After 5-6 hours of flying over the Pacific Ocean, you are rewarded with your first glimpse of Easter Island. Maps help give an idea of the distance between Easter Island and South America, but without setting foot there, it is hard to understand its true seclusion. As your plane touches down at Mataveri International Airport, and you walk across the tarmac to the small terminal, you begin to grasp how remote and special this place is. The near treeless landscape alludes to the island’s history of deforestation and allows for sweeping views dotted with moai (famous monolithic “Easter Island heads”, which are actually full bodies) in many directions. These views also hint at the ecological crises the island suffered in the past.

Trying to narrow down where to visit on your trip to Japan? Cost and number of vacation days are both major factors to consider when arranging your trip. They can limit how much of a country you can see in a single trip, so knowing which area will best suit you is key. Everyone’s “dream” Japan itineraries will look a bit different. The diversity of the country draws travelers with an immense range of interests from anime to bird watching and beyond.