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Luxury EscapadesJapan Custom Designed JourneysCox & Kings can offer custom designed journeys, which allow you to create a personalized experience of Japan, traveling at your own paceand exploring further off the beaten track. The suggestions below give a taste of the many possible options. Please contactCox & Kings to discuss further ideas.HOKKAIDOHokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands, makes up one-fifth of the country’s landmass: only 5% of the population lives on the island due to the harsh Siberian cold that descendsfrom November to March. However, winter is probably the peak tourist season when tourists cometo enjoy the many activities including the ice sculptures at the Yuki Matsuri and the snow festival inearly February.The Ainu is the island’s indigenous culture and there are excellent museums dedicated to the Ainu inSapporo and Hakodate.Hokkaido is blessed with spectacular natural scenery including Daisetsu-zan National Park, thecaldera lakes of Shikotsu-Toya and the Kushiro Wetland National Park, where the red-crested crane,one of Japan’s national symbols, spends its winters. The island’s largest city, Sapporo is an excellentbase from which to explore the highlights of Hokkaido and is well connected to Tokyo and other majorcities by air.MOUNT KOYAMount Koya is one of Japan’s holiest mountains located in Wakayama Prefecture. The journeyto Mount Koya passes through a cedar-filled valley 2625 ft above sea level, surrounded byeight mountain peaks. In the early 9th century, the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi founded the firsttemple here and there are now more than 100 monasteries surrounding the head templeof Kongobuji. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this monastic complex offers a retreat awayfrom the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and other major cities.Although you could visit Mount Koya as a day trip from Osaka or Kyoto, it is recommended that youstay overnight in a mountain-top Buddhist temple set in tranquil woodland on the pretty Kii peninsula.During high season, more than a million visitors come to the mountain; staying overnight allows youto rise early and avoid the crowds, enjoy fresh vegetarian food, see the monks at worship and attendmorning prayers.THE JAPANESE ALPS & YUDANAKALocated in Nagano Prefecture, the Japanese Alps features some of Japan’s most dramatic scenery andpicturesque rural villages. The main hubs of the region are Takayama and Matsumoto, home to thefamous “Black Crow” Castle, which can be easily reached by bullet train from Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.Hiking is one of the most popular ways to enjoy the beauty of the Japanese Alps, with walking trailsavailable for all levels of experience and fitness.In addition to the mountains, the area is famous for its many onsen or hot spring resorts, the mostfamous of which is the Jigokudani Onsen, “Hell Valley Hot Springs”, in Yudanaka, where one canobserve wild monkeys gathering to bathe in the natural hot spring pools.During the winter months, as many as 200 animated simian come to enjoy the hot springs and they evenhave their own onsen. A visit to the area will give you an opportunity to stay in a Ryokan, a traditionalJapanese inn, and onsen resorts.www.coxandkings.comAsia & Pacific 2011 I 41