Japan is situated in northeastern Asia between the North Pacific and the Sea of Japan. It's slightly smaller than California and consists of four major islands, Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, and surrounded by more than 4,000 smaller islands, so it can be difficult to choose where to visit. But for an exotic luxury vacation to Japan, travel guides suggest these attractions as some of the best.

Tokyo
Tokyo is Japan's capital and the country's largest city so it's full of exciting things to do making it one of Japan's best vacation spots. Shopping and other entertainment abounds in the Shinjuku district and is easily accessible via the Shinjuku railway station. Ginza is one of Tokyo's largest and most famous shopping, but unlike the Shinjuku shopping district, which is frequented mostly by young people, Ginza is also very popular among the older generations and the wealthy. To visit Tokyo's oldest temple, which dates to 645, head to Sensoji (also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) in Asakusa, a central part of the old town of Tokyo. A visit to the Imperial Palace and its East Gardens (Kokyo Higashi Gyoen) is also a must. Both are a short walk from Tokyo station.

Kamakura
For a bit more exotic travel, head south of Tokyo to the coastal town of Kamakura, which once served as the political center of Japan in 1192. Today, it offers tourists numerous temples, shrines and other historical monuments. For instance, Japan's second largest Buddha statue, the Great Buddha of Kamakura, is located there on the grounds of the Kotokuin Temple.

Kyoto
Kyoto was Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is now the country's seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million people. You can visit Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho), which used to be the residence of Japan's Imperial Family, located in the spacious Kyoto Imperial Park. In the wooded hills of eastern Kyoto is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan: the Kiyomizudera ("Pure Water Temple"). It was founded in 780 and remains associated with the Hosso sect, one of the oldest sects within Japanese Buddhism. In 1994, the temple was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. Kyoto is also home to one of the finest examples of purely Japanese architecture and garden design: the Katsura Imperial Villa (Katsura Rikyu). The villa and garden in their present form were completed in 1645 as the residence for the Katsura Family, members of Japan's Imperial Family.

Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is Japan's highest mountain and is worshipped as a sacred mountain. Mount Fuji is a dormant volcano standing on the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures and can be seen from Tokyo and Yokohama on clear days. The easiest way to see Mount Fuji is from the train along the Tokaido Line between Tokyo and Osaka.