Mount Fuji is Japan's highest mountain and most familiar symbol. Sweeping up from the Pacific to form a nearly perfect symmetrical cone 3,776 meters above sea level, the elegantly shaped Mount Fuji (or Mt. Fuji) watches over Japan. The region around Mount Fuji has been the inspiration for the works of many of Japan's most celebrated writers, poets and artists. It would be hard to find a mountain more highly praised for its beauty. The Fuji five lakes, scattered around the northern side of Mt. Fuji, are the perfect reflecting pools for the mountain's majesty. On a clear day, the hulking presence of the mountain seems to fill the sky. It goes without saying Mt. Fuji is a must see while staying in Japan.

The remoteness and inaccessibility of Shiriakawa-go, has kept the village unspoiled and well-preserved for centuries. This area of steep thatched-roved farmhouses gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1995. The people of these gassho-style, or “praying hands” style farmhouses were cut off from the rest of the world for a long period of time and survived the harsh winters through the cultivation of mulberry trees and the rearing of silkworms. With its old Japan atmosphere, Shirakawa-go is beautiful anytime of year but particularly so in autumn and winter.

Centered around the Matsumoto castle, a national treasure, the city of Matsumoto has thrived as a castle town. Located in the central part of the Japanese Archipelago, Matsumoto commands a spectacular view of the Northern Japan Alps, which are over 3,000 meters in altitude to the west, and the Utsukushigahara Plateau, which are over 2,000 meters in altitude to the east. From there, you can see a 360-degree panoramic view of the region.

Hakone is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, less than 100 kilometers from Tokyo. Hakone is famous for its hot springs, natural beauty and it's majestic view of nearby Mount Fuji. However, the Mount Fuji scenery is not the only view that you can enjoy in Hakone. There are a number of spots to visit, including O-waku-dani (where volcanic fumes still smolder from Hakone Volcano), Lake Ashi-no-ko (created in the crater of the Hakone Volcano) and cedar trees along Kyu-Kaido Street. Hakone also used to be an important checkpoint along the Tokaido highway which linked Tokyo with Kyoto during the feudal Edo Period. Beautiful Hakone has about everything a vacationer could wish for.

The Kiso Valley is a journey through Japanese history. Approximately 400 years ago, people traveled by foot in Japan, starting from Edo (present-day Tokyo) and reaching Kyoto via the Kiso Valley. There were rest stops, or post stations (towns that hosted the travelers) along the roads, and the old buildings and beautiful rows of stores and houses. There are 11 post towns in Kiso, and most of them have been carefully preserved the way they used to be. Tsumago is especially well known as one of the best-preserved post towns in Japan. It is highly recognized for its historic value because it precisely reproduces the authentic culture.

Nestled deep in the heart of Japan the ancient town of Takayama is an intimate, leisurely town with a quiet, rustic charm. At the end of the 16th century, Takayama Castle was established and this was the origin of the present day town. Takayama contains old streets and buildings that are remarkably untouched by the passage of time. The district called San-machi Suji, of Takayama merchants and sake brewers, has been preserved in almost exactly the same state as it was 200 or 300 years ago. Here, the inns, shops and taverns trace the history back many generations.

Surrounded by mountains on three sides and the open water of Sagami Bay on the fourth, Kamakura is a natural fortress. During the Heian period it was the chief city of the Kanto region, and from the 12th through 14th centuries the Minamoto shoguns ruled Japan from here under what is known as the Kamakura Shogunate. Kamakura known for its vast number of historically significant Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and historical Kotoku-in, with the monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida Buddha was once the capital of Japan. As Kamakura's sights are scattered around the city, using a private guide ensures you will enjoy the finest Kamakura has to offer.

It is said that if you have never been to Nikko then you don't know the true meaning of magnificent. Nikko designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site is one of Japan’s most beautiful regions. The shrines and temples of Nikko, together with their natural surroundings, have for centuries been a sacred site known for its architectural and decorative masterpieces. They are closely associated with the history of the Tokugawa Shoguns. There is little doubt that the aphorism refers to the stunning Toshugu Shrine, but Nikko is also an area of extraordinary natural beauty that should be visited at least once while traveling in Japan.

For early risers there's one destination that should be checked out while you're in Tokyo; Tsukiji Fish Market. By the time the sun rises, everything is already displayed in stalls, ready for restauranteurs to select the finest and freshest ingredients. If it's any indication just how much fish is in this place, the ever-growing mountain of styrofoam containers outside is incredible. There are really no words to describe the enormity of this place. For as far as the eye can see in multiple directions, there are stalls upon stalls upon stalls of everything that has ever lived in an ocean. The Tsukiji Fish Market which also includes vegetables, fruits and poultry covers some 20 hectares. For first timers the pure size of the market can be overwhelming.

Tokyo's most revered temple, the Senso-ji Temple, was founded in AD 628 to enshrine a gold statuette of the Kannon Bodhisattva (the Goddess of Mercy) which, according to legend, was found by two local fishermen. Also known as Asakusa Kannon in Japan, the temple and its five-story pagoda are always bustling with worshippers. A huge incense burner at the front of the temple is said to have healing powers. The Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) is one of Tokyo's most recognized sites and is famous for its enormous red paper lantern and guardian statues. The Nakamise shopping street of over 200 meters, leads from the outer gate to the temple's second gate.