Kyoto: Japan's old imperial capital and still the cultural heart of the nation, Kyoto is only half an hour away on the shinkansen. The city has more than 2,000 temples and shrines and a wealth of other cultural and historical treasures, including the old Gion entertainment area where real Geisha can still be spotted. Kyoto highlights include the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, with its thousands of Torii gates up in the hillside behind it, and the Kiyomizu Temple, with its verandas seemingly hanging in the air above the steep hillside below. Ginkakuji Temple has one of the most charming gardens in Japan, and the Path of Philosophy leading from there towards the south along the Sosui Canal is one of the nicest walks Kyoto has to offer. The Kinkakuji Temple, with its impressive gold-leaf-covered Pavilion, also has a lovely garden, as does the Heian Shrine. For more information on Kyoto check out the Columbus City Guide to Kyoto or contact the Kyoto Tourist Office (tel: (075) 344 3300; website: www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en).

Nara: A city older than Kyoto and the first permanent capital of Japan before Kyoto, Nara (website: www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/), is located just 45 minutes away and has a wealth of cultural riches, including a large number of old temples, shrines and art works. It boasts the world's largest wooden building at Todaiji Temple, which houses a famous bronze Buddha of gigantic proportions, as well as the world's oldest wooden structure at Horyuji Temple. Both have status as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites and are among the most important temples in Japan. The city has many other interesting temples in addition to some beautiful parkland and plenty of arts and crafts and souvenir shops.