44 Best things to see & do in Tokyo

Japan oozes tradition and there’s no better way to immerse yourself in it than a night at a ryokan, a traditional inn.

The pinnacle of Japanese cuisine, this traditional dinner features a succession of up to 12 dishes, artfully presented and culinarily sublime. Tastes range from the familiar to the wonderfully indecipherable.

The traditional tea ceremony, practiced for centuries, combines all the formality and ritual of traditional Japan, capped by a cup of thick green tea.

From 1185 to 1333, Kamakura was Japan’s political centre, leaving a legacy of absorbing temples, shrines and traditions – including an iconic 11.4-metre bronze statue of Buddha.

This mountainous area west of Tokyo combines magical Mount Fuji views with traditional Japanese luxury – traditional ryokan inns, sublime kaiseki-ryori dinners and onsen (natural hot-spring baths).

From mega-malls and swanky boutiques to food markets and traditional craft stores, Tokyo has all the shopping bases covered.

Iconic figures in Japanese history, the admired samurai and the feared ninja retain a sacred place in Japanese folklore and culture. Learn more in Tokyo.

The blossoms of ornamental cherry trees – Japan’s national flower – beguile and dazzle, both visitor and local alike – when the spring wave turns Japan pink.

A swanky retail complex in Ginza – a plush district in the heart of the city, home to high-end department stores and boutiques.