Lonely Planet Best of Japan

Japan is truly timeless, a place where ancient traditions are fused with modern life as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Theres an intoxicating buzz to Japans urban centres, with their vibrant street life, glowing streetscapes, 24-hour drinking-and-dining scenes, architectural wonders that redefine what buildings and cities should look like. Leave them behind and youve got a country that is more than two-thirds mountains, with bubbling hot springs at every turn. In the warmer months there is excellent hiking, through cedar groves and fields of wildflowers, up to soaring peaks and ancient shrines (the latter founded by wandering ascetics). Come winter, all this is covered with snow and the skiing is world class. (And if youve never paired hiking or skiing with soaking in onsen you dont know what youve been missing.)

Travelling the country offers numerous opportunities to connect with Japans traditional culture. Spend the night in a ryokan (traditional inn), sleeping on futons and tatami mats, and padding through well-worn wooden halls to the bathhouse (or go one step further and sleep in an old farmhouse). Chant with monks or learn how to whisk bitter matcha (powdered green tea) into a froth. From the splendour of a Kyoto geisha dance to the spare beauty of a Zen rock garden, Japan has the power to enthral even the most jaded traveller.

Planet earths unrivalled 24/7 megalopolis

is one of the worlds reigning cities of superlatives the dining, drinking and shopping are all top class. Its a city always in flux, which is one of its enduring charms, forever sending up breathtaking new structures and dreaming up new culinary delights. It truly has something for everyone, whether your ideal afternoon is spent in an art museum or racing through the streets of Akihabara in a go-kart.