The landscape here is believed to have inspired the iconic Studio Ghibli animated film, Princess Mononoke. Japan is easing entry rules on October 11, but does that mean it will be as easy to visit as before the pandemic? Then turn to read about a place (town, city, region, resort, whatever) you know and see how that description meets your experience and knowledge of the place.

I fondly remember an episode of the first season of Lonely Planet (now Globe Trekker) TV show dedicated to Japan. Golden carp swim the narrow canal running through the center of town as they have for two centuries.

You'll be developing a deeper connection and understanding of the Japanese people, places and culture. It might not be fine dining, but they’re part of many Japanese bullet train journeys, and surprisingly (to most foreigners) high-quality snacks wherever you are in the country, 24 hours a day. Some of us absorb information when it is presented visually, others prefer to read lengthy text, whilst many prefer a combination of the two. Okushibu runs parallel to the new rooftop Miyashita Park, and you can stay in the heart of the action when the new Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park opens in 2023. Every course is a gasp-inducing journey through Japanese ceramics and presentation in a tatami-floored room.

The Jomon Prehistoric Sites collectively form a Cultural Heritage Site, at which you’ll learn about the culture of the indigenous Jōmon people across 17 archaeological areas. Looking for a comprehensive guide that recommends both popular and offbeat experiences, and extensively covers all the country has to offer? When we're actually on the ground, the LP helps with things like train stations, connections and useful tips about taxi's, money etc. Summit Mount Fuji, pay your respects at Buddhist temples in Kyoto, and have your fill of sushi and sake; all with your trusted travel companion. Check out the Lonely Planet Tokyo guide or Kyoto guide for a comprehensive look at all these cities have to offer; or Lonely Planet Pocket Tokyo, a handy-sized guide focused on the can’t-miss sights for a quick trip.Don't make the mistake of thinking that guide books written only by locals are better than those written by, or with input from, foreigners (aka gaijin in Japan). The Peace Memorial Museum is humane and moving, while the outdoor space gives visitors the breathing room to reflect with hope. Explore a bamboo grove in Arashiyama, marvel at Shinto and Buddhist architecture in Kyoto, or relax in the hot springs of Noboribetsu Onsen; all with your trusted travel companion. 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 downside of having so many incredible attractions on offer in one country is feeling overwhelmed by the options – where to even begin? But, to me, the differences were striking, and enough to enable me to make a clear and confident choice. You’ll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, videos, 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day.A seemingly incomprehensible, often kaleidoscopic, barrage of cryptic symbols awaits the foreign traveller who doesn’t speak or read the language. They can often have the advantage of being able to draw on more extensive travel experience in other countries, and regions within the same country, giving them additional perspective and insight.

I felt that the Lonely Planet guide was better at describing the 'nuts and bolts' of a place – the facts and figures, if you will. I’ve been devoted to Lonely Planet for decades and this new approach to travel guides will definitely keep me both delighted and engaged. One of Japan's most stunning natural vistas, Kamikōchi is a highland river valley enveloped by the soaring peaks of the Northern Japan Alps.They can often have the advantage of being able to draw on more extensive travel experience in other countries (and regions within the same country), giving them additional perspective and insight, enabling them to draw valuable comparisons or highlight useful contrasts.