Do you have a satellite dish?” Several times we had to change hotels.With my daughter, my prepared speech was rather different: “My daughter is a Buddhist and on religious grounds cannot each fish or meat But .. ” (and here I had to make an important addendum) ” … I am not a Buddhist and like meat and fish very much.”She is, indeed, a Buddhist, studying to be a full order member, so much of our trip was this time directed to Buddhist arts and culture. It was a fascinating experience, not always entirely spiritual. The Japanese treat Buddhism as they treat all religions – as an object of casual faith and instinctive placation. Buddhism, despite the efforts of the Meiji emperors to marginalise it, is widespread and wealthy. But the separation of lay and priesthood is strong and the priests in Japan – unlike other parts of Asia – have little time for foreigners in search of enlightenment. You go with the flow.The flow, however, is an exceedingly rich one, taking you to a stream of art which is infinitely rewarding.

The great hall of Buddhas in the old temples are deeply moving, the groupings of life-size statues of guardians, protective kings, bodhisattvas and monks even more so.And if you want to see ordinary Buddhism in practice then you should go to Mount Koya, the holiest spot in Japan. There sleeps the founder, the monk Kobo Daishi, waiting to reawaken when the Buddha of the Future appears. Every major family in Japan has set a light or a stupa so that their ancestors, too, can accompany Kobo Daishi when he awakens again. The walk to the shrine, through a mile of gravestones set in the woods, is extraordinary. The town itself has some 200 temples, 50 of which have guesthouses to take the tens of thousands of visitors who come to offer prayers for their ancestors. To stay in one is a unique experience of ordinary faith.Wakened at 6am, you don the temple garb to attend the ceremony with the families and elderly who have come to make their offerings It’s both devout and casual, and very welcoming. Beside us were an elderly couple who had obviously waited, and saved, for this moment for some time Their children were not quite so devout.

Still pulling on his socks, the son turned up 10 minutes into the ceremony dragging a sleepy-eyed young wife with him. The father glowered but his mother could clearly have forgiven him everything, proudly showing off the scrolled prayer and the burning incense after the rest of the congregation had left I felt for the father and felt like the mother Taking children on a tour is always a risk. But it’s a fond time, and, in shared discovery, an infinitely rewarding one.The FactsGetting thereAdrian Hamilton travelled to Japan on a tailor-made holiday with Creative Tours (020-7462 5577; ), going to Tokyo, Hakone, Nara, Kyoto, Yanagawa and Osaka. A similar two-week trip, including return flights on Japan Airlines, room-only accommodation and a 14-day rail pass, costs £2,200 per person, based on two sharing.Further informationJapan National Tourist Organisation (020-7734 9638; ).. Oh, j’adore passer les vacances au bord de la mer

Oh, j’adore passer les vacances au bord de la mer
Don’t we all love to be beside the seaside? Luckily, France has lots to be beside.

In the north, the coastline stretches along the English Channel, rounding the corner at Brittany and surfing down the Atlantic coast to Spain, while the South of France lazes on the shores of the Mediterranean. As you’d expect, each coastal region has its own distinct character.Where are the best beaches?That depends what you’re looking for. If your idea of the perfect beach is one lined with stylish cafes and hotels, then you probably fantasise about the French Riviera. On the other hand, if you prefer your beach deserted and wild, then head to the Atlantic, while for the quintessential traditional seaside resort, Normandy and Brittany can supply Victorian elegance in bucketfuls. There are golden lengths of sand to be found almost everywhere, but some of the best are located near the towns of Biarritz, St Tropez and on the island of Corsica. If you judge best in terms of the most popular, then the C?d’Azur is the winner hands down, closely followed by Brittany.But where can I build the biggest sandcastles?That would have to be on Hardelot Plage near Boulogne in Normandy – although you will be up against some fairly stiff competition, as the beach is host to an annual International Sand Sculpture competition.