Introduction
You may have heard that Japan is an amazing country to visit, with its bustling cities, rich cultural sites, beautiful natural landscapes, and world-renowned cuisine. If you are planning a trip to Japan soon, you will want to make sure your itinerary includes the most popular and famous destinations that give visitors an authentic taste of Japanese history, culture, and sights. Here is a guide to the top 10 best and most popular visiting places across Japan that should not be missed.
1. Tokyo
As Japan's enormous capital city, Tokyo offers almost endless sites and attractions for you to explore. From the towering skyscrapers and flashing neon lights of areas like Shibuya and Shinjuku to historic temples and shrines, high-tech interactive museums, amazing food, and much more, Tokyo is an urban destination like no other. No visit to Japan is complete without spending a few days getting lost in Tokyo’s huge labyrinth of sights and sounds. Make sure to visit places like the Tokyo Skytree, Senso-ji Temple, the Meiji Shrine, and don’t forget to shop till you drop at massive malls and markets across the city.
2. Mount Fuji
You cannot come to Japan without seeing its most iconic natural landmark—the majestic Mount Fuji. Located just outside Tokyo, this almost perfectly symmetrical volcano stands at 12,388 feet tall. You can take scenic bus rides and hike around its base at places like the Fuji Five Lakes region, stay in mountain huts halfway up the peak, or if you’re feeling adventurous, climb to its summit during July and August to watch the sunrise. Witnessing Mount Fuji’s grandeur up close is a magical experience.
3. Kyoto
Once the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years, Kyoto is packed with centuries-old temples, palaces, shrines, and traditional wooden houses that provide a window into ancient Japanese history and culture. Spend your days here visiting sites like the famous golden pavilion called Kinkaku-ji, wandering through 1,600 red torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine, seeing a real geisha dance performance, and sampling matcha green tea, kimonos, and more. With its many conserved historical structures and traditions, Kyoto allows you to experience old Japan at its finest.
4. Hiroshima & Miyajima Island
While it’s known first for the 1945 atomic bombing that hastened the end of WWII, today the modern city of Hiroshima also stands as a testament to the human spirit and hope for peace. Spend time at the powerful Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Museum to reflect and learn. But make sure you also visit the nearby island of Miyajima, considered one of Japan’s top scenic spots. You can ride a cable car up Mount Misen for panoramic views, wander around ancient shrines and temples like Itsukushima, and make friends with the island's friendly deer that roam the streets.
5. Osaka
No trip to Japan is complete without spending time in its second largest metropolis, Osaka. This vibrant city is known for its fun-loving, outgoing people, rich food culture, and attractions ranging from futuristic buildings to ancient shrines. Chow down on local specialties like okonomiyaki savory pancakes and takoyaki octopus balls. See Osaka from new heights by visiting the floating Umeda Sky Building Observatory and the colorful cityscape of the Dotonbori district after dark. And don’t miss out on the towering Osaka Castle surrounded by blooming cherry blossom trees in springtime.
6. Nara
Japan’s first permanent capital, Nara is home to eight massive UNESCO World Heritage Sites that comprise temples, shrines and ruins dating back over 1,300 years ago. You can relax and feed friendly wild deer that roam Nara Park while taking in sights like Todai-ji, the world’s largest wooden temple which holds a 15-meter tall bronze Buddha statue. Other magnificent temples not to miss are the Kofuku-ji Pagoda and the Kasuga Taisha, illuminated by thousands of lanterns. With so many important ancient structures and natural beauty, Nara provides you with a glimpse into old imperial Japan.
7. Sapporo & Otaru
If you head further north on Japan’s main island of Honshu, you will discover the lovely snowy cities of Sapporo and Otaru on the northernmost main island of Hokkaido. Sapporo is famous for its annual Yuki Matsuri snow festival featuring enormous ice sculptures that light up the winter nights. The city also has great skiing opportunities. A short train ride away is the seaside town of Otaru, which offers quaint canal scenes, fresh seafood, steamy onsens and historic glassworks and breweries waiting to be explored. Hokkaido's stunning winter scenery and welcoming atmosphere make it an excellent option to include in your travels.
8. Hakone
Under 100 km from Tokyo, Hakone is beloved for its gorgeous mountainous landscapes and endless choices of natural hot springs called “onsens” to soak in and relax. This area in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park allows you to get back to nature after busy days in the big cities. Not only are there sulfuric and mineral onsens to rejuvenate your body and spirit, but there are also spectacular views of Mt. Fuji, scenic boat rides on Lake Ashi, epic hiking trails on volcanoes like Mt. Owakudani, and so much more pretty scenery. Spend at least 1-2 days unwinding in Hakone’s healing thermal waters surrounded by Epic Nature.
9. Takayama & Shirakawa-go
For a taste of old rural Japan surrounded by the Japanese Alps, look no further than Takayama and the remote mountain village of Shirakawa-go. Takayama impresses visitors with its beautifully preserved old town whose wooden buildings, temples, and sake breweries look straight out of the Edo period. Meanwhile, little Shirakawa-go is famous for its fairytale-like thatched-roof farmhouses nestled in the mountains. Journeying to this Gifu Prefecture area lets you discover a simpler, quieter side of Japan and take part in small town life, like sipping sake at family-owned bars and trying your hand at activities like woodcarving and soba noodle-making alongside friendly locals.
10. Kanazawa
Many travelers haven’t heard of Kanazawa, located on Japan’s northern central coast, but it deserves a coveted spot among the country’s top destinations. Dubbed “little Kyoto” for its preserved historical charm combined with modern culture, you could spend days in Kanazawa visiting its many highlights like the renowned Kenrokuen Garden, Nagamachi samurai district, and Ninja Temple with hidden doors and tunnels. The city also boasts one of Japan’s top three gardens, a vibrant seafood market supplying the freshest sushi and sashimi, rich crafts like Kutani porcelain and gold leaf, and a welcoming local scene where traditional arts are kept alive. With so much to experience, Kanazawa is an authentic side of Japan you need to discover.
Conclusion
With its unique combination of frenetic futuristic cities, millennia-old shrines and temples, outstanding natural beauty including iconic Mount Fuji, and welcoming culture everywhere you go, Japan offers an unbeatable and unforgettable travel experience. Trying to see everything in one trip is impossible, but this list of the 10 best and most popular places to visit ensures that you take in some genuine highlights across this amazing country. From the non-stop energy of Tokyo to serene ancient sites like Nara to rejuvenating hot springs towns like Hakone and cultural gems like Kanazawa, putting these destinations at the top of your Japan travel list guarantees a vacation full of wow moments that provides life-long memories. Where in incredible Japan will you choose for your next adventure?