Future Bucket List Adventures - The Far East

The Far East

The Far East is the geographical region that encompasses the easternmost portion of the Asian continent, including East, North and Southeast Asia. Some of the most fascinating places to visit in the Far East are Japan, Hong Kong in China, and Mongolia.

Japan

Japan is an archipelago, or string of islands, on the eastern edge of Asia. There are four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Japan is famous for the cherry blossom tree trail, geisha, tea ceremonies, and my personal favourite car; the world renowned Mazda MX5 (or Miata).

Tokyo

The capital of Japan is Tokyo, a busy city which is the perfect blend of the ultramodern and the traditional.

Aman, Tokyo

The Aman is a luxury hotel right at the center of Tokyo. The hotel is a visually stunning piece of interior architecture which plays with traditional Japanese design traditions.

Sensō-ji Temple

Sensō-ji, is an ancient Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. It is Tokyo's oldest established temple, and one of its most significant.

Mount Fuji

Towering at a height of 3,776.24 meters, Mount Fuji is Japan's highest mountain. It is located between Shizuoka Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefecture, approximately 100 kilometres away from Tokyo. On clear days, this symmetrical, snow-capped wonder is perfectly visible from Tokyo, Yokohama, and other nearby areas.

Kyoto

Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu. It's famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It’s also known for formal traditions such as kaiseki dining, consisting of multiple courses of precise dishes, and geisha, female entertainers often found in the Gion district.

Aman Kyoto

A masterpiece of design, the Aman Kyoto is a stunning luxury retreat in the forests of northern Kyoto, far from the hustle and bustle of downtown.

Geisha

Geisha (芸者) (or geigi (芸妓) or geiko (芸子)) are traditional female Japanese entertainers and the gatekeepers of Japan's traditional arts, spending their whole lives mastering classical music, dance, games and conversation. One of my favourite films is Memoirs of a Geisha. The film is a fascinating and visually stunning adaption of the novel by American author Arthur Golden. Memoirs of a Geisha is a heartwarming tale of Nitta Sayuri, a young Japanese woman who transcended from her fishing-village roots and became one of Japan's most celebrated geisha. Much of the novel is set within the Gion district of Kyoto.

Maruyama Park - Cherry Blossom Tree

Japan's cherry blossom season takes place between March and May. In Japan, the flowering cherry tree, or "Sakura," is an important flowering plant. The beauty of the cherry blossom is a symbol with rich meaning in Japanese culture. The cherry blossom season takes place between March. Maruyama Park is a park in Kyoto, Japan. It is noted as the main center for cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto, and can get extremely crowded at that time of year. The park's star attraction is a weeping cherry tree which becomes lit up at night.

China

China is a country of East Asia. It is the largest of all Asian countries and has one of the largest populations of any country in the world. The Great Wall of China is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the most representative symbol of China.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China. The city is known for its towering skyscrapers, and boasts one of the best skylines on the planet. The harbour is filled with the traditional wooden junk boats which create a visually stunning and interesting contrast against the backdrop of modern high-rise buildings.

The Peninsula

The Peninsula Hong Kong is a colonial-style luxury hotel located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The hotel is most famous for its fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantom cars and Felix restaurant. With its sky-high harbour views and sleek, modern interior designed by Philippe Starck, the Felix has long been one of Hong Kong’s most visually striking dining destinations.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is one of Hong Kong’s biggest festivals and is celebrated with red lanterns, lion dances, markets, prayers for good fortune and auspicious cuisines. From interactive installations to festive decorations there are plenty of celebratory events throughout the city to start the new year with joy and prosperity.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland is a theme park located on reclaimed land in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It was the first Disneyland in Asia outside of Japan until Shanghai Disneyland in 2016. Hong Kong Disneyland is home to Arendelle: The World of Frozen.

Mongolia

Mongolia, a nation bordered by China and Russia, is known for vast, rugged expanses and nomadic culture. Mongolia is famous for the being the home of the Przewalski horse.

Hustai National Park

The selected home of the Przewalski horse in Mongolia is Hustai National Park. The Przewalski horse is a rare and endangered horse, originally native to the steppes of Central Asia. Considered the last truly wild horse, there are approximately 387 native-born Przewalski horses in Mongolia.

Three Camel Lodge

The Three Camel Lodge is a renowned, 5-star ecolodge in the gorgeous Gobi Desert, which offers guests experiences of nomadic Mongolian culture.

These are the places I intend to visit in Japan, Hong Kong in China, and Mongolia.