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Japan

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Japan or China? Why not both? I haven't been to China yet, but I lived in Japan for several months and can recommend it as a vacation destination.

Japan is both fascinating and frustrating: it may seem visitors are welcome but the Japanese are intensely private people. Although you can find out huge amounts about the life and culture, you are not encouraged to dig too deeply. It used to be that foreigners were confined to a small coastal area and you do get the feeling they would love to be able to maintain that habit.

I lived in Osaka. In Osaka and within an hour or so by train, was Kyoto and Nara two cultural centers. Everywhere you look are wonderful temples, palaces and tourist centers. Enough to satisfy the most culturally hungry.

Japanese gardens take on a whole new perspective as oasis in the clamor. In a country where noise is all around you and privacy limited, these peaceful havens are essential. There is much here to be seen by the botanist and anyone who simply loves beauty. If you can visit when the cherry blossom is in full bloom, you will be in for a real treat.

Every cuisine in the world is represented here. They even display photographs of each dish for those of us who do not read Japanese.

The inland regions of Japan are very mountainous and very beautiful but you will not find anyone here who will speak English. It is well worth making the effort though to see the spectacular scenery; mountains, forests, waterfalls and rivers. Take a white water raft trip down a river. My husband and I did, the only two non-Japanese and although no one could speak English, everyone on the boat made us very welcome. They even shared their beer with us.

They do tend to put on theater and tours aimed just at westerners; you can take part in a tea ceremony and attend an open theater, but don't be fooled into thinking they are taking you to the heart of their culture. There is a feeling that you are invading some of their space if you want to move off the prescribe routes.

Public transport is efficient and clean, if a bit crowded. Be warned too that Japanese men have their views on western women skewed by movies and advertising so you can be propositioned or touched up on the subway.

Bars are popular. It is said the Japanese are the best dressed drunks in the world; it is common to see men in designer clothes reeling around.

The Japanese also take their sports very seriously. There are plenty of gyms and health centers to join although they do like you to wear their uniform. Golf is particularly possible but with space at a premium, membership of golf clubs is for the elite. There are, however, huge numbers of multi-storey golfing ranges operating throughout the night.

If possible try to get off the tourist trails and travel as much as possible.

I have seen Japan, next I look forward to seeing China.

Learn more about this author, Ann Miller.
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