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If we have learned one thing during the pandemic, it’s that we should appreciate what we have — and Japan is blessed with many enduringly unique destinations. Whether it's your first trip or your hundredth, these are places you never stop wanting to visit.
Start in Tokyo — a city that lives up to its super-charged reputation. From your base at Aman Tokyo, explore the skyscrapers of Shinjuku and Shibuya (home of fashion hub Harajuku), which tower over a landscape of giant video screens, busy street crossings, and lively "entertainment districts". Other stereotypical scenes can be witnessed in upscale Ginza with its gleaming department stores and in Akihabara, the city's electronics Mecca and the epicenter of otaku (geek) culture. For mellower experiences, explore the lush oasis of the Imperial East Gardens, or head to Tsukiji Market for an introduction to high-end Japanese seafood, followed by a sushi-making class. Japan's hyperactive, but historic, capital never gets old.
If Tokyo represents modernity, Kyoto is Japan’s traditional side writ large. A city of temples and zen gardens, over a millennium of history is displayed here including the Kinkaku-ji (the famed Golden Pavilion), the Zen Garden at Ryoan-ji, and Fushimi-Inari-Taisha, the most revered of all Shinto shrines. Soak up Kyoto’s atmosphere by wandering around the bamboo groves of Arashiyama, and the 17th century entertainment quarter of Gion, where you can enjoy a private geisha dinner or a traditional tea ceremony with a maiko. For accommodation, we suggest the modern minimalist masterpiece of Aman Kyoto.
Japan’s millennia of self-imposed seclusion incubated beliefs and traditions that have helped make the country so unique. Kanazawa is one of the best examples of well-preserved Japanese culture — known for Kenroku-en, a castle garden dating from the 17th century, it also boasts beautifully preserved samurai and geisha districts, attractive temples, a wealth of museums, and a colorful market. Afterwards, you can unwind at Yamanaka or Yamashiro, two of four onsen (hot spring) towns in the mountains near Kaga, before retreating to a ryokan — a type of Japanese inn that originated during the Edo period — such as Beniya Mukayu or Kayotei.
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