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.
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.
Covering most of the Shiretoko peninsula at the northeastern tip of Hokkaido, Shiretoko National Park is a remote and pristine UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its rugged volcanic landscape comprises mountains, ocean, rivers, and forest, and teems with wildlife including Japan’s largest brown bear population.
Hakone’s Little Prince Museum is a fun destination for kids and all fans of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic storybook from the 1940s. The museum includes a reproduction of a French village, gardens, and displays relating to the French author’s life and work, as well as a good French restaurant and a gift shop.
Located in northeast Hokkaido, Abashiri Prison Museum is the only prison museum in Japan. Visitors can get a glimpse of the life of prisoners and learn about their contribution to the development of Hokkaido at this open-air museum, which has more than a dozen structures, including original buildings from the Meiji era built by the inmates.
Komezuka is a volcanic cone within the border caldera of Mt. Aso, in central Kyushu’s Kumamoto Prefecture. Bright green with grass in the summer and sprinkled with snow in the winter, Komezuka is often called a kawaii, or cute, volcano for its symmetrical cone that rises from surrounding grasslands. You can’t climb it, but it’s a popular subject of photography.
Namjatown is an indoor theme park on the second floor of the Sunshine City shopping complex in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. The park is operated by Namco, the creator of Pac-Man and many other arcade games. Stop by to experience themed dining, carnival-style games, a haunted house, and a line of character mascots exclusive to the park.
Part of the Akan-Mashu National Park, Lake Akan is a caldera lake and home to four islands. Surrounded by two active volcanoes and hot springs, the lake is known for its beautiful scenery, unique marimo algae ecosystem, various outdoor recreation opportunities, and a large settlement of indigenous Ainu people.
Marked by its modern steel and concrete gate and imposing guardian statues, the temple of Isshin-ji dates back to 1185 when it was founded by Honen, the founder of the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism. The temple is best known for its “Bone Buddha” statue, made from the cremated remains of some 200,000 Osaka residents.
The regal Mount Nesugata (Nesugatayama) sits—or lies, some would say—on the Izu Peninsula, a popular vacation spot southwest of Tokyo. Take the ropeway up to the observatory on a clear, sunny day, and savor the sweeping views.
Dating back to the 18th century, Kinshi Masamune Horino Memorial Museum is a historic sake-brewing house located within a well-preserved machiya, a traditional wooden townhouse that exemplifies the architecture of Old Kyoto. Visitors get a glimpse of how sake was fermented and bottled centuries ago, as well as the minimalist elegance of the machiya’s latticed interior.
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.
It’s fitting that Tokyo’s Ushijima Shrine (Ushijima Jinja) is named after the proverbially strong ox (ushi in Japanese), as it has survived major earthquakes and war. Established in the ninth century, it’s one of Tokyo’s oldest surviving shrines and is said to protect residents on the Sumida River’s east bank, just as the more famous—and older—Senso-ji Temple protects those on the west.
Founded in 1924, Toyo Bunko is one of the five largest Asian studies research libraries in the world, and it's the oldest and the largest institution in Japan. The museum was opened to spark interest in the region's history and culture and has contributed to Asian studies through the acquisition of books and other materials.
In 1986, Suntory Hall opened as Tokyo’s first dedicated concert hall. Since then, it has earned a reputation as one of the finest concert halls in Japan, thanks in part to its unrivaled acoustics. Located in the central Akasaka district, it regularly hosts classical music concerts by local and international musicians and orchestras. The concert hall’s architecture, organ, and decorative features are just as worthy of admiration as the concerts.
Located in a ravine formed by the Katashina, Hiragawa, and Kurihara Rivers, Fukiware Falls forms a dramatic V-shape—it's among the most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. From afar, the falls look like water is draining down a large plug hole because it seems to disappear from the river’s surface.
Around 30 miles (50 kilometers) outside of central Tokyo, the Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba is dedicated to the natural and human history of Chiba province. The museum has a large collection of geological finds from the region as well as dioramas showing the flora and fauna of the area.
Take in some of the best views over the Shimanami Kado expressway from Kirosan Observatory Park on Oshima Island. Located on Mt. Kirosan, the observatory was designed by Japanese starchitect Kengo Kuma to blend into its surroundings. It looks across the islands of the Seto Inland Sea and the bridges that connect them.
Facing the Seto Inland Sea, Imabari Castle (Imabari-jō) was the center of the Imabari Domain during Japan’s feudal Edo era. Unlike most Japanese castles, Imabari Castle was not built on top of a hill and is, therefore, classed as a flatland castle. While much of the castle is undergoing reconstruction, it retains its original walls and wide moat fed by the sea.
Most visitors to Japan have likely tried some coffee from the Ueshima Coffee Company (UCC), renowned for having introduced the world’s first canned coffee. At the UCC Coffee Museum, you can immerse yourself in coffee culture, learn about how coffee is made, and experience it with all five senses.
Many rivers near Sapporo on Hokkaido Island are popular for day trips in the summer. While the Barato, a relatively short river on the northern outskirts of Sapporo, offers canoeing, kayaking, and cycling paths along the banks, the best action happens in winter when the river freezes and becomes an ideal spot for a popular local pastime, ice fishing.
The finest ceramics from Japan, China, and Korea are gathered under one roof at Osaka’s Museum of Oriental Ceramics, which houses one of the best collections in the world. Of the 6,000 pieces, about 300 sit on display at any given time; highlights include two registered National Treasures from Japan.
An amusement park in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, Laguna Ten Bosch (also called Lagunasia) has plenty of attractions to keep kids and adults happy. Come for the day or stay overnight at the on-site hotel and enjoy the park’s indoor and outdoor rides, water rides, shows, nighttime illumination, fireworks displays, and even a spa.
Considered one of the most stunning beaches in the Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa (and that’s saying something—competition here is stiff), Kondoi Beach is famed for its sugar-white sands and shallow, crystal-clear turquoise waters. It’s located on the western coast of Taketomi Island, which is easily reachable by a 15-minute ferry from Ishigaki. It’s an excellent spot for swimming and snorkeling, although there’s no reef here, only soft sands.
Tokonyan is a giant beckoning cat statue that overlooks Tokoname, an ancient kiln town. Standing at over 12 feet (3.8 meters), this impressive figure symbolizes good luck and fortune. Perched on a hillside, it can be seen from the train and is a popular photo spot for travelers visiting the area, especially if exploring the city’s Pottery Footpath.
Nothing says tropical paradise quite like this tiny, secluded island in Okinawa, located just north of Iriomote. It’s just over a ½ mile (1 kilometer) wide, meaning the area can be explored in about an hour. Gentle, turquoise waves lap white-sand beaches, famous for their abundant coral life and shore snorkeling. The island is only home to about 60 residents and simple guesthouses for anyone seeking a few days of peace and quiet.
The Prefecture Government Sakishima Building (aka the Cosmo Tower) rises 840 feet (256 meters) above the streets of Osaka, home to trade offices linking cities around the globe. Glass elevators take visitors to an observatory on the 55th floor, where the 360-degree views extend as far as Awaji Island and the Rokko Mountains.
Hakkoda Ropeway is a year-round attraction that transports visitors to ski slopes and mountain hiking trails atop Mt. Hakkoda. The ski season lasts a long time in this northern part of Honshu, while short and longer hiking trails provide lovely mountain views from the top of the ropeway throughout summer. Indoor and outdoor viewing decks provide season-appropriate lookouts.
Shizuoka Municipal Nihondaira Zoo, covering an expansive space with natural surroundings, is a popular tourist attraction that also runs successful red panda and giant anteater breeding programs. Visiting is a good opportunity to see these animals, as well as many others that are difficult to spot in the wild.
At the Nasu Stained Glass Museum, you’d be forgiven for thinking you had left Japan and entered the English Cotswolds. Designed to look like an English manor, the building is home to antique works of stained glass art, as well as a pipe organ. Art and antiques enthusiasts will enjoy visiting the museum on a day trip from Tokyo.
