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Tokyo, Japan
Start with Shinjuku and Shibuya to feel the city's electric pulse, then balance with quieter moments in Yanaka, one of Tokyo's last old-town neighbourhoods. Don't miss the Tsukiji outer market for breakfast and a sushi lunch at a counter restaurant — a truly un-western dining experience.
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Hakone, Japan
Hakone is the perfect place to slow down — stay in a traditional ryokan, soak in an outdoor onsen with views of Mount Fuji, and explore at a gentle pace. The Open Air Museum is genuinely world-class and the ropeway over volcanic Owakudani is a dramatic and unique experience.
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Takayama, Japan
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Kanazawa, Japan
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Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto is the cultural heart of Japan with over 1,600 temples, geisha districts in Gion, and some of the country's finest kaiseki cuisine. Walk the Philosopher's Path, visit Fushimi Inari's iconic torii gates early morning to beat the crowds, and take a slow afternoon in the bamboo groves of Arashiyama.
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Hiroshima, Japan
Hiroshima is a deeply moving and essential stop — the Peace Memorial Museum is one of the most important cultural experiences in Japan and the city itself is vibrant and welcoming. Take the short ferry to Miyajima Island to see the famous floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine set against maple trees blazing in autumn colour.
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Osaka, Japan
Osaka is Japan's food capital and has a noticeably more relaxed and humorous character than Tokyo — explore the neon-lit Dotonbori canal area and eat your way through takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu. The Kuromon Ichiba market is a foodie paradise and the castle grounds offer a lovely morning stroll with great autumn colours.