Japan attractions

Pontocho Alley is a popular, atmospheric dining area packed with restaurants and exclusive tea houses lining a narrow, cobbled alley just west of Kyoto’s Kamo River. With no cars, modern buildings, or ostentatious signage allowed, it’s considered one of the most beautiful streets in Kyoto.

With its gleaming gold tiers reflected in the lake below and a backdrop of forests and twisted pines, Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) is an enchanting sight. Dating back to the 14th century, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Kyoto’s most popular attractions and among Japan’s most visited temples.

With more than 100 shops, stalls, and vendors selling everything from fresh-off-the-boat fish and seafood to tasty sweets and sushi takeaway, Nishiki Food Market is a wonderland of culinary delights. It's no surprise then that Kyoto’s biggest and most popular food market is a local institution and a popular attraction for traveling foodies.

Tokyo Skytree isn’t just the tallest tower in Japan; it’s also the highest tower of its kind in the world at 2,080 feet (634 meters)—more than double the height of the Eiffel Tower. Taking over from the Tokyo Tower as the city’s leading TV and radio broadcast transmitter, the Skytree also has two observation decks with spectacular views across Tokyo and to distant Mount Fuji.

Dotonbori (also called Dotombori) is a bustling nightlife district in Osaka’s Minami area. It stretches along the Dtomborigawa River, with a multitude of small restaurants, bars, and neon lights that come alive after nightfall. An entertainment neighborhood, Dotonbori is famous for its varied cuisine and huge animated signs.

Crowded into a network of narrow alleyways in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, Golden Gai is a cluster of more than 250 tiny bars—many no bigger than a closet and only large enough for a handful of customers. While some watering holes are reserved for members only, most of the uniquely themed establishments are open to all and offer a glimpse into a less formal side of Japanese culture.

Sandwiched between the bustling districts of Shinjuku and Shibuya, Tokyo’s Harajuku district is known the world over for the youthful crowds that gather there to flaunt their wild fashions. This is where you can spot local teens dressed up in colorful and outlandish punk, goth, and anime costumes. But there’s even more to Harajuku than over-the-top street style—the main thoroughfare of Takeshita Street is also home to crepe stands, art galleries, and the Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu).

Experience the thrill of a cable car ride while taking in sweeping views of Mt. Fuji (Fuji-san) and Lake Ashi (Ashi-no-ko) along the way, by riding the Hakone Ropeway. One of the most popular attractions in the Japanese resort town of Hakone, the Hakone Ropeway connects Sounzan Station with Togendai Station on the shore of Lake Ashi.

Surrounded by the forested peaks of Mt Arashiyama and the west Kyoto mountains, Togetsu-kyo Bridge offers one of Kyoto’s most photographed views. Spanning the Katsura River, the historic wooden bridge is a landmark in its own right and leads the way to the atmospheric Arashiyama district.

Overlooking Tokyo Bay, with great views of the city skyline, Odaiba Seaside Park is an artificially made landscaped park and beach with a wooden boardwalk and opportunities to paddleboard and windsurf. It’s popular with locals and tourists who come to picnic, admire the views, relax in the peaceful surroundings—and to take photos of the Rainbow Bridge and replica Statue of Liberty.

With its neon lights, towering department stores, and trendy nightclubs, Tokyo’s upscale shopping district of Ginza is a chic, cosmopolitan adventure. You can catch a kabuki performance, check out the latest Japanese film or art exhibition, and dine at some of Tokyo’s best restaurants. And, then, of course, there’s the shopping—many consider Ginza to be the capital’s most glamorous retail district, thanks to its luxury department stores and flagship boutiques.

With steaming volcanic hot springs and sulfur fields, Owakudani can feel like it’s on a different planet, instead of near enough to Tokyo to make it a popular day or overnight trip. The volcanic area was created when Mt. Hakone erupted around 3,000 years ago. Ride the Hakone Ropeway cable car to the Owakudani stop and follow a short, easy walking trail to see hot pools and steam vents.

A large covered market selling fresh and cooked food, Kuromon Ichiba Market is nicknamed “Osaka’s kitchen,” because many chefs and home cooks come here for supplies. It has since branched out from purely seafood options, and is typically bustling with locals and visitors hoping to get an inside look at local ingredients and cuisine.

UNESCO World Heritage Site Nijo-jo Castle, a fortified complex dating from 1603, was the official residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun. Walk in the pretty gardens or visit Ninomaru Palace to see fine Japanese artworks. It’s one of the most popular attractions in Kyoto, a city already full of must-visit attractions.

A staple of Tokyo’s food scene, the famous Tsukiji Fish Market was once the largest seafood market in the world, handling more than 2,000 tons (1,800 metric tons) of marine products a day. Although not intended to be a tourist attraction when it opened in 1935, Tsukiji is now a fixture on many Tokyo visitors’ itineraries.

Among the most famous castles in Japan, Osaka Castle (Osaka-jo) dates back to the 16th century, when it played a major role in unifying the nation. Today the reconstructed castle houses a museum filled with artifacts from the history of Japan and from the castle’s creator, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The main tower provides a nice view over urban Osaka.

Built in the 6th century by Prince Shotoku—a cultural hero who helped to bring Buddhism to the country—Shitenno-ji is one of Japan’s oldest temples. The complex includes a multi-tiered tower, pagoda, lecture hall, and gate. Though most of the current structures are from the 1963 rebuilding, they still reflect the 6th century design.

A popular Osaka destination for shopping and entertainment for more than 350 years, Shinsaibashi is a 1,698-feet- (600-meter- long shopping arcade. Countless boutiques, specialty shops, department stores, cafes, and restaurants line either side of the strip, making it is a great place to both shop and people-watch.

Yasaka Shrine–called Yasaka Jinja in Japanese and sometimes still referred to by its old name, Gion Shrine–is a popular and important Shinto shrine in Kyoto’s Gion neighborhood. Thought to have been founded in the 7th century, the shrine has patronized local arts for centuries and is home to the lively Gion Matsuri (festival) in July.

Beneath the verdant canopy of the eastern mountains, Ginkaku-ji Temple (Silver Pavilion) is among the most visited of Kyoto’s UNESCO-listed temples and renowned for its idyllic gardens. Built in 1482 by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, legend dictates that it was to be covered in silver in homage to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)—a feat that was never realized.

Located in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto, Tenryu-ji Temple is one of the five great temples of Kyoto. Make a stop at this sprawling Zen temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates from the 14th century, to experience its traditional Japanese landscape garden.

Often touted as Kyoto’s two most photogenic streets, Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka are pedestrian-only shopping lanes that lead up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The area’s painstakingly restored wooden townhouses are now occupied by cozy tea houses, traditional restaurants, and shops selling snacks and handmade crafts.

The Japanese royal family lived in Kyoto Imperial Palace(Kyoto Gosho) until 1868, when the capital moved to Tokyo. It’s located within the Kyoto Imperial Park, which also houses other palaces and shrines. This must-visit attraction allows visitors to gain a greater understanding of Japan’s rich history and culture while enjoying landscaped gardens.

The center of Japanese politics, the National Diet Building houses both chambers of the National Diet, Japan’s legislature. The House of Representatives meets in the left wing and the House of Councillors in the right. It’s one of the city’s most impressive buildings and was constructed between 1920 and 1936 almost entirely of Japanese materials, with a hybrid European–Japanese architecture style.

Of all the railway stations in Japan’s capital, Tokyo Station (Tokyo Eki) is the most elegant. The neoclassical design of the red-brick facade was inspired by Amsterdam Central Station. The station sits near the Imperial Palace grounds in Chiyoda Ward’s Marunouchi business district. The Tokyo Station City development in and around the station offers many dining and shopping facilities, whether you’re catching a train or not.

The central Tokyo neighborhood of Roppongi has long been associated with expat communities—several embassies are located here—and nightlife. And while Roppongi remains one of Tokyo’s best nightlife districts, it has successfully broadened its appeal with a wider variety of cultural and entertainment options. The development that has most significantly changed the face of Roppongi is Roppongi Hills, a behemoth modern shopping and entertainment complex housed at the base of Mori Tower, which opened in 2003.

Ueno Park (Ueno Koen) is a public park in central Tokyo, which is home to several of the city’s top museums, including the Tokyo National Museum and the National Museum of Nature and Science. You’ll also find Ueno Zoo (Tokyo’s oldest zoo), a boating lake, and other attractions for the whole family here. The park also boasts four temples and shrines, including the Edo-era Kan'eiji Temple.

Built on the site of a feudal lord’s private mansion, Shinjuku Park (Shinjuku Gyoen) is one of the largest and most popular parks in Tokyo. The beautifully landscaped park spans 144 acres, offering a peaceful natural respite from the urban jungle, right in the heart of it. Features include gardens in three formal styles—Japanese, French, and English—along with pavilions, ponds, lawns, and more than 10,000 trees.

One of the largest parks in Tokyo, Yoyogi Park (Yoyogi Koen) is a convenient place to relax before or after a stop at top city attractions, and it’s got plenty of space for kids to run around. Unwind on the walking paths, get active on the jogging or cycling paths, or watch lively weekend street performers and local youth in cosplay get-ups.

Founded in 1236, Tofuku-ji is a large Zen Buddhist temple in southeastern Kyoto. It’s one of the most important Zen temples in Kyoto (and the entirety of Japan) and it's the head temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. It’s an especially popular place to see the vibrant colors of the trees in fall.