• Visit Tokyo's Imperial Palace (website: www.kunaicho.go.jp/eindex.html) (open to the public on 1 January and the Emperor's birthday, 23 December) with its impressive moat. The East Gardens (Higashi Gyoen) are open year round. For more ‘Old Tokyo', explore Shitamachi and the Asakusa-Kannon Temple.

• The coastal town of Kamakura, one hour south of Tokyo, was the seat of Japan's medieval feudal government and abounds in historic sights. Highlights include the giant bronze Great Buddha, colourful Hachimangu Shrine and picturesque Enoshima Island.

• See the inspiring sight of Japan's highest mountain at 3,776m (12,388ft) tall, Mount Fuji, which may be climbed at the height of summer. You won't be alone, in high season there are queues along parts of the route!

• Step onto the island of Hokkaido - for a long time, Japan's ‘Wild West', and still retaining a distinct pioneer feel. Hokkaido is home to the last of Japan's indigenous Ainu people, and the remnants of their distinct culture are a must-see (website: www.ainu-museum.or.jp).

• Don't miss the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years, Kyoto. Founded in AD794, sights include the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji), the Zen rock garden of Ryoanji, Kiyomizu Temple and the medieval Nijo Castle. The historic Gion geisha district makes a great afternoon wander.

• At Nara, one hour south of Kyoto, don't miss the ‘great Buddha' of Todaiji Temple, the world's largest wooden structure at 57m (187ft) high, and the sacred deer in Nara Park. Nearby, the 7th century Horyuji Temple is the world's oldest wooden structure.

• See Osaka, renowned for its abundance of excellent restaurants, historic Osaka Castle and the performing arts of Kabuki and Bunraku. The city's Namba and Umeda districts are renowned for their nightlife and the Dotonburi area is particularly vibrant after dark. 

• Universal Studios Japan (website: www.usj.co.jp), a 60-hectare (140-acre) theme park in Osaka, and Tokyo Disneyland (website: www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp) are both enormously popular and unsurprisingly kitsch - worth taking children too.

• Go to the gorgeous island of Miyajima and see its famous red Shinto torii gateway, which seemingly floats on the sea at high tide. Itsukushima Shrine, the cable car up the central mountain for panoramic views and the tame deer are all major attractions.

• Dogo Spa is famous as being among the oldest in Japan. Ibusuki Spa, on the southern tip of Kyushu, also boasts some of the most famous hot springs in Japan and is renowned for its hot-sand saunas.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.