{"id":405,"date":"2015-01-20T02:36:53","date_gmt":"2015-01-20T02:36:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-the-essential-japan-bucket-list\/"},"modified":"2022-08-08T23:20:21","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T23:20:21","slug":"listopedia-japan-bucket-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Listopedia: the Essential Japan Bucket List"},"content":{"rendered":"

Heading to Japan<\/a>? Chances are you already have a good idea of the places you want to visit, but wherever you\u2019re headed, there are a few quintessentially Japanese moments to take in along that way. Here’s our Listopedia of essential Japan experiences you need to tick off your bucket list.<\/p>\n

1. Order vending machine ramen<\/h2>\n

From the pork bone-based broth of the tonkotsu-style ramen served throughout Ky\u016bsh\u016b (Japan\u2019s third largest island) to the miso ramen that\u2019s peculiar to the northernmost island of Hokkaid\u014d, you\u2019ll find hundreds of variations on the country\u2019s beloved noodle soup depending on where you place your order. And on that subject \u2013 let\u2019s talk vending machines. Commonly spotted outside ramen shops, simply insert cash into the machine, make your selection by pressing one of the buttons to receive a card and give this to a chef behind the counter \u2013 it\u2019s customary to hold it face up with both hands \u2013 and in a few minutes you\u2019ll be sipping and slurping from a steaming bowl of brilliance. And, as most vending machines feature pictures, you can order your ramen topped with a hard-boiled egg, black fungus or seaweed without revealing the limits of your Japanese vocabulary.<\/p>\n

2. See the changing of the seasons<\/h2>\n

Japan\u2019s sakura cherry blossom season (April-May) gets a lot of attention \u2013 and rightly so \u2013 it\u2019s a beautiful time of year when a walk through one of the country\u2019s parks or public spaces means wandering beneath a veil of delicate pink-white petals. The viewing phenomenon \u2013 known as \u2018hanami\u2019 \u2013 is a decades-old tradition, but it\u2019s wroth remembering that the red, orange and yellow leaves of autumn (November) are equally attractive, especially at night when many places illuminate the trees to make the canopies glow. And while Tokyo\u2019s Ueno<\/a> and Yoyogi<\/a> parks make for popular cherry blossom spots, it is Kyoto\u2019s<\/a> Arashiyama district \u2013 filled with temples and a towering bamboo grove \u2013 that attracts thousands of visitors come November.<\/p>\n

3. Uncover Japan\u2019s historic buildings by bike<\/h2>\n

We\u2019re all familiar with the storeys-high video screens, neon lights and larger-than-life road crossing of Shibuya, Tokyo \u2013 and it\u2019s often the frenetic and fast-paced face of Japan that we see depicted in films. But slow down and you\u2019ll find the bustling modernity is tempered with historic shrines, temples and palaces at every turn. Hire a bike and join the locals as they make their way through neighbourhoods on two wheels \u2013 it\u2019s the perfect way to navigate the narrow alleys of Kyoto\u2019s atmospheric Gion district, or follow the moat that winds its way around the recently restored castle in Himeji<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Find the perfect stay at one of many Tokyo hotels<\/a> on Expedia.com.au!
\n<\/p>\n

4. Soak in a sento<\/h2>\n

A visit to a sento (public bath) to soak in the purportedly therapeutic waters of an onsen (hot spring) is an almost daily ritual for many Japanese people. But before you join them, it\u2019s important to make sure you get your bathing etiquette right: leave your shoes and clothes (yes, this is an experience that is always enjoyed nude) at the entrance to the bathhouse and always wash yourself before entering the pool. The offering can be as simple as a barebones communal bath or as fancy as an on-site stone sauna and intimate private steam rooms.<\/p>\n

5. Eat sparkling fresh sushi<\/h2>\n

Before you reach for your chopsticks, go straight to the source with a visit to Tokyo\u2019s famous\u00a0Tsukiji Market<\/a>\u00a0and the 5am tuna auction or, if you aren\u2019t an early morning person, wait until after 9am when a global haul of seafood goes on sale. There are tens of sushi bars serving freshly sliced sashimi lining the market, but if you aren\u2019t prepared to wait in line, save your fishy feasting for Osaka and Endo Sushi, a pint-sized place situated between the city\u2019s fish market and Kyobashi station. A laminated English menu on the wall makes easy work of ordering, but the omakase (literally meaning \u2018leave it up to us\u2019) chef\u2019s selection features a dazzling array of popular choices and seasonal offerings \u2013 wash it all down with the restaurant\u2019s thick miso clam soup. Endo Sushi, 1-1-86 Noda Fukushima-Ku, Kyobashi, Osaka (www.endo-sushi.com)<\/p>\n

6. Watch a match<\/h2>\n

Planning to be in Tokyo during January, May and September? Then you have to witness the superstars of sumo do battle during a 15-day tournament at\u00a0Ryogoku Kokugikan<\/a>, the national sumo stadium. Decide for yourself if this ancient pastime is a serious sport or a super-sized spectacle from a ringside seat. If you\u2019re there out of season, catch a morning training session at a sumo stable or join the wrestlers at one of the restaurants surrounding the stadium, where they can be found chowing down on a hearty hot-pot called chankonabe. Ryogoku Kokugikan, 1-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida, Tokyo (www.sumo.or.jp)
\n<\/p>\n

7. Sample the local whisky<\/h2>\n

It might be small, but the coastal town of Yoichi is home to the world-famous Nikka Whisky Distillery. Built in 1934 by master distiller Masataka Taketsuru because the remote Hokkaid\u014d location reminded him of Scotland, the distillery uses an increasingly rare traditional method to create its celebrated amber nectar. However, if you can\u2019t make it to the either distilleries (a second opened in northern Honshu in 1969), varieties including the popular \u2018From the Barrel\u2019 \u2013 a malt whisky that\u2019s matured in American oak \u2013 are served at izakaya (pubs) across the country. (www.nikka.com)<\/p>\n

8. Discover Japan\u2019s inner drama queen<\/h2>\n

Developed during the reign of the shogun, kabuki is Japan\u2019s most recognised art form, where the actors train for their starring role from childhood and many are descendants of the Edo-era greats. You can take in a dramatic performance and see the elaborate costumes up close in a number of cities, but Tokyo\u2019s gold and red accented theatre was recently restored by architect Kuma Kengo and combines old-school elegance with modern design. Expect theatrical flourishes, striking set pieces and elaborate stage craft. To buy tickets to a kabuki show Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto, visit: www.kabuki-bito.jp.<\/p>\n

9. See rice in a whole new light<\/h2>\n

Japan has had a centuries-long love affair with the humble grain and nowhere is this more obvious than Akomeya in Tokyo\u2019s buzzing Ginza district. A lifestyle shop that\u2019s dedicated to the stuff, it stocks 20 different varieties. But it\u2019s not just for eating, it\u2019s also for drinking \u2013 so be sure to check out a sake-producing region. Kobe\u2019s Nada district is home to several producers as well as the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, where you can learn all about the transition from grain to glass, sample hot and cold varieties and even taste a sake soft serve ice cream. Akomeya, 2-2-6 Ginza, Chyuo-ku, Tokyo (www.akomeya.jp). Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, 4-5-5 Sumiyoshi Minamimachi, Higashinada Ward, Kobe (www.hakutsuru.co.jp)<\/p>\n

10. Ride the bullet train<\/h2>\n

Nicknamed \u2018bullet\u2019 trains due to their high speeds and elongated, curved noses, a trip on Japan\u2019s Shinkansen network (comprising more than 2000km of tracks) not only makes getting around super-speedy (the journey between Tokyo and Osaka takes just two and a half hours) it\u2019s also a trilling experience in itself. Pick up a bento box for the ride and sit back in the clean, comfortable surrounds as the train races along at speeds of up to 320km per hour.<\/p>\n

Expedia compensates authors for their writings appearing on this site, such compensation may include travel and other costs<\/i>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here’s our Listopedia of essential Japan experiences you need to tick off your bucket list.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,6,2,3,39,14],"tags":[204,186],"authors":[],"class_list":["post-405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-asia","category-destination","category-experiences","category-explore","category-food-and-wine","category-interests","tag-japan","tag-listopedia","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nListopedia: the Essential Japan Bucket List - Expedia AU Stories<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here's our Listopedia of essential Japan experiences you need to tick off your bucket list.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Listopedia: the Essential Japan Bucket List - Expedia AU Stories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here's our Listopedia of essential Japan experiences you need to tick off your bucket list.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Expedia AU Stories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-01-20T02:36:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-08-08T23:20:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/images.trvl-media.com\/media\/content\/expaus\/images\/blog-img\/1_2015\/8621_41_HT\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jamie McNeely\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jamie McNeely\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/\",\"name\":\"Listopedia: the Essential Japan Bucket List - Expedia AU Stories\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2015-01-20T02:36:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-08-08T23:20:21+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#\/schema\/person\/7c3ff1d241163ecf78de48671f1787ce\"},\"description\":\"Here's our Listopedia of essential Japan experiences you need to tick off your bucket list.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Explore\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Destination\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/destination\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Asia\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/destination\/asia\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Listopedia: the Essential Japan Bucket List\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/\",\"name\":\"Expedia AU Stories\",\"description\":\"Just another WordPress site\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#\/schema\/person\/7c3ff1d241163ecf78de48671f1787ce\",\"name\":\"Jamie McNeely\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c6c5fcb9612549bc286e9121c24dc652?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c6c5fcb9612549bc286e9121c24dc652?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Jamie McNeely\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/www.waveinteractive.com\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/author\/jamie-mcneely\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Listopedia: the Essential Japan Bucket List - Expedia AU Stories","description":"Here's our Listopedia of essential Japan experiences you need to tick off your bucket list.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Listopedia: the Essential Japan Bucket List - Expedia AU Stories","og_description":"Here's our Listopedia of essential Japan experiences you need to tick off your bucket list.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/","og_site_name":"Expedia AU Stories","article_published_time":"2015-01-20T02:36:53+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-08-08T23:20:21+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.trvl-media.com\/media\/content\/expaus\/images\/blog-img\/1_2015\/8621_41_HT"}],"author":"Jamie McNeely","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jamie McNeely","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/","url":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/","name":"Listopedia: the Essential Japan Bucket List - Expedia AU Stories","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#website"},"datePublished":"2015-01-20T02:36:53+00:00","dateModified":"2022-08-08T23:20:21+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#\/schema\/person\/7c3ff1d241163ecf78de48671f1787ce"},"description":"Here's our Listopedia of essential Japan experiences you need to tick off your bucket list.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/listopedia-japan-bucket-list\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Explore","item":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Destination","item":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/destination\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Asia","item":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/destination\/asia\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Listopedia: the Essential Japan Bucket List"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/","name":"Expedia AU Stories","description":"Just another WordPress site","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#\/schema\/person\/7c3ff1d241163ecf78de48671f1787ce","name":"Jamie McNeely","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c6c5fcb9612549bc286e9121c24dc652?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c6c5fcb9612549bc286e9121c24dc652?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Jamie McNeely"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.waveinteractive.com\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/author\/jamie-mcneely\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=405"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1512,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405\/revisions\/1512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=405"},{"taxonomy":"authors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/authors?post=405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}