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Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima is known worldwide as the site where the first atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945. In order to commemorate this devastating event in the Japan’s history, Peace Memorial Park was created in the centre of the city, in the area that was most gravely affected by the explosion. There are several monuments and symbols around the park, like the A-Bomb Dome, which was the building closest to wear the nuclear bomb dropped. The Peace Memorial Museum makes for an interesting visit if you want to learn more about the bomb and its effects. It also houses plenty of pictures and memorabilia.

Tokyo’s Top View

Having opened less than two years ago, TOKYO SKYTREE is Japan’s highest building standing 634m tall. It’s also the highest stand-alone communication tower in the world, with two observation decks, one at 350m and the other at 450m, both offering beautiful panoramic views of Tokyo and the surrounding area. It also boasts a shopping centre with restaurants and an aquarium at its base, so you can easily spend an afternoon there with your family. At night, the SKYTREE lights up with one of two colour schemes: light blue or purple, and can be admired from up close or halfway across the city.

Japanese Food (Other Than Sushi)

Of course, you should try to eat some sushi while you’re in Japan. It’ll probably be the best you’ve ever had. There are even fun fast-food style sushi shops where you can pick plates of sushi off a conveyor belt. But Japanese cuisine has so much more delicious food to offer. Don’t miss the opportunity to try real ramen noodles, tonkatsu (tasty breaded deep-friend pork cutlets), Japanese curry, yakitori (yummy grilled chicken on skewers), tempura (deep-fried seafood and veggies coated in batter), soba and udon noodles (which can be enjoyed hot or cold), okonomiyaki (a type of Japanese pancake), and much more.

A Stay at a Traditional Japanese Inn

Even if only for one night, try staying at a traditional Japanese inn, known as a ryokan. You’ll get to sleep in a futon bed on a tatami floor-one of the most comfortable sleeping arrangements known to man. Ryokan are found all over Japan, especially near natural hot springs, which are also not to be missed. Typically, you can reserve one night in a ryokan, which includes a meal of kaiseki ryori (multiple courses of traditional Japanese cuisine), access to the hotel’s hot spring baths, and breakfast the next morning. Although the nude policy at the onsen may make certain people hesitant, once your robe is off, you’ll see that it’s all well worth it. The ultimate way to relax and take in Japanese culture at the same time.