Japan attractions

Shiseido Gallery—run by the cosmetics company Shiseido—is known for being one of the oldest operating art galleries in Japan, dating back to 1919. It features exhibitions that showcase the work of contemporary Japanese artists and is a fantastic place to discover emerging talent. With its constantly changing displays, it's an essential stop for anyone interested in exploring Japan's evolving art scene.

Lake Shoji (Shoji-ko) is one of the Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko) around Mt. Fuji. It’s the smallest of the lakes, and largely undeveloped, especially in comparison to the busy Lake Kawaguchi. You can find a few hotels dotted along the northern shore, as well as a campsite, but it’s mostly a destination for peaceful hiking, fishing, and boating.

Only about a mile (1.5 kilometers) in size, this tiny Okinawan island sits off the coast of the much bigger island of Iriomote (Okinawa’s second-largest). It’s a lush botanical strip of coastline, famed for its colorful year-round bougainvilleas and butterfly garden. But the biggest attraction is the unique way visitors arrive in Yubu: pulled from Iriomote through shallow water by rustic buffalo-drawn carts.

Sendai’s Zuihoden Mausoleum is an architectural highlight of the northern Japanese city, and one of its most popular attractions. It’s the resting place of Masamune Date (1567–1636), a local feudal lord and Sendai’s founder. Although the mausoleum, along with much of Sendai, was destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt in the form of the original in the 1970s.

Known as the "flower temple," Mimuroto Temple in Uji City near Kyoto showcases a vast array of seasonal flowers. Early spring sees cherry blossoms, while azaleas and hydrangeas start to flower later in the spring. Lotus plants complement the bright summer months, and autumn foliage colors arrive in late October or November.

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.

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Enryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Hieizan has more than 1,200 years of history. It’s the head temple of the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism, so it’s as significant as it is beautiful. Located at 2,782 feet (848 meters) in the mountains, visitors can admire the views over Kyoto and Lake Biwa while strolling among more than 100 buildings.

The Daikanbo Lookout is a scenic viewpoint off the Aso Milk Road, a 28-mile (47-kilometer) scenic road along the northern edge of the Aso Caldera. From the lookout you can take in wonderful views not only of Mt. Aso’s five peaks and the Kuju Range, but also of the area’s lush grasslands, which have long been used for raising cattle.

Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort, a popular ski destination in Niigata Prefecture, is easily accessible from Tokyo—a 75-minute direct bullet train ride away. With slopes catering to diverse skill levels for skiers and snowboarders, the resort also offers spa facilities, restaurants, snowmobile rides, and an observation deck.

A 700-year-old pine tree welcomes visitors to Hosen-in Temple, a lodging site for Buddhist pilgrims since the 11th century. Part of this temple’s ceiling is made from blood-stained wooden floorboards from Fushimi Castle, which was invaded in 1600, resulting in a mass Samurai honor suicide.

Famed for its torii, a large vermilion gate that floats in the waters of Lake Biwa, Shirahige Shrine is one of the most picturesque places in Shiga prefecture. Believed to date from around 2,000 years ago, the shrine is said to bring fortune and longevity to those who pray there.

Here’s one for the cat lovers: Tokyo’s Imado Shrine (Imado Jinja) is dedicated to maneki neko, the waving feline figurines that welcome you into almost every shop and restaurant in Japan. The shrine actually dates back to the 11th century and was originally dedicated to the Shinto god of war, but over time has become associated with the beckoning cats.

Once one of the largest silk producers on the planet, Tomioka Silk Mill is a 19th-century Meiji-era government factory and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mill comprises four sites to watch demonstrations, see live silkworms, and delve deeper into the silk-making process.

Eastern Tokyo’s Shibamata neighborhood retains an old-fashioned, traditional charm, in a city dominated by sleek skyscrapers and flashing neon. At its heart is the Shibamata Taishakuten Temple, famous for its wooden carvings similar to those at Nikko’s UNESCO–listed Toshogu Shrine. The neighborhood is also home to a handful of other attractions, so it’s worth making the trip from central Tokyo.

Beautiful Yakushiji Temple in western Nara holds more than a millennium of spiritual and architectural history. Although the current main hall was rebuilt in the 1970s after a fire, the multitiered east pagoda dates from the year 730. This Buddhist temple is lesser-known by tourists than Nara’s other UNESCO-listed landmarks, because it lies beyond the ever-popular Nara Park.

While the name doesn’t give this away, Tokyo’s Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art focuses on French artist Georges-Henri Rouault, known for his early 20th-century works. His pieces are displayed in the permanent Rouault Gallery, and the museum also hosts special exhibitions directly or indirectly related to Rouault, who was associated with the expressionist and fauvist art movements.

Omoide no Nukemichi is a backstreet alleyway in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho district, which is home to a collection of small but popular izayakas—local bars that also serve food. Often considered a quieter alternative to the ultra busy Golden Gai, it's a great place to come for beers and yakitori (grilled skewers), while people-watching and enjoying the buzz.

While far enough away to feel remote, Okinawa’s Zamami is one of those rare tropical islands that’s accessible enough for an easy visit. The second-largest island in the Kerama chain is just a ferry hop from the Okinawan capital of Naha, enticing travelers with a slower pace and welcoming atmosphere, as well as coral beaches, sea turtles, and other marine life.

The largest of the Yaeyama Island group in the East China Sea, Iriomote Island (Iriomote-jima appeals to visitors with its lush jungle and mangrove forest, the home of the rare Iriomote wildcat. The whole island is a designated national park and offers opportunities for kayaking and trekking through its unspoiled landscape.

Known for its crystal-clear waters and stunning forest foliage, the Kiyotaki River runs between Kyoto and Osaka. It is reachable from Takao, a scenic hamlet in the mountains west of Kyoto filled with stunning valleys and several historic temples, as a day trip from Kyoto. Winding through the woodlands, the rocky river is home to the Japanese giant salamander, measuring up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length.

Most people visit Aso—a town in the middle of a volcanic caldera—for the natural attractions. But for anyone seeking a dose of culture and history, the ancient Aso Shrine (Aso-jinja) is a must-visit. The origins of this Shinto place of worship are believed to date back about 2,000 years, although much of the current complex is new.

Sapporo Beer is one of Japan’s most famous and popular beers, and travelers to the city of Sapporo can take free tours of the brewery. As well as enjoying beer samples and learning about beer production, visitors can visit the on-site Valhalla Restaurant, play a round of golf at the golf course, and stroll through the Biotope park.

At Taiyo Park in Himeji, visitors can tour of some of the world’s most famous monuments without leaving Japan. The park contains smaller replicas of such iconic attractions as the Giza pyramids, the Statue of Liberty, and China’s Terracotta Warriors. Don’t miss the 3D trick-art gallery inside the replica of Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle.

Curving stone walls and foundations make up the remains of this ancient UNESCO-listed Ryukyu castle, one of Okinawa's oldest historic sites. Climb the steep hill, read information plaques for the lowdown on Lord Amawari and the castle, and soak up fine ocean views all around.

The Hozomon Gate is one of two large gates that lead to the 7th-century Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood. But the English word “gate” doesn’t really do justice to the two-story wooden structure, painted red and white, with curved roofs, wooden statues and giant sandals on either side (protective symbols), and a huge red lantern suspended from the middle.

Entsuin Temple, near Sendai, is a gorgeous mausoleum commissioned by a father for his son, who died at 19 before he was to become the third ruler of Sendai. This peaceful setting has gardens to walk through and explore quietly. There’s a matchmaking deity where you can write down your wishes, a prayer bead bracelet-making area, and three restaurants.

Nagoya Za Kabuki Café offers visitors the chance to enjoy a modern kabuki show, even if they don’t speak Japanese. Kabuki is a traditional form of Japanese theater that originated in the Edo days, but this performance gives it a modern edge, as well as interactive features that keep the audience entertained.

Known to locals as ‘Kokedera’—the ‘Moss Temple’—Saiho-ji Temple is home to lush moss gardens, considered among the most beautiful in Japan. Laid out in the 14th century, the zen meditation gardens are a verdant wonderland, where mossy banks lead to fish-filled ponds and gurgling brooks run through idyllic bamboo groves.

Some of the best views of Sapporo can be had from the Mt. Okura Observatory. The observatory got its start in 1972 as the site of the 90-meter ski jump competitions during the Sapporo Winter Olympics. Today, the facility still hosts ski jump events during the winter months, but during the rest of the year, the ski lift ferries visitors to the Viewing Point Lounge, located 1,007 feet (307 meters) above sea level. Besides offering views of the city of Sapporo and the Ishikari Plain, the site also houses the Sapporo Winter Sports Museum, where visitors can learn about the history of winter sports in Japan and try simulators that immerse you in the experience of timing a ski jump or technical spin in figure skating.

Embark on an safari adventure without leaving Japan at Fuji Safari Park, one of the country’s largest safari parks. By foot or by vehicle, you can journey through the simulated habitats of freely roaming animals from around the world, including lions, tigers, giraffes, cheetahs, elephants, rhinoceroses, and zebras.