Established in the late 19th century, the Nara National Museum is a well-respected exhibitor of Japanese Buddhist art. In addition to the original French Renaissance–style building, a newer wing also displays temporary exhibits. In both wings, visitors can admire predominantly Japanese Buddhist statues, paintings, scrolls, and ceremonial objects.
America-Mura (American Village) is the go-to Osaka district if you want to get a taste of the city’s street culture. The area earned its name in the 1970s when it began filling up with shops selling imported goods from the United States. Today it’s an enclave of youth-focused and offbeat stores, as well as cafes, bars, and nightclubs.
Visiting the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living is like stepping back in time to the streets of mid-19th-century Osaka to see how they might have looked during the Edo Period. The museum is laid out in a series of recreated houses—each depicting an element of daily life—including merchant houses, a bathhouse, and a town hall.
Mount Koya, also called Koyasan, is a sacred site in Japan that’s seen as the heart of Shingon Buddhism—a sect of Buddhism introduced to Japan in 805 by Kobo Daishi. Visitors to this beautiful mountain landscape can discover temples, monasteries, pine forests, meditation sites, and Kobo Daishi's mausoleum.
The Nakasendo Way is an ancient 331-mile (534-kilometer trail connecting Kyoto and Tokyo that was once frequented by samurai and traders. These days, a shorter 5-mile (8-kilometer walking trail connecting the villages of Tsumago and Magome, through the Kiso Valley in Nagano Prefecture, is a popular day hike. This shorter section offers visitors an opportunity to experience history, culture, and beautiful nature on an easy hike.
If you’ve had a taste of Japanese sake and want to know more about how this rice liquor is produced, make sure to visit Kyoto’s Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. Run by one of Japan’s most famous sake-producing companies, the Gekkeikan Sake Company, the museum is housed in an old sake brewery from the early 20th century.
At 984 feet (300 meters) tall, Abeno Harukas (Osaka Harukas) takes the coveted superlative of Japan's highest skyscraper, narrowly rising above the former title holder, the Yokohama Landmark Tower. Part of the sprawling Abenobashi Terminal Building, it stands atop the Kintetsu Osaka Abenobashi Station and houses a department store, art museum, five-star hotel, and observation deck.
The Danjo Garan is the central temple complex of Japan's sacred Mt. Koya temple town. The UNESCO World Heritage site is comprised of about 20 buildings, including several temples, the ceremonial Kondo Hall, and the Great Stupa (Konpon Daito)—a 160-foot (49-meter) vermilion pagoda housing a mandala and five statues of the seated Buddha.
Asakusa Hanayashiki is a retro amusement park that appeals to families and nostalgia seekers alike. First opening its gates in 1853, it is home to one of the country’s oldest operating roller coasters, which dates from 1953. You can also find an array of classic rides, such as merry-go-rounds and a haunted house, plus a 3D theater. There’s something for visitors of all ages.
Learn all about the history and development of instant ramen noodles at the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum (Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda. Located in the birthplace of instant ramen, the popular museum features colorful displays, interactive exhibits, and allows visitors to make their own unique flavor of cup noodles.
Japanese and international foodies alike love Tsukishima Monja Street (actually a collection of streets), located on Tsukishima Island in Tokyo Bay. Here, dozens of shops sell monjayaki, savory fried pancakes made with cabbage and a variety of other meat or seafood toppings. Diners usually buy monjayaki as raw batter, then grill it themselves at specially designed tables. Other Japanese favorites, including fried noodles (yakisoba), can be eaten here as well.
Shinjuku is where neon-bright dreams of futuristic Tokyo come to vivid life. Centered around the busiest railway station in the world, the always-buzzing neighborhood is crammed with tall skyscrapers, hidden bars, restaurants to satisfy any palate, and a host of department stores. Whatever you're seeking in Tokyo, you'll likely find it in Shinjuku.
In the early 14th century, Japanese Emperor Hanazono abdicated to become a monk, turning his palace into what is now the Myoshin-ji Temple. This large complex houses a main temple and 50 sub-temples. Nearly all of the buildings were destroyed in a war in the 15th century and rebuilt over the next 150 years. The reconstructions stand today.
Built in 1884 to mark the 1,100th anniversary of Kyoto’s birth, the Heian Shrine is hailed as one of the city’s most attractive landmarks. The multi-tiered Shinto shrine is characterized by its distinctive red color, and being featured in the film Lost in Translation cemented its status as a must-see Kyoto landmark.
Nanzen-ji Temple is a large 13th-century Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. There are many components to the grounds, including a dry stone formal Japanese garden, a European-style 19th-century aqueduct, a traditional tea house, and more. Visitors can climb the steep stone steps to the Sanmon Gate for views across Kyoto.
East of Odori Park, and standing 483 feet (147 meters) tall, Sapporo TV Tower is an iconic landmark of the city. Head up to the observation deck, pull out your camera, and enjoy postcard-perfect views of Sapporo, nearby mountains, the Ishikari Plains, and the Sea of Japan.
A 492-foot (150 meter long covered arcade, Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street is lined with specialty stores stocked with every cooking utensil and kitchen item imaginable. Specializing in wholesale products at discounted prices, Sennichimae Doguyasuji is a great place to wander or do some souvenir shopping.
One of the most popular attractions in the Mount Fuji area provides quite a contrast to the volcanic mountain: it’s an underground ice cave. The Narusawa Ice Cave, formed by an ancient eruption, lies beneath the infamous Aokigahara Forest that spreads out around the base of Mount Fuji. Visitors can explore on a short circuit track.
Surrounded by forests and mountain scenery, Lake Motosu is one of the deepest and most underdeveloped of the Fuji Five Lakes. Much quieter than nearby Lake Kawaguchi and famous for appearing on the back of Japan’s ¥1,000 note, it’s especially popular with campers, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you’re hiking, canoeing, or just taking in the scenery, the lakeside setting is a peaceful escape from the crowds that dominate busy towns around Mt. Fuji.
Hakone’s Narukawa Art Museum is dedicated to the display of Japanese-style (Nihonga) painting, with over 4,000 pieces in its collection. Along with seeing these artistic treasures, it’s worth visiting to look out at Lake Ashinoko and the floating torii gate of Hakone Shrine on its shores. On a clear day, Mount Fuji rises into view.
Dating back to the 5th century, the Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine is an important Shinto religious site in the northeast of Takayama. The shrine is also home to the annual Takayama Autumn Festival, and hosts the festival’s collection of floats within the Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall (or Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan).
One of Japan’s largest and most storied castles, Kumamoto Castle (Kumamoto-jo) was constructed by a feudal ruler more than four centuries ago. Comprising dozens of towers and structures across vast grounds, the landmark is best known for repelling Japan’s last great samurai rebellion. Though it suffered extensive earthquake damage in 2016, you can still explore select areas.
Head to Susukino for shopping, dining, and nightlife in Sapporo. The biggest entertainment district north of Tokyo, the lively Susukino district is packed with thousands of establishments, ranging from shops and arcades to restaurants, bars, karaoke boxes, nightclubs, and pachinko parlors, as well as adult-entertainment options.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site garden that once belonged to the ruling Shimazu clan, the Sengan-en Garden in Kagoshima includes the Shoko Shuseikan Museum and the Iso Residence, used as a summer villa by the Shimazu family. The Japanese-style strolling garden, which dates from the mid-17th century, features streams, ponds, and shrines.
Located in the industrial city of Nagoya, the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology introduces visitors to the history of Japanese manufacturing technology. Through its displays, the museum traces the history of the Toyota company, which started as a textile firm and evolved into an international automobile maker.
A feast for the eyes and taste buds, the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum is often called a ramen-themed amusement park. Experience what life was like in 1958—the year instant ramen was invented—with a stroll down a replica streetscape of downtown Tokyo. Here, you can dine at ramen shops or participate in a hands-on ramen-making class.
In the Shinjuku district of the Japanese capital, the two conjoined towers of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building—more commonly known as Tocho—are among the most distinctive buildings on the Tokyo skyline. While it’s a functioning local government office, the main reason to visit is to head up to one of the two 45th-floor observation decks. Unlike many Tokyo observation decks, admission is free, but the views are priceless.
Step back in time with a visit to the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter (Kurashiki Bikan Chiku), a beautifully preserved old town just a short jaunt from Okayama. Here, you'll find old white-washed buildings with mushikamado latticed windows, pretty walkways, occasional stone bridges, and picturesque, willow-flanked canals.
At Hokkaido’s Asahiyama Zoo, polar bears dive through underwater tunnels, seals swim past eye-level viewing domes, and penguins parade through the snow on an outdoor course. At every turn, designs mimic animals’ natural habitats—combining up-close viewing opportunities with each species’ welfare. Staggered feeding times mean you can spend the day walking between enclosures where zookeepers dole out portions of fish, meat, and foliage.
While conical Mt. Fuji dominates the skyline, a number of other attractions and features are spread across its base, including the Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko). Lakes Yamanaka, Kawaguchi, Motosu, Shoji, and Sai sit north of the imposing volcano, in Yamanashi Prefecture. The attractive mountain views, lakes, and forests make this a popular area to visit on a day or overnight trip from Tokyo.
