Japan - Introduction — Japan — Kuoni Travel Snow 2009 online holiday brochure

Legendary light powder snow, un-crowded slopes, a unique landscape, unique culture, delicious food and vibrant cities can all be combined to create the ultimate winter holiday. japan cultural & exotic Japan is a fascinating country of contrasts with a colourful mix of old and new where ancient traditions rub shoulders with modern technology. From the colourful cities to rural mountainous regions left largely untouched by the modern way of life, there is a wealth of attractions to explore. However it is the north island of Hokkaido that is the big winter draw. Here the ski resorts receive amazing dumps of incredibly light, fluffy powder, giving fantastic conditions throughout the season which can be enjoyed on the un-crowded slopes with virtually non existent lift queues. in a word Japan has a rich culture and strong sense of tradition and no visit is complete without experiencing a traditional tea ceremony, with its symbolic practices and ancient rules. Beautiful temples and shrines can be found in every town and city and food plays a very important role in Japanese life. Fish and seafood feature heavily in Japanese cuisine, from fresh sushi to grilled tappenyaki and in the cities and towns the fish markets are a very important part of local life with a staggering array of fish and seafood, both dead and alive! The onsen' or thermal bath is also an experience not to be missed. Bathing in the onsen is very much part of daily life and there are hundreds throughout the country. Onsen are usually natural hot 16 springs fed by deep underground water sources with therapeutic qualities. There is a strict etiquette to observe; baths are split into male and female areas and before entering the bath visitors must first wash themselves. Bathing suits are not permitted but towels are carefully used to cover the body before entering the pool! Yet in great contrast to this, the Japanese love technology and in the cities you can't help but notice the swathes of electrical stores, array of photo booths, the passion for manga cartoons and of course karaoke! Japan has a reputation for being expensive but visitors are pleasantly surprised at what good value eating, drinking and shopping actually is with prices generally cheaper than the UK.

Japan (4 pages)… Japan - Introduction