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with its enormous cities and towering
skyscrapers brightly clad in neon lights
japan is a fun country to visit full of
history
and with a rich cultural heritage
temples and shrines dot its streets
while world-class restaurants rub
shoulders with ancient castles and
imperial palaces
and its cities bustle with life and
energy
japan is a warm welcoming and endlessly
interesting travel destination
with something for everyone here's a
look at the best places to visit
in japan
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number 10. kanazawa
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located between the wild waters of the
sea of japan and the towering japanese
alps
the historic city of kanazawa boasts a
rich history and culture
in the center of the city you can find a
fantastic centuries-old castle
as well as charming and well-preserved
samurai and geisha districts
their narrow alleys are lined by
traditional houses
cozy tea shops and a number of
atmospheric temples and shrines
its most famous attraction is the
lovingly landscaped kenrokuen
which is considered to be one of the
most beautiful gardens in japan
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number nine ishigaki
located west of okinawa ishigaki is
japan's premier beach destination
and makes a good base to explore the
other islands in the yayayama
archipelago located 1250 miles
south of tokyo ishigaki may not have the
shrines and temples that other japanese
cities have
but it does have an exuberant nightlife
for visitors who have the energy
after a day of beachcombing diving or
climbing
mount nocico
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number eight hiroshima
lying in western honshu hiroshima's
history will forever be linked to the
atomic bomb
which flattened the city on august 6
1945
almost completely destroyed hiroshima
has remarkably been reconstructed
and is now a bustling modern city full
of life
while many visitors come to pay their
respects at the peace memorial park
and visit the chilling a-bomb dome ruins
the city has many other sites
it also serves as a gateway to some
beautiful nearby islands
including the famous miyajima shrine
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number 7 kamakura
set on the scenic shores of sagami bay
with forest coated hills surrounding it
kamakura is a top-rated destination
as it was once the capital of japan the
coastal city is home to many important
landmarks
and a plethora of beautiful temples and
shrines
its defining symbol and most famous site
is the great buddha of kamakura which is
almost 44 feet high made out of bronze
the mighty figure towers over its
surroundings and is one of the city's
most famed and photographed attractions
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number six nico
located around two hours to the north of
tokyo the small city of nico is one of
the most popular tourist destinations in
the country
and justifiably so tucked away among the
mountains with forests all around it
niko is home to lots of impressive
shinto shrines and buddhist temples
in addition to its many cultural
attractions nico is renowned for its
beautiful mountain scenery
the surrounding forests are full of
sparkling waterfalls
glimmering lakes and streaming hot
springs for you to explore
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number five takayama
tucked away among the northern japanese
alps the small city of takayama was
until relatively recently one of japan's
best kept secrets
nowadays however its well-preserved
quarter full of edo era architecture and
its wealth of shrines temples
and other tourist attractions lure more
and more visitors
every year due to its remote location in
the mountains
the city has developed its own rich
culture renowned for its beautiful
townscape
takayama certainly does paint a pretty
picture with the peaceful miyagawa river
coursing its way through town
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number four hakone
boasting beautiful mountain scenery
relaxing hot springs and a number of
world-class art museums
hakone is one of the most popular
tourist destinations in japan
located just a short train ride to the
southwest of tokyo
the town lies on the shores of tranquil
lake ashi
one of the most popular things to do is
take a boat ride on one of the pirate
ships that sail around the lake
from aboard their decks you can enjoy
breathtaking views of the lake's
stunning scenery
and majestic mount fuji in the distance
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number three nada
considered to be the birthplace of
japanese civilization
this ancient former capital has a wealth
of historic sites for visitors to enjoy
most of its main attractions can be
found in the gorgeous green
nada park also home to the city's
multitude of tame deer
that amble about asking tourists for
food here you'll find the multi-storied
pagodas
and splendid stone lanterns as well as a
couple of lovingly landscaped japanese
gardens
the highlight however is todaiji temple
with its awe-inspiring architecture
and enormous great buddha
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number two kyoto
widely reputed to be the most beautiful
city in japan
kyoto is a treat to visit the nation's
capital for over a thousand years
it sports lots of incredible historical
sites and
cultural landmarks dotted around its
ancient streets
you'll find wonderful palaces and
idyllic gardens
with 2 000 shinto shrines and buddhist
temples to check out
in addition to this its historic
district of gion
is also well worth exploring it is here
that you can find
lots of geishas and traditional inns
while kyoto is lovely to visit
at any time of year it is particularly
magical
when the cherry blossoms are in bloom
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number one tokyo
lying at the center of the world's most
populous metropolitan area
japan's futuristic capital is an
exhilarating place to explore
renowned for its skyscraper filled
skyline and embracing cutting edge
technology
the neon lit city stretches away
endlessly before you
interspersed amongst its towering blocks
are awe-inspiring temples and museums
that proudly showcase japan's rich
heritage and history
whether you're into calligraphy or
cherry blossoms and consumer products
tokyo certainly has something for
everyone to enjoy
creative innovative and quirky in equal
measure
the massive metropolis is not to be
missed out on
when in japan
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