{"id":32480,"date":"2023-01-10T12:57:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-10T12:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=32480"},"modified":"2023-03-01T08:25:58","modified_gmt":"2023-03-01T08:25:58","slug":"japan-is-back-whats-new-for-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/10\/japan-is-back-whats-new-for-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan is Back: What&#8217;s new for 2023"},"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%2F32480&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=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F32480\" 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%2F32480&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%2F32480&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%2F32480%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%2F32480\" 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%2F32480\" 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>2023 is the zodiac Year of the Rabbit: The year that Japan bounces back.<\/p>\n<p>After a long few years, Japan is well and truly back. Even with closed borders Japan has evolved &#8211; Here&#8217;s a little taster of some of the exciting places and experiences up for grabs in 2023.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A little place we know<br \/>\n<\/strong>Although not exactly new, Ine is a little gem that we have new and exclusive access too. The fishing village sits just of the Japan Sea coast in northern Kyoto prefecture. A stay in one of the refurbished <em>Funaya<\/em> boat houses is unique experience and each one has arguably one of the best views in the country. Ine itself is a working village and is somewhat abnormally packed full of incredible crafts people who make this place even more special. The best way to reach Ine is by boat &#8211; We can\u2019t wait to share this place with you.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32486\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32486\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32486 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ine-Bay-and-funaya-2-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Ine Bay \" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ine-Bay-and-funaya-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ine-Bay-and-funaya-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ine-Bay-and-funaya-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ine-Bay-and-funaya-2-564x317.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ine-Bay-and-funaya-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ine-Bay-and-funaya-2-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ine-Bay-and-funaya-2-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ine-Bay-and-funaya-2-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ine-Bay-and-funaya-2-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ine-Bay-and-funaya-2-1440x810.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ine-Bay-and-funaya-2-390x219.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ine-Bay-and-funaya-2-780x439.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Ine-Bay-and-funaya-2-510x287.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32486\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ine Bay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Nagoya ignored no more<br \/>\n<\/strong>The city of Nagoya has always been the Japan home of InsideJapan. This industrial but historical castle city is often overlooked for more famous destinations, but we think 2023 will be its year to shine. The city is the gateway to the newly opened and eagerly anticipated Ghibli Park featuring reconstructed scenes from anime greats such as, \u2018My Neighbour Totoro\u2019 and \u2018Spirited Away.\u2019 The park is also due to have another phase of opening later in 2023 (Be warned though, it is very difficult to get hold of tickets, but we are working on it). So, not only does Nagoya sit very nicely on the Shinkansen route, have great nightlife with delicious specialty food, a newly opened world\u2019s first hotel in a TV Tower, it will be the new mecca for many an anime fan.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32489\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32489\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32489 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d94737-8-e421f6c24ac730ec9199-5.jpg\" alt=\"Ghibli Park \" width=\"650\" height=\"434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d94737-8-e421f6c24ac730ec9199-5.jpg 650w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d94737-8-e421f6c24ac730ec9199-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d94737-8-e421f6c24ac730ec9199-5-564x377.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d94737-8-e421f6c24ac730ec9199-5-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d94737-8-e421f6c24ac730ec9199-5-510x341.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32489\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ghibli Park &#8211; No Face\u00a0 (Photo: Studio Ghibli\/PR Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Zen stay<br \/>\n<\/strong>Japan does a lot of things famously well. Two of them are design and traditional wellness in the form of <em>onsen<\/em> hot spring baths and Zazen meditation. There\u2019s a brand-new place on Awaji Island (near Osaka) that combines all of this. The wooden structure of the Zenbo Seinei, designed by Shigeru Ban, floats above the forest below (a view you can take in from the 90m open-air Zazen meditation deck) &#8230; The Zenbo has 360-degree views to enjoy, open-air baths, room views across canopy and a restaurant serving locally sourced food. This is a place that\u2019s built on traditional Japanese concepts &#8211; it looks great and is designed to make you feel great.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32615\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32615\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32615\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d16751-1205-5f0b6e5df2affa1527cb-3.png\" alt=\"Zenbo Seinei \" width=\"600\" height=\"195\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d16751-1205-5f0b6e5df2affa1527cb-3.png 600w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d16751-1205-5f0b6e5df2affa1527cb-3-300x98.png 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d16751-1205-5f0b6e5df2affa1527cb-3-564x183.png 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d16751-1205-5f0b6e5df2affa1527cb-3-390x127.png 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d16751-1205-5f0b6e5df2affa1527cb-3-510x166.png 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32615\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zenbo Seinei (Photo: Zenbo Seinei \/ PR Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>A new Tokyo to explore<br \/>\n<\/strong>Tokyo always gives you something new. \u00a0Partly size and partly its constant evolution, it\u2019s a city that offers more to discover on every visit. Shimokitazawa has always been a favourite district of ours and it has a lot going for it, especially with the newly built station complex opening it up. There are now new Michelin-rate chefs running restaurants and cafes alongside coffee shops, record shops and all sorts of quirky independents stores. The area also has an exciting new place to stay in the Yuen Bettei Daita high-end ryokan -a slice of serenity in the heart of the city.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32633\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32633\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32633\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Tokyo-Skyline-720x877-1.jpg\" alt=\"Tokyo skyline \" width=\"720\" height=\"877\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Tokyo-Skyline-720x877-1.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Tokyo-Skyline-720x877-1-246x300.jpg 246w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Tokyo-Skyline-720x877-1-463x564.jpg 463w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Tokyo-Skyline-720x877-1-390x475.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Tokyo-Skyline-720x877-1-510x621.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32633\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tokyo sprawl<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There are so many districts to explore &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/26\/alternative-guide-tokyo-part-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">as our team will tell you<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>New ways to explore<br \/>\n<\/strong>Tokyo has one of the best transport networks in the world, which makes it easy to experience alternative ways of seeing the city. A few hours kayaking around the rivers and waterways gives a great new perspective, watching the chaos from the relative serenity of the water. Alternatively, hiring an E-bike allows easy exploration of the city\u2019s unsung neighborhoods, cafes, shrines, parks and all the delightful surprises that Tokyo\u2019s less touristic districts have to offer.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32537\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32537\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-32537\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DSC0075-2Please-addTokyo-Great-Tours-as-copyright-1024x574.jpg\" alt=\"Kayaking in Tokyo \" width=\"1024\" height=\"574\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DSC0075-2Please-addTokyo-Great-Tours-as-copyright-1024x574.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DSC0075-2Please-addTokyo-Great-Tours-as-copyright-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DSC0075-2Please-addTokyo-Great-Tours-as-copyright-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DSC0075-2Please-addTokyo-Great-Tours-as-copyright-564x316.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DSC0075-2Please-addTokyo-Great-Tours-as-copyright-1536x861.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DSC0075-2Please-addTokyo-Great-Tours-as-copyright-2048x1149.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DSC0075-2Please-addTokyo-Great-Tours-as-copyright-1200x673.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DSC0075-2Please-addTokyo-Great-Tours-as-copyright-900x505.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DSC0075-2Please-addTokyo-Great-Tours-as-copyright-720x404.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DSC0075-2Please-addTokyo-Great-Tours-as-copyright-1440x808.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DSC0075-2Please-addTokyo-Great-Tours-as-copyright-390x219.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DSC0075-2Please-addTokyo-Great-Tours-as-copyright-780x437.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/DSC0075-2Please-addTokyo-Great-Tours-as-copyright-510x286.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32537\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kayaking in Tokyo (Photo: Tokyo Great Tours)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Borderless Tokyo<br \/>\n<\/strong>If you think Tokyo can blow your mind, Teamlab Borderless digital installation museum has been blowing minds further for around four years now. After devastating us all by announcing that it was closing its doors for good, they recently revealed plans for a completely new digital museum. Opening in the spring of 2023 in what will be Japan\u2019s tallest building in the Toranomon-Azabudai project \u2013 all we can say is that we cannot wait. Read about Senior Travel Consultant, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/26\/teamlab-borderless-digital-art-museum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ali Muskett&#8217;s Borderless experience<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Old Kyoto, new stays<br \/>\n<\/strong>The cultural capital of Kyoto is going to be as popular as it ever was \u2013 the home of thousands of temples and shrines, Geisha culture and unspoilt, traditional low-rise Japan. There is always a reason to visit. It has also seen a few incredible hotels pop up over the last few years.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32546\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32546\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-32546\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/2019.05.24-Kyoto-15-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Kyoto\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/2019.05.24-Kyoto-15-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/2019.05.24-Kyoto-15-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/2019.05.24-Kyoto-15-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/2019.05.24-Kyoto-15-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/2019.05.24-Kyoto-15-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/2019.05.24-Kyoto-15-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/2019.05.24-Kyoto-15-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/2019.05.24-Kyoto-15-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/2019.05.24-Kyoto-15-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/2019.05.24-Kyoto-15-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/2019.05.24-Kyoto-15-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/2019.05.24-Kyoto-15-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/2019.05.24-Kyoto-15-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32546\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kyoto streets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The high-end \u00a0Shinmonzen, designed by Tadao Ando, is something very special &#8211; from the building itself to the art on the walls, the food and the traditional <em>omotenashi<\/em> service, all tucked away in a Kyoto backstreet, a stone\u2019s throw from the Shirakawa River.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32606\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32606\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-32606\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shinmozen-1024x714.jpg\" alt=\"Shinmonzen \" width=\"1024\" height=\"714\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shinmozen-1024x714.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shinmozen-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shinmozen-768x535.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shinmozen-564x393.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shinmozen-1200x837.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shinmozen-900x627.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shinmozen-720x502.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shinmozen-390x272.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shinmozen-780x544.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shinmozen-510x356.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shinmozen.jpg 1212w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32606\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shinmonzen, Kyoto (Photo: Ben Richards)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Another recently opened Tadao Ando hotel is the boutique Marufukuro. Although there are perhaps more impressive places to stay, this hotel has a great back story, as it was originally the headquarters of the famous Nintendo. For serious gamers, the hotel library has a lot of little Nintendo relics and treasures making this place quite unique\u2026 and not that far away in neighbouring Osaka, where Super Nintendo World has opened too.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32540\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32540\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32540 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d5761-398-190851-1.jpg\" alt=\"Super Nintendo World\" width=\"650\" height=\"434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d5761-398-190851-1.jpg 650w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d5761-398-190851-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d5761-398-190851-1-564x377.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d5761-398-190851-1-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/d5761-398-190851-1-510x341.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32540\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Super Nintendo World (Photo: USJ\/PR Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There are plenty more special places to stay in the old capital which, despite its age, never gets old.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kyushu speeding bullet<br \/>\n<\/strong>A new Shinkansen launched on the southern island of Kyushu in September 2022. Although not revolutionary yet, the new train will open up the laid-back city of Nagasaki up with the new sleek Kamome Shinkansen. The bay-side city of Nagasaki is known more for its dark modern history, but it has a lot of unique aspects, being the only place open to the world during Japan\u2019s 250 years of isolation. With history seen in its architecture, trams, specialty foods, and natural scenery, this place just got easier to visit and is well worth it. Fun fact \u2013 tempura arrived to Japan in Nagasaki from Portuguese traders.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32543\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32543\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-32543\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Nagasaki-Ropeway-5-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Nagasaki Harbour\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Nagasaki-Ropeway-5-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Nagasaki-Ropeway-5-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Nagasaki-Ropeway-5-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Nagasaki-Ropeway-5-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Nagasaki-Ropeway-5-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Nagasaki-Ropeway-5-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Nagasaki-Ropeway-5-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Nagasaki-Ropeway-5-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Nagasaki-Ropeway-5-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Nagasaki-Ropeway-5-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Nagasaki-Ropeway-5-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Nagasaki-Ropeway-5-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Nagasaki-Ropeway-5-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32543\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nagasaki from Mt Inasa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>People always talk about Japan\u2019s combination of traditional and cutting-edge, so much that it\u2019s almost become clich\u00e9. However, it is also true, and just one of the reasons we love this place.<br \/>\nWe have a lot of other tips for new or just special places to visit or experience across Japan.<br \/>\nThis lot is just the tip of a massively exciting Japanese iceberg.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/about-us\/brochures\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-32727 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Japan_Broch_gif_oldcolour.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"1320\" height=\"581\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>We know Japan travel better than anyone and will ensure that your trip to Japan is as incredible (if not more so) as you think it might be. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/about-us\/brochures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download the brochure here<\/a> <\/strong>or contact the InsideJapan team to plan a cultural adventure to suit you, your time frame and interests.\u00a0<\/em><\/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%2F32480&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=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F32480\" 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%2F32480&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%2F32480&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%2F32480%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%2F32480\" 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%2F32480\" 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! 2023 is the zodiac Year of the Rabbit: The year that Japan bounces back. After a long few years, Japan is well and truly back. Even with closed borders Japan has evolved &#8211; Here&#8217;s a little taster of some of the exciting places and experiences up for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"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":[1206,2246,5042,5045],"class_list":["post-32480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-places-and-where-to-stay-in-japan","tag-japan-tour","tag-travel-tips","tag-japan-in-2023","tag-whats-new-in-japan"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32480","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\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32480"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32742,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32480\/revisions\/32742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}