Japan is amazing and these are some of my 'wonders' from the rest of Japan
1/Mt Fuji is an active volcano, standing 3776 m, and is Japan's largest mountain, and on a clear day (which we had quite a few) it can be seen from Tokyo. Mt Fuji's official climbing season is July and August and it is at it's most busiest during these months, the mountain is open at other times but is recommended only for experienced climbers as the weather conditions can be quite perilous. If you are wanting to climb check here for more information. For most people, climbing Mt Fuji means getting as far as the 5th Station(and there are four of them the Subashiri trail, the Fujinomiya Trail, the Yoshida Trail or Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station which is the most popular and the Gotemba Trail.) which are the beginning of the trails up the mountain. Check this link to get more detailed information as to how to get to each station. Due to inclement weather (a snow storm the day before) we didn't even get as far as a 5th station, so I can't give you any first hand information about them. All I know is that I was extremely lucky to have such marvellous views of Fujisan (check my gallery and blog post to see just a fraction of the photos I took)
2/Bento boxes-of my goodness, the best concept ever.
such a pretty package that you don't want to open, but when you do, wow, amazing food to enjoy anywhere.
3/Miyajima Island, an hour out of Hiroshima, with it's Torii gate is probably one of the most photographed places and most well known (outside of Mt Fuji) The island is beautiful with it's shrines and mountains and is worth more than a day trip (which is all I got to do) but would recommend anyone staying for longer and enjoying all that it has to offer. There are a variety of ways to get to Miyajima (but you need to get to Hiroshima first-which is easily done with a Japan Rail Pass from anywhere in Japan-we traveled from Kyoto, the 360km journey taking us 2hrs 40 on the Shinkansen) From Hiroshima you can take a ferry from the Peace Park which costs 3600 yen ($36 Au) return, or a train from Hiroshima station to Miyajimaguchi Station using JR pass and walking to the Pier. The ferry ride is covered with the JR pass and the 10min journey is breathtaking.
4/ Hot chocolate from the vending machines-need I say
more? Nothing better on a cold winter's day then coming across a vending machine that sells hot things- tea, coffee, soup and the best hot chocolate that you can imagine coming from a can. Most of the hot drinks cost between 120 yen ($1,20 AU) and 160 yen ($1,60 AU) so well worth the price. Check out the vending machines in Japan you might be surprised at some of the things you find in them.
5/The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a beautiful area created from a horrific event, and is a testimony to how people endure and survive. The park consists of the Children's Peace Monument, the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb victims, the Peace Memorial Museum (which has an entry fee of 50 yen (50c AU) and the A-Bomb Dome which was one of the few remaining buildings left standing after the bomb and is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a moment while walking this area, to pause and reflect and wonder about what the hell we have done or doing in the sake of 'peace' and offer a hope that one day we will actually achieve it. To get to the Peace Park from Hiroshima station is a 25 minute tram ride on line 2 or 6 to Genbaku-Domu Mae station costing 160 yen ($1.60 AU)
6/Snow Monkeys at Jigokudani monkey park, Yamanouchi-seeing Japanese Macaques bathing in the thermal springs is so worth the hike through the snow
(can be done all year around but the best time is in the winter when you can almost guarantee seeing the monkeys bathing in order to keep themselves warm) The park is the monkeys natural habitat and although they are used to human presence don't make the mistake some people were of thinking that the monkeys are tame-they are wild creatures and when feeling threatened they will act accordingly. We traveled from Tokyo to Nagano by train (250kms and 2 hours) using the JR Pass, and from here we caught a bus for our 37km (about 1hr) trip to Jigokudani. The bus was easy enough to find from the station, with a picture of monkeys on the timetable. From here there is a walk through the village to the entrance of the park and then a 1.6km hike to the monkeys-I guess that walk takes as long or as short as you wish to make it but estimate between 30-60 minutes (depending on how you walk in snow) and how many stops you want to make for photos.
7/Nara was Japan's first permanent capital (Heijo) and is now home to temples, gardens and museums. Again this is a place that needs further exploring as I didn't see it all. We managed to see the Todaji Temple, the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, the Birushana Buddha and some beautiful gardens but there are still more temples to see. If you want to use your JR Pass, travelling from Kyoto to Nara and the Nara Station which is roughly a 15 minute walk to the Park grounds. You can travel on the Kintetsu railway which is not covered by the JR pass and costs between 620-1130yen($6.20-11.30 AU) one way depending on the train. If you pick up a 1 or 2 day Nara Bus Pass for between 500 and 1500 yen ($5-15 AU) which covers the main sites of Nara. Again if you are limited on time the Nara Park is walkable and you get to see the sites that I saw above. It is a spectacular place and well worth exploring.
(have to add another even though already have 7 and I think I mentioned it in my 7 wonders of Tokyo, but think the rail system and the JR pass is the best and cheapest way of getting outside of the big cities and to really explore)