Japan is a country that encompasses everything, from the most cutting-edge technology to ancient traditions and the purest and most breathtaking nature. Japan is a country with a culture as rich as its gastronomy and an absolutely complex society, which normalizes alcohol abuse but does not throw a single piece of paper on the ground and does not allow smoking in the street. This country of contrasts enchants everyone who visits it with its pink sakura flowers, the imposing Mount Fuji, small mountain villages and the cities where it never gets dark. Read on and discover all the things to see and do on your trip to Japan and do not miss anything of this wonderful country.
7 Best Cities to Visit in Japan
1. Tokyo, a must-see city in Japan
Tokyo is one of the most spectacular cities in Japan where tradition and the most advanced technologies coexist. Each neighborhood is a tourist attraction in itself. Bustling streets full of neon signs, skyscrapers and food stalls at every corner, a world apart when compared to Europe.
Akihabara, Shibuya and Harajuku are among the most important neighborhoods to visit in Tokyo. Akihabara, cradle of Japanese cutting-edge technology and friki culture, is famous for the modernity of its streets full of stores and neon lights. It is undoubtedly the most impressive corner in Tokyo. The main street is Chuo-Dori. Shibuya is another modern neighborhood. It is famous for being the neighborhood of Hachiko, where you can find its statue. In Takeshita-dori, the main street of Harajuku, it is not uncommon to find people in costumes. This neighborhood is famous for its kawaii tradition shared by thousands of young people in the country.
Other interesting places in Japan’s capital are the Toyosu Fish Market, modern but with traditional essence and the place where you will find probably the best sushi in the city; and the Sensoji temple.
Discover more about Tokyo in our post “What to see and do in Tokyo, Japan?”
2. Kyoto
Kyoto is one of the most spectacular cities in Japan for the cultural heritage and tradition that hide in its streets and numerous temples recognized as World Heritage Sites. The city still preserves traditional buildings, tea houses, beautiful palaces and manicured gardens, making it one of the favorite destinations for tourists.
The shrine Fushimi Inari Thaisha, popularized after the film Memoirs of a Geisha, has become in recent years the most iconic place ed Kyoto. The most spectacular thing about this temple are the thousands of toriis (traditional Japanese arches or gates) that run 4km over the mountain. Of course, you should go very early in the morning to avoid as many tourists as possible. As for temples, we highlight the temple Kinkaku-ji, World Heritage Site, known as the Golden Pavilion thanks to the color of its facade. It is covered with gold leaf and the Kiyomizu-dera, immersed among trees and with stunning views of the city.
Finally, we recommend the Geisha Quarter, i.e., the Gion district. Although geishas are no longer as common as they were 400 years ago, if you are lucky you may come across one of them or their apprentices (maiko) on your walk around the neighborhood.
Continue learning about Kyoto in the post “What to see and do in Kyoto, Japan”
3. Nagasaki, the city of peace in Japan
Nagasaki is one of the most famous southern cities in Japan. Many only know it for the catastrophe experienced in 1945 because of the “Fast Man” atomic bomb sent by the United States. However, Nagasaki today is a completely rebuilt, modern, lively and cosmopolitan city with a lot to see.
What one terrible day was the epicenter of the atomic bomb that devastated Nagasaki, since 1955 has become the Peace Park. It is a natural space that houses several monuments that keep the memory of the victims as a demonstration against violence and nuclear weapons. Near the Peace Park you will find the Atomic Bomb Museum where the horrors suffered in the city because of nuclear weapons are narrated.
Nagasaki, moreover, stands out as a city that has experienced the influence of many different cultures, which have spread their legacy in different places. Examples of this are the Dutch Slope, a steep neighborhood with typical Dutch houses and its Teramachi Street, protagonist of Nagasaki’s Chinatown with its beautiful Chinese-style temples.
Discover more places in Nagasaki in the post “What to see and do in Nagasaki, Japan?”
4. Nikko
Located in the natural park that bears the same name, the village of Nikko has become one of the favorite destinations for tourists to see the real Japan. Surrounded by a bright and dazzling nature, Nikko has some of the most beautiful and amazing shrines in Japan. For example, the Toshogu Shrine, with its unmistakable stone torii (the traditional Japanese arch) that welcomes visitors. It houses the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun (army general appointed by the emperor) of the Tokugawa family.
Another must-see shrine is Futarasan, dedicated to the Nikko Mountains, much simpler than Toshogu, but equally beautiful.
Find out what else you can visit in this town in Japan here “What to see and do in Nikko, Japan”
5. Okayama
Okayama is a beautiful city in Hoshu, the main island of the Japanese archipelago. One of the reasons Okayama is known for is its black castle, which had to be rebuilt after World War II, but still retains its original essentials. And while the castle is wonderful, what makes this place a magical destination are its gardens. The Okayama Castle Gardens are 14 hectares of pure nature in the city, with a huge variety of plant species, including beautiful Japanese cherry trees, a tea and a rice plantation.
The castle and its gardens are also very close to the historic district of Kurashiki with its spectacular canals and wooden boats plying the waters. A real beauty.
Find out more about Okayama at “What to See and Do in Okayama, Japan”
6. Kamakura, the city of temples to visit in Japan
A few kilometers from Tokyo lies one of the corners of the country where you can most perceive the traditional Japanese essence. We are talking about Kamakura, a city where temples resembling a Nihonga drawing (traditional Japanese painting) and huge sculptures embodying deities of the country’s folklore take the lead role in the small town.
One of the greatest examples of this is the Great Buddha of Kamakura, located in the main courtyard of the Kotoku-in temple. This 11-meter-high sculpture attracts thousands of visitors each year. They come to pay their respects or simply to admire this piece of historical and cultural heritage.
But that’s not all there is to see in this Japanese city. Kamakura is full of wonderful temples such as Hase-dera and Hokoku-ji, as well as its magical bamboo forest.
Keep reading about Kamakura in “What to see and do in Kamakura, Japan”
7. Matsumoto
Like Okayama, the city of Matsumoto is famous for its castle, nicknamed “the crow castle” for its distinctive black color. However, the city has much more to offer, which is why it tends to be a very common stop on tours of Japan, since a single day is enough to see it.
On the way to the imposing black castle of Matsumoto you will walk along the street of frogs (Nawate Dori), named for the number of drawings and stone sculptures of these animals that we can see on every wall and corner. It is a fairly touristy street so it is the ideal place to find a souvenir of Matsumoto to bring home. Another must-see in Matsumoto is its Kasamori Inari, a shrine in honor of the Goddess Inari.
Keep reading about Matsumoto at “What to see and do in Matsumoto, Japan”
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
5 Things You Must Do in Japan
1. Singing in a Karaoke
This recommendation may sound a bit touristy to you, but nothing could be further from the truth. In Japan, working days don’t end when everyone leaves the office, but many hours later, when employees and bosses go to the bars for drinks and, many times, end up at a karaoke bar. So, especially if you’re traveling in a group, head to a karaoke bar, book a booth and become a real Japanese and give it all in front of the microphone.
2. Visiting Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan and one of the most beautiful sights in the country. This active volcano (but with little risk of eruption) can be visited from several areas, but probably the most spectacular is the Five Lakes Region. This region is located on the north side of the slope of Mount Fuji and, as the name suggests, consists of five beautiful lakes that can be visited by public transport and hiking trails. Once in the Five Lakes Region, we suggest you reach the Chureito Pagoda and view the massive and beautiful Mt. Fuji from there.
3. “Hanami”: enjoying Japan’s cherry blossoms
Hanami is a holiday celebrated in spring that can literally be translated as “flower viewing”. In early spring, when the cherry trees, or sakura, bloom and turn streets, parks and gardens into bushes of pink, Japanese people flock to these places to eat, picnic or simply sit under these sacred trees to observe the precious sakura blossom.
4. Watching the monkeys in Jigokudani Park
In the Japanese Alps, near the city of Nagano, is one of the most striking and cute attractions in Japan. We’re talking about Jigokudani Park, also known as Monkey Park, a unique place where you can observe one of the world’s most unique primate species. During the winter the park becomes an absolutely snowy, almost magical place and the ponds of the park become pools of hot springs from the Yokoyu River. You can visit the park at any time of the year, stroll through the beautiful area of the so-called “Valley of Hell” and watch the monkeys. However, it is absolutely forbidden to touch and feed the monkeys.
Summer timetable (from April to October) 8:00-17:00. Winter timetable (from November to March) 9:00-16:00.
Price: 800 yen (€5.63).
5. Celebrate the Japanese tea ceremony
One of the best activities you can do in Japan is to celebrate the ancient Japanese tea ceremony and enjoy this wonderful culture. In almost any city in Japan you will find specialized places dedicated to show the tea ceremony, especially in Tokyo and Kyoto. The traditional ceremony can last up to 4 hours, but you will find all durations on your visit to Japan. Prices range from €12 to €50.
What should I consider before traveling to Japan?
- The official currency of Japan is the yen.
- The high season is in spring (March-May) and the month of August
- The rainy season is in summer
- It is best to avoid exchanging money at the airport, as their prices are high.
- Japan is spoken Japanese, although being a tourist country English is spoken in many places and there are also signs in this language.
- The tap water is drinkable.
- For Spanish citizens it is not necessary to have a visa if you travel for less than 90 days. But you must have your passport and be able to prove you have a the hotel reservations and that the trip is a tourist one.
- Hedge yourself against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
- Tipping is not customary in Japan.
- There are restaurants where they only accept credit cards.
- Carry the name of the hotel written down on paper.
- The country is generally very safe, but just in case be careful with your belongings
How to prepare what to see on your trip to Japan
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all of its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
- Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes presented in the post)
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travelers what to see in Japan.
If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Japan
The weather in Japan depends a lot on the geographical area and the time of the year. Generally, summer (June-August) is very hot and humid. December to February brings an average temperature of about 6°C in Tokyo and abundant snowfall in the center-west of the country, with unique scenery. Spring (March-May) brings mild and pleasant temperatures throughout the country with little rainfall.
As we said, temperatures vary greatly from one area to another, so always check it before traveling.
Spring, without a doubt. Summer temperatures are often suffocating and the constant rains are uncomfortable; and winter can be too cold. Some prefer to travel in winter in the low season when the best deals are available. The prices are highest in spring and August. Also, autumn is a good time to travel because temperatures are mild and prices are lower than in spring.
Japan has a very good train network and the shinkansen (bullet trains) connect most cities. You can also purchase the Japan Rail Pass and travel by train for 213€/week. In case you want to cover very long distances, we recommend traveling by plane.
There are endless alternatives on where to eat in Japan. Of course, we recommend eating at least once the authentic Japanese sushi served in the fish markets of the country. In addition, you must try the food served at the yatai, street food stalls. The most famous yatai you can see in Japan are those in Fukuoka, where you will find authentic and delicious Japanese cuisine such as ramen and gyozas.
If you travel to Japan you cannot miss the experience of sleeping in capsule hotels and in a ryokan, the traditional Japanese accommodation with tatami flooring, mattresses on the floor and sliding paper walls. Examples of such accommodations are the Nine Hours capsule hotels in various Tokyo neighborhoods and the ryokan luxury Nisshokan Bettei Koyotei in Nagasaki.
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