Must-See Japan (2020 Edition): The complete insider's guide to seeing the best of Japan in one trip

Ryogoku (両国) This historic part of Tokyo is the home of sumo wrestling and has a few other attractions to make it worth a visit.

It can be a little awkward to visit, but the easiest way from Tokyo is to take the shinkansen to Shiroishizao (109 minutes, 10,350 yen) and get a taxi (20 minutes, 4000 yen, can take a bit longer in winter on icy roads) to the fox village. The friendly tourist information office at the station can help with calling a taxi.

Another historic, but less well-known area is the Yanaka district just north of Ueno Park. The old shitamachi atmosphere from Tokyo of yesteryear still survives here; the streets are full of rustic charm, busy locals and a whole variety of shops and trades. There are now very few places in Tokyo quite like it, and its well off the usual tourist tra

Maid cafes are also popular, as dainty young girls in French maid outfits serve tea and engage in chitchat with customers. Head to @Home Café for English speaking maids.

Just five minutes walk from Hase station is Hasedera (Hase Temple), one of the many popular temples in Kamakura. This one is famous for its eleven-headed, 9.1 metre high wooden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The grounds also contain pretty gardens and a small museum, and there a good views over Kamakura city. Entry is 300

Kyu Yasuda Garden, a very scenic, and free to enter, garden with good views of the SkyTree.

Getting there – It’s easy to travel from Tokyo to the Fuji Five Lakes region; a train to Kawaguchiko station takes about 2 hours from Shinjuku station (4110 yen). Note that you must change to the Fujikyu railway line at Otsuki, so your JR Pass won’t be valid for the later section of the journey. Use (◙ www.hyperdia.com) to check train times and con

Fushimi-Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社) ** This is one of the most unique Shinto shrines in the whole of Japan, and is most famous for the thousands

Yokoamicho Park, a peaceful space with gardens, earthquake memorials and a large temple.