Visit Copenhagen, the beautiful capital of Denmark, where history and art live on.
Denmark consists of the Jutland Peninsula, surrounded by the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, and many surrounding islands. Bordering Germany on the southern border, the country can be considered the gateway to the Nordic countries. Copenhagen, the capital city located on the island of Zealand in the eastern part of Denmark, is a port city that has long developed as one of the largest international cities in the Nordic countries.
Copenhagen is lined with elegant historical buildings in the Renaissance and Rococo styles. If you want to enjoy the charm of this city, we recommend taking a leisurely stroll through the "Old Town," which still retains the appearance of the Middle Ages, the pedestrian mall "Strøget," where many street performers appear, the amusement park "Tivoli Gardens," which opened in 1843 in front of Copenhagen Central Station, and "Nyhavn," where colorful buildings line the canals. You're sure to encounter the kind faces of the Danish people in these historic streets.
Copenhagen is also known as an art city where you can enjoy a wide variety of museums. There are many attractive facilities, such as the National Museum, which exhibits Danish history and culture, the National Gallery, which exhibits domestic and international art from the Middle Ages to the present, and the Design Museum Denmark, which has a large collection of Danish crafts. You can easily spend 2-3 days just touring the art. It would also be interesting to visit spots related to Hans Christian Andersen, the world-famous fairy tale writer born in Denmark, such as the Little Mermaid statue.
We also recommend taking a short trip to the suburbs. Kronborg Castle, located about 30km north of Copenhagen, is known as the setting for the play Hamlet and is a beautiful old castle that is also registered as a World Heritage Site. Roskilde, one of Denmark's oldest cities, located about 30km west of Copenhagen, also has many attractions, such as Roskilde Cathedral, which is also a World Heritage Site.
To Oslo, the beautiful capital of Norway where nature and life coexist in harmony
Located on the west coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Norway is a country surrounded by magnificent nature, including a beautiful coastline with developed fjords. It is also known as one of the world's leading welfare states, and in its capital, Oslo, people live a peaceful life in harmony with nature.
Oslo, the capital, is the country's largest city, located at the northernmost part of the Oslofjord. Since it was founded by the Viking king Harald in the 11th century, it has developed as the cultural and economic center of Norway. The center of Oslo is divided into five areas, but each is compact and easy to explore on foot. There are many attractions, such as Karl Johans Gate, the main street leading from Oslo Central Station to the Royal Palace, the Munch Museum, which displays the masterpieces of Norwegian-born painter Edvard Munch, and Oslo City Hall, where the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is held every year on December 10th.
We also recommend taking the Bergen Railway, which connects Oslo with Norway's second largest city, Bergen. A beautiful panorama of snow-capped mountains and lakes flows past the train window. Bergen offers a variety of travel experiences, including the colorful warehouses "Bryggen," a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and fjord sightseeing tours.
Sweden's beautiful capital, Stockholm, known as the "Venice of the North"
Located on the eastern coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Sweden is the largest country in the Nordic countries, with an area of approximately 450,000 square kilometers, which is about 1.8 times the size of Japan.
Stockholm, known as the capital of Sweden, is a beautiful city that boasts the largest size among the Nordic countries. This city, which consists of 14 islands floating in the Baltic Sea and Lake Mälaren, is a water city that is also called "Venice of the North" because of its beautiful appearance. The first place you should visit in this city is Gamla Stan (Old Town), the birthplace of Stockholm, which still retains its medieval appearance. This area is dotted with attractive sights such as historical buildings such as the Royal Palace and nostalgic alleys. Other recommended spots include City Hall, the symbol of Stockholm, where the banquet after the Nobel Prize ceremony is held, and Kaknes Tower, a 128m-tall television tower that overlooks the city of Stockholm. Stockholm is a city with a well-developed subway and tram system, so you can enjoy walking around the city comfortably.
In the area around Stockholm, there are many World Heritage sites, such as the beautiful Drottningholm Palace, known as the "Versailles of the Nordic countries," Birka and Hovgården, which flourished as the city's central area during the Viking era, and Skogssilikogården, a cemetery where nature and modern architecture blend in together, so it is worth visiting these places.
Finland: A cute town worth exploring on foot
Finland borders Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, and all of its territory lies north of the 60th parallel. The charm of Finland is that you can enjoy beautiful nature, such as the mysterious aurora dancing in the night sky, thousands of blue lakes scattered throughout the country, and ski resorts spread across the mountains of Lapland.
Helsinki, the capital of Finland, has direct flights from Japan and is a convenient base for trips to Northern Europe. Although it is a compact city that can be walked around, it is filled with an amazing variety of travel pleasures, including art, gourmet food, history, and nature. Therefore, if you visit this city, we recommend walking around until your legs are sore and enjoying the charm of Helsinki.
You can stroll through the trendy area of Kallio, lined with fashionable cafes and shops, look for Scandinavian design furniture and miscellaneous goods in the Design District around Diana Park, enjoy the architectural beauty of the Cathedral of Uspenski and works by Finland's world-renowned architect Alvar Aalto, or browse the local ingredients and crafts at Market Square... There are many ways to enjoy yourself. Don't forget to take a ferry to visit the Fortress of Suomenlinna, a designated World Heritage Site.
Of course, the appeal of traveling to Finland is the natural activities that are tailored to the season you visit, such as aurora sightseeing, trekking, snow resorts, etc. We also recommend using Helsinki as your base to travel around the country.
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The four Nordic countries we will introduce this time are all located north of 55-60 degrees north latitude. Even though it is summer, there are chilly days in mid-August, and there are days in September and October when you will need to wear a coat. The temperature changes drastically throughout the day, so we recommend that you dress in layers and be able to adapt to temperature changes!
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
