Destinations

Tokyo, Japan’s busy capital, mixes the ultramodern and the traditional, from neon-lit skyscrapers to historic temples. The opulent Meiji Shinto Shrine is known for its towering gate and surrounding woods. The Imperial Palace sits amid large public gardens. The city's many museums offer exhibits ranging from classical art (in the Tokyo National Museum) to a reconstructed kabuki theater (in the Edo-Tokyo Museum). ― Google

Weather: 9°C, Wind E at 6 km/h, 74% Humidity weathernews

Population: 13.96 million (2021)

Area: 2,194 km²

Capital: Tokyo

Demonym: Tokyoite

Divisions: 23 special wards, 26 cities, 1 district, and 4 subprefectures

Highest elevation: 2,017 m (6,617 ft)

Island: Honshu

Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu. It's famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It’s also known for formal traditions such as kaiseki dining, consisting of multiple courses of precise dishes, and geisha, female entertainers often found in the Gion district. ― Google

Weather: 7°C, Wind W at 5 km/h, 84% Humidity weathernews

Population: 1.475 million (2015) United Nations

Local time: Thursday 7:09 pm

Founded: 794

Highest elevation: 971 m (3,186 ft)

Prefecture: Kyoto Prefecture

Region: Kansai

Osaka is a large port city and commercial center on the Japanese island of Honshu. It's known for its modern architecture, nightlife and hearty street food. The 16th-century shogunate Osaka Castle, which has undergone several restorations, is its main historical landmark. It's surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom trees. Sumiyoshi-taisha is among Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines.

Weather: 9°C, Wind N at 11 km/h, 44% Humidity weathernews

Population: 2.691 million (2015) United Nations

Island: Honshu

Prefecture: Osaka Prefecture

Region: Kansai

Sapporo, capital of the mountainous northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, is famous for its beer, skiing and annual Sapporo Snow Festival featuring enormous ice sculptures. The Sapporo Beer Museum traces the city’s brewing history and has tastings and a beer garden. Ski hills and jumps from the 1972 Winter Olympics are scattered within the city limits, and Niseko, a renowned ski resort, is nearby. 

Weather: -1°C, Wind N at 14 km/h, 59% Humidity weathernews

Population: 1.952 million (2015) United Nations

Local time: Thursday 5:12 pm

Bird: Common cuckoo

Flower: Lily of the valley