We want to visit somewhere visually stunning in Japan. Where should we go?

After a fantastic trip to Japan in March 2023, my partner and I are booked to return in August. We have four nights in Tokyo, with six days to spare mid-trip and we want to go somewhere beautiful and cool. What are your suggestions for a visually stunning area that will allow us to escape the summer heat, potentially go on a beautiful short hike, be culturally enriched and eat delicious food?
S. Kumar, Stanmore, NSW

You could head for Japan’s alps, starting with a few days in the mountain resort of Kamikochi, followed by a couple of nights at Okuhida Onsen and a night in Matsumoto. This would give you a combination of scenery, culture, wilderness walking trails in the mountains and cooler air. However the most practical way to get to Kamikochi from Tokyo is via the Alpico bus, which takes five to seven hours. Also, August is peak holiday season and many Japanese will be heading for the alpine regions to escape the summer heat.

Since you both have busy lives, what I propose for you instead is deep chill – five nights in an onsen, one of the natural hot springs where the Japanese have been enjoying the soothing effects of communal soaking for centuries. In the alps, Takaragawa Onsen has Japan’s largest roten buro (open-air pools), and some of the most serene. Since it’s a foreigner favourite, Takaragawa is a great starting point if you’re new to the onsen world. The onsen’s four spring-fed, rock-lined bathing pools are set along the banks of the Takaraga stream as it charges through a forested river valley. Shrines, bridges and pinewood architecture enhance the beauty of the natural surroundings. Each pool offers different depths and temperatures. Three are konyoku (mixed gender baths), while the Maya bath is women only.

Takaragawa Onsen is the trailhead for the hike to Mount Asahi peak (not to be confused with the mountain with the same name on the island of Hokkaido). It’s a rugged, secluded alpine climb. At Takaragawa Onsen, Osenkaku, the riverside guesthouse, has English-speaking staff. There are several different room types, be sure to book one with a private bathroom. You’ll be eating from a kaiseki menu. Dinner might include seasonal vegetables, sashimi, wagyu hot pot, fish, rice, miso soup and pickled vegetables. Breakfast could be salmon, eggplant, miso soup, lettuce, tomato and yoghurt. From Tokyo or Ueno Stations, take the Joetsu shinkansen to Jomo-Kogen Station, which takes about an hour, followed by the 40-minute ride aboard the shuttle bus to Takaragawa Onsen.

We visited the French region Alsace for the Christmas markets and loved it. This time we would like to enjoy the wines/wineries/cellar doors and surrounds, but France doesn’t seem to do cellar door tastings as in Australia. What is the best way to see and experience this area over three nights? We are self-driving.
L. Blair, Barrabool, Vic

You could do worse than simply following the Alsace Wine Route. Running north to south through the eastern slopes of the Vosges Mountains, this 170-kilometre route meanders through medieval towns, gorgeous scenery and about 70 wine villages. Many of the wineries in this region have been run by the same family over hundreds of years and most operate cellar doors which are open to visitors, although some close during the middle of the day. Click on “All our wineries” on the wine route website for a rundown on individual wineries, whether staff speak English, the tasting fee and whether they’re open for individual visitors – some open only for groups. Some of the villages where you might look for accommodation include Riquewihr, Eguisheim, Kaysersberg and Mittelbergheim. The route passes just to the west of Colmar, and since you’ve already visited Alsace, I’d give this a miss.

My husband and I are planning a trip to Italy next April, staying two weeks before moving on to Greece. One friend recommended Sicily and another north-east Italy. We love nature, history and Italian food, and plan to travel on public transport only. Any advice?
M. Pohlenz, Mount Duneed, Vic

While April is a great time to beat the tourist hordes, the weather is still quite cool. I was in Umbria, just to the north of Rome, in mid-May and there was snow on the hilltops and a biting wind. Although it’s a lovely region, north-east Italy is likely to be colder still. Sicily would be a more appealing destination in April. You’ll probably enter Italy at Rome and given that you have two weeks, you might take three or four nights to explore the capital before travelling to Sicily. Most of the great attractions in Rome are indoors and you won’t have to contend with crowds of visitors, although it’s never quiet.

My wife and I are trying to decide whether to take an ICE (intercity-express) train or fly from Amsterdam to Prague. We like the idea of looking out at the scenery, but we’re not sure about the 10-hour trip. Would you book first or second class? Any thoughts about travelling for this time on a train, against a 90-minute flight?
M. O’Donoghue, Beenleigh, Qld

According to currently available schedules, the daytime high-speed ICE145 train departs Amsterdam at 10am and terminates in Berlin at 3.25pm. From there the RJ385 train departs for Prague, arriving at 9.25pm. There is also an ICE sleeper train departing Amsterdam at 10.34pm and arriving in Prague at 10:51am. If you were to travel by air, the time it would take you to get from a hotel in Amsterdam to the airport, fly to Prague and transfer to your hotel is probably going to be around 4½ hours. If you want scenery, the day train is a better option, if speed is more important then take the flight. Travelling first class by train gives you more space and a better seat and it’s usually only slightly more expensive if you book well in advance.

Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances