The Panoramic Tokyo Drive course operated by Hato Bus takes you on a double-decker open-top sightseeing bus through famous areas such as Tokyo Station and Ginza, and offers spectacular views of the city as it crosses over Tokyo Bay via the Rainbow Bridge, all the while providing details about the history and landmarks though a multilingual headset service.

Located in close proximity to the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station, Sushi Ikki serves up fresh, reasonably priced sushi. The restaurant has a refined atmosphere and during lunchtime we were surrounded by many businesspeople working in the nearby office buildings.

Tokyo City View at the very top of the Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills presents a way to make sense of it and take in most of the downtown metropolis at a glance. Not only is there a spacious indoor area with large glass panels to take it all in, visitors can also head to the rooftop if weather permits to enjoy a magnificent, open-air panorama!

Roppongi Hills is a very interesting place that is representative of Tokyo in many ways, from the high-end shopping stores to the Japanese garden. One can really sense the energy of Tokyo while also appreciating modern architecture and a place that offers something for everyone.

We saw many highlights of Shinjuku including bustling Kabukicho district and Golden Gai as well as Memory Lane. These places are full of atmosphere and they make quite a contrast to the tall skyscrapers that comprise the business district of Shinjuku.

Izakaya are Japanese gastropubs that are almost a cross between a bar and a restaurant. Kyuemon, in the heart of Kabukicho, offers an extensive drink menu and a wide selection of classic izakaya dishes designed to be shared among customers, including french fries, fried chicken, salads and yakitori (grilled chicken on skewers).

The Keio Plaza Hotel may be just a short walk from Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku Station, yet it offers an oasis of serenity, as well as outstanding views of the city from its more than 1,400 rooms. For breakfast, guests can choose from among three different restaurants, but you’ll want to allow plenty of time in order to sample all of the delicious options.

Foreign visitors can book flights on All Nippon Airways (ANA) departing from Haneda to destinations all over the country for only ¥10,800 with the ANA Experience JAPAN Fare. The friendly staff offer customer service that goes above and beyond — specifically, I observed them providing cups with lids and straws to customers using laptop computers so as to protect them from spillage.

Located in the city of Iwakuni near the border with Hiroshima Prefecture, Kintaikyo Bridge is one of Japan’s three great bridges and is truly an icon of Yamaguchi Prefecture. First constructed in 1673, this distinctive wooden bridge are rebuilt every 20 years to preserve traditional techniques.

The Iwakuni art museum offers the museum’s excellent exhibits on armor, swords and other types of traditional weapons, including naginata, a kind of blade attached to a long pole. Many items on display were from his personal collection, but it was his descriptions of the items that made it interesting. He explained such details as the work involved in creating daimyo armor and the significance of decorations on battle helmets and clan symbols.

Hugging the curved road in the mountains of Yamaguchi, Irori-sanzoku offers an unforgettable dining experience. “Sanzoku” refers to the old mountain bandits, and the food is served in giant portions that a mountain bandit might eat. Popular items include large pieces of chicken on long bamboo skewers and onigiri rice balls that are over three times the size of typical ones. Eat inside surrounded by old suits of samurai armor or dine outside on tables scattered around its expansive grounds. In the colder months, these tables have kotatsu heaters to keep people’s legs warm.

Making a goldfish lantern at Yanai Nishigura wasn’t difficult to complete than I thought since we were given a chance to practice brushstrokes beforehand. It was nice to be able to make my own custom souvenir.

I really enjoyed this experience at the Yamaguchishi City Saikotei. Although I’ve worn kimono before, I never had the chance to walk around an old Japanese garden and building in such traditional Japanese clothing. I had a wonderful time imagining that I had gone back in time.

We visited Ruriko-ji Temple five-story pagoda in the evening and its stately, majestic appearance nestled among a backdrop of greenery made me imagine the Japan of yesteryear. I liked the rustic atmosphere of its thatched roof that stands in contrast to many other pagodas in Japan which have tiled roofs.

The Japanese inn called Hagihonjin was excellent and I only wish I could have stayed longer. Both the course dinner and the buffet breakfast were delicious and filling. I absolutely loved their hot springs, which had a wonderful warm ambience at night and offered so many different types of rotemburo outdoor baths to choose from. The staff really made guests feel welcome.

The Hagi Uragami Museum erected in 1996 and designed by an architect who also created many notable structures in Tokyo, the building layout itself imitates the castle town of Hagi. Small corridors connect larger rooms that feature a splendid collection of oriental arts including woodblock prints and Hagi-yaki pottery.

Everything about the Hagi Castle Town was enjoyable and a highlight of the trip. Walking through the narrow streets and seeing the namako-kabe walls almost transported me back into the Edo Period. The Mansion of the Kikuyas was lovely and we were very fortunate to walk through some of the well-manicured grounds that have been off-limits to the public in other years. The Hagi Meiringakusha which is an old school building museum has very appealing and informative exhibits, and the fact that some information is available in English should make it more worthwhile to foreign visitors that understand English.

I absolutely loved this little restaurant Hagigoyomi in the Hagi Meirin school building. It had a very bright and modern Japanese atmosphere, and the food was really well presented and delicious. Their focus on Hagi fish and local, seasonal vegetables made the meal all the more enjoyable, and they provided us with very quick and attentive service.

The Motonosumi Inari Shrine has the sight of 123 red torii gates in a scenic spot along the rugged Sea of Japan coastline left an indelible impression. I could see why American news channel featured this as a must-see place because the setting is so different from any other type of Inari shrine.

Yamaguchi Prefecture claims coastline along both the Seto Inland Sea and the Sea of Japan. On the rugged and rocky Sea of Japan side, Tsunoshima Ohashi bridge runs two kilometers across emerald green waters to connect the mainland to Tsunoshima, a small, scenic island which has even been used as a filming location. Visitors can also climb the steep, spiraling staircase of Tsunoshima’s stone lighthouse (which dates back to 1876) to enjoy scenic views of the coastline.

I loved every bit of this stop at the Yamamura Bekkan. After taking a warm bath first and changing into a yukata, I felt just right outside and there were several footbaths that kept my feet warm. Walking around in yukata made me feel as though I was a local instead of a traveler. The hotel was wonderful in every way and I loved having an onsen bath in my room.

These two sights are also very unique. The Akiyoshidai highland offers very different scenery from other parts of Japan, and were it not for the rain, I would have eagerly ventured out along one of the hiking paths.

There are caves all over the world and scattered throughout Japan, yet few offer such magnificent scenery as Akiyoshidai Cave. The terrain inside the cave is easy to traverse yet the sights are stunning.

When in the port of Shimonoseki, which also happens to be the prefecture’s largest city, paying a visit to the lively Karato Market is a must. Normally a fish market for vendors, wholesalers sell to consumers only on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and national holidays and visitors will be rewarded for their efforts with a cornucopia of fresh fish in large portions at inexpensive prices.

We visited the Nagayama-honke Shuzo Brewery in the Ube city. This was a very interesting place and the old Meiji Era building with 130 years of history really added to the charm. Tasting the many different types of sake after the brewery tour was a treat.

I was impressed by how much variety there was in the bento (or sora-ben). There was a nice mix of both Japanese items, such as tempura with matcha shio green tea salt, as well as Western fare, such as beef and cheese wrapped in ham, made by a restaurant near the airport.

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip and I hope more visitors will realize how easy it is to venture beyond Japan’s big cities and head into the regions. I firmly believe that it is in Yamaguchi where visitors can find the best of Japan — incredible scenery, delicious local food and beverage and old traditions that continue to live on.