Things to Do in Japan: The 22 Best Highlights

Our Japan Highlights on a Map

For a first rough overview of our Japan guide, we’ve marked the most important attractions on a map for you.

You can also save the map on your computer or phone:

Cool Big Cities in Japan

Tokyo

Tokyo is one of Japan’s most popular travel destinations — and for good reason. The city buzzes with creativity and innovation. There’s something new or surprising to discover around every corner.

After Tokyo, cities like Berlin or Frankfurt feel like small towns. Tokyo is simply massive, wild, and incredibly crowded — but at the same time, utterly fascinating.

Tokyo has a whole lot of things to see and do. The highlights include stunning temples and shrines like Senso-ji Temple, the impressive Imperial Palace, spectacular views from the Tokyo Tower or Tokyo Skytree, and exciting neighborhoods like Shibuya and Shinjuku.

The capital is the ideal starting point for your Japan adventure, since the city is well set up for international tourists. It’s considered one of the safest and cleanest major cities in the world, and you can get by fairly well with English. So don’t be intimidated — just dive into the colorful bustle!

Our hotel tip for Tokyo: The Hotel Cen is perfect if it’s your first time in Tokyo. You’ll stay centrally located in a modern hotel.

Kyoto

Kyoto was the capital and seat of the Emperor for more than 1,000 years. That’s why the city is home to so many cultural treasures. If you want to get a taste of old Japan, this is exactly the place to be.

Kyoto has 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, approximately 1,600 Buddhist temples, and around 400 Shinto shrines — though no one knows the exact count.

You’ll never be able to see all the temples, but there are some must-sees you can’t skip. Among them is Kiyomizu-dera, famous for its wooden-pillar terrace. The view from here is especially beautiful in autumn, when the trees below the terrace are ablaze with color.

You should also visit Kinkaku-ji, better known as the Golden Pavilion, and the Fushimi Inari Shrine. The shrine itself isn’t actually the main attraction — it’s the path that leads from the shrine up Mount Inari, lined with thousands of red torii gates.

Our hotel tip for Kyoto: The Rinn Kiyomizu Gion is one of our top hotel picks in Japan. It’s located in the traditional Gion district and is charmingly furnished.

Osaka

Osaka is Japan’s third-largest city. Its residents have a completely different vibe from those in the other two cities. Osaka is basically Tokyo’s rebellious little sister — a bit more alternative, a bit louder, and a little less polite, but all the more warm-hearted for it.

Osaka isn’t quite among the absolute top picks for things to do in Japan yet, but more and more travelers are making a stop here on their Japan itinerary.

One of Osaka’s main draws is its local cuisine. Particularly delicious are okonomiyaki (savory pancakes cooked at the table — loosely speaking) and takoyaki (octopus dough balls).

But Osaka also has classic sightseeing to offer. Osaka Castle is one of the most beautiful in Japan, and the Dotombori district delivers an alternative urban vibe and a lively nightlife.

Our hotel tip for Osaka: We love the Hotel Cordia Osaka. It’s a cozy hotel in the heart of Osaka. We’ve stayed here ourselves and can genuinely recommend it.

Hiroshima

We probably don’t need to say much about Hiroshima’s history. The first atomic bomb drop in history gave the city a tragic kind of fame. Hiroshima’s Peace Park is the moving memorial to that event and one of the most worthwhile places to visit in Hiroshima.

The Peace Museum in particular is not for the faint of heart. Even so, you absolutely should visit it at least once. It’s an experience you’ll never forget.

Hiroshima is, however, fundamentally not a sad place. The city has risen from the ashes in a remarkable way and is today a green metropolis with a relaxed atmosphere and a great quality of life.

In the Shukkeien Garden, a beautiful landscape garden, you can feed colorful koi fish or climb a miniature Mount Fuji. The castle is also well worth a visit.

Our hotel tip for Hiroshima: Hiroshima Washington Hotel — one of the best hotels in Hiroshima, with great value for money and modern rooms.

Yokohama

Yokohama is Japan’s second-largest city and sits right next to Tokyo. The two cities blend into each other almost seamlessly. Without signs, you’d probably never even notice the border.

Because of that, Yokohama unfortunately tends to get overshadowed by Tokyo. But the city has a lot to offer. If you’re spending more time in Tokyo, a side trip to Yokohama is definitely worth it.

What’s especially cool is the city’s modern and alternative atmosphere: small craft beer breweries, tiny jazz clubs, and international restaurants of every kind. Yokohama’s standout points of interest are Chinatown and the beautiful harbor district.

Our special recommendation: The Cup Noodle Museum! Yes, really — a museum entirely dedicated to the invention of instant noodle soup. Only in Japan.

Our hotel tip for Yokohama: The best part of the Mitsui Garden Hotel is the view over the modern Minato Mirai 21 district.

Nature Highlights in Japan

Mount Fuji

Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan and looks like it was made for a postcard when seen from a distance. If you climb it, though, the rugged mountain slopes feel more like an apocalyptic landscape with a serious overcrowding problem. During peak season between July and August, you’re likely to find yourself standing in line.

The climb up Mount Fuji is exhausting. Still, there’s a pretty strong consensus in Japan that Fuji should be climbed at least once in a lifetime — the number one item on the Japanese bucket list, so to speak.

If you just want to admire the mountain from afar, we recommend Fuji-Q Highland, an amusement park at the foot of Fuji, or the Fuji-Hakone National Park, which is a fantastic destination in its own right. Both spots also make great day trips or weekend getaways from Tokyo.

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Izu Peninsula

The Izu Peninsula lies south of Tokyo and is part of the Izu-Hakone National Park. Getting here from Tokyo is easy.

The peninsula’s white, clean beaches give you the best Japanese beach experience — perfect for swimming and diving. Kumomi Beach in Matsuzaki is particularly beautiful, with views of Mount Fuji.

Beyond the beaches, the landscape of the Izu Peninsula is a highlight in itself. You can hike through green forests and along the cliffs, or soak in one of the many hot springs.

Koya-san

Koya-san is the perfect day trip destination when you need a little more greenery after all the big-city hustle — or simply if you love nature.

The mountain is considered sacred and mysterious. Its landscape feels slightly enchanted and is absolutely beautiful.

Even the journey there is an adventure. The train winds its way past narrow valleys and towering mountains, with the final stretch by cable car. And you wouldn’t be in Japan if there weren’t a shrine or temple or two along the way up.

Our tip: Some of the temples are known for welcoming tourists as novices for a short period. If you have the time, getting a taste of monastic life for a few days is a truly unique experience.

Charming Small Towns in Japan

Nara

Nara is also a former imperial city and, like Kyoto, has an incredible number of wonderful places to visit. Most of them are located in Nara Park.

The absolute highlight is the 1,500 sika deer that roam freely through the park. They’re anything but shy — especially once you buy some deer crackers on-site. Some clever animals have even learned a trick: they bow to you. In exchange for crackers, of course.

A few cracker packets lighter, you’ll come face to face with Todai-ji Temple. You can’t miss it — after all, it’s the largest wooden building in the world. Inside lives the Daibutsu, the largest Buddha statue in Japan.

Behind the Buddha there’s one more little surprise: the Buddha’s nostril. If you can squeeze through the hole, enlightenment awaits you. Not bad, right?

A visit to Nara also works perfectly as a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka.

Our hotel tip for Nara: The Super Hotel Premier belongs to a very popular hotel chain in Japan. The location right next to the train station is perfect, and the value for money is excellent.

Nikko

Nikko is a small town, perfect for a short trip from Tokyo.

The most popular attraction is the Tosho-gu Shrine, where you can see the famous carving of the three monkeys covering their ears, mouth, and eyes — representing “hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil.”

Their relatives, the Japanese macaques, unfortunately don’t follow this motto and love causing trouble in Nikko. Definitely don’t feed them — these cheeky animals can get quite aggressive and have been known to snatch bags or cameras.

Nikko sits in the middle of stunning natural scenery and is perfect for short hikes through the surrounding mountains. The Kegon Waterfalls, numerous hot springs, and Lake Chuzenji are also waiting for you here.

Our hotel tip for Nikko: From the cozy rooms at Hatago Nagomi, you have an incredible view of the lake.

Kanazawa

Kanazawa is often referred to as Little Kyoto. The city was once very wealthy, which is why you’ll find many well-preserved historic buildings and neighborhoods here — just like Kyoto, only less crowded and with fewer sights to tick off.

Above all, take your time exploring the Nagamachi and Higashi Chaya districts. You don’t need any particular plan: just start walking and let yourself drift.

If you haven’t had enough of wandering, stop by Kenrokuen Park, one of the most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan. The park is gorgeous year-round, but especially in spring and fall.

Our hotel tip for Kanazawa: The the square Hotel Kanazawa has a totally cool interior and excellent value for money.

Himeji

Himeji Castle, also known as the White Heron Castle, is Japan’s most famous and most beautiful castle. It dates back to the 17th century.

The castle sits on a hill above the city of the same name and, with its white walls, is one of the most impressive structures in the country. Around the castle you’ll find a well-kept garden, which makes the whole place feel even more fairytale-like.

The castle was long considered virtually impregnable. A sophisticated system of moats, walls, towers, and winding passageways provided protection for centuries.

Our tip: If you only want to visit the castle, just make a stopover in Himeji on your way from Osaka to Hiroshima. Leave your luggage at the station, see the castle, and continue on your way.

Our hotel tip for Himeji: From the Hotel Monterey Himeji, it’s only about a 15-minute walk to the castle garden. From the hotel rooms, you have a great view of the city.

Kamakura

Kamakura is a coastal city reachable from Tokyo by train in under one and a half hours. You can pay for the train and many other public transportation options in Japan easily with the Suica Card.

The city sits between the ocean and forested mountains — no wonder tourists from Tokyo pour in here, especially in summer and on weekends.

Kamakura is home to several famous temples and shrines. The best known is Kotoku-in, where you’ll find Japan’s second-largest Buddha statue — and the largest one that stands outdoors.

Beyond the cultural highlights, the beaches and mountains around Kamakura are great for swimming and hiking. If swimming sounds too low-key, you can also go kitesurfing — or just watch others do it.

Our hotel tip for Kamakura: The Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura is located right next to the train station, so you won’t have to lug your luggage far. The rooms are large and elegant.

Miyajima

The sacred island of Miyajima is perfect for a day trip from Hiroshima and is one of the most popular — and most photographed — places to visit in Japan.

The main draw is clearly the Itsukushima Shrine, once considered the holiest site in the country. The shrine is built on wooden pillars and stands in the water at high tide — as does the torii gate. It looks like it’s floating.

Beyond that, Miyajima has plenty of other things to offer: numerous tame deer roaming the island, and Mount Misen. Up here, you won’t find any of the crowds from the Itsukushima Shrine. If you’re a fan of silence, nature, and great views, we highly recommend the detour.

Miyajima is seriously unmissable, but unfortunately it gets extremely crowded, especially on weekends. We’d strongly recommend visiting the island on a weekday.

Our hotel tip for Miyajima: Miyajima is best visited as a day trip — hotel prices here are comparatively high. If you still want to stay overnight on the island, we recommend the Kikunoya, which has a hot spring.

Highlights Off the Beaten Path

Sapporo

Sapporo is located on Hokkaido, one of Japan’s main islands. It’s noticeably colder here than in other regions — summers aren’t as hot and humid, and winters bring plenty of snow, making it perfect for winter sports enthusiasts. There are even ski slopes right in the middle of the city.

The city itself is relatively young, so there aren’t many classic sightseeing spots. Instead, the main draws are the nature around Sapporo and the Snow Festival, held every February. Cool sculptures and even entire buildings are built from ice and snow, then lit up after dark.

If you want to catch the Snow Festival, book your accommodation as early as possible. Good, affordable rooms go fast during this time of year in Japan.

Our hotel tip for Sapporo: The wood furniture and warm ambient lighting at the Lamp Light Books Hotel Sapporo make it a wonderfully cozy place to stay.

Okinawa

Okinawa consists of three island groups located so far south that they’re geographically closer to Taiwan than to mainland Japan.

This island paradise was once an independent kingdom called Ryukyu and has only officially been part of Japan for 140 years. Its culture is therefore quite distinct, and you’ll find many unique characteristics here: unusual food, different architecture, and the Okinawan dialect.

Okinawa is considered the Hawaii of Japan: countless white beaches and turquoise-blue water, perfect for swimming and diving. In the interiors of the islands you’ll find mangrove forests and jungle. The royal palace and surrounding landscape gardens are also worth a visit.

Okinawa doesn’t make it onto most travelers’ itineraries. But for a second, third, or fourth trip to Japan, it’s absolutely worth the detour.

Nabana no Sato

The Nabana no Sato flower park is part of the amusement park complex in the city of Kawana.

The botanical garden is incredibly elaborate, with vast seas of flowers and lights. Some sections change with the seasons, while others remain year-round. There’s a rose garden, for example, with over 800 different varieties of roses.

In winter from late October through March, the light illuminations take center stage. The most impressive are the light tunnel and the water lighting displays. The light effects are so popular that the park is often more crowded in winter than in summer.

Our tip: Right next to the amusement park is the Nagashima Spa Land water park. Especially if you’re vacationing with kids, it makes the trip even more worthwhile.

Hakone Open Air Museum

The Hakone Open Air Museum is a vast sculpture park in Hakone. The international and Japanese artworks look stunning against the impressive mountain panorama. Among the works on display are pieces by Picasso, Rodin, and Miró.

Some sculptures are almost unrecognizable as art, like the Symphonic Sculpture — a tower completely filled with stained-glass windows. You can probably imagine how cool it is to walk up the spiral staircase to the observation deck bathed in colorful light.

Beyond the sculptures, there are also foot baths, an art playground, and buildings featuring paintings, glass art, and tapestries.

Quintessentially Japan

Cherry Blossoms in Japan

Quintessentially Japan — it has to be the cherry blossom. The Japanese absolutely love cherry trees.

The blossom is called sakura in Japan, and the act of viewing the blossoms is called hanami. Every year in March and April, sakura and hanami draw millions of Japanese people into the parks of their cities. They start preparing early in the year with cherry blossom calendars and forecasts.

During cherry blossom season, spots are claimed as early as possible using blue plastic tarps. In the afternoon and evening, people gather with family, eat, drink plenty of alcohol, talk, and laugh — all while admiring the beautiful white and pink cherry blossoms.

Cherry blossom season is a real highlight. That said, it’s also one of the most expensive times to travel in Japan — so plan ahead.

Riding the Shinkansen

Shinkansen is the name of Japan’s high-speed trains — straightforward enough. But what makes riding a train a tourist attraction?

Shinkansen have a few qualities that set them apart from train travel in most other countries: they’re incredibly fast, incredibly punctual, incredibly clean, and incredibly safe.

All of this is made possible by high technical standards and dedicated tracks for each line. Add in great service and you’ll feel like you’re on a first-class flight. Another highlight is the ekiben — lunchboxes sold at train stations and on board, packed with the most delicious local specialties.

Our tip: Foreign tourists can get the Japan Rail Pass, which can make riding the Shinkansen much more affordable. If you’re planning more than one or two rides per week, it often pays for itself quickly.

Theme Cafés

Japan isn’t just about temples and samurai — it’s also about the quirky and a colorful pop culture. And that’s not just a cliché. The countless theme cafés are the best place to see this for yourself.

Probably the most famous are maid cafés, where you’re served by young women dressed as maids. The reverse exists too, of course — those are butler cafés.

Beyond that, the options are virtually endless: robot cafés featuring lightly dressed girls dancing on robots, animal cafés with dogs, cats, rabbits, or owls, anime cafés, vampire cafés, prison cafés, ninja cafés, and Kawaii Monster cafés.

Whatever the theme, it’s taken very seriously and doesn’t stop at the décor. The food, the service, and the appearance of the staff are all adapted accordingly. Visiting a theme café is simply part of any trip to Japan — and Tokyo is your best bet for finding them.

Japanese Cuisine

Japanese cuisine is as exotic as it is delicious — and above all, incredibly diverse. For us, it’s one of the top things to experience in Japan.

The Japanese love not only rice and fish, but also meat dishes, noodles, vegetables, stews, deep-fried foods, and stir-fries — always of the highest quality. The great thing about Japanese food: it’s completely unique. There’s no “this tastes like XY.”

In the summer especially, make sure to work your way through the many street food stalls. You can’t go wrong, and it won’t break the bank either. Besides ramen (noodle soup) and sushi, you should definitely try a classic Japanese meal with rice and lots of small side dishes.

In fall and winter, we recommend hearty stew dishes like sukiyaki or oden. And if you have a few extra dollars in your travel budget, go out for yakiniku — the best meat you’ve ever eaten, grilled right at the table on personal grills.

OK, now we’re feeling so nostalgic about Japanese cuisine that we’re getting hungry all over again.