For a Half Day

Kamakura: A small coastal town surrounded by wooded hills, some 10km (6 miles) south of Tokyo, Kamakura was the seat of Japan's first military government, the Kamakura Shogunate of 1192-1333.

Most famous for the imposing 12m- (39ft-) high Great Buddha, which dates to the mid-13th century, the town also boasts several fine Zen temples, the impressive Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu shrine and the nearby National Treasure Hall, which displays important Buddhist art of the Kamakura period.

Pleasant hiking paths wind through the surrounding hills and the beach is a popular sunbathing and windsurfing spot in summer. Trains run every 10-15 minutes to Kamakura from Tokyo Station, Shinbashi Station and Shinagawa Station, on the Yokosuka line (journey time - approximately 1 hour).

The Kamakura Tourist Information Centre (tel: (0467) 223 350) provides English language information over the phone.

For a Whole Day

Nikko: One of Japan's most popular tourist attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nikko is celebrated for the dazzlingly ornate mausoleum of the first shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu (died 1616), who was the model for the fictional warlord of James Clavell's novel Shogun.

The intricately carved, elaborately painted and gilded gates, halls and storehouses of the mausoleum (known as the Toshogu Shrine) today appear almost gaudy but, as a mid 17th century political representation of shogunal power, they were very much a reflection of the times.

Situated amid an ancient cedar forest, the extensive complex also includes Rinnoji Temple, Futarasan Shrine and the smaller, somewhat less elaborate, mausoleum of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu.

Beyond Nikko lies Lake Chuzenji and the spectacular Kegon Waterfall, reached by a one-hour bus ride up a scenic mountain road of hairpin bends. An area of outstanding natural beauty, the lake offers boating, swimming and fishing, while worshippers climb the 2,400m- (7,874ft-) high Mt Nantai.

Nikko is situated some 150km (93 miles) north of Tokyo, and trains leave several times an hour from Tobu Asakusa Station on the privately operated Tobu Nikko line (tel: (03) 3481 2871; www.tobu.co.jp/foreign). The journey takes about 2 hours.

JR Rail Pass holders might prefer to travel on the JR shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Utsunomiya (journey time - 1 hour) or Ueno Station to Utsunomiya (journey time - 1 hour 10 minutes). From there, change onto a local train for JR Nikko station (journey time - 45 minutes).

Nikko Tourist Information Centre (tel: (0288) 542 496; www.nikko-jp.org) offers excellent guides to the area.