Everyone can claim to be unique, but Japan feels especially so. Japan hid from the world until the mid-19th century and became unique. Still celebrating its medieval heritage, you can tour castles and appreciate the spring cherry blossom, yet it led post-war development. The world’s largest cities, rich culture, and best cuisine—the difficulty will be time.

View the cherry blossom

This is bucket list Japan at its best: sitting under a cherry tree and watching creamy pink petals fly. The blossom lasts only a fortnight, but if you time it properly, you’ll join throngs of locals picnicking with bento boxes in festival style. Tokyo’s 1,000-tree Ueno Park has the best party vibe. Unable to spring? Autumn maple color is just as stunning and lasts longer.

Mount Fuji climb

The flawless cone of Japan’s tallest peak and unofficial symbol is stunning. However, the Japanese saying, “A wise man climbs Mount Fuji once; a fool climbs it a second time” applies to the six-hour trip, which requires some fitness (annoyingly, you’ll see lots of Japanese octogenarians speeding past you). It’s crowded, altitude sickness is possible, and you may only see clouds. The peak of Fuji-san offers hikers a once-in-a-lifetime sunrise over the clouds, hills, and lakes gleaming in the early light. On clear days (typically in winter), you may view Fuji-san from Tokyo skyscrapers or, more reliably, from the Shinkansen bullet train window to Osaka or Kyoto (about 45 minutes into the trip).

Attend tea ceremony

No activity in Japan clears the mind like a tea ceremony. Although hot water flows from kettle to ladle to tea bowl, the tatami-mat room will be quiet. Sit or kneel where the kimono-clad host directs (perching on the tea table is a big mistake). She will serve two types of apple-green matcha and delicate wagashi sweets while teaching you the ancient “way of tea”. In traditional Kyoto, several tea establishments provide a 45-minute ceremony. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo in Shinjuki offers a half-hour tea master-led experience in a tatami-matted room. Try a spa day at the skyscraping Aman hotel and receive a massage in the clouds.

Put on a kimono

The gowns are beautiful, but a new silk one will break your baggage allowance, cost too much, and you’ll never wear it at home. Instead, rent. Kimono rentals are lucrative. Okamoto has multiple branches in Kyoto, including one by Kiyomizu temple. A nominal fee gets you help putting it on and hours of strolling and snapping.