Japan attractions

The mid-15th century Odawara Castle is a well-preserved example of architecture from one of Japan's most turbulent periods. The white-walled, black-roofed landmark traded hands with several warring clans before being dismantled in 1870 and destroyed by an earthquake in 1923. Rebuilt in 1960, the modern grounds feature several intriguing attractions.

If you think this classic furled-roof temple looks familiar, take a look at a 10-yen coin and you’ll see why. One of Japan's most famous temples—and an UNESCO World Heritage Site—the temple’s 11th-century Phoenix Hall graces both the 10-yen coin and 10,000-yen note. It’s also one of the best examples of Heian-era architecture.

In the heart of Osaka’s business district, Nakanoshima is home to some of the city’s most historic buildings, including City Hall, Nakanoshima Festival Tower, and the first branch of the Bank of Japan. This 1.8-mile- (2.9-kilometer- long island between the Dojima and Tosabori rivers is also home to the urban oasis of Nakanoshima Park.

The classically curved eaves, ceremonial steps, and oversized two-story gateway mark Chion-in as something special, even in temple-filled Kyoto. As the main temple of the Jodo school of Buddhism—the largest school of Buddhism in Japan—Chion-in is a very grand affair. Highlights include its huge main hall and its image of the sect’s founder, Honen.

Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine (Yasukuni Jinja) was built in 1869 to commemorate Japan’s war dead; the souls of nearly 2.5 million people are enshrined there symbolically following Shinto beliefs. Among those whose names are listed on the shrine are soldiers, students, relief workers, wartime medics, and, controversially, 14 class-A war criminals, including Hideki Tojo, army general and Japanese prime minister during World War II.

Named after a renowned Japanese philosopher who was said to have walked this path for his daily meditation, the Philosopher’s Path (Tesugaku-no-michi) is a scenic, stone-paved walkway along a tree-lined canal. Popular with locals and visitors alike, it’s one of the best places in the city to view cherry blossoms.

Situated on the Kobe waterfront on a swathe of reclaimed land, Meriken Park is notable for its numerous art installations and memorializing those who lost their lives in the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. It's home to the Kobe Port Museum and the Kobe Maritime Museum, both noteworthy examples of contemporary architecture.

Fans of director Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli—which produced the films Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl’s Moving Castle, among others—can see the filmmaker’s animated fantasylands brought to life and uncover the secrets behind the movies at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo. Tickets are only available online and are hard to secure; have a clear ticket-buying plan if you want to visit while in Tokyo.

One of Japan's designated “three most scenic views,” Amanohashidate is a pine-covered sandbar that connects the two sides of Miyazu Bay. Amanohashidate, which translates to "bridge in heaven," got its name for its beauty: it is said to look like a pathway between heaven and earth.

Flowing through central Tokyo from the Arakawa River to Tokyo Bay, the Sumida River is often considered the lifeblood of the city. This major waterway passes under 26 bridges and is the setting of the Sumida River Fireworks Festival, one of Japan’s oldest and most celebrated displays. Visitors come for boat trips that offer a scenic and relaxing way to experience Tokyo from a different perspective.

Visit Ashikaga Flower Park to see one of Japan's best displays of purple, blue, white, and pink wisteria (“fuji” in Japanese), which are among Japan’s most beloved flowers. Less than two hours from Tokyo, it's the country's largest wisteria garden with more than 350 of the trees, including one that is more than 100 years old, the branches of which create a huge umbrella of wisteria flowers.

Located in the Minato district of Tokyo, Zojo-ji is a Jōdo-shū (also known as Shin Buddhism or True Pure Land Buddhism) temple. An impressive complex with a long and rich history, it is a significant cultural and religious center that offers a peaceful escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. The temple stands beneath the red-and-white striped Tokyo Tower, which provides a striking contrast between tradition and modernity.

The 1,742-foot (531-meter) summit of Mt. Moiwa (Moiwa-yama) promises some of Sapporo’s best views. From the summit’s observation deck, the views extend past the city to Ishikari Bay and the Yubari Mountains in the distance. In winter, the south side of Mt. Moiwa is one of Sapporo’s most popular ski resorts.

The art of bunraku puppetry dates back more than 300 years, and it reached its peak in Osaka in the 1740s. If you’re interested in seeing a bunraku puppet show while in Japan, Osaka’s National Bunraku Theater is arguably the best place to do so. These playful performances often bring to life stories from traditional samurai dramas.

One of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, Okayama Korakuen Garden was built over more than 13 years in the late 17th century. Today, the garden is a protected public park. It retains its original appearance with traditional plum and cherry orchards, wooden footbridges, and rare red-crowned crane habitats despite extensive restorations after World War II.

Situated on the grounds of Himeji Castle, this garden was constructed in 1992 to commemorate the centenary of Himeji City becoming a municipality. It's spread out over 3.5 hectares (8.5 acres) and features nine different gardens designed to match the historic aesthetic of the castle that towers over them.

Osaka’s Tempozan Ferris Wheel soars 369 feet (112 meters into the air—and with a diameter of 330 feet (100 meters—it’s one of the world's largest Ferris wheels. The wheel takes riders on a 15-minute-long journey through the sky, offering views of the city, bay, and mountains in the distance.

Take a walk through centuries of Japanese history at the Osaka Museum of History. Exhibits tell the story of Osaka from its ancient origins as Japan’s first capital to the early Showa Period of the twentieth century. The life-sized displays and interactive exhibits are complemented by scale models, photographs, and historical relics.

Kawagoe’s Hikawa Shrine is one of the most important shrines in Saitama Prefecture. It’s known as the shrine of love, and you’ll likely see a Shinto wedding here. Despite being one of Kawagoe’s most notable sights, the temple and surrounding grounds are usually not crowded (unless there’s a large wedding), so it's a nice place to relax.

On the banks of the Takano and Tamo Rivers, the bright orange buildings of the Shimogamo-jinja Shrine stand in stark contrast to its natural backdrop. More than 2,000 years old, Shimogamo-jinja is Kyoto’s oldest shrine and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city of Kawagoe is nicknamed Little Edo because of its well-preserved shophouses from the Edo era (1603–1868) along Ichibangai Street, with thick clay walls and tiled roofs. Easily accessible from central Tokyo by train, the town makes an appealing, lesser-known destination for a day trip.

At Zoorasia, a zoo in Yokohama with minimal fencing, animals live in an environment as close to nature as possible. The zoo is divided into seven different geographic and climatic zones, including Asian Tropical Forest, Japanese Countryside, and Subarctic Forest, that house animals belonging to more than 100 species.

The Chidorigafuchi Moat runs along the outside of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. It’s always a pretty place for a stroll or a paddleboat ride in the middle of the city, but it comes alive for sakura season. The moat is one of the best and most popular places in Tokyo to see the pretty pink cherry blossom flowers, so famous across Japan and the world.

Occupying one of Osaka’s few western-style buildings, the Japan Mint (Osaka Mint Bureau is the head office of the governmental agency responsible for the supply of coins and medals and metal analysis, testing, and certification. The onsite museum tells the history of Japanese money-printing, or minting, through interactive exhibits and 4,000 artifacts.

The Fuji-Q Highland amusement park enjoys an enviable setting near the base of Mount Fuji. Aside from its scenic setting, the park is best known for its record-setting roller coasters—four in total—that make it one of Japan’s most popular amusement parks.

Sapporo’s sweet-themed Shiroi Koibito Park is dedicated to Hokkaido’s most-loved confection, the Shiroi Koibito cookie, which consists of milk or white chocolate sandwiched between two butter biscuits. The park, operated by the cookie manufacturer, offers visitors a taste of what makes Shiroi Koibito so special.

The 16th-century Nishi Hongan-ji Temple offers insight into ancient Japanese Buddhist history. This temple, along with its sibling-temple, Higashi Hongan-ji, represent two factions of the Jodo Shinshu sect.

The UNESCO World Heritage–listed Toshogu Shrine (Nikko Toshogu) was built in 1617 to honor Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the dynasty that ruled Japan for over 250 years. It's one of Japan’s finest and best-preserved Shinto shrines, surrounded by a cypress forest in the popular but peaceful town of Nikko. Whether you’re touring Japan or just staying in and around Tokyo for a few days, it’s well worth visiting.

A shopaholic’s paradise, Teramachi Street is a covered shopping arcade in the heart of downtown Kyoto. The name translates to “Temple Town” in English due to the street’s 16th-century origins when the area was abundant with temples and shrines. Today, shoppers can find clothing stores, tea shops, art galleries, bookstores, and plenty of great souvenirs.

Owned by the same family for 13 generations, the Kusakabe Folk Museum in Hida Takayama provides a fantastic glimpse into life in Japan during the Edo period. This two-story structure, built in the late 19th century after the family's original Edo-period home was destroyed in a fire, was designed in the same style as the original.