According to Lonely Planet, Japan ranks second in the must visit destinations of 2016 – so you should definitely pay a visit to the Land of the Rising Sun this year.
But just in case you can’t visit anytime soon, don’t sweat it.
Japan is playing host to a number of awesome events over the next four years that you should definitely plan a Japanese holiday around.
Ready to hear them?
Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, 2016.
Head to Japan in early October this year and watch the world’s fastest cars and best drivers take part in the F1 Japanese Grand Prix.
The elite racing event will be held between 7 October and 9 October 2016 at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie prefecture, central Japan.
Apart from watching the race, punters at the F1 Japanese Grand Prix can keep their families entertained at the on-site amusement park Motopia, try their hand at singing karaoke at the Big Echo bar, and, of course, explore the surrounding area.
Asian Winter Games, 2017.
Pack your warm jackets, beanies and gloves come February 2017 for the 8th Asian Winter Games to be held in Sapporo and Obihiro in Hokkaido, Japan.
The 2017 Sapporo Asian Winter Games is an international multi-sport competition run by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
The games will see 45 countries compete against each other for gold, silver and bronze medals in events such as skating, skiing and ice-hockey.
With the new Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train service – which links the main island of Honshu to Hokkaido – having just launched on 26 March 2016, getting to the southern end of Japan’s most northerly island in record time is now as easy as pie.
Rugby World Cup, 2019.
Japan will host the ninth Rugby World Cup in 2019, bringing the international rugby union competition to Asia for the first time ever.
Taking place between 20 September and 2 November, the competition will see 20 teams from around the world battle it out in venues right across the country, from Sapporo in the north to Kumamoto in the south.
So why not travel around Japan on the country’s extensive rail network and explore the Land of the Rising Sun whilst supporting your favourite team?
The winners of the Rugby World Cup will be awarded the prestigious William Webb Ellis Cup, named after the inventor of the sport.
Tokyo Olympics, 2020.
Elite athletes from all around the world will converge in Japan’s capital city in July 2020 for the Tokyo Olympic Games for what is expected to be one of the biggest and best Olympic Games yet.
Beginning on 24 July and wrapping up on 9 August 2020, the sporting events will be held at many of the same venues used the last time Tokyo played host to the Olympic Games – back in 1964.
Such venues will include the Yoyogi National Gymnasium and the Nippon Budokan, as well as more modern venues, including Dream Island Park and the Shiokaze Park venues.
The Tokyo Paralympic Games will be held between 25 August and 6 September 2020.
Want to learn more about this fascinating Asian destination?
Then click on over to https://elearning.jnto.org.au/ and become a certified Japan Travel Specialist by completing JNTO’s new e-learning programme.
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