Ancient temples and futuristic cities; mist-shrouded mountains and lightning-fast bullet trains; kimono-clad geisha and suit-clad businessmen: Japan offers all of this and more. The Japanese archipelago has long been a favorite of more adventurous travelers. With Japanese culture more fashionable than ever, there has never been a better time to explore this multifaceted country.

While the bustling cities won’t fail to impress those in search of the modern Japanese success story – skyscrapers, bullet trains, and trendy nightlife – beneath the brash modernity beats an ancient heart. This is the realm of emperors and shoguns, the exquisite art of the geisha and the skill of the sumo wrestler. A land of great natural beauty where ancient festivals are celebrated according to the seasons and food is elevated to an art form.

Japan consists of four major islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu) and thousands of smaller ones with a combined total of 17,000 miles (27,000 km) of coastline. Two-thirds of the country is covered in mountains, including more than 70 volcanoes, some of them quite active.