Japan, and Tokyo in particular, offer a wide range of attractions and places to visit, catering to various interests from historical sites to modern entertainment. Here are some of the top places to visit in Tokyo, Japan:
- Asakusa and Senso-ji Temple: Explore the historic district of Asakusa, visit Senso-ji Temple, and stroll down Nakamise-dori, a bustling shopping street.
- Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea: Enjoy the magical world of Disney at these two theme parks, which offer a variety of rides, shows, and entertainment.
- Tsukiji Fish Market (now Toyosu Fish Market): While the famous Tsukiji Fish Market has moved to Toyosu, it’s still an interesting place to experience the lively atmosphere of a Japanese fish market and enjoy fresh sushi.
- Shibuya Crossing: Witness the iconic Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world, and explore the vibrant Shibuya district.
- Meiji Shrine: Located in Shibuya, this Shinto shrine is surrounded by a serene forest, offering a peaceful escape from the bustling city.
- Harajuku: Known for its unique fashion, Takeshita Street in Harajuku is a trendy shopping destination. Don’t forget to visit Meiji Shrine nearby.
- Akihabara: Explore the “Electric Town” of Tokyo, known for its electronics shops, anime and manga stores, and the vibrant otaku culture.
- Ueno Park: This large park in Tokyo offers a variety of attractions, including museums, a zoo, cherry blossoms in spring, and street food vendors.
- Ginza: A high-end shopping district with luxury boutiques, department stores, and upscale restaurants. It’s also home to the Kabuki-za Theater.
- Odaiba: A futuristic entertainment and shopping district with attractions like the teamLab Borderless digital art museum, the Miraikan science museum, and the life-sized Unicorn Gundam statue.
- Tokyo Tower: Enjoy panoramic views of the city from this iconic red and white tower, which resembles the Eiffel Tower.
- Roppongi Hills: A modern complex featuring shopping, dining, the Mori Art Museum, and a rooftop observation deck with great views.
- Imperial Palace and East Gardens: Visit the beautiful East Gardens and walk around the grounds of the Imperial Palace, the official residence of the Japanese emperor.
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: A peaceful oasis in the heart of Shinjuku, offering a variety of gardens, walking paths, and seasonal beauty.
- Koishikawa Korakuen Garden: A traditional Japanese garden with walking paths, ponds, and picturesque landscapes.
- Sumida Aquarium: Located in Tokyo Skytree Town, this aquarium features a unique design and showcases aquatic life from Tokyo Bay.
- Oshiage and Tokyo Skytree: Climb to the top of Tokyo Skytree for breathtaking views of the city, and explore the shopping and dining options at Tokyo Skytree Town.
- Ebisu: This neighborhood is known for its trendy bars, restaurants, and shopping streets.
- Yanaka: Explore the old Tokyo atmosphere in Yanaka, with its preserved historic buildings, temples, and traditional shops.
- Yoyogi Park: A spacious park where you can enjoy picnics, festivals, and outdoor activities. It’s a great place to see cosplayers on weekends.
Tokyo offers a rich and diverse range of experiences, from its historical sites to its cutting-edge technology and pop culture. Whether you’re interested in traditional Japanese culture or contemporary trends, Tokyo has something for everyone.
It’s the perfect juxtaposition of centuries-old traditions overlapped with lightning speed, cutting-edge technology. Many first-time visitors to Japan are often surprised to learn that, as one of the world’s most advanced industrialized nations, this relatively small Asian country also boasts a rich and fascinating history that dates back thousands of years.
Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji has for centuries been celebrated in art and literature and is now considered so important an icon that UNESCO recognized its world cultural significance in 2013. Part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Mount Fuji is climbed by more than a million people each summer as an act of pilgrimage, which culminates in watching the sunrise from its summit.
Imperial Tokyo
Tokyo’s most famous landmark, the Imperial Palace with its beautiful 17th-century parks surrounded by walls and moats, is a must-see when visiting the nation’s capital. Don’t be put off by the fact that the majority of the palace is closed to the public (it’s still in use by the Imperial family), as there is still enough to see simply by strolling the grounds.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
While little needs to be said here of the horrors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in August 1945, much can be said of the incredible efforts this vibrant city has made to commemorate the many victims of the world’s first nuclear attack. Perhaps even more importantly, Hiroshima has become a symbol of lasting peace.
Historic Kyoto
One of Japan’s most visited cities, lovely Kyoto – one of the few cities in the country to be spared the devastation of WWII – attracts more than 10 million visitors annually. Most of them are here to explore Kyoto’s fine old streets and architecture, much of it unchanged since the Imperial family took up residence here more than 1,000 years ago.
The Island Shrine of Itsukushima, Miyajima
Just a short ferry ride from mainland Hiroshima is the island of Miyajima, famous the world over as Japan’s Shrine Island. Covering an area of 30 square kilometers in Hiroshima Bay, Miyajima is best known as the home of the Itsukushima Shrine, a Shinto temple dedicated to the Princess daughters of the wind god Susanoo.
Dating from the eighth century, the majority of the shrine’s buildings rise out of the waters of a small bay supported only by piles. The effect at high tide is simply stunning, making these structures – including the famous Great Floating Gate (O-Torii) – appear as if they’re floating on water.
Temple City: Historic Nara
For centuries the hub of Japanese culture, the lovely unspoiled city of Nara is home to a large number of historic buildings, along with important national treasures and works of art.
In addition to its many historic streets, the city boasts numerous important old temples. These include the magnificent seventh-century Kofuku-ji Temple, perhaps the best known of the Seven Great Temples of Nara; and the splendid eighth-century Todai-ji (Great East Temple), famous for its huge bronze statue of the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), cast here in AD 749.
Osaka Castle
Built in 1586 by famous Japanese warrior and politician Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Osaka Castle (Ōsaka-jō) was at the time the largest and most important fortress in the country. Although destroyed and rebuilt a number of times since, the present structure, built in 1931, remains true to the original.
Highlights of a visit include the huge five-story, 42-meter-tall main tower. Built on an imposing 14-meter-tall stone base, the tower is home to a number of displays detailing the history of the castle and the city. Be sure to visit the top floor for its superb views over Osaka, an especially attractive sight as the sun sets.
Chūbu-Sangaku National Park and the Japanese Alps
Japan boasts a number of outstanding areas of natural beauty, many of them designated as national parks or, in some cases, UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of the country’s most spectacular of these is Chūbu-Sangaku National Park in the center of Honshu. Located in the park’s northern and central regions is the group of mountains collectively referred to as the Hida Mountains, or Japanese Alps.
The Atsuta Shrine, Nagoya
Fukuoka Castle Ruins and the City’s Ancient Festivals
The ruins of the once-grand Fukuoka Castle (Fukuoka-jō), built in the early 1600s, punctuate the middle of Maizuru Park. The castle was once a fine example of the prolific and majestic hilltop homes preferred by Shoguns and city rulers. But it was destroyed after the Meiji Restoration as a backlash against the feudal system.
Today, only the ruins of the castle remain, including the main gate and one of the turrets. Visitors mainly come here for the leafy walking trails and scenic lookouts, with beautiful views over the Naka River. If you climb to the top of the ruins, you can see views of the city beyond. The park is especially lovely in spring when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.
Sapporo hokkaido japan
Located on Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido, the city of Sapporo offers many things to do for tourists. As the island’s largest city, it’s a hub of cultural activity, hosting many excellent events and festivals. It also has a distinctive culinary style; a rich theatrical history; and plenty of museums, galleries, and parks.
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, Kyoto
Koyasan Okunoin
While a cemetery may not seem like an obvious top attraction, Japan’s Koyasan Okunoin is a great exception. One of the most sacred places in the country, this popular pilgrimage spot holds the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism.
Daishi, also called Kukai, is one of the most important figures in Japan’s Buddhist history. It is said that he sits in eternal meditation while waiting for the Buddha of the Future. Those who make the pilgrimage to his mausoleum do so to ask for salvation in this life.
Kiyomizu-Dera, Kyoto
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Tokyo
One of Tokyo’s most famous districts is the Shinjuku district, known for its electric nightlife, trendy restaurants, and upscale hotels. But the heart of the district is also home to one of Tokyo’s most naturally beautiful attractions – the Shinjuku Gyoen park.
Within the park are sprawling green spaces and trails of walking paths that wind around stunning floral displays, ponds, and manicured shrubbery. Come cherry blossom season, the park is one of the best spots to catch the brilliant waves of powder pink.
Hakone Open-Air Museum, Hakone
The town of Hakone, located within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park to the west of Tokyo, is known for its stunning mountains and tranquil hot spring resorts. That is reason enough to visit this stunning small town. But another top draw to this peaceful bit of paradise is the impressive Open-Air Museum.
True to its name, the outdoor museum is a sculpture park that spreads over 17 acres. Opened in 1969, it is one of the first open-air museums in Japan, featuring more than 100 sculptures all over the grounds.
Naritasan Shinsho-ji, Narita
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Japan’s Okinawa archipelago consists of more than 150 islands that speckle the area between Taiwan and Japan’s mainland. This tropical environment is completely unique to other areas of Japan, home to beautiful beaches and swaying palm trees. The main island is also called Okinawa, and is home to several museums, as well as the Churaumi Aquarium.
The aquarium is widely considered to be the best in Japan, known for its Kuroshio Tank. Within this massive tank are about 60 different species of animals, but most visitors come to see the gigantic whale sharks and gliding manta rays.
Matsumoto Castle, Nagano
Arashiyama Monkey Park, Kyoto
Located in the Arishayama section of Kyoto, the famous Arashiayama Monkey Park is one of the best things to do both in Kyoto, as well as Japan overall. A short hike up a forest-covered mountain opens up to sweeping views over the city, as well as a troop of more than 120 Japanese macaque monkeys.
The macaques roam freely in the monkey park, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with these energetic creatures. You can even feed them with food you purchase at the park. You’ll find a small, wooden enclosure where you can feed the monkeys. Outside the enclosure the macaques roam freely, bouncing from branch to branch and scattering across the dirt trails.
Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa
Perfectly manicured with the highest attention to detail, the gardens in Japan are truly works of art. To visit a Japanese garden is to step into a painting. Arguably the most beautiful garden in Japan is the Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa. The grounds used to be a part of Kanazawa Castle and were opened to the public in the 19th century.
What makes the garden so special is that it was designed around what are known as the six essentials to make a perfect garden. These include spaciousness, seclusion, antiquity, abundant water, views, and artificiality.
