日本の見方

A View of Japan

Look beyond typical travel brochure images of temples, castles, and neon-drenched city centers, and you will find there is far more to Japan than initially meets the eye. From the subtropical islands of Okinawa to the rolling farmlands and heavy winter snows of Hokkaido in the far north, Japan delivers diverse scenic beauty. Mountain ranges dominate much of the land, providing the Japanese with places of pilgrimage and play: hiking trails, hot springs, and ski slopes. As an island nation, the archipelago is dotted with island chains, some windswept and rugged like the Oki Islands and Sado, others sun-soaked and balmy. The country’s varied climates have created distinct local cultures, meaning that even urban Japan isn’t cast from a single mold. Among the modernity, Kyoto frequently reveals glimpses of its ancient past, while regional hubs operate not just at a different pace than Tokyo, they wear their local heritage with pride.