Going Beyond the Big City

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Top Image: Borderlink Staff Member, used with permission

Japan is a country that is steeped in a rich history going back thousands of years. Even though it is a small country, there is so much to see. But because of its size, I think this gives an advantage to travelers.

Travelling in Japan is extremely accessible with so many different options to get to where you want to go. You can take the train, bullet train, bus, car, or plane, and reach just about anywhere in the country. Whether you are living in Japan working here, or coming to visit in the future, I believe these 3 places in particular are worth visiting to experience pieces of Japan’s long history.

Himeji

So, imagine yourself riding on a train. You pull into the station and walk out, only to look up. There, in the distance straight ahead of you is a beautiful white castle on the horizon. This is the view I saw walking out of Himeji Station.

Himeji is a quiet city about a two-hour train ride from Osaka. It is home to one of Japan’s oldest surviving castles, and easily the largest. Himeji Castle has been standing for about 400 years now. It is considered the finest example of Japan’s prototypical castle structures. Unlike places like Osaka Castle, Himeji still retains its original wooden interior. You can walk through all the castle floors to the top. On the top floor you can admire the beautiful view of the city below. It’s a trip well worth making!

Nikko

One of the most prominent turning points of Japan’s history was of course the Edo Period. And the person that symbolizes that turn is none other then Tokugawa Ieyasu.

What most travelers to Japan don’t know is that you can actually visit his grave site. His body is housed in a Shrine in Nikko. Nikko is about two hours north of Tokyo. It is a very beautiful place, especially if you go during the fall season when the leaves change color. During that time, a lot of people love to go up the Iroha-zaka winding road to see the beautiful colors of the mountain side. There are so many other things to see there too, like Nikko Toshogu Shrine (the aforementioned one that houses Tokugawa’s remains), Kegon Falls and tons of hot springs.

Nara

Finally, the last place I would like to talk about is Nara. Maybe a lot of people know Nara for the deer that walk freely down the streets and around the park near the station. But Nara is also the home to the world’s oldest wooden building, Horyuji. You can also see the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue here.

Of course, big cities like Tokyo and Osaka are exciting places with much to do. But I don’t think your Japan experience should stop with those when there is so much more the country has to offer. These are just some of the places I think everyone should check out, but the list goes on! These three in particular are among the most beautiful, and I hope that many more people will visit and appreciate the things they have to offer.

All photos (including cover image) provided by the MUSUBI Staff.

Photo Credits:

Top Image: Borderlink Staff Member, used with permission

Additional photos provided by the original author (self-taken)

All other content (text) created by the original author and © 2021 MUSUBI by Borderlink

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