Asakusa is home to one of the most important temples in Tokyo - Senso-ji. As you come through the first gate, with an enormous lantern hanging within it, you'll find a long street with shops selling souvenirs and traditional Japanese products. Once you reach the temple itself, you'll find a mix of tourists and local worshippers. To get away from the crowds, you only have to walk a few minutes to find quieter areas of this traditional neighbourhood. There's a peaceful park along the bank of the river and, for children, traditional amusement park!

A sushi train isn't just a quirky Tokyo experience, it's also an affordable way to have lunch in the city. Maguro-Bito is one of the best you'll find and has delicious fresh seafood with helpful staff. You can choose different types of sushi from the conveyer belt or order your favourites from a menu.

A stroll on Kappabashi Tool Street is a fascinating insight into Japanese culture. There's the store selling only chopsticks where you could spend hundreds of dollars for just one set; the knives that are handmade by the same people who craft samurai swords; and the shops selling the plastic replicas of dishes that you see outside restaurants. A lot of the items for sale on Kappabash Dougu Street are very affordable and it can be a great place to pick up some gifts or nice homewares.

Venture down into the basement of a department store in Japan where food section is usually located, and you'll find a whole world of interesting food and drink. One of the largest in Tokyo is at the Isetan Shinjuku Department Store and it's the perfect spot to look around and buy some presents. There are ornate Japanese sweets and traditional food items; chocolate boxes from European producers; and other treats designed as much for the aesthetic as the taste. There's also a selection of more than 400 types of sake and a vintage cellar with wine from across the world. The department store basement (or 'depachika', as it's called) is also a good option for lunch and there are lots of takeway options in the deli section.

The food at Kushi Agemono Shuns is excellent and the dining experience is a lot of fun. The sticks of fried food come out gradually during the meal as they're cooked fresh and there's a selection of sauces and accompaniments to go with them.

The Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo is extremely well-located, right next to Tokyo station, which has a direct link to Narita Airport. The room is clean and comfortable with fast wifi. I really enjoyed the breakfast which offers a Japanese-style meal and a view across the city from the 15th floor. The hotel is also in a very convenient location from which to explore the city.

JAL offers a fantastic domestic service. It's very quick to check in and get through security at Haneda Airport and then it's not far to the gate. On board, I was impressed with the comfortable seat, the lovely flight attendants, and the drinks service (even for this quick flight). It's a really convenient way to quickly pop around Japan and make the most of a trip here.

One of the local delicacies in Matsuyama is Taimeshi, a dish where sea bream is served in raw egg and soy sauce over rice. Kadoya restaurant is also in a really convenient location, right next to the city's main shopping arcades and just a short stroll to Matsuyama Castle.

Matsuyama Castle is certainly one of the main highlights of a visit to the city. It's one of only 12 castles remaining from the Edo Period and has been extremely well preserved. As you approach the main castle compound, the path is surrounded by trees that turn a beautiful pink for cherry blossom season in spring and a vibrant red in autumn. Inside the main walls, you can climb into the castle to see the exhibitions about the site's history and get a close-up look at the living conditions and defences. There are also spectacular views across Matsuyama from the top. I think the castle is a must-see when you're here.

Although the hot springs at Dogo Onsen may be the main attraction, the whole area is a bit of a tourist's playground. There's a long arcade with about 60 gift shops full of souvenirs and local food and drink products. It's perfectly acceptable to put on the traditional Japanese outfit called the 'yukata' with wooden sandals and stroll around the shops. Look out for the town clock, which does a show each hour.

At the Yamatoya-Honten hotel, you can have an opportunity to see a demonstration of the traditional 'Noh' theatre performance. This classical musical drama has been performed since the 14th century and uses masks and gestures to tell the stories. A veteran performer will explain the stage and the customs beforehand and even let you try the instruments for yourself before he does a brief run-through of a simple recital.

The Yamatoya-Honten is everything you would want for a stay at Dogo Onsen. Not only is it very conveniently-located right next to the historic onsen building, it captures the best of traditional Japan with modern comforts. The large rooms have tatami mats and paper screen walls but Western-style bathroom facilities. The wonderful hotel staff will make a futon bed in the evening. The hotel has relaxing onsen facilities and a restaurant that serves delicious Japanese or Western meals. I really enjoyed staying here for a couple of nights.

A short train ride from Matsuyama is the delightful town of Uchiko. The local theatre, called Uchiko-za, is one of the highlights of a visit here. It was built in 1916 and used for all sorts of performances. Although it fell into disrepair, it was restored in 1985 and is still used for theatre and music about 60 times a year. I think it’s really interesting to go inside and have a look at the design and learn a bit more about the space. You can even go under the stage to see some of the ingenious mechanics that were once used.

There are lots of other things to see in Uchiko but probably the most interesting area is around the historic streets of Yokaichi-Gokoku. You can pop into a few of the public buildings that are open and have free entry to see what life was like here during the economic boom that came from the region’s wax production. I think it’s also worth going into the Kamihaga Residence and Japanese Wax Museum to learn about the history in more detail.

The restaurant at Uchiko Fresh Park KaRaRi has great food and a wonderful location right next to the river, with views out the large glass windows. There is a bridge and a beach at the river, which is a popular swimming spot for children in the warmer months.

One of the highlights of a visit to Ozu is the villa and garden complex at Garyu Sanso. It was all built more than a hundred years ago and has the atmosphere of eternal peacefulness. The main building has so many details that I find fascinating, particularly the way they interact with the nature. The garden is also stunning and leads to a beautiful teahouse over the river. I would suggest taking your time here and soaking up all the subtleties in the design.

The coastline of Shikoku near Matsuyama is beautiful and I think one of the best ways to see it is on the luxury Iyonada Monogatari train. If you get on at Yawatahama, it will take just over two hours to arrive at Matsuyama. You can get a wonderful afternoon tea while you’re on board but the most interesting things happen outside the carriage. As well as the sights along the way, many of the residents who live along the track will dress up and come and to wave as you go past. It’s a really fun experience.

The hot springs at Dogo Onsen are said to be the oldest in Japan and have a history of more than 3000 years. The process for using an onsen can seem a bit intimidating at first but there are lots of instructions and help in English here, which is comforting. You can soak in the hot waters and then also relax in one of the traditional rooms with some tea and snacks. As well as the older-style building, there is a modern onsen building as well.

In the centre of Matsuyama, there are a couple of pedestrian arcades with a large range of shops and restaurants. If you’re keen to do some shopping or have a look at normal urban life in Japan, then these would be good places to spend a bit of time.

”Ehime Kitchen ef” is a great place to try one of Imabari's, which is next to Matsuyama, local dishes – Imabari Yakibuta Tamago Gohan. It’s a bowl of rice covered with slices of fried pork and topped with fried eggs. You eat it with a spoon and it’s a quick and nutritious meal. Another treat is that the restaurant has fresh mikan orange juice on tap!

The pottery made at Tobe is famous throughout Japan for its robust quality and distinctive designs. If you head out to Tobe, you’ll find a good selection of items for sale at reasonable prices. At Tobe-yaki Togeikan, you can even try your hand at painting some of the items before they’re glazed, to put your own mark on one of these special pieces of pottery.

It is so quick and easy to get to Ehime prefecture by plane but it feels like you’ve arrived in such a different world to Tokyo. Everything is more relaxed and the wonderful small towns are surrounded by stunning nature and the glistening coastline. I loved being able to experience these two sides of Japan in the one short trip. The traditional aspects of Japanese life – like the hot springs, the temples and the food – are so interesting and this itinerary is a wonderful way to see a whole range of things in just a few days.