Japan, which is about the size of California has so many places to visit. There are many beautiful places that it is almost impossible to rank them. How you like each spot depends on your preferences.
Here are 10 popular spots that traveljapanalone.com believes are the “must visit” places that offer a good chunk of Japanese culture, tasty food, attractions, and amazing landscapes written at no particular order of rank.
Tokyo
There are 6 places in Tokyo that TJA believes are must visits.
Klook.comShinjuku
Shinjuku is exciting because it is a large business, entertainment, and shopping district that is in the heart of Tokyo.
Shinjuku is a dense metropolis, and the claims the number one spot in population density.
To the west of the Shinjuku JR train station, you have skyscrapers signifying the business district. To the east of the train station, you have a lot of fun shopping and the “notorious” but fun Kabukicho red light entertainment district.
As a trivia note, the JR Shinjuku train station is the busiest train station in the world. Most times of the day, you will see thousands of people bustling in and around the train station at any given minute. If you like to see what extreme population density means, Shinjuku is definitely a place you need to see.
If you need to book any hotels, checkout this site for some awesome deals!
Shibuya
Shibuya is the where the famous 109 building (Tokyu building) and the popular street crossing made famous by many on social media.
Shibuya has a unique trendy youth culture that has many references in Anime. Shibuya is a great place to have fun, karaoke, and party especially at night!
Asakusa
Asakusa is known mostly for the Senso-ji Temple and the Nakamise shopping street that leads to the temple. You can buy lost of souvenirs in Asakusa!
Odaiba
Odaiba city is an engineering marvel and is still considered to be an engineering marvel.
The Odaiba area is a man-made island that is that includes the famous Fuji TV station building, a large shopping mall and tons entertainment options for solo traveler and families.
This is also where the famous giant life size Gun Dam used to exist.
Akihabara
Akihabara is known as the electric town/city (denki machi) of Japan. It is called electric city because it was the go to place for computer hardware and software during the 90s and early 2000s.
Akihabara is still known as the electric city with many big computer franchises shops but these days, Akihabara has become more of a anime/maid hub.
The moment you step out of the train station, you will see girls in maid outfits.
Call it geek (otaku) culture but Akihabara is definitely proud of its geeky culture and high tech computer gadgets.
Ueno
Ueno is TJA’s personal favorite. Ueno contains the famous Ueno Zoo. Furthermore, there are world class museums that are just several minutes away on foot from the train station.
Furthermore, there is a really cool shopping district called Ameyoko-cho. Ameyoko is a nickname for American (Ame) Alley (yoko). No one knows exactly how they got this name but Ameyoko definitely has a cool black market history of all kinds of goods during the Allied occupation right after the second world war.
Today the black market of the past may be gone but the shopping excitement for awesome deals on brand goods still exists! From surplus military goods, jewelry, high quality seafood, and etc. The picture taken below shows how insanely packed it can be due to the big bargain deals they have especially near big national holidays. This was taken right before the New Year.
Kyoto
Kyoto has always been a favorite and if you have to visit Japan, Kyoto is on almost everyone’s list. Kyoto used to be the former capitol of Japan during the medieval period where the Shogun and Daimyos of the past fought, ruled, and unified for peace.
A special factor that makes Kyoto very special and a UNESCO World Heritage site are amazing temples and shrines from hundred and even thousands of years ago that continue still stand with beauty.
Many historical places in Kyoto continue to amaze millions of tourist from around the world that overcrowding and over-tourism has become a major problem in the city. Talk about having a good problem.
Kiyomizu-dera
A temple that is a world heritage site with over 1200 years of history is a very popular site that offers a good panoramic overlook of the city of Kyoto at any time of the year.
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Fushimi Inari shrine is a 5 minute ride from Kyoto station that contains thousands of red torii gates leading up a mountain that would take about 2 hours to hike.
Arashiyama
Called storm mountains in English; Arashiyama has a beautiful bamboo forest, many shrines and temples, and the Togetsukyo Bridge, which is now concrete.
Gion
Ever read Memoirs of a Geisha? Yup, this is the famous district where the book takes place. Gion is the district of geishas! Gion is where you might spot a maiko or geisha walking down the street.
If you need to book any hotels, checkout this site for some awesome deals!
Osaka
Dotonbori
Dotonbori is a popular tourist district in Osaka and perhaps the most well known in all of the Kansai region. Great for the nightlife and iconic Glico Man sign.
Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle is a historic castle with an interesting but bloody history. Osaka castle a must visit for historic buffs and samurai fans.
Universal Studios Japan
Just like the Universal Studios in Hollywood, California but with a Japanese theme. Harry Potter seems to be really famous at USJ!
Hiroshima
Peace Memorial Museum
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is a museum located in the Peace Memorial Park dedicated to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and for the promotion of peace throughout the world.
The Peace park and the museum give visitors a chance to see stories, artifacts, and how the city looked like before and after the nuclear attack on the city of Hiroshima.
Miyajima
Miyajima, or Itsukushima island is a UNESCO heritage site and home to the iconic Itsukushima Shrine and the floating torii gate.
Nara
Toda-ji Temple
Todai-ji Temple: This is the temple that houses the Great Buddha which is a very large bronze Buddha statue.
Nara Park
Nara Park is a park like no other park in the world. It is a large park in the center of Nara city, what makes this park so unique and popular among millions of visitors each year are the hundreds of free roaming deer!
Just be careful that these deers at Nara don’t eat your map or your JR Rail Pass!
Hokkaido
Hokkaido is the largest and the northernmost prefecture of Japan. Hokkaido in comparison would be the Alaska of Japan.
The best time to visit Hokkaido would be during the winter during the famous Hokkaido festival but the summers are still attractive an attractive time for Hokkaido’s natural scenery and the famed lavender fields of Hokkaido!
Sapporo city
Sapporo city is the capitol of Hokkaido that is popular for its snow festival in the heart of winter.
If you are into mechanical stuff or trains, check out the Hokkaido subway. These trains are a one of a kind in Japan because they use rubber tires, which is a cool concept to reduce noise pollution for the city.
Kanazawa
Kenroku-en Garden
Kenroku-en Garden is one of Japan’s three most beautiful gardens that was built in the 1620s. Kenrokuen is a historical garden that rivals Kairakuen, and Kourakuen. All together, they make up the 3 most famous gardens in Japan.
Okinawa
Okinawa southernmost prefecture of Japan that is a tropical paradise known for its beaches and unique Ryukyuan island culture. If you are able to travel Okinawa from mainland Japan, I would advise you do it.
Although Okinawa is part of Japan, it definitely is a different world on it’s own with a unique culture that is somewhat different and unique from Japan. If you have the chance to meet some elderly people on the island, you might notice at times that they speak a special Japanese dialect.
One of Okinawa’s hot tourist spots would be the Chura Umi Aquarium that introduces you to many of Okinawa’s marine life.
Another hot spot would be some of Okinawa’s memorial war sites that are worth visiting and paying your respects to. TJA recommends Chibichiri-gama cave. Chibichiri cave is a mass suicided site. Chibichiri could be arguably the best site that portrays the dark side of Okinawa. Please be respectful here.
Mount Fuji
The tallest mountain in Japan but also a unique geographical wonder. You can climb this iconic mountain during the start of the summer climbing season.
Mt. Fuji is definitely nice to look at, but for climbing, it is all rocks, rocks, and more rocks. What makes “Fuji” popular is that this mountain can be hiked safely by hikers of any level during the climbing season (summer) and that it can be a badge of honor for you to claim that you “climbed” the highest mountain in all of Japan.
If you want to decide to climb this iconic mountain, please bring the proper gear, which should include a good rain suit (jacket and pants), several shirts, a comfortable fleece, a good pair of hiking boots, water, more water, and some food.
I do not recommend you climb Mt. Fuji during the off-season as it will become a technical climb with ice and snow. If you do not know what you are doing, climbing Fuji can cost you your life. The weather conditions are very different during the Fall, Winter, and Spring (the off-season). At the very least crampons will be a necessity. If you do not know what crampons are, please do not climb Mt. Fuji during the off-season.
Nikko
Toshogu Shrine
Toshogu Shrine is a lavish shrine and a beautiful memorial dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Kegon Falls
Kegon Falls is one of Japan’s most scenic and highest waterfalls that you can visit so close you can get wet. You can see it for free or pay to see the waterfall near the base of it.
Access to the falls is easy if you rent a car or take a taxi or take the bus.
Gifu
Gifu prefecture is known for its onsen or hot springs. In Gifu, Gero is the place to go if you like bathing in natural hot springs.
Takayama
Takayama is a small town with beautifully preserved antique traditional district that is known for its festivals.
Kumano Kodo
Kumano Kodo is a pilgrimage route through the Kii Mountains used to worship Kumano for over a thousand years.
These are just some of the highlights Japan has to offer! The beauty about Japan is that there’s so much more to explore in Japan, from the Alps of Nagano to its serene countryside and bustling urban centers. Whatever your interests – be it food, history, nature, or pop culture – Japan has something to offer. Please click to read more details about each place from the above.
Travel information above may change as this post will be regularly updated. Last update was made on 9/20/2023.
*I use affiliate links at no cost to you. If you choose to make a purchase through my link I make a small commission. Thank you for trusting my recommendations!
