It's not until you visit the Peace Memorial Museum that the true extent of human tragedy wreaked by the atomic bomb becomes vividly clear.

You could arguably spend a lifetime sampling the country’s delights, but some towns and sights are staples – core ingredients to any great Japan trip. The laneways of its former home at Tsukiji Market may have become a tourist-focused attraction, but restaurants across the country (especially in coastal towns) still sell excellent platters of sashimi and sushi prepared before you. The kami (deities) range from Princess Konohanasakuya, the Shinto deity of Mount Fuji, to founders of powerful clans, or neighborhood deities. There is a primer of basic spoken Japanese, and even tips on what sorts of electric sockets you might encounter. Getting a table at the top spots has always been a challenge in the capital Tokyo (whether it's Kozue for seafood, Tamawarai for soba, or the two-star Michelin Den, you generally need to express your interest well before showing up), and in cities like Kyoto and Osaka – but since the pandemic, most restaurants across the country require advance reservation, a rule that hasn’t gone away even as the government relaxes its response to the pandemic.Osaka and Fukuoka's yatai (moveable stalls) make for a street-food paradise, and trying different flavors every day is one of the most exciting Japanese experiences. They are also a handy place to keep flat mementos of travel ephemera such as tickets, flyers, leaflets, etc that you'll pick up on your journeys. When it arrived, I was delighted to discover that many of the better production values of the older Lonely Planet guides had been incorporated – more colour photos, colour-coordinated sections, better, more detailed maps, thicker paper(!

Experience Guides For travelers that want to design a trip that feels unique, these guides uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations. It has also inspired some Japanese to pursue a slower life outside the big cities, relocating to Naoshima to open cafes and inns. The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's Japan, our most comprehensive guide to Japan, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled. Brush up on restaurant etiquette, local customs and what ingredients to expect in Lonely Planet's Eat Japan.From Onomichi on Honshū to Imabari on Shikoku, you can make stops to swim at secluded beaches, visit a museum dedicated to local painters, and visit shrines with sea views all to yourself.

One of the most famous and joy-filled is the Yayoi Kusama Yellow Pumpkin sculpture waiting for you at the end of a jetty.This book is chock full with information, and it got to the point where the Taiwanese professor leading the trip was asking me for advice and other classmates expected me to know where I was going (an awkward, high pressure situation, lol).