Japan, often known as “Land of the Rising Sun”, is filled by the both modernity as well as traditional Japanese culture and legacy. The Civilization of Japan beyond 30,000 years, showcasing vibrant temples, architectures, shrines, festivals, animals and nature blossoms to backpackers who are ready to indulge its stunning beauties and creativity. Japan seamlessly blends rich history, traditions, culture with its ultra-modern present.
Despite being a clean, safe, popular and economically stable country, Japan has a lot of things offering to visitors ranging from its ancient architecture to the modern Capsule Hotel. There are a lot of things in Japan that might impress visitors over the centuries, out of that some of the places and things that might not be popular to the world or unknown to visitors. So, here we are going to explain 12 unique things in Japan which surely grab the attention of backpackers around the world.
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Unique Things to Do in Japan
1. Soak Yourself in the Traditional Onsen
Visiting Onsen could be the most memorable and healthy thing to do in Japan. Having historical significance, Onsen offers a natural hot spring to soak in its water to visitors. Place was filled and surrounded by the stunning landscapes, natural beauties and mountain views. Visitors spot many types of hot springs, which are bifurcated by the minerals oriented waters. This mineral content water is helpful to many health benefits to humans as well as it helps relax the body and mind too. Guest can choose either Indoor or outdoor bath options under the traditional and modern styles. Never miss to stay at onsen ryokan, a well-known traditional Japanese hotel known for its stay with hot spring under Japanese culture and hospitality.
2. Explore Ancient and Natural Beauty of Kyoto
Since Japan has a great historical and cultural heritage, a place like Kyoto is a more recommended place to explore to understand more about Japanese ancient and natural beauty. Called the “Capital of Imperial Japan”, Kyoto is home to around 1,600 temples, ancient gardens and historical buildings. City home to Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle, Kinakaku-ji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo parks and Philosopher’s Path are must explore places under Kyoto. Due to its historical and natural legacy, the city holds 17 UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites and is rated as the “World’s Best City”.
3. Remember Tragic History of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
It is very important for the present generation to know what happened in the history of Japan in 1945. Due to the effects of WW2, Japan’s 2 major cities such as Hiroshima and Nagasaki went under Nuclear Bomb attack and most of these 2 cities vanished. Today visitors can see these incidents and tragic past evidence under the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum shows us human shadows burnt into stone and stories of survivors, whereas, Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum depicts commemorated the atomic bombings and aftermath. Never forget to see “Genbaku Dome”, a building reduced to blackened walls and cobweb like roof.
Click here to Check Entry Fees and Timings in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
4. Visit Nara’s Deer Park
If you are an animal lover and looking to get close to interacting with freely roaming deer, probably you must visit Nara’s Deer Park. Where visitors can freely feed and spend time with these sacred animals. Park is recognised as one of the oldest public parks in Japan, home to more than 100 hundreds of spotted and horned Deer’s. Interestingly these Deer’s are believed to be the sacred messengers of Shinto Gods, making us give more respect and spirituality from these Deer’s. Make sure that visitors should not touch and play with these Deer’s, they can only take photos and follow without hurting. These Deer’s always roam around the Buddhist Temple complex “Todai-Ji”, and stroll amidst Isuien gardens and classical Yoshikien.
5. Experience the Hakone Open Air Museum
There are very few Open Air Museums available in this world under which The Hakone Open Air Museum is one and popular too. Which seamlessly blends with nature and art perfectly exhibits both indoor and outdoor artistic work of Picasso and many others. Along with that Museum also depicting sculptures on its grounds in combination with views of the surrounding valley and mountains. Despite its many sections, The Picasso Exhibition Hall is a popular space which showcases 2 stories of paintings, sculptures and ceramic works with some sort of photos. Take a leisurely stroll amidst artist’s shops, cafes and Zig Zag World or outdoor foot baths.
6. Participate in a Tea Ceremony
The Tea Ceremony here in Japan is more enthusiastic and the learning process includes learning basic etiquette, host guidance and savouring. Tea ceremony was first introduced in the 9th century and later it shifted to the Imperial family between the 12th and 16th centuries. Fascinating for international visitors, the Tea Ceremony includes Chakai, Chaji and Yuuzari no chaji, each of that includes 4 hours and some involve sunset watching’s too. Chakai ceremonies host 4 to 5 guests which serve a teacup of thin green tea, sado includes thick green tea and Chakai serves sweets with light meals both thick and thin green tea.
7. Enjoy Monkeys at Jigokudani Monkey Park
Jigokudani Monkey Park inhabited by the Japanese Macaques, where monkeys bathe in a natural hot spring. Also known as ‘Snow Monkeys’ located in the forests of the Jigokudani Valley in Yamanouchi that are spot on in its natural habitats. Park has a man -made pool where monkeys come and soak in the natural springs and walk amidst the park. Normally monkeys here in Jigokudani Monkey Park live in large social groups, easily visible to visitors in large counts and making close observations with them. Moreover, the park is also renowned for being the most picturesque site to take photos of bathing monkeys and area when covered by the snow. Remember touching and feeding to these monkeys are strictly prohibited. Park open to the general public all year round.
8. Take a Part in Cherry Blossom
Visitors might miss something in Japan if they shouldn’t be a part of the Cherry Blossom. Globally recognised cherry blossoms often known as “Sakura”, starting from spring season (usually mid-march to mid-April). Its white, pinks and yellow blossoms draw visitors’ attention around the world making it one of the ideal options for family vacations to spend time with. Cherry blossoms include both cultivated and wild ones, each offering panoramic views during the cherry blossom seasons. Wild species of cherry tree are widely distributed mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. Cherry Blossoms have been described as Vanilla like smell, mainly attributed to coumarin.
9. Attend Sumo Wrestling
Make sure that Sumo Wrestling is unlike other wrestling matches in the world it has its own traditions and legacy primarily conducted to entertain Shinto deities in ancient times. Sumo Wrestling is a traditional Japanese wrestling style that is rooted from their ancient periods and what you see today like rings with salt in Sumo that are originated. Under Sumo wrestling the goal is to force the opponent out of the ring or else he should force them to touch the ground any part of his body. Declared as the national sport of Japan, Sumo there is no restriction or classes to join sumo or he can easily find themselves matched against someone equal his size. Match took place in a ring which was covered by clay and a layer of sand.
10. Experience Shinto Traditions
In simple terms Shinto means “The way of the kami or gods”, an ancient Japanese term exclusively used for spiritual and belief systems. Shinto has sacred and divine power among different gods or deities, originally from indigenous Japanese Buddhism philosophy. Interestingly Shinto primarily involves social life and personal motivations under the pattern of formal belief or philosophy. There are some shrines and evidence that shows us how strong and deeply rooted present Japanese people’s day to day lives are. In order to visit Meiji Shrine, engaging in age-old rituals like purification and ema (wooden plaques) writings makes us indulge in Shinto traditions.
11. Stay in Capsule Hotel
Capsule hotel is popularly known for its affordability and good night sleep. Made through more futuristic lodging techniques in a compact, pod-like space technique which helps us to spend our night in a very minimalist way to rest. Features include bed sized pod, arranged capsule and double stacked rooms including amenities like A/C, mobile charger devices and soft beds and pillows. Visitors will get rooms at a very affordable price between 2,000 to 5,000 yen per night and might go higher during peak seasons. There are good numbers of showers and bathrooms available in each capsule and toilets at the end of the hall. More popular for solo travel and remember Capsule also serves single or female travelers too.
12. Cross at Shibuya Crossing
Shibuya crossing is considered as one of Tokyo’s most recognised and densely pedestrian in the World. Visitors can see approximately over 1,000 to 2,500 people crossing at a time every 2 minutes, which is roughly enough to fill up a football stadium at once. Its massive crossing is impressive if you are watching from the rooftop of the Shibuya 109-2 department store, where views over the neighbourhood’s famous scramble crossing. Intersections during Saturday and Friday evening and night are known as the most crowded and thickest time and neon lit by the signs above.
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