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After 17 years in the Japan travel business, you might have thought we’d seen everything there is to see. And it’s true – we have explored every inch of Japan, toured every prefecture, eaten in thousands of restaurants and slept at countless hotels. Yet in a country as fast-paced as Japan, there’s always something new and exciting happening to make us see our favourite destinations in a different light. So in 2017, where will we be heading?
Silence in Kyushu
With the hotly tipped new Scorsese film, Silence, set to make waves in Hollywood, the story of 16th century Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier may well draw a few curious crowds west to Kyushu, the third-largest of Japan’s four main islands. Xavier landed in Kagoshima in 1549 and spent two years establishing congregations in Yamaguchi, Bungo, and the island of Hirado.
Kyushu is a fantastic destination for those who want to see a side of Japan away from the big ticket sites of Honshu Island. Our Kyushu Adventure itinerary is the perfect introduction to its cosmopolitan cities, steaming volcanoes, picturesque islands and lovely natural scenery. Click here to find out more.
The home of karate
The subtropical islands of Okinawa, which lie to the southwest of the Japanese archipelago, are the birthplace of one of the world’s most popular martial arts: karate. In recognition of this heritage, March 2017 sees the opening of a new Karate Museum on the chain’s largest island, while on the 21st of October the island will attempt to break the world record for the biggest group kata (synchronised karate routine). Head down south for a spectacle you won’t forget!
If you’re interested in visiting the home of karate, let our consultants know and they’ll tailor a trip to the sunny sands of Okinawa. Click here to get in touch.
Japan’s kitchen opens its doors
It’s not for nothing that Osaka is known as “Japan’s kitchen”: delicious okonomiyaki pancakes, deep-fried takoyaki dumplings, a myriad of izakaya eateries and mouth-watering delicacies all make this one of the best places to eat in Japan. And from the 28th of April until the 5th of May, Osaka will be celebrating this fact with an international food expo – a festival that takes place in the city every four years and promises to be the country’s biggest feast.
Why not time your visit to Osaka to visit the food festival? Our Gastronomic Adventure itinerary is the perfect place to start – click here to find out more.
Bricking it
Though it’s one of Japan’s biggest cities, Nagoya doesn’t often feature on travellers’ itineraries – but it’s packed with great things to do and see, from the innovations of the Toyota Showroom to Nagoya Castle and a museum packed with superb Tokugawa art. This year, from April onwards, it will add another string to its bow: Japan’s first Legoland, complete with plastic brick replica of Nagoya Castle. Plus, Nagoya is known for its delicious tebasaki chicken wings, so it’s the perfect place to visit in the year of the rooster!
Art attack
Marking the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration, one of the most important events in the history of Japan, Yokohama will be hosting a magnificent art festival. The Yokohama Triennale will take place from the 4th of August until the 5th of November 2017, and will see the city filled with art installations, exhibitions and pop-up galleries, showing a wide range of Japanese and international art. Easily accessed from Tokyo in just a few minutes on the train, Japan’s second city has always been a great day trip from the capital, but now it promises to be even better.
Moomins move in
Last but not least, 2017 will see the opening in Saitama of the first-ever Moomin theme park to be built outside of Finland. Called Metsä, which means “forest” in Finnish, this tribute to the white, hippo-esque, Scandi trolls will be located on the banks of Lake Miyazawa, which was chosen for its similarity to the landscape of Finland and will be designed to integrate with its natural surroundings. An opening date has not yet been announced, but we’ll be letting you know as soon as we hear more!
If you’re ready to start planning your trip to Japan in 2017, all you need to do is click here to get in touch with one of our travel consultants, who’ll give you a free consultation and put together a proposal based on your interests. Just let us know what interests you and we’ll do the rest!