Japan is one of the largest economies in the world blessed with its technical wizard and rich culture. The capital Tokyo is the largest metropolitan area in the world with over 32 million inhabitants from around the world. Japan is known to have two major religions namely Shinto and Buddhism. While Shinto is the oldest religion ok Japan with the maximum number of followers, However, Buddhism was imported from the Asian region back in the 6th century. Just to feel the real natural beauty of Japan millions of tourists from all around the world visit the country annually. It is famous for its rich cultural heritage by visiting numerous temples and shrines situated all around the country. The country has everything right from its ancient tradition and its beautiful modern cities that attract millions of travellers year after year. Let me list down best places to visit in Japan,
Places to Visit in Japan
1. Tokyo (Know Where To Stay)
One of the amazing cities in the world that never sleeps is well known among travellers for its culture, transport system, dining scene and as a financial hub. If you are looking to enjoy your vacation in one of the best countries in the world than this year plan for Japan. Tokyo, being the capital of Japan is one of the most beautiful and best places to visit in Japan. There are numerous places in Tokyo that should be in your checklists like Tokyo Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower, Meiji Shrine and Sensoji Temple. Japan is home to thousands of temples in the world, However, the oldest among them is the Sensoji Temple in Tokyo Japan.
Meiji Shrine is one of the most important tourist attractions in Tokyo. The Meiji Shrine has been dedicated to the death of emperor who is responsible for the Meiji restoration. Tokyo tower will be a surprise for you because it seems to be inspired by Eiffel Tower. It is one of the most recognizable places in Japan and listed as the second tallest structure in all of Japan. Tokyo Imperial Palace is the emperor of Japan’s primary residence is the extraordinary Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Tokyo is an amazing city but it will be quite difficult to explore all the city.
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2.Kyoto ( Know Where To Stay )
Japan is known to have an incredible and glorious history. Kyoto is one of the densely populated and historically significant cities of Japan for nearly 1,000 years. If you are planning to visit Kyoto city and confused how to spend your time, let us list down few incredible places you can visit to make the best use of your time. If you appreciate art, The Kyoto National Museum and the Municipal Museum of Art established in 1897 is one of the most incredible places for art lovers. The second one is Kiyomizu Temple is a well-known place for nature lovers and photographers must visit this place. Also, the structure of the temple is just incredible with the main hall is built on 30-meter tall pillars with 5 rows of cross beams.
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The most beautiful thing about this place is the beautiful view, one can see the whole city and the wooded hills surrounding it. Kyoto imperial palace is the most visited sites in Kyoto. The original palace (that was built in 794 AD) was unfortunately destroyed in the fire. It was rebuilt in 1855. You can also visit Kinkaku Ji (The Golden Pavilion) known for its peaceful environment and enough to make your stay. A beautiful temple is built over a large pond. Last will be Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine is one of the most visited locations across Japan. This is one of the places you must visit on your trip to Japan.
3. Nara ( Know Where To Stay )
One of the best places to visit in Japan, Nara, travellers generally opt for a day trip to Nara, Japan from Kyoto city. The most famous attraction in Nara is the biggest Buddha Statue in Japan in Todaiji Temple. Also, people used to enjoy the Nara park where deer roam freely, However, you need to be little precautious because some of them don’t like humans to approach. Nara is also famous among travellers for its peace and harmony.
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Nara was once the capital of Japan and famous for its finest arts, crafts and literature. Buddhism is the main attraction here with a magnificent Great Buddha statue. It is also known as Daibutsu.Another must see in Nara, in my opinion, is the HoryujiTemple. It was founded in the year 607 by Prince Shotoku in the period of Empress Seiko and also known as the oldest wooden buildings in the world.
4. Takayama ( Know Where To Stay )
Travellers who are seeking peace after the long journey of big cities of Japan, Takayama will be the perfect destination for you. The tourist town of where you will experience life in a rural way. It’s almost unknown to western tourists. The city has a pleasant landscape with a river runs through the city. You will also experience old shops and restaurants with a traditional look around.
Mount Norikura is one of the most famous destinations of Takayama, It’s a dormant volcano that is 3,026 meters (9,928 ft.) high. The morning market of Takayama near the river is also one of the famous attractions of the city.Takayama is the home of one of the three largest Shinto festivals in Japan called The Takayama Festivals.
5.Nikko ( Know Where To Stay )
Nikko is a popular tourist spot in Japan and looks lovely especially in winter when it is all snowing.Niiko is worth for a two-day trip because there will be two sides you have to explore, one at the bottom and other at the top. The bottom part is famous for its beautiful river and mountain landscape.Toshogu and Futarasan are the most famous temples in that area that will be worth your time. Nikko is one of the best places to visit in Japan.
Now, coming to top i.e the mountain part has the famous waterfall and beautiful lake. If you are in Tokyo and planning for Niiko, you can take a train that starts as early as 4 AM and will take around 2.5/3 hours to reach Nikko. You all need to leave early to make the maximum of your trip and time. The red-lacquered Shin-kyo bridge is also one of the famous tourist attractions in the city.
6.Kamakura ( Know Where To Stay )
When you talk about Kamakura the first thing that you should plan is Kamakura DaibutsudenKotoku-in, it is considered as a home to Daibutsu (Great Buddha) of Kamakura. The best part is that you can also go inside Daibutsu of Kamakura to enjoy peace and divinity. The interior part of the statue is known as “Tainai (interior of the womb).” Now let me talk about, Kamakura Hase- dera Temple located in Kamakura is famous among travellers for viewing hydrangea. There are about 2500 hydrangea flowers you can experience here. Tourist generally visits this place in winters to view hydrangea flowers.
Kamakura is also famous for TsurugaokaHachimangu Shrine located approximately 5 kilometres walk from the station. People used to visit the shrine in spring to watch beautiful cherry blossom. You can see approximately 300 cherry trees on the approach to TsurugaokaHachimanguShrine. Also, Cherry blossom surrounding the GenpeiPond within TsurugaokaHachimangu Shrine looks beautiful.
7. Hiroshima ( Know Where To Stay )
Hiroshima is a small town and beautiful city which is quite different from Tokyo and Osaka. The best site you can visit in Hiroshima includes Peace Memorial Park, PeaceMemorial Building (the only building left standing after the A-bomb), Peace Memorial Museum and Children’s Peace Monument. Hiroshima Peace Memorial is one the best tourist attractions in Japan.
You need to start with these places to experience the history of the city. Apart from this, you can spend you visit some peaceful places that include Shukkei-en (A beautiful garden), Hiroshima castle, Itsukushima (Shrine Island), Museum of Art, Mitaki-dera (Buddhist Temple), Asa Zoological Park, Momijidani Park and Hiroshima Bay. Hiroshima is one of the oldest cities in Japan which is quite famous because of its bad fate. It is the first city in the world to have an atomic attack on it.
8.Kanazawa ( Know Where To Stay )
Kanazawa is one of the oldest cities in Japan. The city mainly developed during the 16th century under the leadership of the Maeda family. It is known to be a small city in Japan, however, accompanied by Japanese traditional culture, food, and arts. There will be numerous places you can visit in Kanazawa, however, let me list down some important places that should be on your checklist. The first and the most important one is Kanazawa Station (JR railway) which is a gateway to the travellers from all around the world. It has a huge glass dome known as Motenashi Dome. The other places include Kenrokuen (Traditional Japanese Garden), Kanazawa Castle Park, The 21th Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Higashi Chayagai, Omicho Market and Myouryuji Temple(Ninja-dera temple). Also, read about the beautiful castles in Japan.
9.Ishigaki ( Know Where To Stay )
Ishigaki in Japan will be a perfect place for beach lovers. The place totally lacks temples and shrines; However, you can experience the natural beauty and amazing beaches.Yonehara Beach is the most famous among tourist and you can experience best snorkelling and diving opportunities at this beach. Apart from water activities, you can enjoy nature and landscape beauty of Cape Tamatori at the Tamatorizaki Observation Point. Your next destination should be Sukuji Beach, it is one of the perfect destinations who want to enjoy sunbathing in shallow beach waters. Ishigaki Limestone Cave is one of the natural wonders that have taken approximately 200,000 years for its formation. It constitutes beautiful corals, sea eggs, lime alga and many more. It is one of the best places to visit in Japan.
10.Koya-san or Mount Koya
Koya-san or Mount Koya will give you a uniquely Japanese experience. We would suggest you for a night stay in the Buddhist temple situated on Mount Koya.The morning prayers are very peaceful and food will be a lifetime experience. Mount Koya by itself is a peaceful place to walk around. The Okunoin cemetery on Mount Koya is more than 1000 years old and is the largest cemetery in Japan. It has more than 200,000 tombstones along with very old mausoleums. The place is always foggy. Mount Koya also has a tomb of Kūkai, founder of one of the main sects of Buddhism in Japan. The town is full of temples. However, the place is quite remote because to reach here you need to take a train, then a funicular and finally a bus.
11. Hankone Onsen
Discover the best places to visit in Hakone Onsen and immerse yourself in tranquility and relaxation. According to Leo Koyama, this renowned destination is famous for its natural hot springs, harmoniously nestled amidst awe-inspiring landscapes. These therapeutic geothermal baths offer rejuvenation and stunning views of Mount Fuji. Immerse yourself in the soothing waters, believed to alleviate fatigue and promote well-being. You can also explore hiking trails, art museums, and traditional ryokan inns, embracing the serenity and cultural richness of Hakone. It’s the perfect retreat for unwinding and indulging in the tranquility of traditional Japanese hot springs.
So, these are the best places to visit in Japan. Please put in comments if you think some other should also be added to the above list.
