In this pandemic situation, it is hard for most people to go somewhere for holiday. One of the ways to explore the world without having to go out from your house is to go on a virtual tour. A virtual tour is a simulation of an existing location, usually composed of a sequence of videos or still images, and it may also be accompanied by other multimedia elements such as sound effects, music, narration, or text.

There are a lot of versions of virtual tour, from using a Google Street View, until a video tour, which is a full motion video of a location that will bring you through a linear walk-through of a location. By using a video camera, the targeted location is filmed at a walking pace while moving continuously from one point to another, making you feel as if you are walking throughout the location by yourself.

There are a lot of available virtual tour in several famous places around the world. Here are some examples of the virtual tour of some places in Japan that you can enjoy from your home:

1. The beauty of Sakura

One of the best times to visit Japan is during the Sakura season, when the cherry blossoms bloom in various places throughout Japan. For around one or two weeks, the view around the cities in Japan turn into a beautiful pink, as a sign that spring has come. You can enjoy viewing the beauty of Sakura in some places throughout Japan here:
https://earth.google.com/web/@37.5807385,138.3330145,-2.99313501a,1203337.26425887d,35y,0h,40.7465308t,0r/data=Ci4SLBIgNmU5ZTVjMzNmZGM3MTFlNmE4OWIxYjMxZWFiNDNjN2QiCG92ZXJ2aWV3

2. Sunrise from the top of Mt. Fuji

Climbing Mt. Fuji is hard to do, but the beautiful view that you can enjoy in exchange for that hardship is definitely worth it and unforgettable. For you who has trouble climbing the real mountain, but is interested in seeing the phenomenal view from the top, you can enjoy the sunrise view from the top of Mt. Fuji here:
https://www.google.co.jp/maps/@35.365824,138.733119,3a,75y,118.88h,70.65t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sFjteFW-Tfj1uMohegUMPUQ!2e0!3e2?hl=ja

3. Huis ten Bosch

Huis ten Bosch is a Ducth city near Nagasaki, complete with windmills and tulip fields. At first glance it looks very much like a European town. However, it also has some Japanese influence on things. You can enjoy a taste of Holland in Japan at this European town look-alike here: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@33.0875578,129.7901558,2a,90y,72.82h,95.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTY6bHPjvJfd5hKl0enlDJg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

4. Tokyo Station

Tokyo Station looks like a 19^th century building from outside, yet it is entirely different inside. You can get around Tokyo Station, walk around the everlasting corridors, go up to the platforms, and even get on board on one of the trains without having to worry about getting lost here: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@35.6804828,139.7658676,2a,75y,107.72h,89.87t,0.31r/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWEqwpQ_CKYvBrqeLtC9dBg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

5. Fushimi Inari Taisha

Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of the Kami Inari, Deity of Rice. It is one of the most iconic sights in Kyoto, which is famous for its endless rows of Torii-gates. The trail goes up mount Inari and pass through many smaller shrines, and you can also enjoy a panoramic view of Kyoto from the top. You can go through the endless Torri-gates here:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@34.9679839,135.7757978,3a,75y,81.62h,91.93t/data=!3m9!1e1!3m7!1sMLeZ1Q5P1P6IELyKbSDblw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!9m2!1b1!2i28

6. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Walking through the tall rows of bamboo trees, accompanied with the sun light shimmering between the trees can feels magical. You can enjoy that in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, which is one of Kyoto’s most visited attractions. Enjoy ‘walking’ through forest here: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0175734,135.674038,3a,75y,258.32h,131.71t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipODI9k4JwLsx-F90OW9CLObjtjSoI30Qd2jJXsT!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipODI9k4JwLsx-F90OW9CLObjtjSoI30Qd2jJXsT%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi-0-ya177.07877-ro-0-fo100!7i8704!8i4352

7. Tokyo National Museum

Located in the beautiful Ueno Park, you can see works of are and antiques from Japan and other Asian countries. You can see paintings, sculptures, and other wonderful works of art and history along with their explanations by visiting their virtual museum here:
https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/

8. Sapporo Maruyama Zoo

You can enjoy watching animal videos in Sapporo Maruyama Zoo such as snow monkeys, giraffes, beavers, hippos, wolves, and many more online. The videos are updated often and you can see the living quarters of each animal as well as cute videos of them here:
https://www.city.sapporo.jp/zoo/info/shokai/202003rinjikyuuen-douga.html

9. Tokyo Fuji Art Museum

You can visit this museum starting from a walk from the station, to walking through the hallways full of some of the world’s most enchanting artworks, some of them dates back to the Renaissance and Baroque periods. There are Japanese masterpieces, and also Eastern and Western artworks from around the world, starting from fine art, to blacksmithing pieces of antiquity. Experience it here:
https://www.fujibi.or.jp/en/visit/virtual-tour/

10. Kyoto Distillery

For you that enjoy a little more mature experience, you can learn about gin distillery by exploring the warehouse and seeing how the process goes from start to finish in Kyoto Distillery. You can also enjoy interactive exhibits that explains the distilling process included in the tour here:
https://kyotodistillery.jp/en/about/virtual_tour.php