“Shinjuku.. Shinjuku..” anyone who’s been to Japan knows what I’m talking about and for those of you that don’t, these are the words you hear just before arriving at one of the busiest train stations in the world.

Brightly lit skyscrapers, Pokemon and sushi are the first thing that come to mind when you hear the word Japan. After exploring the ‘land of the rising sun’ for a month, it was easy to see that the country has so much to offer if you’re brave enough to get off the beaten track.

All the sites in the large cities look amazing. And everyone wants to get that NatGeo shot – I get it, so do I. Sometimes it’s really hard to enjoy a place when 10,000 other people want to enjoy it as well. I’m not saying skip Kyoto’s famous bamboo forest or leave Tsukiji fish market for next time – absolutely not. Go early. Before the crowds and busses start rolling in.

Japan has an amazing public transportation system and I feel like the rest of the world can learn a lot from it. However, there’s nothing like having the freedom of a car.

Hiring a car in Japan was the single best decision I ever made. Getting out of the cities and exploring the country side put things into perspective, and gave me an opportunity to really experience what Japan, as a country, has to offer. I could not get enough of the aqua coloured coastline and endless mountain ranges just waiting to be explored.

I left my heart in Hokkaido and cannot wait to go back!

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Nachi Falls, Wakayama

Mount Fuji

Wakayama Coast

Shirakawa-go

Hashigui Rocks, Wakayama

Jigokudani (Hell Valley), Hokkaido

Mount Koyasan

Sunrise in Hakone

Kawagoe

Kamakura

East Coast, Hokkaido

Mount Usu, Hokkaido

Jigokudani Monkey Park

Itsukushima Shrine, Hiroshima

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