Top 10 Things To Do In Japan
If this is your first time to Japan, you’ll be stunned by the contrasts!
Ancient temples and shrines blend seamlessly with modern, futuristic skyscrapers. Candle lit temple lanterns go hand in hand with neon-lit shopping districts.
You’ll see locals dressed in traditional Japanese attire ride the subway with others dressed in suits, typical office attire.
While the landmass is small in scale compared to the other countries, the range of natural landscapes is remarkable.
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Snow-covered volcanic peaks, cherry blossoms in spring, green and towering bamboo forests, natural hot springs – the list is almost endless.
Animal lovers will enjoy feeding Nara’s bowing deer and encounters with snow monkeys, Japanese macaques.
No journey to Japan is complete without savoring its delicious cuisine, from relatively safe street food to high-end sushi restaurants.
Want to learn more about the best things to do in Japan? Read on!
Top Things to Do in Japan
Admire Snow-Covered Mount Fuji
🗻 Embark on a Day Trip to Mt. Fuji and Hakone! Experience Japan’s iconic mountain with the Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train. This full-day tour includes scenic views, a cruise on Lake Ashi, and a bullet train ride back to Tokyo.
At 12,400 feet (3,776 meters), Mount Fuji, an active volcano, dominates Japan’s natural landscape, offering a stunning backdrop that’s visible even from Tokyo on a clear day.
Whether you’re a long distance admirer while perhaps soaking in an onsen (traditional hot springs) in nearby Hakone, or you’re a climbing enthusiast seeking a new challenge, Mount Fuji is a must on any visitor’s itinerary.
>> Check pricing and availability for Mount Fuji tours now! (Viator)
>> Check pricing and availability for Mt. Fuji tours now! (Klook)
Top-Rated Mount Fuji Tours
Gape at the Crowds at Shibuya Crossing
Likely the busiest intersection pedestrian street crossing, Shibuya Crossing becomes a dynamic, organized chaos when the lights turn red!
Pedestrians surge from all directions (it’s an all way crossing), and at peak rush hours, you’ll see thousands make the crossing.
Admire from a vantage point like many overhead coffee shops dotting the nearby skyscrapers.
>> Check pricing and availability for Shibuya Crossing tours now! (Viator)
>> Check pricing and availability for Shibuya Crossing tours now! (Klook)
Top-Rated Tokyo Experiences
Soak in the Beauty of Blooming Cherry Blossoms
What can be more ethereal than a canopy of blooming cherry blossoms (sakura) in spring?
You’ll see landscapes and attractions transform all across Japan, and throngs of selfie-seeking tourists jostle for the best spots for their Instagram photos.
Popular spots include Tokyo’s Ueno Park and Kyoto’s Maruyama Park.
>> Check pricing and availability for cherry blossom tours now!
Savor Japanese Cuisine on a Food Tour
🌸 Experience Kyoto’s Nightlife and Cuisine! Dive into the local food scene with the Kyoto Night Foodie Tour. This 3-hour evening tour explores the Gion and Pontocho districts, offering a variety of traditional dishes and insights into Kyoto’s culinary culture.
Foodie tourists will delight in sampling Japanese cuisine, everything from sushi to ramen to lesser-known delights like okonomiyaki and kaiseki (multi-course dining).
For the best experience, take a food tour under the guidance of a local gourmet guide for a deep dive into local flavors, especially in Osaka, Tokyo and Kyoto that thrive as culinary meccas.
Tsukiji’s vibrant fish markets and Osaka’s street food are a must-explore!
>> Check pricing and availability for food tours now! (Viator)
>> Check price and availability for Japan food and drink tours now! (Klook)
Top-Rated Food Tours
Stroll through Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
🚌 Explore Kyoto’s Iconic Landmarks in a Day! Join the PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour to visit must-see sites like Fushimi Inari Shrine, Sagano Bamboo Forest, Kinkaku-ji Temple and more. This comprehensive tour is ideal for travelers with limited time.
Strolling through the towering bamboo stalks under a serene, green canopy at Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is an otherworldly experience!
The nearby Iwatayama Monkey Park offers a unique opportunity to observe Japan’s famous “snow monkeys”, Japanese macaques, against a stunning backdrop of Kyoto’s mountains.
>> Check pricing and availability for Arashiyama tours now! (Viator)
>> Check pricing and availability for Arashiyama experiences now! (Klook)
Top-Rated Kyoto Tours
Gaze in Wonderment at the Golden Temple
🚶♂️ Discover Kyoto’s Highlights on Foot! Experience the city’s rich history and culture with the One-Day Walking Tour: Enjoy Kyoto to the fullest!. Visit iconic sites like Kinkaku-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, and the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.
Kinkaku-ji Temple or the Golden Pavilion is a dazzling Kyoto landmark, a Zen Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf that glistens in the sunlight, casting a stunning reflection in the Mirror Pond in the front.
The lush Japanese gardens surrounding the temple are perfect for a meditative stroll, while snapping photos of the temple from strategic viewpoints along the trails.
>> Check pricing and availability for Golden Pavilion tours now! (Viator)
>> Check price and availability for Golden Pavilion Temple tours now! (Klook)
Hike the Fushimi Inari Shrine Trails
🌿 Discover Kyoto’s Early Morning Serenity! Experience the city’s tranquility with the Kyoto Early Bird Walking Tour. This 5 to 6-hour tour visits popular sites like Fushimi Inari Shrine before the crowds arrive.
Fushimi Inari Taisha or shrine is famous for its thousands of bright orange-red torii gates, symbols of prosperity and good fortune donated through the years to the temple.
A mesmerizing pathway that winds through the forested Mount Inari in Kyoto, the hike takes you through initially packed and large gates to smaller and more widely spaced gates as you climb.
>> Check pricing and availability for Fushimi Inari Shrine tours now!
Feed the Deer at Nara Park & Visit Todai-ji Temple
🦌 Visit Nara’s Historic Sites and Friendly Deer! Explore beyond Kyoto with the World Heritage Kyoto & Nara Uji Authentic Matcha Experience. This full-day tour includes visits to Todai-ji Temple, Nara Park, and a matcha tea experience in Uji.
Nara Deer Park – friendly wild deer that bow to you for treats! Generations of interaction with Japanese locals and now tourists from all over the world have ingrained this enchanting behavior on the thousands of deer that roam Nara’s parks and streets.
Also in the park is the Todai-ji Temple, home to the world’s largest bronze stature of Buddha, an epic masterpiece in this 8th century UNESCO World Heritage Site.
>> Check pricing and availability for Nara Park tours now!
Best Nara Tours
View Ancient Osaka Castle Blend in With Modern Skyscrapers
A monument from Japan’s feudal era, Osaka Castle is set in a spacious park surrounded by moats, against a modern Osaka skyscraper backdrop.
A museum within the castle brings to life Osaka’s samurai history, and an observation deck on the top floor offers jaw-dropping, panoramic views of Osaka.
>> Check pricing and availability for Osaka Castle tours now!
Pray for Peace at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park – a stark reminder of Hiroshima’s grim past and a symbol of hope for a peaceful future.
With the skeletal remnants of the Atomic Bomb Dome in the center, the park includes a museum and a Children’s Peace Monument, and offers a serene place to reflect on the importance of global peace.
>> Check pricing and availability for Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park tours now!