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Jul 27, 2023 · Tokyo. #1 in Best Places to Visit in Japan. This metropolis is a feast for the senses. Neighborhoods like Ginza and Akihabara buzz with flashing lights and larger-than-life shopping, while...
- Kyoto
in Best Places to Visit in October 2024; See All 4 Rankings....
- Tokyo Pictures
42 travel photos that best represent Tokyo, Japan. Navigate...
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- Tokyo
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- Mt Fuji
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- Okinawa and The Southwest Islands
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- Kamikōchi
Best for contemporary culture Tokyois a city forever reaching into the future, pushing the boundaries of what's possible on densely populated, earthquake-prone land, and building ever taller, sleeker structures. It's Japan's top spot for contemporary art and architecture, pop culture, shopping, drinking and entertainment (and a tie with Kyoto for d...
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 beginning. There's the cult...
Best for architecture Naoshimais one of Japan's great success stories: once a rural island on the verge of becoming a ghost town, it's now a world-class center for contemporary art. Many of Japan's most lauded architects have contributed structures, including museums, a boutique hotel and even a bathhouse – all designed to enhance the island's natu...
Best for views and pilgrimages Even from a distance, Mt Fujiwill take your breath away. Close up, the perfectly symmetrical cone of Japan's highest peak is nothing short of incredible. Dawn from the summit? Pure magic. Fuji-san is among Japan's most revered and timeless attractions. Hundreds of thousands of people climb it every year, continuing a ...
Best for introspection Hiroshima today is a forward-thinking city with attractive, leafy boulevards. It's not until you visit the Peace Memorial Museumthat the true extent of human tragedy wreaked by the atomic bomb becomes vividly clear. A visit here is a heartbreaking, important history lesson. Thepark around the museum, much of which was designe...
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 seem to form alien t...
Best for exploring temples Riding the funicular up to the sacred Buddhist monastic complex of Kōya-san feels, appropriately, like ascending to another world. There are over a hundred temples here, the highlight of which is Oku-no-in, where paths weave their way among towering cryptomeria trees and time-worn stone stupas covered in moss and lichen. ...
Best for beaches Okinawa and the Southwest Islands offer a totally different experience from the rest of Japan. This semi-tropical archipelago forms an arch between Kyūshū and Taiwan. Until the islands were annexed by Japan in the 19th century, they formed their own kingdom – the Ryūkyū Empire – and the cultural differences are apparent in everythi...
Best for street food and nightlife Tokyo doesn't nab all the superlatives when it comes to urban experiences. Osaka, Japan's third-largest city, is tops for street food: don't miss its signature dish, takoyaki(grilled octopus dumplings). It also has the most dramatic of nightscapes: a dazzling display of LED lights, animated signage and flashing vi...
Best for mountain hikes One of Japan's most stunning natural vistas, Kamikōchi is a highland river valley enveloped by the soaring peaks of the Northern Japan Alps. Easy day hikes are possible along the Azusa-gawa, following the pristine river through tranquil forests of willow, larch and elm. The birthplace of Japanese alpinism, Kamikōchi is also ...
- Kyoto. If you only have time for one Japan destination, make it Kyoto. This is traditional Japan as you imagined it—geisha in brightly coloured kimonos emerging from wooden teahouses, forests of bamboo, temples and shrines in gold and silver and scarlet, raked gravel Zen gardens, intricate feasts served on lacquered plates, graceful tea ceremonies, and markets full of intriguing but unidentifiable ingredients.
- Tokyo. If Kyoto is the heart of traditional Japan, Tokyo is its ultramodern counterpart. It’s here you’ll find the skyscrapers, noisy arcades, busy pedestrian crossings, quirky youth fashions, and many many incredibly delicious restaurants.
- Takayama. Takayama is an utterly gorgeous small town on the edge of the Japan Alps and one of the best less-visited places to go in Japan. I loved wandering the historic centre full of traditional wooden houses, colourful shrines, neatly shaped trees, and bright red bridges over the river.
- Hakone. Mount Fuji is on most people’s lists of places to visit in Japan, but this must-see Japan landmark can be rather elusive and is often hidden by clouds.
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- 4 min
- Tokyo. Tokyo, the capitol of Japan, is obviously one of the best places to go in central Japan. While Kyoto is viewed as the spiritual center of Japan, Tokyo is seen as the most popular, busiest, and most significant city in the country, and there is no question why.
- Osaka. Osaka is a port-based city that is full of interesting museums, attractions, and a fascinating variety of activities for any visitor to Japan.
- Nara. If you are looking for elegant cherry blossoms, peaceful Buddhist temples or the occasional Shinto shrine, then Nara is the ideal travel location for you.
- Yokohama. Yokohama is one of the more authentic places to visit in Japan if you would like a taste of Japanese culture, some history, and a tad bit of everything else.
Feb 11, 2024 · Fujinomiya (Mount Fuji): The most iconic Japan place to visit. Nara: One of the best places to go in Japan for ancient history. Kyoto: A Japan must-see city. Miyajima: One of the best day trip destinations. Nikko: One of the most beautiful places to visit in Japan. Takayama: One of the unique alternatives to Kyoto.
Mar 22, 2017 · By Caitlin Morton. March 22, 2017. Ask anyone who has visited, and they'll tell you: Japan is easily one of the most stunning places in the world. The country offers a full range of nature and...
Top Japan Attractions. Things to Do in Japan. Explore popular experiences. See what other travelers like to do, based on ratings and number of bookings. See All. Fun & Games (82) Bus Tours (1,208) Theme Parks (439) Nature and Wildlife Tours (413) Day Trips (498) Points of Interest & Landmarks (10,012) Cultural Tours (1,464) Historical Tours (1,500)
