Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, in cooperation with the Japan National Tourism Organization, proudly presents the Japan Heritage website's Luxury Travel content. These pages feature the country's diverse cultural heritage, with the feel of a leisurely vacation with impeccable service.

The Luxury Travel pages help provide a more relaxed travel experience; soaking in the local atmosphere and taking a deep dive into Japan Heritage's unique combination of historic traditions and bold innovation.

For example, switch off in the private space of a traditional country villa or luxury seaside resort and indulge in the region's gastronomic delights – carefully selected local ingredients cooked to perfection. Enjoy a variety of exceptional activities both in the accommodation and the surrounding countryside. Experience the essence of Japan and discover a cultural legacy for the generations.

Journey deep into the tranquility of the mountains of Japan, experiencing the rejuvenating powers of nature. In the hinterland of Nara, the former capital of Japan in ancient times, the Muro area is replete with temples, shrines, and sacred sites that have endured for over a thousand years. Glimpse the spiritual foundations and the history of diversity within Japan's unique religious culture. Stay in a traditional Japanese wooden farmhouse, enjoy hearthside meals of delicious local specialties, and unwind with a private meditation experience in the depths of a secluded valley.

An ancient path cuts through the picturesque countryside of Nagano Prefecture. It's the Nakasendo, a centuries-old mountain road that has been traveled by scores of samurai, monks, peasants, and even an emperor. Along this path, discover local shops, hidden shrines, and breathtaking views.

A lifetime away from the bright lights of Tokyo, the Kiso region in Nagano Prefecture allows visitors to truly discover a Japan that is straight out of a storybook. Stone paths, wooden buildings, and quaint post towns await those travelers lucky enough to be let in on the secret of the Kiso Valley.

A crossroads of luxury and history, the area allows for true historical immersion while also offering stays in some of the most exclusive traditional lodgings in the country.

Once found across Japan, Ise-Shima hosts many of the country's remaining ama divers. The ama live in close harmony with nature – plunging into the inky depths without any modern diving equipment, they rely instead on their expert knowledge of the sea and weather conditions to make their dives successfully. A typical catch includes abalone shells, turban shells, and seaweed, although the ama are careful never to take too much and disturb the delicate marine ecosystem – a form of sustainable fishing dating back to at least the 8th century, when ama divers were mentioned in the Man'yoshu poetry compilation. Today, visitors can join ama divers underwater as they practice their craft or sit with them in their amagoya huts where they rest after dives, grilling the fresh shellfish and imparting unique tales of ama life. The observation deck atop Mount Yokoyama offers expansive views of Ago Bay and its many islands.

Japan Heritage Official Website: Japan Heritage is a project focusing on various historic cultural properties across Japan, from those famous across the world to hidden gems known only to the select few. The website features deep-dive reports, stunning virtual reality and video content, descriptions of the historical backgrounds of cultural properties, and much more.

The Kansai region of Japan has always been a popular travel spot for tourists from overseas. In addition to taking measures towards the pandemic, three railway companies, Keihan Holdings Co., Ltd.,Kintetsu Railway Co., Ltd. and Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd., are working together to widely introduce tourist spots that are suitable for in-depth travel experiences along the railway lines to overseas tourists. This is in preparation for the day when foreigners can freely visit Japan again in the future.

This collaboration is part of the Visit Japan program. In addition to tourist spots that are already popular, the program covers in-depth travel courses that are not yet known to many people and won't be crowded -- spots that are gaining attention due to the pandemic. These new spots can be easily visited by boarding a Keihan, Kintetsu, or Nankai train.

Left: Hieizan Enryakuji Temple, a World Heritage Site. Top right: The Keihan train is a convenient way to get to Uji from Osaka or Kyoto, or to Otsu City in Shiga Prefecture. Middle right: In Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, the home of matcha green tea where many tea shops stand along the Byodoin Temple, where you can also enjoy matcha green tea sweets. Bottom right: Tourists can learn about the history of sake and how to make it at the Gekkeikan Ōkura Memorial Museum.

In Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, the home of matcha, there is a world-famous world heritage site known as Byodoin where you can enjoy the different scenery of the four seasons throughout the year, including cherry blossoms in spring, wisteria in early summer, and autumn leaves in autumn.

Many valuable national treasures are also stored in Hoshokan Museum which is located in the area. At the Taihoan tea house operated by Uji City, you can experience the ichi-go ichi-e (one time, one meeting) spirit in the aesthetics of Japanese tea ceremony by making matcha green tea in front of tourists and serving it with seasonal Japanese sweets for a reasonable price.

Historical Park of Tea and Uji Town, located next to Keihan Uji Station, was fully opened on October 1, 2021. In addition to a garden and resting area, there is a museum where visitors can learn about the history of Uji tea, and a restaurant that serves matcha sweets, making it a place where people can interact about Uji tea and promote tea culture.

Located in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, east of Kyoto Prefecture, is the sacred site of Japanese Buddhism, Hieizan Enryakuji Temple, a World Heritage Site opened in the 8th century by Saichō (Dengyō Daishi), covering an area of 1,700 hectares. The Sakamoto Cable (Car) takes you to the top of the mountain, and along the way you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the surrounding forest and Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. At Enryakuji Temple, you can also enjoy refined Buddhist (vegetarian) cuisine that uses local ingredients and no animal ingredients. In addition, you can experience the life of a monk by participating in Zen meditation, sutra copying, and shukubo (temple lodging).

In Otsu City, there is Ogoto Onsen, which is blessed with excellent location. The area nearby is full of ryokans (Japanese inns) that have guest rooms with private hot spring baths (including open-air hot spring baths) where you can enjoy the tranquil scenery of Lake Biwa while soaking in the hot spring without going outside. With a history of 1,200 years, Ogoto Onsen is known as one of the best hot springs in Japan with beneficial effects for skin, and is especially popular among female visitors. The hot spring is highly alkaline with a pH value of 9.0. After soaking in the hot spring, you can enjoy benefits including skin smoothing, muscle pain relief and recovery from fatigue.

The Yoshino area in Nara is famous for Mount Yoshino, a sacred place for cherry blossoms, where you can fully enjoy shiroyamazakura cherry blossoms. Besides the scenery of cherry blossoms every spring, the local culture-related industries of Yoshino are closely related to the surrounding nature. Sake brewing is thriving, and Miyoshino Sake Brewery uses a traditional brewing method using natural yeast that are placed vats made of local Yoshino cedar wood. The local sake brand Hanatomoe, which is brewed in a wooden vat, is deeply appreciated by sake lovers in Japan and abroad for its woody scent, natural acidity and powerful flavor.

Kinpusenji Temple, the symbol of Yoshino, is the central training place of the traditional Japanese ascetic tradition of Shugendō, and the Zao-do main hall there enshrines the Buddha Zao Gongen. Zao-do is currently being renovated and it will be completed around March this year in preparation to welcome visitors. If you board Blue Symphony, a sightseeing train operated by Kintetsu, you can travel between Yoshino and the central areas of Osaka at a leisurely pace. On the luxuriously designed train, you can beautiful scenery along the train's route and enjoy locally made sake and exclusive cakes.

Sakai City in Osaka Prefecture is known for its tea ceremony culture and industries such as traditional cutlery with renowned brands like Sakai knives. The World Heritage Site of Mozu and Furuichi Tumuli Clusters includes the Tomb of Emperor Nintoku as well as the Kami Ishizu Misanzai Kofun Tomb. The visitor center there introduces the history and culture of the tumuli clusters, and aerial images are shown in a 3D theater located inside the center. After being registered as a World Heritage Site in 2019, the Mozu and Furuichi Tumuli Clusters has been attracting attention from Japan and abroad, and related organizations are considering using Gas balloons to provide tourists with a complete aerial view of Sakai City and the tombs.

Kōyasan (Mount Kōya), located in Wakayama Prefecture, is the head temple of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, founded by Kukai (Kobo-Daishi), and has a history of over 1,200 years. Of the 117 temples starting with Kongobuji Temple, Danjō-garan and Okunoin are the most popular among tourists. In Kōyasan, where there are many scenic spots and historical architecture, there are shukubo (temple lodging) where guests can stay overnight. You can experience the solemn and sacred feel of religion and simple lifestyle of monks by enjoying Buddhist (vegetarian) cuisine in the morning/evening and participating in the morning service of monks.

If you board the Tenku (Nankai Electric Railway) sightseeing train, which travels through a mountainous terrain with a maximum height difference of 443 meters between Koyasan and Osaka, you can enjoy the ever-changing scenery of the surrounding forests and valleys and the beauty of the four seasons from the windows of the train.

Does anything beat a quick trip down your neighborhood beauty store? Just imagine the smell of Channel No. 5 or sampling the trending lipstick shades. What about browsing the aisles to discover your favorite foundation? What else can thrill a beautiful woman?

Well, you can enjoy visiting Tokyo's best beauty and skincare shops at any time of the year. Yes, Tokyo's specialist shops can help you look your very best. The shops have a wide range of beauty, health, and cosmetic products. Undoubtedly, Japan's skincare and beauty products are world-renowned. Their ooze efficacy, extensive range, and inventiveness. And they exhibit a cool design. Are you trying to find the perfect gift of a cute sheet mask? Do you wish to pamper yourself just a little? Swiftly arrange to visit Japan's popular specialist shops- you'll find them strewn all across town. You're certainly bound to discover whatever it is you want- ranging from skincare to bath and makeup. Indeed, you'll get all kinds of beauty products. Just visit one of these famous shops. But where exactly are these shops located. How can a visitor get there? That's precisely what we'd like to find out:

Botanist Tokyo: Botanist Tokyo is one of the city's best beauty spots. Visitors should not confuse Botanist Tokyo with the similar-name artisanal gin. The shop has a highly eco-friendly range of skincare and hair products. Most of these are prepared using plant-derived ingredients. Not only are these items kind to the environment, but they are also gentle enough to be used every day, especially by those with sensitive skin. And apart from their famous botanical treatments and shampoos, a visitor can sample an array of exciting items. These include body soaps, hand creams, fabric softeners, and room fragrances. All products feature the brand's signature natural fragrances. Some of these are green apple, musk, citrus, and rose.

Beauty Library Aoyama: True to its name, this is a highly organized city shop. It's an organic cosmetic shop that offers refined retail therapy in a calm atmosphere. As you arrive at the Beauty Library Aoyama, the attendants will welcome you with a free sample of herbal tea. You can get international brands, including Weleda and Shigeta. You won't miss domestic brands as well. Some of these are famous names like Naturaglace, Biolab, Hana Organic, and Chant a charm. While here, remember to visit the event space located right at the back. It always hosts an exciting roster of pop-ups and irregular workshops. These often feature some of Japan's and Tokyo's best and most respected beauty and skin care authorities. Further, the onsite cafes usually serve organic grub, including smoothies, salads, and herb tea.

Three Aoyama: Three Aoyama is discreetly tucked away in the Aoyama backstreets. This is much more than an ordinary beauty store. Moreover, the complex itself is basically home to a healthy eating restaurant (known as Revive Kitchen) and a luxurious spa. Here you can grab some gluten-free sweets, cold-pressed juices, and vegetarian lunch plates. Aoyoma is wildly loved for its trademark minimal packaging design. Further, the beauty range covers virtually everything a person can ever need. It doesn't matter whether your interest lies in makeup, skincare, hairstyling, or nail polish products- Three Aoyama has everyone well covered. And you'll surely love the shop's naturally-derived balancing lotion, fluid foundation and cleansing oil.

Fruit Gathering ( Jingumae, Shibuya-ku) : This is essentially a beauty-focused select shop that is renowned for housing some rare foreign brands. Among these are Bare Minerals and Makeup Forever. You'll also find the most popular Japanese brands here. Admittedly, you may find that the selection here is smaller. Nevertheless, it's generally well-curated and show-cased. The Fruit Gathering staff is certainly well-trained to help the customers identify the best fit for individual skin types and personal preferences. The shoppers are also free to make an appointment for an exciting half-hour blow-dry experience; yes, this can soothe the thirst for that extra pampering.

Skinholic: Skinholic is discreetly located in Okubo's Korea Town area. This is a fantastic one-stop-shop that offers some of the best Japanese and Korean skincare and beauty products. It stocks lesser-known but popular brands. Among these are Etude House, Tollly Molly, and others. While here, you can explore and compare various products from different brands. Remarkably, you can do this while walking under one roof; yes, you don't have to hop around Takeshita. You know that this is how many visitors usually do our first shopping for beauty products.

Did you know that Japanese addresses have no street names? Yes, most of Japan's streets generally do not have names. This is because Japan uses a different address system than that used in most Western countries. So, just imagine you're strolling through a certain city street. Since the street has no name, how are you ever going to get where you want? This might sound like a labyrinth of confusing nightmares- especially if you come from a Western land. However, this is how things work in Japan. Although most Japanese streets have no names, Japan uses a certain method to arrange things. It's only that the system may be that bit confusing to many people coming from other continents.

The book Planet Tokyo, A Geek in Japan, says: "To get us going, let's try to find out. First, Japanese addresses generally start with large divisions- the prefecture. Next, they are broken down into smaller cities. Further, some of the larger cities are also broken down into wards. For example, Tokyo city is made up of 23 wards. The areas are then divided into smaller districts. The smallest units are known as the Chrome. Hence, in Japan, a given address starts from the largest areas to the smallest. This is the exact difference with how the Western address system works. The biggest difference is that there's no such thing as a street name. Indeed, sometimes the Japanese address system is reversed to resemble the structure of a western address. Here's an example: 1-5-1, Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.

In this example, Tokyo refers to the Prefecture, Chuo-ku stands for the ward, while Yaesu refers to the district within the city. The number "1" refers to the Chrome, while 5 refers to the number of the block. The last digit, "1" stands for the building number. So, that's how easy things are- all without ever mentioning a street name."

"While it all seems rather straightforward because each of these places in the address gets smaller and smaller, it can be a tricky business trying to zero in on a specific building number- why? Often the buildings may not be numbered like in the example supplied. Thus, it does seem like the area existing between the buildings in Japan is considered as nothing but a mere empty space. That's quite different from how the western address system works. Remember too, that these addresses would not be written in English; instead they have Japanese characters. This can make a simple trip turn out to be more challenging merely because many cannot read Japanese."

"In this state, the Japanese system for getting around a specific location within a city actually makes sense. It, however, requires much practice. To this end, it wouldn't hurt if a visitor makes some effort to learn Japanese."

Generally, US addresses and those of most other countries usually follow this arrangement: It starts with the street number, then the street name. The addresses start with a specified indicator, then the street number, followed by a street name (a broader indicator). To some, this may seem like a totally different intuitive system that is used to identify locations. Many would probably, not consider naming locations in any other way. Japan, however, names locations using a radically different method.

As noted, each area within a specific city is assigned a special neighborhood name. Specific streets then serve to create a block in the way shown above. Moreover, every block contains several buildings inside. In Japan, instead of the streets serving as identifiers (like in the US), the streets are used to create block numbers. Next, the block numbers are used to indicate different areas. Generally, the buildings in those specified areas are assigned numbers based upon the date they were built. Thus, most streets don't have street names. Most buildings are marked using signs that show the neighborhood first, then the block, and finally the building number. This means the signs start from broader locations, progressing gradually to specific locations.

Although the Japanese system may seem somewhat flawed, this system has some advantages. For instance, you can easily locate anything on a map reasonably quickly. If, for example, two streets intersected several times, it would cause some confusion using the western system of address. Why? It wouldn't be entirely clear the specific intersection being referred to. But with the Japanese system, one only has to identify the block he is in. Thus, it'd be much faster to pinpoint the place merely using a map.