This week Lonely Planet released their ‘Best in Travel 2016’ list, giving travellers the lowdown on which locations around the world should top your destination wish-lists in 2016.
Coming in close behind Botswana, which secured the top spot, Japan was right up there at second on the list of best countries to visit in 2016, confirming the land of the rising sun as a must-see destination. With the Post Office’s Long Haul Destination Report showing that prices in Tokyo have dropped dramatically since 2013, the weakening of the Japanese yen against the pound, and the incredibly low air fares popping up (London to Japan for as little as £403 with KLM and Air France) there really is no excuse not to visit!
In Lonely Planet’s own words: “Even if you’ve never been to Japan, you probably already know that it ranks number one in the world for that quintessential not-in-Kansas-anymore travel experience. Its cities are expertly crafted odes to futurism where the trains whirr by in the blink of an eye and the towers of metal and glass are bathed in neon light. The countryside, too, feels otherworldly, with all-continents-in-one landscapes that blend alpine peaks with shimmering shores. And everywhere in between are prim wooden temples – the constant reminder that a well of deep-seated traditions hides just beneath the country’s enticing veneer of perfection.”
Along with mentioning the recent burst of animal cafes popping up on city corners all across the country, Lonely Planet specifically highlights the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails near Osaka as a life-changing and unmissable experience in Japan.
They say, “For over a millennium devotees of every ilk – be it farmer or emperor – would walk betwixt hidden Oji shrines and forests of haunting trees to reach the three grand worshipping complexes of Kumano. There are a handful of different paths that extend like spokes around the Kii peninsula, but the goal is united in the act of spiritual penance performed by hikers as they rigorously trek. The preferred route – and also the oldest – is Nakahechi, which starts in the west and travels 30km to the shrines. Unesco officially recognised the network of trails in 2004, and over the last 12 years the walk has seen a steady increase in foreign tourists.”
The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails aren’t the easiest of routes for the leisurely hiker, but sights along the way make the tough trek an incredibly rewarding experience for those who make the effort. Hidden away at the end of paths made of gnarled tree roots, the Kumano Sanzan (Hongu Taisha, Hayatama Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha - the three main Kumano shrines along this walk) are worth the exploration. Popular amongst those looking for a temple stay (shukubo) whilst in Japan, Mount Koya also features as one of the go-to destinations on this lengthy walk.
As Japan builds towards the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Olympics, each of the country’s prefectures is buzzing with ideas on how to show off their regional specialties and appeal to overseas visitors, and they’re starting now! New foreign language facilities, free Wi-Fi, 24 hour telephone-based language assistance, new hotels and a brand new Olympic park are all being developed for the upcoming nationwide events, and are making it simpler than ever for visitors to navigate the country.
- See more at: http://www.seejapan.co.uk/jnto_consumer/media/press-releases/press-release-detail/15-10-30/japan-in-lonely-planet-s-top-ten-countries-for-2016#sthash.PSiHFUrj.dpuf