The island’s number-one attraction is a trip up the Urauchi-gawa, a winding brown river a lot like a tiny stretch of the Amazon. From where the boats stop, it’s a half-hour walk to the spectacular waterfalls, Mariyudō-no-taki, and long, rapids-like Kampirē-no-taki. There are some good swimming holes around the falls.

There are some great walks in Iriomote-jima’s jungle-clad interior. To get to the falls you wade across the shallow lagoon from the causeway, plod through the mangroves behind the lagoon and then follow the river up to the base of the falls. At high tide, you can rent a kayak and paddle across. A path branches off from the river and climbs to the top of the falls, from where there are superb views down to the coast.

Kamakura Daibutsu
Address Kamakura Phone tel: (0467) 22 3350 (info) Transport rail: Yokosuka line Hours 09:00 – 17:00 Keyword religious/spiritual, monument, religious/spiritual The Kamakura Daibutsu (Great Buddha) was completed in 1252 and is Kamakura’s most famous sight. Once housed in a huge hall, the statue now sits in the open, its home having been washed away by a tsunami (tidal wave) in 1495. Cast in bronze, the statue is 11.4m (37.4ft) tall.

Its construction is said to have been inspired by Yoritomo’s visit to Nara (where there is another, even bigger, daibutsu) after the Minamoto clan’s victory over the rival Taira clan. Even though Kamakura’s Daibutsu doesn’t quite match Nara’s in stature, it is commonly agreed that it is artistically superior. The Buddha itself is the Amida Buddha ( amitābha in Sanskrit), worshipped by the followers of the Jōdo (Pure Land) school as a figure of salvation.

To get to the Daibutsu, take a bus from the No 2, 7 or 10 bus stop in front of Kamakura station and get off at the Daibutsu-mae stop. Alternatively, take the Enoden Enoshima line to Hase station and walk north for 10 minutes.

Kinkasan
Transport small boat: Apr-Nov catamarans from Onagawa
ferry: Apr-Nov from Ayukawa Keyword island Kinkasan (Golden Mountain) is one of the three holiest places in Tōhoku. Women were banned until the late 19th century. An overnight stay is ideal for those seeking tranquillity from frenetic Japanese life. The island features a pyramid-shaped mountain (445m/1460ft), an impressive shrine, a handful of houses around the boat dock and mostly untended trails.

There is no tourist information, no Internet and no convenience store on the island – so come prepared. Most visitors seem to be day-trippers, which means the island is delightfully deserted in the early morning and late afternoon.

Kyoto Imperial Palace Park
Address Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto Phone : (075) 211 1215 Keyword park The Kyoto Gosho is surrounded by the spacious Imperial Palace Park, which is planted with a huge variety of flowering trees and open fields. It’s perfect for picnics, strolls and just about any sport you can think of. The park is most beautiful in the plum- and cherry-blossom seasons (March and April respectively).

Take some time to visit the pond at the park’s southern end, which contains gorgeous carp.

Matsuyama-jō
Address Matsuyama Phone tel: (089) 921 4873 (info) Hours 08:30 – 18:00
Last entry 17:30 Keyword castle Picturesquely sited atop a hill that virtually erupts in the middle of the town, Matsuyama-jō is one of Japan’s