Touring Japan digitally

Travelers may not be able attend this year’s Summer Olympic Games, but they can still experience Japan virtually.

For 2,000 Japanese yen ($18), armchair travelers can take a virtual trip to the district of Asakusa through one-hour interactive tours conducted by tour company Tokyo Localized.  

The tour takes viewers down the narrow streets of Asakusa, one of six remaining geisha districts in Tokyo. The area is also home to the Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest temple; Asakusa Hanayashiki, Japan’s oldest amusement park; and Hoppy Street, famous for yakitori skewers and its namesake beverage.

Aside from London’s Abbey Road, it’s rare that a street crossing achieves international acclaim. Yet one of Tokyo’s most recognizable locations, Shibuya Crossing, joins the ranks.  

Deemed “the busiest intersection in the world,” the crossing can accommodate an estimated 3,000 people at every light interval. The bursts of organized chaos symbolize Japan’s dedication to the “Four Ps” — patience, politeness, punctuality and precision — attributes that govern one of the most densely-packed societies in the world.

Virtual tours seldom come with souvenirs, but those who sign up for this furoshiki online workshop are sent a customized package from Japan before the class begins.

Wrapping precious items in furoshiki, or decorative cloth squares, is a centuries-old Japanese tradition. Today, the practice is viewed as an environmentally friendly way to wrap small items without using paper or plastic wrap, though they can also be used as small handbags and home decor.

The speed and timeliness of the Shinkansen have made Japan’s bullet trains so well-known that riding on one is considered a tourist attraction unto itself.

Trains regularly reach speeds of 200 miles per hour and have a reputation for arriving and departing on time — to the exact second.

Virtual viewers won’t disturb the delicate sand sculptures at The Sand Museum near the Tottori Sand Dunes. Scrollable photographs also show sculptures of Buckingham Palace, Angkor Wat and Napoleon retreating from Moscow.

Art and antiquity enthusiasts can virtually stroll The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo and the Tokyo National Museum. For contemporary Asian art, viewers can look to the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, or find traditional Japanese paintings, called nihonga, inside the Yamatane Museum of Art.