I’m looking out a train window as rice paddies, country houses and small towns flash by. The view is changing rapidly as we speed through the Hokuriku Shinetsu region on a shinkansen, one of Japan’s famous bullet trains.
Shooting into a dark tunnel the train picks up a serious clip. Just as suddenly we burst out into the sunlight for a momentary vision of a tree-lined valley and a pond, or the silver flash of a river and a bridge before plunging back into another tunnel.
Travel is a brilliant way to reset your mind as an adventure somewhere fresh floods your brain with daily images and inspiration. This is especially so with Japan’s unique mix of ancient and modern. Here are seven ways to reboot when travelling in Japan.
1 HIGH-RISE LUXURY
Start with a little indulgence at the new eco-chic hotel Mesm Tokyo, located on the capital city’s Tokyo Bay waterfront, in a multiplex called Waters Takeshiba. Opened in early 2020, the hotel only became fully accessible to Kiwi travellers since Japan’s border became visa-free for New Zealanders in October last year. My suite is huge and opens onto a generous balcony with sweeping harbour views. Across
