JAPAN:    (1994)  Japan was truly a highlight for me. The people are very friendly, the scenery great and the temples beautiful. However it's quite expensive! Some are fascinated about the modern technologically advanced Japan, others fall for the old culture of Japan - the temples with the beautifully manicured and styled gardens, the stunning kimonos and the wonderful art. The Japanese are mostly wonderfully warm and gentle people. Restaurants often have the menus on display (plastic) outside so it's quite fun to point out something that looks interesting and see if it's anything like it in taste.... The menus are normally in Japanese anyway, so they weren't much help for me. To make yourself understood I highly recommend pencil and paper - sign language combined with feeble drawings can get you a long way! Do read up on Japanese etiquette before you go - it's appreciated when you show people respect by trying to include some of their ways and it will bring you in better contact with the Japanese.   Tokyo: What to do: There's plenty to do in Tokyo, of course. You can visit Ginza and check out the shopping opportunities or the Sony exhibition center, walk around in Shinjuku or Harajuku , or catch the fun street concerts in Yoyogi-park on Sundays (this is great fun). Make a trip to Yokohama and visit Chinatown , and don't miss the beautiful Kamakura with its old temples. Enoshima is supposedly even more beautiful with the backdrop of Mt Fuji (this must be one of the worlds most beautiful mountains - it can also be seen from some of the skyscrapers in Tokyo and of course from the train or bus to Tokyo from Nagoya) . Visit some museums and don't miss the galleries of Ukiyo-e (wood prints). Getting there and away: There are always trains going somewhere in Japan. You can make this quite cheap if you combine lots of local trains (change train every 5 stations) to get to where you want, but it takes forever compared to the more expensive long distance trains, so you might end up spending 6 times the price and get there 6 times as fast with the Shinkansen .There are trains and buses to Nagoya. Buses are actually cheaper and very comfortable, but of course not as fast as the Shinkansen. Kyoto: The cultural centers of Japan are Kyoto and Nara (and Kamakura). Where to stay: In Kyoto you can stay at the «Gaijin-Houses» which is your cheapest option in Japan. You'll stay with the occasional traveler and a bunch of English teachers from the US, UK and Australia, and you sleep on a mattress on the floor. There is usually a shared kitchen and a room to chill. The Uno-House close by the Imperial Palace and Toji-an close by the train station can both be recommended. The latter is in better condition and you actually get your own little cubicle to sleep in. Both are around US$ 20,- What to do: In Kyoto Kinkaku-ji is the must of musts. Read the book "Temple of the golden pavilion " by Mishima before you go. It's arguably the most magnificent temple in Japan. I also recommend visiting the Imperial Palace , Nijo-castle , Heijan-Shrine , Shion-in and the Kodaji temple . Close by Kodaji there are some wonderful small streets to walk around in. The Sanjusangendo temple is also worth a visit with its thousands of statues and occasional archery tournaments. Nagano: What to do: Nagano hosted the winter Olympics in '98. Apart from this it's actually a very pleasant place surrounded by mountains. I really enjoyed the "Museum" of famous Japanese artist Hokusai. His wood prints are world famous, especially the series of prints with a Mt Fuji backdrop. Nagoya: What to do: In Nagoya don't miss the fabulous Nagoya castle . Nara: Nara is less touristy than Kyoto and has almost as much (if not more) to offer in a lot smaller area. It is a beautiful little town and very peaceful. It used to be the capitol of Japan way back in the old days and all the great temples are reminders of this. Where to stay: The Youth Hostel is quite posh for a Youth Hostel (US$ 25,-). They have dorm rooms and I was alone in mine so it was quite the luxury. What to do: In Nara the Toda-ji Temple  is the big attraction being the world's largest wooden building. It contains some impressive Buddha statues also and there's also a huge bell. T is also a landmark Visit the Nigatou-do Hall, Isuien-hagen , Yakushi-ji and finally take the Takisaka walking route from the Enjo-ji temple back to Nara - it's a nice trek.