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THE 10 MOST WONDERFUL PLACES TO VISIT IN JAPAN

Rebecca Milner

Mar 28, 2024 • 6 min read

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From buzzing cities to serene forest walks, these are our favorite places to
visit in Japan © Taiyou Nomachi / Getty Images

Japan offers up a real feast for travelers, with mountainside onsen (hot spring)
villages, beach-lined islands and buzzing megacities all on the menu.

You could arguably spend a lifetime sampling the country’s delights, but some
towns and sights are staples – core ingredients to any great Japan trip. Here’s
our pick of the 10 best places to visit in Japan.


1. TOKYO

Best for contemporary culture

Tokyo is a city forever reaching into the future, pushing the boundaries of
what's possible on densely populated, earthquake-prone land, and building ever
taller, sleeker structures.

It's Japan's top spot for contemporary art and architecture, pop culture,
shopping, drinking and entertainment (and a tie with Kyoto for dining). But more
than any other sight, it's the city itself that enchants visitors.

It's a sprawling, organic thing, stretching as far as the eye can see.
Constantly changing with a diverse collection of neighborhoods, no two
experiences of Tokyo are ever the same.

Planning tip: Tickets for sumo, kabuki and Giants baseball games usually go on
sale one to two months in advance. The Imperial Palace and Ghibli Museum are
other popular attractions that require prior planning.


The gardens of Kyoto offer experiences for the whole family © Eriko Koga / Getty
Images


2. KYOTO

Best for traditional experiences

Kyoto, Japan's imperial capital for a thousand years, is home to more than a
thousand temples. Among them are the monumental, like Kinkaku-ji (an exquisite
pavilion sheathed entirely in gold leaf), and the meditative, like Ryōan-ji,
with its stark Zen rock garden.

And temples are only the beginning. There's the culture of tea, which you can
appreciate at one of the city's many elegant teahouses; the art of the geisha,
those iconic performers of traditional music and dance; and also a rich food
culture, including kaiseki (Japanese haute cuisine).


3. NAOSHIMA

Best for architecture

Naoshima is one of Japan's great success stories: once a rural island on the
verge of becoming a ghost town, it's now a world-class center for contemporary
art.

Many of Japan's most lauded architects have contributed structures, including
museums, a boutique hotel and even a bathhouse – all designed to enhance the
island's natural beauty and complement its existing settlements.

The resulting blend of avant-garde and rural Japan is captivating. It has also
inspired some Japanese to pursue a slower life outside the big cities,
relocating to Naoshima to open cafes and inns.

Planning tip: Try to plan your visit during one of the three exhibitions of
the Setouchi Triennale festival, which happens during the spring, summer and
fall every three years – the most recent was in 2022. Naoshima hosts various
art, drama, music and dance events that make this festival really special.


Gazing upon the mighty Mt Fuji is an essential Japanese experience © nicholashan
/ Getty Images


4. MT FUJI

Best for views and pilgrimages



Even from a distance, Mt Fuji will take your breath away. Close up, the
perfectly symmetrical cone of Japan's highest peak is nothing short of
incredible. Dawn from the summit? Pure magic.

Fuji-san is among Japan's most revered and timeless attractions. Hundreds of
thousands of people climb it every year, continuing a centuries-old tradition of
pilgrimages up the sacred volcano.

Those who'd rather search for picture-perfect views from the less-daunting peaks
nearby will be following in the steps of Japan's most famous painters and poets.

Planning tip: The best time to climb Mt Fuji is during its official season, from
July 1 through mid-September, which avoids the rainy season and snowfall. Always
check for typhoon warnings before hiking in Japan.


5. HIROSHIMA

Best for introspection

Hiroshima today is a forward-thinking city with attractive, leafy boulevards.
It's not until you visit the Peace Memorial Museum that the true extent of human
tragedy wreaked by the atomic bomb becomes vividly clear.

A visit here is a heartbreaking, important history lesson. The park around the
museum, much of which was designed by Japan's great modernist architect Tange
Kenzō, offers many opportunities for reflection.

But the city's spirit of determination – as well as its food – will ensure that
you'll have good memories to take with you when you leave.



Yakushima's wild forests were the reported inspiration for Studio Ghibli's
classic


6. YAKUSHIMA

Best for forest bathing

Yakushima, a small island off the coast of southern Kyūshū, is often described
as magical and enchanting – otherworldly even. It's a place where words fail and
clichés step in.

Home to some of Japan's last primeval forests, you'll find the yakusugi, an
ancient cedar native to the island whose giant roots seem to form alien
tentacles.

Hiking trails underneath them cover craggy terrain, often fuzzy with moss. The
landscape here is believed to have inspired the iconic Studio Ghibli animated
film, Princess Mononoke.

Detour: When you're not hiking, stop by the Yakusugi Museum to learn more about
the importance of yakusugi to the islanders of Yakushima. An English audio guide
is available.


7. KOYA-SAN

Best for exploring temples

Riding the funicular up to the sacred Buddhist monastic complex of Kōya-san
feels, appropriately, like ascending to another world.

There are over a hundred temples here, the highlight of which is Oku-no-in,
where paths weave their way among towering cryptomeria trees and time-worn stone
stupas covered in moss and lichen.



Other temples offer a different experience: the chance to spend the night, dine
on traditional vegetarian Buddhist cuisine and wake up early for morning
meditation with the resident monks.

Planning tip: Though Japanese temples and shrines do not have established dress
codes, visitors are expected to stay relatively quiet in these sacred spaces.


8. OKINAWA AND THE SOUTHWEST ISLANDS

Best for beaches

Okinawa and the Southwest Islands offer a totally different experience from the
rest of Japan. This semi-tropical archipelago forms an arch between Kyūshū and
Taiwan.

Until the islands were annexed by Japan in the 19th century, they formed their
own kingdom – the Ryūkyū Empire – and the cultural differences are apparent in
everything from the architecture to the food.

This is where you'll find Japan's best beaches, like those on the Yaeyama
Islands and the Kerama Islands, with sugar-white sand fringed with palms and
turquoise waters. Bask in the sun, or snorkel and scuba dive.


Osaka takes the crown when it comes to Japanese street food © Vincent St. Thomas
/ Shutterstock


9. OSAKA

Best for street food and nightlife

Tokyo doesn't nab all the superlatives when it comes to urban experiences.
Osaka, Japan's third-largest city, is tops for street food: don't miss its
signature dish, takoyaki (grilled octopus dumplings).

It also has the most dramatic of nightscapes: a dazzling display of LED lights,
animated signage and flashing video screens along the canalside strip Dōtombori.

The city, Japan's oldest merchant center, has a pace, spirit and zest for life
all of its own; its unofficial slogan is kuidaore (eat until you drop).

Planning tip: In addition to nightly accommodation fees, Osaka hotels will
typically charge an accommodation tax that varies depending on the standard
nightly rate.


Beautiful Kamikōchi attracts hikers from far and wide © Suchart Boonyavech /
Shutterstock


10. KAMIKŌCHI

Best for mountain hikes

One of Japan's most stunning natural vistas, Kamikōchi is a highland river
valley enveloped by the soaring peaks of the Northern Japan Alps.

Easy day hikes are possible along the Azusa-gawa, following the pristine river
through tranquil forests of willow, larch and elm.

The birthplace of Japanese alpinism, Kamikōchi is also the gateway for more
challenging treks up some of the country's tallest mountains, such as
Yari-ga-take (3180m/10,433ft). Private cars are banned from Kamikōchi, which
lessens the impact of the crowds.

This article was first published Apr 29, 2021 and updated Mar 28, 2024.





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