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A feast for the senses, Honshu is a walk-in museum showcasing Japan's past, present, and future. Its vibrant ethnicity features grandiose castles and towering office buildings, the snaking Shinkansen bullet trains and easy-breezy temple rickshaws, as well as the cellphone-thumbing Tokyoites and the kimono-clad geisha. Whether tourists opt to find thrilling urban treks, examples of feudal-age architecture, or a remote onsen (hot spring) to relax into, they are sure to find these and much more in Honshu.
Located at the heart of the Japanese archipelago, it is the country's mainland and nerve center. Majority of the significant events in the country's history occurred in this island. Evidence of Japan's changing tides still lives on today, especially in The Ancient Cities of Kyoto (the country's ancient capital and cultural heart) and Gifu (former stronghold of famed war lord Oda Nobunaga). Hundreds of museums and galleries dot Honshu (particularly in the chaotic metropolis Tokyo which has over 70), most of them exhibiting period artifacts like katana, samurai armors in full regalia, and fine ceramics and tapestries.
Backpacker's needn't look far in search for an ideal camping site or hiking destination. No visit in Japan would be considered complete without even mentioning the great Mt. Fuji, a major landmark and the country's tallest peak. Near the base of the mountain are the tranquil Fuji Five Lakes, pristine coves that are great vantage points of the local surroundings. A more surreal view can be seen in Amanohashidate ("bridge to heaven"), which is best seen upside-down right between the legs.
With the bold and vibrant culture and technological know-how, Honshu offers a vast array of souvenir items, from okobo slippers (the Eastern version of platform shoes), colorful yukata (a more informal kimono), or even a kawaii (cute) photo-sticker from the cities' Purikura stations. Tokyo nightlife rivals those of its Western counterpart New York. Even at such late hours, izakaya (traditional drinking establishments that also serve food), video arcades, and karaoke bars are still open (and are even more popular), with the swarms of working locals seeking catharsis from all the day's stress.