Fancy a city break

Then head for Tokyo, the biggest, safest and maddest city on the planet. Arm yourself with a guide book,If you're not a technology person or don't want to go that way email silk road group tour call people to tell everyone you're putting your house up for auction. a subway map and a prepaid train card from a station and off you go. Tokyo has no real city centre but is made up of many districts, each with their own distinctive attractions.If you want high fashion then it's Ginza and Aoyoma. If you want to see how the youth dress then it's Harajuku, particularly on a Saturday when young girls pose in costume – this can be combined with the nearby Yoyogi Park (especially in cherry blossom time) and the Meiji-Jingu Shrine. If you want nightlife then it's off to Shibuya or Shinjuku (a word of warning – Shinjuku Station is the largest in the world with many exits one false move and never to be seen again). If you fancy a day away from the neon, catch the train to Kamakura where you find a lovely country setting with many shrines and the Big Buddha to visit.Best time to visit is either spring or autumn.

Avoid summer (too hot and humid) and Christmas when Tokyo closes for a week. Japan is still very much a cash society so back up your credit card with lots of yen. Travel independently public transport is surprisingly easy and a Japan Rail Pass is very good value. In Kyoto, Wakjapan (wakjapan.com) can organise a range of cultural experiences.Walk the Old Post route from Magome to Tsumago in the Kiso Valley. It's an easy stroll. We stayed in a traditional guesthouse. You only need to carry a small rucksack as luggage can be sent on using Takkyubin delivery service – efficiently and at reasonable cost.The Japanese do not expect tips but would really appreciate small gifts, beautifully wrapped. They like Earl Grey tea, which is light and easy to bring from Britain. I would suggest you stay in some of the less popular/touristy cities. Locals are invariably very helpful, perhaps responding to the fact that you have made the effort. Try Kanazawa for crafts and the castle, where we enjoyed a first-class tour from a voluntary English-speaking guide; Sendai,Have you planned to buy a new house this year Xinjiang China Tours are you thinking of kitchen remodeling. where the service in the old-style department stores was superb; Hakate, where the city was excellent for just strolling around.

With the rail system all are easily accessible and you have a chance to see the countryside. Being taught to count in Japanese by a three-year-old on the train just put to shame my lack of Japanese. As for the lavatories mechanisation taken to a new level. A visit to Japan is not a holiday, it's an experience. Away from tourist trails, I would recommend a trip to Okayama for the temple and Kurashiki for the traditional canal-side museums and craft sellers making unique wood, leather garments and stone ornaments in the traditional way.Hiroshima is fascinating for its history, museums and, surprisingly, the warm welcome of the Japanese who you join there. Ringing the Peace bell gave me, as an Englishman, great joy that all seems to be forgiven for one of the most terrible acts of the Second World War.