Japan attractions

A short trip from central Tokyo, the Railway Museum is a must-do for train enthusiasts and families with kids. The 3-story museum includes everything from 19th-century carriages to contemporary Shinkansen bullet trains. Explore the hands-on exhibits, and try out the steam locomotive simulator.

Families and travelers who appreciate quaint, unusual collections will enjoy visiting Kawaguchiko’s Music Forest Museum, a small theme park dedicated to music boxes and automatic musical instruments. Peruse the antique music boxes and mechanical organs in the indoor exhibition spaces, then stroll through pretty European-style gardens with great views of nearby Mt. Fuji when the weather’s clear.

Shizuoka City’s Miho no Matsubara, or Pine Grove, is a scenic area of over 50,000 pine trees along a 4.3-mile (7-kilometer) stretch of beach on a peninsula. It’s part of the Mt. Fuji UNESCO World Heritage Site and, with Fuji views on a clear day, it’s long been considered one of Japan’s most beautiful natural landscapes.

The annual Nebuta Matsuri is a major festival in Aomori, but if you’re visiting the northern city outside of early August, you can see the Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse instead. Learn about the colorful festival’s historical and cultural significance, watch footage and listen to music, and admire several full-size floats that have participated.

The smell of fresh-off-the-boat seafood and the singing calls of vendors tempt early risers to Hakodate Morning Market, a local institution. The bustling market offers a delicious way to start your day and immerses you in Hakodate’s food culture.

Learn about World War II’s Battle of Okinawa in the place where it came to a brutal end. The military site, where thousands of Japanese soldiers died by suicide or were killed, was reopened by the Okinawans to show the futility of war and to promote peace. Visitors can walk through some of the pickaxe-dug tunnels, and learn about the site’s history through museum exhibits.

The Aokigahara Forest at the base of Mt. Fuji is pockmarked with underground caves, created when Fuji erupted about 1,100 years ago. The Fugaku Wind Cave is one of these and is well set up for visitors. It is tube-shaped inside, formed when lava flowed through, and is quite cold, with an average temperature of about 37°F (3°C).

Nissan Crossing is the main showroom for Nissan Intelligent Mobility, where you can see interactive exhibits that feature notable vehicles, as well as advanced technology and even a 4D racing simulator. For fun, the on-site Crossing Cafe has coffee with custom latte art, which can be your favorite Nissan car or even something personalized.

Folklore says that Sojobo, the mythological King of the Tengu, inhabits Kurama, a rural temple town in the foothills of the northern Kyoto mountains. Less than an hour from Kyoto, Mt. Kurama is a popular choice for a day trip, famous for its hot springs and mountain top temple.

Situated next to the Jindaiji Temple, the Jindai Botanical Gardens are famous for having one of Tokyo’s biggest rose gardens, featuring over 5,200 rose bushes. Divided into 30 themed areas, gardening enthusiasts and nature lovers flock to this natural wonder to see everything from azaleas to aquatic plants and over 100,000 trees and shrubs. It also plays a key role in conservation, protecting native trees from the Musashino Plain.

Sunshine 60 is a skyscraper in central Tokyo with a 60th-floor observatory deck. The views of the surrounding city from 823 feet (251 meters) above are spectacular, and its central-city location in Ikebukuro makes it a good place to fit into your itinerary between shopping and dining. Visit during the day or at night with kids or friends for sweeping views, especially when the weather’s clear.

The remote Miyakojima archipelago is made up of eight inhabited islands, known for their soft white sand, clear turquoise waters, and abundant opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, diving, and sunbathing. Miyakojima beaches are considered some of Okinawa's best, though plenty of gems lie beyond the sand. Vast coral reefs, coastal rock formations, lush greenery, and scenic cycling routes round out this tropical Shangri-La.

Many Fuji Sengen shrines are located throughout Japan—they’re Shinto shrines dedicated to the deity of Mt. Fuji. The Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine is the oldest of its kind in the Mt. Fuji area. Originally established more than 1,300 years ago, it has been rebuilt over the centuries following Fuji eruptions. The current building dates from the early 17th century.

On the southeastern outskirts of Fukuoka City, the ancient Dazaifu Tenmangu is one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines. Visitors can stroll through the beautiful grounds filled with cypress trees, visit several shrine buildings, see a classical dance or art performance (often on the schedule), and learn more about Shinto at the two on-site museums.

Yebisu Garden Place is a multibuilding commercial complex in central Tokyo’s Ebisu neighborhood, where you’ll find restaurants, shops, hotels, and museums, including the Museum of Yebisu Beer and the small Tokyo Photographic Art Museum. Like other cities-within-the-city, it offers a convenient way to enjoy several kinds of experiences in one location.

Matsushima Bay is home to hundreds of pine-covered islands in Miyagi Prefecture and has been named one of the three most iconic views in Japan. The biggest island, Fukuura Island, is reached by a long vermillion bridge and has hiking trails to explore. There’s also the Kantantei Tea House, which used to be famous for entertaining feudal lords.

At Ginza Mitsukoshi in Tokyo’s Ginza district, experience one of Japan’s oldest surviving department store chains, founded in 1673. This upscale shopper’s heaven features 12 floors of luxury fashion, accessories, toys, childrenswear, cosmetics, and household goods. Don’t miss the large food hall with gourmet items, offering both a visual and culinary feast.

Located in Tokyo’s lively Ebisu district, the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum is dedicated to the art of photography and moving images. Spanning four floors, it showcases rotating themed exhibitions rather than permanent displays, which keeps the experience fresh for repeat visitors. With a collection of over 37,000 pieces, the museum showcases both the work of Japanese and international artists, with exhibitions typically running for a few months at a time.

Established in the late 19th century, Shiba Park (Shiba Koen) is one of Japan’s oldest public parks. It’s best known for the distinctive red-and-white Tokyo Tower looming over it. The park is a refreshing green space in the central city, and it’s a great place to take a walk while in this part of Tokyo. As you stroll, you’ll see trees like zelkova and gingko, seasonal flowers and blossoms, and a temple.

Flowing from Lake Towada in Aomori’s Towada-Hachimantai National Park, the Oirase Gorge is a popular destination for hiking, biking, and spending time in nature, especially in the fall season. Tohoku in general is known for its autumn foliage, and the Oirase Gorge is a top spot thanks to the contrast between the green moss and the blaze of leaves.

Located in Takayama City and discovered in 1965, the Hida Great Limestone Cave is unusual for its helictites, limestone formations that curve horizontally rather than vertically like the more common stalactites and stalagmites. The connected Ohashi Collection Kan Museum displays an eclectic array of artifacts from a private collection.

High on a hill in Matsuyama is the city’s prime attraction: its castle. First built by a warlord in the 17th-century Edo period, the landmark was reincarnated a few times after misfortunes like lightning strikes, arson, and war. Despite this, the castle remains interesting to explore, with various towers and military artifacts that document Matsuyama’s feudal past.

Mt. Aso is best known for its rugged, jagged, steaming volcanic landscape, but Kusasenri provides an interesting, mellow contrast. Its grasslands are bright green in the summer, or brown and white with snow at other times of year. From here, admire the views of Aso’s volcanic peaks, visit the observatory and museum, or take a sightseeing ride on horseback.

In a town jam-packed with ancient temples and shrines, Nara’s 8th-century Toshodaiji Temple stands apart as different in style. It’s also quite far from the very popular Nara Park, so it’s not as inundated with visitors and has a more peaceful atmosphere. It was fully dismantled and renovated in the 2000s, so visitors can now admire the restored buildings and lush grounds.

Japan has a long history and visitors may get accustomed to seeing temples and palaces dating back a few hundred years. But Aomori’s Sannai-Maruyama Site is truly ancient: the archaeological site is a well-preserved village from the Jomon period, 13,000 to 300 BC. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and fascinating for anyone interested in ancient civilizations.

Fukuoka’s Kushida Shrine, also commonly called Okushida-san by locals, is one of the city’s oldest and most important Shinto shrines. It dates back to the 8th century, though the current building is mostly from the 16th century. Beautiful and ornate, with elegantly pointed roofs and a large ginkgo tree in the shrine yard, it’s a must-visit attraction in central Fukuoka.

Ginza Wako is a prestigious department store offering high-end goods, including luxury watches, handbags, jewelry, and fashion items. As well as coming to shop, visitors flock here to capture photos of the iconic Hattori Clock Tower—which dates back to 1932 and has even appeared in the Godzilla movies. You’ll also find an art gallery and gourmet chocolate and tea shops.

Standing 1,745 feet (532 meters) above Otaru, Mt. Tengu (Tenguyama) is the symbol of the Hokkaido city. From the summit visitors can take in sweeping views of Otaru and the Sea of Japan.

Located near an ancient Jomon period archaeological site, the modern Aomori Museum of Art was designed to resemble that site. Although it’s made of stone and concrete, part of the museum is built underground in trenches, like the Sannai-Maruyama Site. The similarities stop when you step inside. The museum exhibits contemporary art, from Marc Chagall paintings to cartoonish pop art.

You’ll see Momochi Seaside Park long before you get there, thanks to the 767-foot (234-meter) high Fukuoka Tower that stands within the waterside development. Created in 1989 for the Asia Pacific Expo, the park contains a sandy beach, an artificial island (Marizon), the Fukuoka City Museum, and more. You can also catch a ferry over to the larger Uminonakamichi Seaside Park from Marizon.