Situated near the famous Geisha district of Gion, Kennin-ji Temple attracts Buddhist monks on pilgrimage as well as religious locals, tourists, and curious explorers. Dating to 1202, it’s one of the most important Zen temples in Kyoto, with rooftops that curve upwards toward the sky, as if in prayer.
The narrow alleys, paper lanterns, and traditional tea houses of Hozenji Yokocho are a far cry from the neon lights and pulsing atmosphere of Dotonbori. The historic alley’s most famous attraction is the 17th-century Hozenji Temple, where devotees come to splash water over a moss-covered statue of the Buddha.
teamLab Planets TOKYO is an art museum featuring mesmerizing digital art experiences that invite interaction. Among its many digital landscapes, you can wade through water while surrounded by thousands of floating orchids that react to human presence, paddle among digital koi fish, and venture into rooms lined with fog and otherworldly projections.
The dense Aokigahara Forest lies at the northwestern base of Mt. Fuji, the iconic, near-symmetrical cone-shaped mountain. Often associated with local legends and a macabre reputation—and often used as a setting in horror stories—it's also quite beautiful, filled with quiet trails and lava caves. Travelers can visit parts of the forest to hike, enjoy nature, and experience a quieter side of Fuji's scenery.
Best known for its riot of colorful foliage each autumn, this celebrated Buddhist temple—part of the Jodo sect of Japanese Buddhism—is considered an indispensable stop on any Kyoto itinerary. With roots dating back to the 8th century, here you’ll find a variety of traditional buildings and a tranquil garden with a tree-lined pond, all open to visitors year-round.
The Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima commemorates the atomic bombing of the city at the end of World War II, in August of 1945. The park sits just below the site of the bomb’s mid-air explosion and includes the UNESCO-listed Atomic Bomb Dome, the Peace Memorial Museum, and many smaller memorials dedicated to affected groups of people.
If you’ve been captivated by photos of furry macaques sitting in steaming hot water, surrounded by snow, head to the Jigokudani Monkey Park (Jigokudani Yaen Koen). Located in the Joshinetsu-Kogen National Park, in Nagano Prefecture, this is believed to be the only place in the world where monkeys bathe in hot springs
Each morning, the Takayama Morning Markets bring life to the streets of Takayama as locals and tourists wander from stall to stall, shopping for vegetables, handicrafts, and snacks. Two markets comprise the Takayama Morning Markets: the Jinya-Mae market outside the Takayama Jinya and the Miyagawa market along the city’s eastern riverbank.
Built to protect fisherman and sailors, the 3rd-century Sumiyoshi-taisha (Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine) is Osaka’s most famous shrine. Renowned for its classic Japanese architecture and vivid red-and-white colour, the shrine
The Hakone Open-Air Museum spans a 200-acre (80-hectare) site within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, and is dotted with fascinating sculptures. When it opened in 1969, it was Japan’s first open-air museum; now its collection includes more than 1,000 sculptures, with about 120 on permanent display. Pieces by Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, and Constantin Brâncuși are among the works displayed.
It's no wonder why Kanazawa's Kenroku-en Garden is among the city's most popular attractions. Built during the Edo Period, and revamped continuously over the centuries, this gloriously landscaped spot is considered among Japan’s most beautiful. It’s also a great place to see different types of traditional landscaping from across periods.
When Sapporo residents want to relax, play, or soak up nature, they head for Maruyama Park (Maruyama Koen). On the western side of the city, the park’s sprawling grounds include the Maruyama Wild Forest, a designated natural treasure, and several attractions including the Hokkaido Shrine, the Maruyama Zoo, and the Maruyama Baseball Stadium.
Universal Studios Japan™ is second only to the Tokyo Disney Resort® as Japan’s most visited amusement park. Highlights include The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, home to the epic Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™, which was voted the world’s number one ride for five consecutive years, and Super Nintendo World™, where iconic game characters such as Mario and Donkey Kong come to life.
Kasuga Taisha (Kasuga Grand Shrine dates back to the year 768, when its construction was ordered by Emperor Shotoku (though it has been rebuilt several times since. This celebrated Shinto shrine complex is most famous for the series of giant stone lanterns that line the paths through Nara Park leading toward its entrance.
Lined with traditional buildings and houses from the Edo period, Sannomachi Street preserves centuries of Japanese culture. This popular walking street is located at the southern end of the Old Town of Takayama, known for its shops, restaurants, street-food stalls, and sake breweries.
Among the most important religious sites in Japan, the renowned Zenkoji Temple houses one of the first Buddhist statues brought to the country after the introduction of the religion in the 6th century. For hundreds of years, the city of Nagano developed around the temple, which shows a replica of the statue to the public every six years.
The underground, mostly glass design of Hakone’s Pola Museum of Art was meant to blend into the surrounding national park landscape. It’s as much of a natural and architectural attraction as an artistic one. The museum houses around 10,000 items—including Western, Japanese, and East Asian art and artifacts—so it’s a fixture on Hakone’s impressive art circuit.
Minami, which translates as south, is the go-to Osaka district for a taste of the city’s entertainment scene. With shopping, dining, and nightlife venues stretching from Semba to Namba Station, Minami is ever-popular with visitors and locals.
Kyoto’s main waterway, the Kamogawa River (Kamo River) runs from the north to the south of the city. As well as being a favorite local haunt for riverside walks, bike rides, picnics, and people-watching, the banks are also buzzing with restaurants and nightlife options—most notably, around the geisha districts of Pontocho and Gion.
Occupying two floors of a former sake brewery, the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum introduces visitors to the history and process of sake brewing. Life-sized figures recreate scenes from the traditional brewing process, and brochures are available in English to help non-Japanese speakers get their bearings.
Miyajima Island (officially named Itsukushima) has been a Shinto holy place for centuries and is home to the Itsukushima Shrine, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For travelers, this island off the coast of Hiroshima is best known for the red torii gate rising from the water off the shrine’s shore. However, it’s also home to many other shrines and temples among its forests of maple and cherry trees, as well as plenty of tasty local snacks and oysters.
Shiraito Falls (Shiraito no Taki) is located in Japan's Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in Shizuoka Prefecture. Shiraito Falls translates to "White Thread Falls" because the wide cascade makes the falling water look like many hanging threads of white silk. The site, which stretches nearly 500 feet (150 meters) across and 65 feet (20 meters) high, is officially a Natural Treasure of Japan.
If you only have time for a single day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, make it Himeji Castle, which is widely considered one of Japan’s most beautiful surviving feudal castles. Also known as the White Heron Castle, thanks to its striking white exterior, the UNESCO World Heritage–listed complex features a five-story central tower with surrounding moats, walls, and pagodas. The castle grounds are flanked by the ponds and tea rooms of Koko-en Gardens, a welcome retreat for a stroll or lunchtime stop.
Designed by renowned architect Hiroshi Hara, Kyoto Station is the second-largest station in Japan. In addition to being the main transportation hub of Kyoto, the futuristic steel and glass structure houses a hotel, museum, theater, several shopping malls, and plenty of food options, making it a popular attraction in its own right.
Located in the heart of Sapporo and dividing the city into north and south, Odori Park (Odori Koen) offers a pleasant open and green space for relaxation and recreation. The city’s central park, which stretches for 13 blocks, is the main site for popular seasonal events and festivals.
The Edo-Tokyo Museum chronicles the development of Japan’s capital city, from its early days as a sleepy fishing village through the years of expansion and foreign trade wars to its transformation into a major metropolis. The museum building itself also draws visitors as a fine example of postmodern architecture.
Shinjuku’s Hanazono Shrine (Hanazono Jinja) may appear unassuming—it’s located down a small alleyway framed by a stone torii gate—but it’s a historically significant site that hosts a variety of colorful weekly and seasonal events. Dedicated to the god of fertility and worldly successes, Inari, the shrine contrasts with the bright lights and skyscrapers of other parts of Shinjuku, providing a welcome respite from the city center buzz.
The elegant, minimalist Engaku-ji Temple is considered by some to be an almost-perfect example of Chinese–inspired Zen architecture. It was founded in 1282 and is now one of the most famous Zen Buddhist temples in Japan. Parts of the temple complex are classified as Japanese National Treasures. Located in Kamakura, which rivals Kyoto in its concentration of heritage buildings, Engaku-ji is a convenient place to visit on a day trip from Tokyo.
Linking the Akashi Strait from Kobe to Awaji Island, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge opened in 1998 and is one of the world’s longest suspension bridges. The bridge's central span is 1,991 meters (6,532 feet) long, and while crossing the bridge, travelers come here to see the Bridge Exhibition Center and the Maiko Marine Promenade.
Part of Tokyo Disneyland®, the first Disneyland® to open outside the United States, Tokyo DisneySea® boasts a unique claim to fame—as the world’s only nautical-themed Disney park. Set along the waterfront overlooking Tokyo Bay, it has seven ports of call packed with water rides, boat cruises, and other attractions, alongside the usual parades, shows, and character meet-and-greets you’d expect.
