Luxury Japan holidays

Full of heritage highlights and futuristic delights, just to explore the must-see sights of the largest city in the world could take an entire trip. Having said that, it’s worth taking the time to venture further afield to the likes of temple-and-shrine-studded Nikko to the north and the pretty landscapes of coastal Kamakura.

As expected from the birthplace of Geisha culture, Kyoto is beguilingly spiritual and beautifully traditional. Its sister city Osaka, however, takes a more casual approach, with theme parks for the families and amazing nightlife for the grown-ups. And caught in the middle is sweet Nara, where tame deer and pilgrims on sacred paths roam the mountains.

Between Tokyo and Kyoto and in the shadow of Mount Fuji, Hakone and the Izu Peninsula are bursting with natural beauty, from hot springs to cave-speckled beaches. While Iga (the birthplace of the shinobi) and the country’s most sacred Shinto shrine are the highlights of the Mie Prefecture.

Hot on the heels of Kyoto’s traditions, Kanazawa’s Edo-period gems come with far less crowds, plentiful seafood and one of Japan’s best gardens. Heritage continues in Yamashiro Onsen, a town in Kaga known for its hot springs, and in Takayama – a city of artisans in the mountains with a beautifully preserved old town.

Comprised of seven prefectures surrounding the Seto Inland Sea, life here has been shaped by the water. There are so many islands and bays to explore, but the likes of artsy Naoshima with its museums, historic Hiroshima’s thriving foodie scene, and Miyajima Island’s famous shrine demand extra attention.

Cambodia exudes a mysticism that’s hard to emulate, the not-so-secret ingredients of which come in the form of its extraordinary jungle ruins, Khmer villages, buttery beaches and cities of old-meets-new.

Going way beyond its famed cuisine, Hong Kong serves up a feast for the senses; from the fascinating skyline and lively street markets to a surprising amount of green spaces.

If there’s a satiating ingredient to inspire a zest for life, India’s got the whole recipe. But let the chaos quickly subside and even one of the oldest cities of all time might reveal its vivacious energy starts with a little something called community.

Where rice paddies trip down hills and a gateway to wellness is opened to all; the secrets of sacred peace are whispered throughout the land in Indonesia.

Step back to a time of oxen-pulled ploughs and sleepy market towns within the pretty panoramas of Asia’s best kept secret.

With a fusion of Asian cultures, rainforests that mingle with beaches and two skyscrapers standing watch over the capital city, the answer to where to find it all is surely Malaysia.

In the time that it takes to utter its name, Singapore’s probably transcended your idea of the future; but what makes it all so special is its consistent attention to tending the roots that it came from.  

Bringing everything from timeless temples and caramel-scented tea fields to its very own Big 5 favourite, this admirably humble teardrop country is making much more of a splash in the ocean.

Its popularity has risen like the tallest temple tower and images of its Buddha-flanked streets, corrugated rice paddies and otherworldly beaches are bountiful. So it could be argued that, nowadays, Thailand is in no need of an introduction… perhaps.

Historically, travellers may have unwittingly overlooked Vietnam for its neighbour across the Gulf of Thailand, but with its mesh of bustling cities, hill tribe communities and beautiful coastlines, this resilient country is turning the tables.