7 things that will make you fall in love with Japan

Japan is planning to allow independent travellers to return to the country as early as next month.

After months of living with possibly the world’s most severe COVID-19 restrictions, tourists will no longer require a visa to visit, but they will need to have had at least three vaccinations.

Daily new COVID-19 cases in Japan are on a downward trend. Last Sunday 81,470 cases were reported compared with 123,396 on the same day two weeks prior.

Masks are not mandatory, but most Japanese wear them constantly so you might want to consider wearing masks in public places simply to stay on the good side of locals.

Prime Minister Fumo Kishida is expected to confirm details of the re-opening plan next week starting with a relaxation of flight capacity numbers.

The news comes as the yen, Japan’s currency, fell to a 24-year low against the US dollar. Japan’s inflation is fairly stagnant, so tourists can expect some cheap prices for food and other activities across the country.

In October, Japan is famous for its autumnal colours and the beginnings of the much-loved powder snow skiing season at resorts such as Niseko, Nozawa Onsen, Furano and Sapporo. But what else will tourists be looking to do when the country once again fully opens its borders?

After three years the scaffolding has finally come down from Kyoto’s UNESCO-listed temple, Kiyomizudera – one of Japan’s most treasured temples.

Thought to have been opened in 778, the temple – which includes more than 30 buildings and monuments – sits halfway up the side of Mt Otowayama.

The water from the temple’s Otowa Waterfall is said to have magical healing properties.

Japan’s food scene is incredible. Food in Japan has many traditional elements but they are often mashed with the freshest ingredients and healthy portions of experimentation.

In Tokyo make time to try the Michelin-starred ramen bar Konjiki Hototogisu. Join the queue early to taste a bowl of sea bream ramen that will cost you less than $10. That’s incredible value for Michelin-quality dining.

No trip to Japan is complete without creating your own Lost In Translation karaokemoment.

If you want to sing in the same rooms (601 and 602) as Bill Murray belted out Roxy Music’s More Than This go to Karaoke Kan, one of the best in Tokyo.

Other karaoke venues worth a visit include Joysound, Fioria and the family-friendly Côte d’Azur.

Most offer private booths, auto-tuning (so you never sound off key) and all-you-can-drink (nomihodai) packages that eventually encourage even reluctant singers to break into song.

Japan is famous for its fast trains. And for good reason.

You have to think beyond Brad Pitt’s new movie Bullet Train, but you don’t have to be a trainspotter to get excited about riding a shinkansen, a bullet train that travels at speeds of 200 kilometres per hour.

The most famous route is from Tokyo to Kyoto.

Opening next month though, a new line will link Nagasaki with Takeo Onsen, a small town with a millennium of hot springs history.

And a visit to an onsen is essential for any traveller to Japan. Just remember though, onsen bathing is sans clothes so it’s not the best option for shy travellers.

Mt Fuji is without a doubt the pride of Japan.

More than a million tourists visit Japan’s tallest peak (3776 metres), located about 100 kilometres southwest of Tokyo, each year.

Considered a sacred mountain, the more adventurous visitors take the two-day trek to the top of the mountain and marvel at the wondrous views.

If you don’t fancy the climb, there’s always the Fuji Five Lakes which are certainly worth a visit.

If you want to do a bit of shopping – and celebrity spotting – head to Ginza in the heart of Tokyo, which is one of the best shopping precincts in Japan.

Think luxury brands. Umeda is the largest shopping centre in Osaka boasting four massive department stores.

Diamor Osaka is the best place to go for fashion and beauty products. In Yokohama, Motomachi is ideal for travellers wanting European-style shopping.

We have saved the best for last. Cherry blossoms.

The 2023 season is expected (it varies due to weather) to start in Fukuoka on March 17 and finish in Sapporo on April 25.

The Japanese have been celebrating cherry blossoms since the eighth century and the fact that the flowers last for only seven to 10 days heightens the expectation of travellers and locals.

If you want to see the blossoms you will need to be flexible and possibly be prepared to change your travel plans to match the best weather forecasts.

Trust me, it is worth dropping everything to spend a day with these iconic Japanese flowers.