Japan is one of our favorite places to visit on many different levels: the gracious people, the delicious food, the breathtaking scenery. Having relatives in Japan that we love to spend time with doesn't hurt either. But Japan is an amazing country, a place so affected by Western culture and yet not very Western at all. We must admit that Japan is a difficult place to travel. Apart from the extremely high costs of travel and lodging in Japan, the dizzying array of trains, lack of English speakers or signage outside the major cities, and a culture that is often confusing for Westerners to understand add to the hardship. But the rewards of travelling in Japan are obvious for those who have taken the plunge and visited Japan. We've had the luxury of travelling to a variety of cities in Japan, some of which many Japanese rarely get to see. These are our stories and pictures of the most intriguing country in the world.