has since been neatly rebuilt, and is today a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which also includes the Gusuku castles and ruins around Okinawa.
The shady royal garden will come as a much needed break from the fierce sun, if you come during the hot summer months.

The roads on mountainous Central Shikoku are, in general, in good condition, but they can be winding and narrow. The north part of the road in Iya Valley is one of the more extreme. Sections of the zigzagging two-way road are so narrow that cars can't pass each other. When they meet, one has to reverse to a wider part. Roadside mirrors are placed at many bends, but alertness and low speed is still essential to omit collision. Thankfully, Japanese are known to be courteous drivers.
Another spectacular roadtrip is the section of route 439, which connects Iya Valley with Oboke Gorge through the Kyobashira Pass (1133 m). This road is not in good condition, but it can be made in a regular car.

The Japanese bullet train, shinkansen, has become a bit of an icon of Japan. The first line was constructed in 1964, but today there are several lines connecting the main islands. The sleek train can reach speeds of up to 320 km/h (depending on the model), and is famous for its punctuality where any delays are measured in seconds. Onboard, it's equally pleasant with almost silent cars and spacious seats. So any visit to Japan should include a trip on the shinkansen, and with a Japan Rail Pass, it might actually be the most cost effective way to get around.

Shuri Castle is not a ruin, but a fully reconstructed castle with manicured walls and colourful wooden buildings - even the caretakers are dressed in historic costumes. Shuri was the capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The original castle was built in the late 1300s, but wars and fires had it destroyed multiple times over the centuries. The current reconstruction is from 1992 and the new buildings are actually rised above the original ruins to protect them. Parts have been rebuilt in the original style, while others are more museum like.
Many consider Shuri Castle to be the crown jewel of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which also includes other historical sites on Okinawa from the Gusuku period (12th-15th century).