10 best places to visit in Japan

10 best places to visit in Japan. Travelers can enjoy a true feast in Japan, which features bustling megacities, tranquil beach-lined islands, and onsen (hot spring) villages perched on mountaintops.

Although you could probably spend your whole life exploring Japan, there are a few places and attractions that are essential to any wonderful vacation there. Here are our top 10 picks for destinations in Japan.

1. Tokyo

best suited to modern culture

Tokyo is a city that is always advancing into the future, pushing the limits of what is practical on a heavily populated, earthquake-prone area by erecting ever-taller, more streamlined skyscrapers. It is Japan’s premier destination for modern art and architecture, pop culture, shopping, consuming, and entertainment (and a tie with Kyoto for dining). The city itself, though, is what charms visitors more than any other sight. As far as the eye can view, it is a spreading, organic entity. No two trips to Tokyo are ever the same due to the city’s constant change and distinct assortment of neighborhoods.

Planning tip: Tickets for sumo, kabuki and Giants baseball games usually go on sale one to two months in advance. The Imperial Palace and Ghibli Museum are other popular attractions that require prior planning.

2. Kyoto

Best for traditional experiences

Kyoto, Japan’s imperial capital for a thousand years, is home to more than a thousand temples. Among them are the monumental, like Kinkaku-ji (an exquisite pavilion sheathed entirely in gold leaf), and the meditative, like Ryōan-ji, with its stark Zen rock garden. And temples are only the start of it: there’s the culture of tea, which you can appreciate at one of the city’s many elegant teahouses; the art of the geisha, those iconic performers of traditional music and dance; and also a rich food culture, including kaiseki (Japanese haute cuisine).

Also read: 22 of the best experiences Japan has to offer

3. Naoshima

Best for architecture

One of Japan’s greatest success stories is Naoshima, an island village that was about to vanish and is now a premier location for modern art. In order to improve the island’s natural beauty and complement its existing communities, many of Japan’s most renowned architects have donated buildings, like as museums, a boutique hotel, and even a bathhouse. The ensuing fusion of rural Japan and the avant-garde is fascinating. As a result, some Japanese have relocated to Naoshima to start cafes and inns in order to seek a slower lifestyle away from the big cities.

Planning tip: Try to plan your visit during one of the three exhibitions of the Setouchi Triennale festival, which happens during the spring, summer and fall every three years – the most recent occurring in 2022. Naoshima hosts various art, drama, music and dance events that make this festival so special.

4. Mt Fuji

Best for views and pilgrimages

Mt. Fuji will leave you breathless, even from a distance. Japan’s tallest mountain is nothing short of amazing up close with its absolutely symmetrical cone. the top at dawn? absolute magic Among the most revered and enduring tourist destinations in Japan is Fuji-san. In keeping with a centuries-old custom of pilgrimages up the holy volcano, hundreds of thousands of people climb it each year. Follow in the footsteps of some of Japan’s most renowned artists and poets if you’d prefer to look for picture-perfect views from the adjacent, less intimidating summits.

Planning tip: The best time to climb Mt Fuji is during its official season, from July 1 through mid-September, to avoid the rainy season and snowfall. Always check for typhoon warnings before hiking in Japan.

5. Hiroshima

Best for being reflective

Hiroshima today is a forward-thinking city with attractive, leafy boulevards. It’s not until you visit the Peace Memorial Museum that the true extent of human tragedy wreaked by the atomic bomb becomes vividly clear. A visit here is a heartbreaking, important history lesson. The park around the museum, much of which was designed by Japan’s great modernist architect Tange Kenzō, offers many opportunities for reflection. But the city’s spirit of determination – as well as its food – will ensure that you’ll have good memories to take with you when you leave.

6. Yakushima

Best for forest bathing

Yakushima, a small island off the coast of southern Kyūshū, is often described as magical and enchanting – otherworldly even. It’s a place where words fail and clichés step in. Home to some of Japan’s last primeval forests, you’ll find the yakusugi, an ancient cedar native to the island whose giant roots form alien tentacles. Hiking trails underneath them cover craggy terrain, often fuzzy with moss. The landscape here is believed to have inspired the iconic Studio Ghibli animated film Princess Mononoke.

Detour: When you’re not hiking, stop by the Yakusugi Museum to learn more about the importance of yakusugi, or Japanese cedar trees, to the islanders of Yakushima. An English audio guide is available.

7. Koya-san

Best for exploring temples

It is only fitting that taking the funicular up to the revered Buddhist monastic complex of Kya-san seems like ascending to another realm. There are more than a hundred temples in this area, with Oku-no-in being the most notable. Paths wind through the area through weathered stone stupas coated in moss and lichen and tall cryptomeria trees. Other temples provide a distinct experience, including the opportunity to stay the night, eat traditional vegetarian Buddhist fare, and rise early to practice morning meditation with the resident monks.

Planning tip: Though Japanese temples and shrines do not have established dress codes, visitors are expected to stay relatively quiet in these sacred spaces.

8. Okinawa and the Southern Islands

Best for beaches

Compared to the rest of Japan, Okinawa and the Southwest Islands provide a completely unique experience. This archipelago of semi-tropical islands connects Kyushu to Taiwan. They founded their own country before being annexed by Japan in the 19th century, the Ryky Empire, and the cultural contrasts are evident in everything from the architecture to the cuisine. Japan’s finest beaches, such as those on the Yaeyama Islands and the Kerama Islands, with sugar-white sand bordered by palm trees and turquoise waters, may be found here. Enjoy the sun, or go scuba diving and snorkeling.

9. Osaka

Best for street food and nightlife

When it comes to urban experiences, Tokyo doesn’t claim all the accolades. The city of Osaka, the third-largest in Japan, is the best for street cuisine. Don’t miss its distinctive dish, takoyaki (grilled octopus dumplings). The most dramatic night scenes may be found there as well, including a brilliant display of LED lights, dynamic signage, and flashing video screens along the canalside strip Dtombori. The city, which is the oldest commercial hub in Japan, is known for its unique pace, passion, and love for life; its unofficial motto is “kuidaore” (eat until you drop).

Planning tip: In addition to nightly accommodation fees, Osaka hotels will typically charge an accommodation tax that varies depending on the standard nightly rate.

Also read: Super Nintendo World opens in Osaka, Japan

10. Kamikōchi

Best for mountain hikes

One of the most stunning natural vistas in Japan, Kamikōchi is a highland river valley enveloped by the soaring peaks of the Northern Japan Alps. Easy day hikes are possible along the pristine Azusa-gawa through tranquil forests of willow, larch and elm. The birthplace of Japanese alpinism, Kamikōchi is also the gateway for more challenging treks up some of the country’s tallest mountains, such as Yari-ga-take (3180m). Private cars are banned from Kamikōchi, which lessens the impact of the crowds.

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