5 unique Japanese islands you have to visit

If you are planning to visit Japan but unsure where to go, how about some hidden gems of Japan's islands? Here are 5 of our favorite unique islands in Japan.

1. Level up from visiting cat cafes to entire cat islands

If you’re a cat lover, then you must visit Japan! This country loves its cats so much that it has not one, not two, but 11 islands overrun with these felines! For many of these islands, cats were introduced as people took to dumping their pet cats in the wild rather than in shelters. Instead of succumbing to nature, these hardy animals instead started to thrive and while they may have been abandoned at the beginning, they now receive a lot of love from tourists and are even protected – no dogs or other potential predators are allowed on these cat islands.

How to get there: Spread throughout Japan, the easiest cat islands to visit are Enoshima (Kanagawa prefecture, closest to Tokyo) and Ainoshima (Fukuoka Prefecture) which are close to major cities.

2. An island for architecture and contemporary art lovers

Naoshima is a small island in the central Seto Inland Sea area that has found fame as a contemporary art destination. Home to several museums and structures built by famed architect Tadao Ando including a really fancy art hotel, spend a nice weekend wandering around taking in the art and make sure to see the famously spotted pumpkins by Yayoi Kusama – the red one is right at the port and the yellow one is close to the art hotel Benesse House. You can see the art all year round, but this Japanese island is especially popular during the Setouchi Triennale which is an art festival with various installations held on this cluster of islands in the Seto Inland sea area every 3 years.

How to get to Naoshima: The easiest way to get there is to take a train from Osaka westwards to Uno, and then take a short ferry ride to Naoshima. Alternatively, you can fly to Takamatsu in Shikoku which requires a bus transfer to the port, and then take a slightly longer ferry journey from there.

3. An island for the adventurous James Bond fan

‘Gunkanjima’ or ‘battleship island’ is officially known as Hashima and gained fame as the inspiration for the abandoned island in the James Bond movie Skyfall. Once a coal mining area, the island was closed to the public in the 70s as demand for coal declined, and all that is left on the island are empty concrete buildings. Hashima was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015 as an example of Japan’s Meiji Era Industrial Revolution and now, tourists are allowed to visit the island on special tours packages.

How to get to Hashima: Hashima is located close to Nagasaki in the southern Kyushu region. You can only visit the island via ferry on a tour, which is dependent on weather as the sea around the island is susceptible to bad weather, which can lead to tour cancellation or an extremely choppy and uncomfortable boat ride.

4. Check out the island with the lethal combination of kawaii bunnies and poison gas

Bunny lovers around Hiroshima should head to nearby Okunoshima to get their fill of fluffy rabbits who roam the Japanese island unfettered. No one is quite sure how the rabbits came to be exactly – speculation is that the rabbits were either descended from some rabbits released by school children, or a darker possibility is that these are descendants of the test subjects in the island’s now-abandoned World War II Poison Gas factory. Now, the rabbits are the stars on their own island that you can feed when you visit.

How to get to Okunoshima: Take a ferry from Tadanoumi which is a short train ride from Hiroshima, or take a ferry from Omishima in Ehime.

5. Explore an island with a mysterious pyramid

The Okinawa islands are famous diving spots for the rich marine wildlife that passes through their waters, but Yonaguni of the Yaeyama Islands stands out as a dive spot for its unusual underwater features. The Yonaguni monolith was initially thought to be natural, but research has found that it is actually a manmade pyramid-like structure with steps cut into its smooth surfaces. Besides diving to see this underwater monument, Yonaguni is also very popular for hammerhead shark sightings.

How to get to Yonaguni: Yonaguni is the westernmost island of Japan and is actually closer to Taiwan than mainland Japan. There aren’t direct flights from Taiwan though – you’ll need to find your way to either Okinawa’s main island Naha or another small island close by called Ishigaki.

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6 family-friendly places in Japan

Traveling with the family can prove something of a challenge. Despite its reputation for crowds and manic city life, Japan is actually an incredibly family-friendly destination with something for everyone. Want to know where the best spots are for the young and the young-at-heart?

Odaiba District

A visit to Odaiba is like a visit to the future. First you jump on a monorail which glides you smoothly past weird futuristic skyscrapers and eerily unpopulated streets and then you alight at Miraikan, Japan’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. The building itself is out of this world and this is also the home of the famous Asimo the humanoid robot. Within the museum you will find Asimo who does plenty of shows daily demonstrating his abilities to talk, run and kick a ball.

Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation

A second museum which is worth a family visit is the Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo where children can get a chance to interact face-to-face with human-like robots. Just like its name, the museum focuses on innovative science and inventions which is, undoubtedly, packed with high-tech modern exhibitions and display.

Upon entering the museum, visitors will be greeted with a huge digital globe entirely made of small high resolution screens with continuously changing display. The museum is divided into different sections based on its themes such as earth, art, and one popular theme like labs and robots where children get to see a performance made by the robot Asimo. Along these themes, visitors are to expect astonishing modern innovations combining the latest technology and science for astronomy, space and natural disasters among other things which will keep you and your little one amused for hours.

Disneyland

Last but not least, a family trip to Japan will not be complete without a stop at the renowned amusement park, Disneyland. Japan has not one but two Disney theme parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea. However, the latter has more challenging rides and would rather suit older visitors while Disneyland has more family-oriented attractions, so it is more suitable for younger kids.
Besides the unquestionably amusing rides in Disneyland, kids will have the time of their life visiting Disney’s castle, meeting Disney characters and enjoying a fun-filled Disney parade. One parade not to miss is the Electrical Parade Dreamlights which showcases dazzling LED-lit floats with Aladdin, Cinderella, and other Disney characters.

Hanayashiki

While Tokyo’s Disney Resort and Osaka’s Universal Studios may boast the titles of the biggest players on the amusement park scene, Hanayashiki has the impressive title of being Japan’s oldest. Located a short five-minute walk from Asakusa Station in central Tokyo, Hanayashiki has been taking up residence in the historical suburb since since 1853, when it originally opened as a flower park.

A visit to Hanayashiki is a lesson in space utilization, with classic style rides weaving around each other packing in a lot of entertainment in a rather compact space. If you do not have the time to leave the city or you’re watching your budget, this is an ideal option as entry is 1,00 yen ($10USD) for adults and 500 yen ($5USD) for children.

Moominvalley

Though it is only a little over an hour out of central Tokyo, hop on a train out to Moominvalley in Saitama prefecture and you will swear you have stepped into a whole new universe. Tucked into the mountainside of Saitama, this free and public park was built around the world of Moomins, fictional Swedish, hippopotamus-looking characters. Here you can explore Moomin houses, climb the playgrounds and explore the neighboring forests and rivers. If the weather is good, pack a picnic and head out for a wholesome day in the sun.

National Museum of Nature and Science

Japan has quite a lot of museums to offer as a great tourist destination and one of them is the National Museum of Nature and Science located in Ueno Park in Tokyo. It is one of the oldest and largest integrated museums in Japan which will take more than a few hours to explore.

Packed with breathtaking natural exhibits and scientific experiments, the museum is divided into two sections, the Global Gallery and the Japan Gallery. In the Global Gallery visitors get the chance to learn more about the Earth’s behavior and evolution and also amazing displays and fossils of animals on earth, ranging from gigantic real-size dinosaur skeletons to the tiniest organism on display. Children can also experience first-hand interactive and engaging exhibits which are definitely both fun and educative at the same time. The Japan Gallery offers as much fun as it focuses on the history of Japan and its evolution and innovations.

Read more: Tips to save money when travelling to Japan

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6 best theme parks in Singapore

Theme parks are constantly packed and popular among Singaporeans, and if you’re coming to visit, they offer some really fantastic rides and experiences that are rather unique to the country. Regardless, theme parks are universally recognised as a place to just have fun and get a few thrills and scares — and they are no different here.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE

This is the only Universal Studios theme park located in Southeast Asia, so it is well worth your time to have a look. Enjoy the Battlestar Galactica ride or cruise along with the Transformers 3-D Enterprise which allows you to experience the fantasy in a hyper-realistic fashion. Enjoy a whole slew of shows featuring your favourite characters from Sesame Street or just delight in the fireworks that happen later in the evening. All in all, magical and eventful night for anyone in whichever company.

WILD WILD WET

Don’t be surprised that, in such a humid and balmy environment, water sports or activities would be quite popular. This highly animated playground is great for mindless revelry, and they have a whole plethora of rides for you and your loved ones to enjoy all day long. If you don’t like thrills and heights, there is some ground-level fun you can enjoy as well. Just remember to bring along your bathing suits.

ADVENTURE COVE

While Wild Wild Wet is for having fun with water, here in Sentosa, they offer a more practical side where you get to experience marine and aquatic life alongside your usual watery slides. Besides whirling about joyously in a wave pool or just bumping about in a tube, take the time to come up close and personal with the life seen only under the ocean. If you’re brave, go for the opportunity to come head-to-head with sharks while snorkelling in their pools. This is definitely an uproarious and edifying experience of a lifetime.

NIGHT SAFARI

Here’s an educational ride in the dark to explore animals and wildlife in their habitat. In fact, Night Safari was the world’s first safari park for nocturnal animals. You get on a tram ride that mimics as closely as possible safari experience, and it will bring you to different geographical locations mocked up here in Singapore. The aim is to make the animals as comfortable as possible in a landscape that resembles their homes — and offer people the chance to learn more about them. More than a third of the animals are threatened with extinction, so this is also a chance to discover conservancy efforts and learn how important it is to preserve and save our natural environment.

RIVER SAFARI

This is another spot you won’t find elsewhere in Asia. Get on a boat ride through the world’s rivers and see some fascinating animals like the red panda, the Amazonian jaguar or the dugong. Bring your family along, especially if you have kids because they can have the chance to spot animals camouflaging and see them up close and personal in their natural habitat. This is a stunning adventure that can be had in the day and offers a joyous and educational experience while pitted comfortably in your deck.

HAW PAR VILLA

A unique endeavour that uses figures from Chinese mythology in a theme park setting to emphasise Oriental culture and values; this is one of the oldest and most unique theme parks you will find in Singapore. The figures and artifacts further add to its charm, especially its most dreaded area, which is dubbed ‘The Ten Courts of Hell’ and depicts all sorts of gruesome punishments in the afterlife for various sins. They have also added some rides to bring it into the modern era, but the experience alone makes this a key stop when in Singapore.

Read more: Must-try dishes for first-time travelers to Singapore

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