{"id":10864,"date":"2016-01-19T14:00:59","date_gmt":"2016-01-19T14:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.insidejapantours.com\/?p=10864"},"modified":"2024-08-22T11:46:44","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T10:46:44","slug":"10-places-you-didnt-know-you-could-visit-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/01\/19\/10-places-you-didnt-know-you-could-visit-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"10 places you didn&#8217;t know you could visit in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10864&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10864\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10864&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10864&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10864%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10864\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10864\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p>When you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/\">visit Japan<\/a>, you&#8217;ll notice a trend where tourist destinations are often promoted by comparing them to more famous locales. For instance. \u201cCome to Okinawa, it\u2019s the Hawaii of Japan!\u201d, or \u201cvisit Kagoshima, the Naples of the Orient\u201d \u2013 and so forth.<\/p>\n<p>While it is rather a shame that any of these destinations should sell themselves as no more than a cheap version of somewhere else, what this list does demonstrate is the amazing diversity of Japan. That one region can claim to be its Galapagos while another masquerades as the French Alps is pretty wondrous, and indeed there really are few places in the world that can claim such a wide variety of landscapes in such small area.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>So, without further ado, here are just a few of the places you never knew you could visit in Japan\u2026<\/p>\n<h2>1) Venice<\/h2>\n<p>No nickname has been bestowed more liberally in Japan than that of \u201cVenice of the East\u201d, which has apparently been awarded to everywhere from Kyoto to Kurashiki, via Osaka, Hiroshima, Kagoshima, Sakai, Matsue, and probably more if you care to look. Phew. Japan really wants to be like Venice.<\/p>\n<p>In the case of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/osaka\/\">Osaka<\/a>, the nickname was applied before WWII, due to the huge role the city\u2019s waterways played in its development as a major centre of power in feudal Japan. These days, however, any visitors looking for a little slice of Venice will be sorely disappointed.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/matsue\/\">Matsue<\/a>, sandwiched between two lakes and the coast, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/kurashiki\/\">Kurashiki<\/a>, with its old-fashioned canals lined with weeping willows, are more solid contenders \u2013 but perhaps the most convincing \u201cVenice of Japan\u201d is Ine Bay in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/kyoto\/\">Kyoto <\/a>Prefecture, where the 230 boat houses sit clustered on the water.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10885\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10885\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10885 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/venice-kurashiki.jpg\" alt=\"Side by side comparison between Venice and Kurashiki\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/venice-kurashiki.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/venice-kurashiki-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/venice-kurashiki-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/venice-kurashiki-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/venice-kurashiki-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/venice-kurashiki-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/venice-kurashiki-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10885\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: gondoliers on a Venice waterway (Photo: Rambling Traveler); Right: boat trips on the Kurashiki canal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CGZ8sLxMmHR\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"13\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CGZ8sLxMmHR\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A post shared by Visit Japan International (@visitjapanjp)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Ine fishing village, north of Amanohashidate<\/p>\n<h2>2) Hawaii<\/h2>\n<p>Much is made of the semblance between Japan\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/okinawa-island\/\">Okinawa<\/a> islands and that archetypal tropical paradise, Hawaii. Definitely too much. Perhaps it\u2019s partly the heavy US army presence, or perhaps it\u2019s just a collective desire to bandwagon on one of the world\u2019s biggest PR success stories \u2013 but everywhere you go there are Hawaiian shirts, Hawaiian pancake stores, Hawaiian this, Hawaiian that\u2026 I lived there for three months, and I\u2019m still haunted by tiki renditions of famous pop songs.<\/p>\n<p>Okinawa, you have your own unique and fascinating culture! Quit putting a hula skirt on it and calling it a pineapple.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30155\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30155\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30155 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/iStock_000007955302Medium-Edit-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Bright blue waters in idyllic Japanese beach\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/iStock_000007955302Medium-Edit-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/iStock_000007955302Medium-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/iStock_000007955302Medium-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/iStock_000007955302Medium-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/iStock_000007955302Medium-Edit-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/iStock_000007955302Medium-Edit-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/iStock_000007955302Medium-Edit-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/iStock_000007955302Medium-Edit-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/iStock_000007955302Medium-Edit-1440x959.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/iStock_000007955302Medium-Edit-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/iStock_000007955302Medium-Edit-780x519.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/iStock_000007955302Medium-Edit-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/iStock_000007955302Medium-Edit.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30155\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A beach on Ishigaki Island, part of the Okinawan archipelago<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30170\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30170\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30170 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lagoon-1008331-720x448.jpg\" alt=\"Blue waters at a Hawaiian beach, with palm trees dotting the edge of the sand\" width=\"720\" height=\"448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lagoon-1008331-720x448.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lagoon-1008331-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lagoon-1008331-1024x637.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lagoon-1008331-768x477.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lagoon-1008331-564x351.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lagoon-1008331-1536x955.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lagoon-1008331-1200x746.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lagoon-1008331-900x559.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lagoon-1008331-1440x895.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lagoon-1008331-390x242.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lagoon-1008331-780x485.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lagoon-1008331-510x317.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/lagoon-1008331.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30170\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Hawaiian beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>3) The Netherlands<\/h2>\n<p>I\u2019m going to stray a little way from the brief here to include a very odd place indeed \u2013 Huis Ten Bosch, in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/nagasaki\/\">Nagasaki<\/a> Prefecture. Huis Ten Bosch is Dutch for \u201cHouse in the forest\u201d, and it is a theme park complete with life-sized replica Dutch buildings, parks, hotels, houses, canals, gardens\u2026 you name it. If it\u2019s Dutch, they have it.<\/p>\n<p>Why? You might ask. Actually, it does make a certain sort of sense \u2013 Nagasaki was once the only place in Japan where foreign traders could live and ply their wares (albeit confined to a manmade island in Nagasaki Bay), so there has historically been a significant Dutch and Portuguese influence in the region. There\u2019s no sign of a \u201cCasa Na Floresta\u201d yet, but I\u2019ll keep you posted.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10876\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10876\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10876 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Huis_Ten_Bosch_-_01-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial shot of the buildings of Huis Ten Bosch amusement park\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Huis_Ten_Bosch_-_01-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Huis_Ten_Bosch_-_01-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Huis_Ten_Bosch_-_01-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Huis_Ten_Bosch_-_01-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Huis_Ten_Bosch_-_01-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Huis_Ten_Bosch_-_01-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Huis_Ten_Bosch_-_01.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10876\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Huis Ten Bosch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10884\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10884\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10884\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Utrecht_Canals_Aerial_View_-_July_2006-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial shot of the city of Utrecht\" width=\"450\" height=\"599\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Utrecht_Canals_Aerial_View_-_July_2006-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Utrecht_Canals_Aerial_View_-_July_2006-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Utrecht_Canals_Aerial_View_-_July_2006-768x1022.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Utrecht_Canals_Aerial_View_-_July_2006-720x959.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Utrecht_Canals_Aerial_View_-_July_2006-390x519.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Utrecht_Canals_Aerial_View_-_July_2006-780x1038.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Utrecht_Canals_Aerial_View_-_July_2006-510x679.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Utrecht_Canals_Aerial_View_-_July_2006.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10884\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Dutch city of Utrecht (Photo: David Liff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>4) Naples<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/kagoshima\/\">Kagoshima\u2019s<\/a> claim to being \u201cthe Naples of Japan\u201d is one of the most convincing on this list. The city is located on the south coast of Kyushu Island, where the climate is significantly balmier than on mainland Japan, the streets are lined with palm trees, and the locals are famously (supposedly) hot-tempered \u2013 all considered to be parallels with the town\u2019s Mediterranean sister city. In addition to these similarities, Kagoshima even has its own Vesuvius: Sakurajima, which overlooks the city from across the bay.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30176\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30176\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30176 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sakurajima-Kagoshima-takupt-pixta-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Kagoshima city, with a smoking Sakurajima volcano in the background\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sakurajima-Kagoshima-takupt-pixta-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sakurajima-Kagoshima-takupt-pixta-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sakurajima-Kagoshima-takupt-pixta-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sakurajima-Kagoshima-takupt-pixta-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sakurajima-Kagoshima-takupt-pixta-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sakurajima-Kagoshima-takupt-pixta-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sakurajima-Kagoshima-takupt-pixta-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sakurajima-Kagoshima-takupt-pixta-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sakurajima-Kagoshima-takupt-pixta-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sakurajima-Kagoshima-takupt-pixta-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sakurajima-Kagoshima-takupt-pixta-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sakurajima-Kagoshima-takupt-pixta-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sakurajima-Kagoshima-takupt-pixta.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30176\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sakurajima as seen from Kagoshima city &#8211; takupt\/Pixta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10886\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10886\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10886 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/vesuvius-686250_960_720-720x478.jpg\" alt=\"The city of Naples in Italy, with Mount Vesuvius in the background\" width=\"720\" height=\"478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/vesuvius-686250_960_720-720x478.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/vesuvius-686250_960_720-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/vesuvius-686250_960_720-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/vesuvius-686250_960_720-390x259.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/vesuvius-686250_960_720-780x518.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/vesuvius-686250_960_720-510x339.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/vesuvius-686250_960_720.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10886\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Vesuvius as seen from Naples<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>5) The Galapagos<\/h2>\n<p>The comparisons between Japan\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/ogasawara-islands\/\">Ogasawara Islands<\/a> and Ecuador\u2019s Galapagos are pretty obvious. Both are (comparatively) tiny clusters of volcanic islands thousands of kilometres from the nearest land mass, and neither has ever been attached to a continent \u2013 meaning that their native animals have evolved in complete seclusion since primeval times.<\/p>\n<p>Though Ogasawara\u2019s clutch of endemic species may not be as diverse or famous as that of the Galapagos, it was still sufficiently important to be recognised by UNESCO as a Natural World Heritage Site in 2011.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30152\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30152\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30152 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Iwo_Jima_Suribachi_DN-SD-03-11845-Edit-720x482.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial shot of the island of Iwo Jima covered in green grass\" width=\"720\" height=\"482\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Iwo_Jima_Suribachi_DN-SD-03-11845-Edit-720x482.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Iwo_Jima_Suribachi_DN-SD-03-11845-Edit-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Iwo_Jima_Suribachi_DN-SD-03-11845-Edit-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Iwo_Jima_Suribachi_DN-SD-03-11845-Edit-564x377.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Iwo_Jima_Suribachi_DN-SD-03-11845-Edit-390x261.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Iwo_Jima_Suribachi_DN-SD-03-11845-Edit-780x522.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Iwo_Jima_Suribachi_DN-SD-03-11845-Edit-510x341.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Iwo_Jima_Suribachi_DN-SD-03-11845-Edit.jpg 794w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30152\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mount Surabuchi on the Island of Iwo Jima &#8211; part of the Ogasawara island chain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30164\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30164\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30164 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/14644751817_523bbd7440_h-1-720x450.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial shot of a volcano in the Galapagos island\" width=\"720\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/14644751817_523bbd7440_h-1-720x450.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/14644751817_523bbd7440_h-1-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/14644751817_523bbd7440_h-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/14644751817_523bbd7440_h-1-564x353.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/14644751817_523bbd7440_h-1-390x244.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/14644751817_523bbd7440_h-1-780x488.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/14644751817_523bbd7440_h-1-510x319.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/14644751817_523bbd7440_h-1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30164\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A volcanic caldera on Isabela Island, part of the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/chuckypurdue\/14644751817\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Photo: Sean Russell<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>6) Machu Picchu<\/h2>\n<p>It may not be as extensive as Machu Picchu \u2013 or in quite as dramatic a setting \u2013 but Takeda Castle is pretty impressive, and there are more similarities with its ancient Inca namesake than you might think. It\u2019s thought that the sites were built within around 10 years of each other (Takeda Castle in 1441; Machu Picchu in about 1450), and both were abandoned after about a century of use. Both are perched on top of steep hills and frequently find themselves above the clouds \u2013 but in one area Machu Picchu will always beat Takeda way out of town: at 2,430 metres, it is more than two kilometres higher. That\u2019s quite a lot.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10882\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10882\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10882 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Peru_Machu_Picchu_Sunrise_2-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"The Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, with Huayna Picchu in the background\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Peru_Machu_Picchu_Sunrise_2-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Peru_Machu_Picchu_Sunrise_2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Peru_Machu_Picchu_Sunrise_2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Peru_Machu_Picchu_Sunrise_2-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Peru_Machu_Picchu_Sunrise_2-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Peru_Machu_Picchu_Sunrise_2-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Peru_Machu_Picchu_Sunrise_2.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10882\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Machu Picchu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30161\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30161\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30161 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Takeda-Castle-prof255960-pixta-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Grass covers the ruins of Takeda Castle\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Takeda-Castle-prof255960-pixta-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Takeda-Castle-prof255960-pixta-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Takeda-Castle-prof255960-pixta-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Takeda-Castle-prof255960-pixta-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Takeda-Castle-prof255960-pixta-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Takeda-Castle-prof255960-pixta-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Takeda-Castle-prof255960-pixta-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Takeda-Castle-prof255960-pixta-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Takeda-Castle-prof255960-pixta-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Takeda-Castle-prof255960-pixta-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Takeda-Castle-prof255960-pixta-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Takeda-Castle-prof255960-pixta-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Takeda-Castle-prof255960-pixta.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30161\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Takeda Castle &#8211; prof255960\/Pixta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<h2>7) Miami Beach<\/h2>\n<p>Though it\u2019s known as \u201cJapan\u2019s Miami Beach\u201d to the locals, you might struggle to find parallels between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/kamakura\/\">Kamakura&#8217;s<\/a> Enoshima Beach and the setting of Miami Vice and Scarface. Beyond the fact that it\u2019s a beach, there\u2019s not really much I can come up with\u2026<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30173\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30173\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30173 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Enoshima-Beach-CAPTAINHOOK-pixta-720x477.jpg\" alt=\"Tourists enjoying the beach near Kamakura\" width=\"720\" height=\"477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Enoshima-Beach-CAPTAINHOOK-pixta-720x477.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Enoshima-Beach-CAPTAINHOOK-pixta-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Enoshima-Beach-CAPTAINHOOK-pixta-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Enoshima-Beach-CAPTAINHOOK-pixta-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Enoshima-Beach-CAPTAINHOOK-pixta-564x374.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Enoshima-Beach-CAPTAINHOOK-pixta-1536x1018.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Enoshima-Beach-CAPTAINHOOK-pixta-2048x1357.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Enoshima-Beach-CAPTAINHOOK-pixta-1200x795.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Enoshima-Beach-CAPTAINHOOK-pixta-900x596.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Enoshima-Beach-CAPTAINHOOK-pixta-1440x954.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Enoshima-Beach-CAPTAINHOOK-pixta-390x258.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Enoshima-Beach-CAPTAINHOOK-pixta-780x517.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Enoshima-Beach-CAPTAINHOOK-pixta-510x338.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30173\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kamakura&#8217;s Enoshima Beach- Captainhook\/Pixta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10881\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10881\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10881 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Miamimetroarea-720x424.jpg\" alt=\"Clear sand and turquoise waters in Miami beach\" width=\"720\" height=\"424\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Miamimetroarea-720x424.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Miamimetroarea-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Miamimetroarea-768x452.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Miamimetroarea-390x230.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Miamimetroarea-780x459.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Miamimetroarea-510x300.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Miamimetroarea.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10881\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Miami Beach&#8230;. a questionable comparison at best<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>8) The Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es<\/h2>\n<p>After you\u2019ve visited Japan\u2019s Miami Beach, you can take a short ride into the capital and visit Tokyo\u2019s Champs \u00c9lys\u00e9es: Omotesando. Omotesando, or \u201cfront approach\u201d, is lined with zelkova trees and leads from Omotesando train station to Meiji Shrine, the city\u2019s most important Shinto shrine. A wide, zelkova-lined boulevard lined with flagship stores and striking contemporary architecture, it has often been compared to Paris\u2019s famous central avenue leading up to the Arc de Triomphe.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10865\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10865\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10865 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Avenue_des_Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es_July_24_2009_N1-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial shot of Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es street in Paris\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Avenue_des_Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es_July_24_2009_N1-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Avenue_des_Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es_July_24_2009_N1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Avenue_des_Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es_July_24_2009_N1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Avenue_des_Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es_July_24_2009_N1-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Avenue_des_Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es_July_24_2009_N1-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Avenue_des_Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es_July_24_2009_N1-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Avenue_des_Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es_July_24_2009_N1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10865\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paris&#8217; Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es (Photo: Josh Hallett)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10866\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10866\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10866 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Omotesando_Tokyo_spring_2012-720x491.jpg\" alt=\"Green trees provide cover for Omotesando street in Tokyo\" width=\"720\" height=\"491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Omotesando_Tokyo_spring_2012-720x491.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Omotesando_Tokyo_spring_2012-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Omotesando_Tokyo_spring_2012-768x524.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Omotesando_Tokyo_spring_2012-390x266.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Omotesando_Tokyo_spring_2012-780x532.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Omotesando_Tokyo_spring_2012-510x348.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/1280px-Omotesando_Tokyo_spring_2012.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10866\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tokyo&#8217;s Omotesando (Photo: Kakidai)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>8) The Alps<\/h2>\n<p>Running like a spine down the centre of Japan\u2019s Honshu main island are three great mountain ranges: the Hida, Kiso, and Akaishi Mountains. Collectively, these ranges are known as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japanese-destinations\/japan-alps\/\">Japanese Alps<\/a> after their loftier cousins, the European Alps. The name was coined by William Gowland and popularised by Walter Weston \u2013 two Englishmen living in Japan in the 19<sup>th<\/sup> century \u2013 and has stuck ever since.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30158\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30158\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30158 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Mt.-Amida-and-the-Northern-Alps-seen-from-the-Yatsugatake-mountain-range-Shinji-pixta-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Snow-capped mountains in Japan's central Alps mountain range\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Mt.-Amida-and-the-Northern-Alps-seen-from-the-Yatsugatake-mountain-range-Shinji-pixta-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Mt.-Amida-and-the-Northern-Alps-seen-from-the-Yatsugatake-mountain-range-Shinji-pixta-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Mt.-Amida-and-the-Northern-Alps-seen-from-the-Yatsugatake-mountain-range-Shinji-pixta-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Mt.-Amida-and-the-Northern-Alps-seen-from-the-Yatsugatake-mountain-range-Shinji-pixta-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Mt.-Amida-and-the-Northern-Alps-seen-from-the-Yatsugatake-mountain-range-Shinji-pixta-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Mt.-Amida-and-the-Northern-Alps-seen-from-the-Yatsugatake-mountain-range-Shinji-pixta-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Mt.-Amida-and-the-Northern-Alps-seen-from-the-Yatsugatake-mountain-range-Shinji-pixta-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Mt.-Amida-and-the-Northern-Alps-seen-from-the-Yatsugatake-mountain-range-Shinji-pixta-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Mt.-Amida-and-the-Northern-Alps-seen-from-the-Yatsugatake-mountain-range-Shinji-pixta-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Mt.-Amida-and-the-Northern-Alps-seen-from-the-Yatsugatake-mountain-range-Shinji-pixta-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Mt.-Amida-and-the-Northern-Alps-seen-from-the-Yatsugatake-mountain-range-Shinji-pixta-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Mt.-Amida-and-the-Northern-Alps-seen-from-the-Yatsugatake-mountain-range-Shinji-pixta-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Mt.-Amida-and-the-Northern-Alps-seen-from-the-Yatsugatake-mountain-range-Shinji-pixta.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30158\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Japanese Alps &#8211; Shinji\/Pixta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10870\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10870\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10870 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Aiguille-du-Midi-summer-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Jagged peaks in the heart of the European Alps \" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Aiguille-du-Midi-summer-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Aiguille-du-Midi-summer-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Aiguille-du-Midi-summer-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Aiguille-du-Midi-summer-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Aiguille-du-Midi-summer-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Aiguille-du-Midi-summer-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Aiguille-du-Midi-summer.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10870\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aiguille du Midi in the European Alps (Photo: Martin Janner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-mmv-source-author\"><span class=\"mw-mmv-author\">10) Manchester<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Lastly, but certainly not leastly, if you\u2019re a homesick Mancunian in Japan you will be relieved to know that Osaka is, in fact, \u201cthe Manchester of the East\u201d. Osaka\u2019s central role in Japan\u2019s industrial revolution led to its comparison with Manchester, the world\u2019s first industrialised city \u2013 though as somebody who\u2019s been to both, I\u2019d say that that\u2019s where the similarity ends.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10880\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10880\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10880 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ManchesterCore-720x481.png\" alt=\"Aerial photography of Manchester at night\" width=\"720\" height=\"481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ManchesterCore-720x481.png 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ManchesterCore-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ManchesterCore-768x513.png 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ManchesterCore-390x260.png 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ManchesterCore-780x521.png 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ManchesterCore-510x340.png 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ManchesterCore.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10880\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manchester by night<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10871\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10871\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10871 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/DSC_0489-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Busy street in Osaka's downtown\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/DSC_0489-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/DSC_0489-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/DSC_0489-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/DSC_0489-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/DSC_0489-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/DSC_0489-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/DSC_0489.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10871\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Osaka by night<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>So if you ever fancy a morning stroll along the Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es before a day at Miami Beach, then shooting up to the Alps for the afternoon and going to bed in Manchester, you know where to go: Japan!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10864&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10864\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10864&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10864&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10864%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10864\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10864\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like this post? Help us by sharing it! When you visit Japan, you&#8217;ll notice a trend where tourist destinations are often promoted by comparing them to more famous locales. For instance. \u201cCome to Okinawa, it\u2019s the Hawaii of Japan!\u201d, or \u201cvisit Kagoshima, the Naples of the Orient\u201d \u2013 and so forth. While it is rather [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2362],"tags":[2667,2668,2669,2670],"class_list":["post-10864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-places-and-where-to-stay-in-japan","tag-japan-tourism","tag-places-of-the-world","tag-japans-hawaii","tag-venice-of-the-east"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10864","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/54"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10864"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10864\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34077,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10864\/revisions\/34077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}