Kyushu is off the southwest tip of the main island of Honshu, and is separated from the mainland by the Kanmon Strait, a narrow strip of water you can actually walk under. The island of Kyushu stands in marked contrast to Honshu due in large part to its rather lively volcanic heart. The active volcanoes […]
For 450 years, the island of Okinawa and all the islands in that archipelago were under the rule of the Ryukyu Kingdom until they were occupied and incorporated into the Empire of Japan in 1879.
The hustle and bustle of Tokyo, the largest metropolis in the world, often gives a rather mistaken impression of Japan as a whole. Most of the country is made up of green mountains and rugged coast, and offers some of the most beautiful natural scenery you’ll find anywhere.
Japan is long, and mountainous, and sometimes hard to get around outside of major cities. This means that travelers understandably tend to concentrate in a few areas. Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto are all great places, but there is so much more to this country than that.
Although Hiroshima is mostly renowned for its tragic history, it also offers some refreshing little spots in and outside the city. If looking for a weekend getaway and break up your routine, Hiroshima will make for a great “city break”. Two days will enable you to cover history, culture and nature.
Although most people are familiar with the main islands of Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, Hokkaido and Okinawa, Japan actually consists of over 6000 islands. Some of them have become very popular touristic spots among the locals but also foreign visitors due to their original concepts. Here is only to name a few.
