Best Of Japan Holiday

After you arrive at Hong Kong’s airport on Lantau Island, see the enormous Tian Tan Buddha, measuring 112 feet tall and weighing over 200 tons. Then, take a harbor cruise to get your bearings and see Hong Kong’s modern architecture. Later, slurp noodles at the Temple Street Night Market. If you have an extra day, head out to Dragon’s Back portion of the Hong Kong Trail for some scenic hiking among mist-covered peaks.
The Peak Tram takes you up to Victoria Peak, Hong Kong’s 1,800-foot-high mountain. Less expensive buses will get you there, too. Once you’re up top, admire the views over the city from the hiking trails. The Peak also offers an escape from the subtropical climate below — the air here is cooler and less humid.

Stanley Harbour, on the other side of Hong Kong Island, will give you a taste of a different Hong Kong. It’s a fishing village on Repulse Bay with a lovely seaside walk (snap some photos of the fishing boats) as well as a famous street market. There’s lots of British history, a boardwalk and even a few beaches. You can take the bus from Central for a scenic trip, though the express bus is faster.

Fukuoka, on the northern shore of Japan’s Kyushu Island, is known for ancient temples and beautiful beaches. Explore the 17th-century ruins of Fukuoka Castle in Maizuru Park. Then head to the central Hakata district, home to Tocho-ji Temple, where a 10-meter wooden Buddha sits. Cruise to Fukuoka and dive deeper into history at the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum, with displays on daily life in the Meiji and Taisho eras. Slurp ramen noodles in rich tonkotsu broth at one of the city’s yatai (outdoor food stalls), then walk it off with a stroll along the winding canals. Pop into Shofukuji Zen temple for some quiet reflection. Or embrace the bustle instead and head to Canal City Hakata, one of Japan’s largest shopping complexes.

A beautiful and bustling city, Nagasaki’s streets have been touched by foreign culture for generations. This is the port by which the Portuguese and Dutch brought Japan into contact with Western culture in the 1500s, and over the years, international influence has continued to transform Nagasaki into the hub of cosmopolitan activity it is today. Explore the Dutch Slope, where you’ll find Dutch residences from the 1800s and Japan’s first Protestant Church, Higashi Yamate. Cruise to Nagasaki to see the oldest bridge in Japan, Megane-bashi – or ‘Spectacles Bridge’, so called for its arched appearance. Then, visit Nagasaki Peace Park, with its 18-metre-wide fountain built to memorialise the events that took place here when the atomic bomb struck in 1945.

Kumamoto City offers insight into both Japan’s samurai past and its modern-day love of kawaii cuteness. Check out the city’s old downtown area dominated by Kumamoto Castle, a reconstruction of the fortress from which samurai lords ruled their domain. Cruise to Kumamoto and walk alongside the Shirakawa River past traditional Japanese gardens the homes of prominent 19th- and 20th-century writers — pop into the former residence of Lafcadio Hearn, one of the first Western writers to settle in Japan. Then, see ancient and modern art and relax in the calming stone garden at the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art, or head to Musashizuka Park to see the tomb and statue of famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.

Japan’s southernmost major city, Kagoshima delivers a memorable mix of unique cuisine, historical attractions and outdoor activities in its temperate weather. Take the short ferry ride from the port to Sakurajima Yogan Nagisa Park and immerse yourself in its natural grandeur — take a rejuvenating soak in the 100-meter-long natural hot spring, and take in views of the area’s most iconic landmark: Sakurajima volcano, nicknamed the Vesuvius of Japan. Then, take in sweeping bayside vistas at Sengan-en, the elegant estate of the Shimadzu samurai clan, and stroll through its cherry blossom-filled gardens. Cruise to Kagoshima and head to Yurigahama Beach, with its bright waters and mysterious sandbar that appears each month in a slightly different spot, depending on the tides.

After you arrive at Hong Kong’s airport on Lantau Island, see the enormous Tian Tan Buddha, measuring 112 feet tall and weighing over 200 tons. Then, take a harbor cruise to get your bearings and see Hong Kong’s modern architecture. Later, slurp noodles at the Temple Street Night Market. If you have an extra day, head out to Dragon’s Back portion of the Hong Kong Trail for some scenic hiking among mist-covered peaks.
The Peak Tram takes you up to Victoria Peak, Hong Kong’s 1,800-foot-high mountain. Less expensive buses will get you there, too. Once you’re up top, admire the views over the city from the hiking trails. The Peak also offers an escape from the subtropical climate below — the air here is cooler and less humid.

Stanley Harbour, on the other side of Hong Kong Island, will give you a taste of a different Hong Kong. It’s a fishing village on Repulse Bay with a lovely seaside walk (snap some photos of the fishing boats) as well as a famous street market. There’s lots of British history, a boardwalk and even a few beaches. You can take the bus from Central for a scenic trip, though the express bus is faster.