Japan

20 Best Things to Do in Japan

One list for the whole country, drawn from 8 cities and ranked by the travelers who went.

Ranked by traveler review volume across 1380 tracked places in Japan, max 3 per city. Updated monthly.

  1. Tokyo Tower

    Museum · Tokyo

    Tokyo Tower is a communications and observation tower in the Minato district of Tokyo, Japan.

    Read our full guide →
  2. Sensō-ji

    Religious site · TokyoFree entry

    Sensō-ji, located in Tokyo's Asakusa district, is the city's oldest and most famous Buddhist temple. Dedicated to Kannon, the goddess of mercy, the temple draws millions of visitors annually.

    Read our full guide →
  3. Meiji Jingu

    Religious site · TokyoFree entry

    Meiji Jingu is a Shinto shrine located in Shibuya, Tokyo, surrounded by a sprawling 170-acre forest that feels a world away from the city's hustle.

    Read our full guide →
  4. SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM Kyoto

    Museum · Kyoto

    The SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM Kyoto offers an immersive journey into feudal Japan's warrior culture.

    Read our full guide →
  5. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

    Park & nature · KyotoFree entry

    The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is one of Kyoto's most iconic natural attractions, located in the western district of Arashiyama.

    Read our full guide →
  6. Byōdo-in Temple

    Religious site · Kyoto

    Byōdo-in Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of Kyoto's most iconic landmarks. Originally a villa for a powerful noble, it was converted into a temple in 1052.

    Read our full guide →
  7. Osaka Castle

    Landmark · Osaka

    Osaka Castle stands as a symbol of Osaka's rich history, originally built in the 16th century.

    Read our full guide →
  8. Osaka Castle Park

    Park & nature · Osaka

    Osaka Castle Park is a sprawling green space in the heart of Osaka, centered around the historic Osaka Castle.

    Read our full guide →
  9. Atsuta Shrine

    Religious site · Nagoya

    Atsuta Shrine, founded over 1,900 years ago, is a major Shinto shrine in Nagoya.

    Read our full guide →
  10. Kiyosu Castle

    Landmark · Nagoya

    Kiyosu Castle is a faithful reconstruction of the original 15th-century castle that played a key role in the unification of Japan under Oda Nobunaga.

    Read our full guide →
  11. Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts

    Museum · Nagoya

    The Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts is a unique collaboration that brings rotating exhibitions of art from the renowned Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to Nagoya.

    Read our full guide →
  12. Yokohama Chinatown

    Neighborhood · YokohamaFree entry

    Yokohama Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in Japan, located just south of Tokyo. It has about 250 Chinese-owned shops and restaurants, with the highest concentration in a 300-square-meter area.

    Read our full guide →
  13. Kuchu Teien Observatory

    Landmark · Osaka

    The Umeda Sky Building is one of Osaka's most striking modern landmarks, twin 40-storey towers joined at the top by the 'Floating Garden Observatory' (Kuchu Teien), a ring-shaped rooftop deck 170…

    Read our full guide →
  14. Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

    Landmark · YokohamaFree entry

    The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse is a historic port building at the Port of Yokohama, now a complex with a shopping mall, banquet hall, and event venues.

    Read our full guide →
  15. Minato Mirai 21

    Neighborhood · Yokohama

    Minato Mirai 21 is the central business district of Yokohama, developed in the 1980s as a master-planned urban center.

    Read our full guide →
  16. Kushida Shrine

    Religious site · FukuokaFree entry

    Kushida Shrine (Kushida-jinja) is the most important and beloved Shinto shrine in the Hakata district of Fukuoka, a spiritual heart of the city, affectionately known to locals as 'O-Kushida-san.'…

    Read our full guide →
  17. Hakata Station

    Landmark · FukuokaFree entry

    Hakata Station serves as the primary gateway to Fukuoka and the Kyushu region, connecting travelers via the Shinkansen bullet train, local JR lines, and the subway.

    Read our full guide →
  18. Fukuoka City Subway

    Sight · Fukuoka

    Fukuoka City Subway is the backbone of public transit in Fukuoka, a vibrant port city on Kyushu island.

    Read our full guide →
  19. Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa

    Park & nature · Takanawa

    Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa is an innovative aquarium that combines traditional marine exhibits with cutting-edge digital technology.

    Read our full guide →
  20. Roppongi District

    Neighborhood · MinatoFree entry

    Roppongi District is a dynamic neighborhood in Minato, Tokyo, known for its cosmopolitan atmosphere and concentration of entertainment, dining, and cultural venues.

    Read our full guide →
By city: Tokyo · Kyoto · Osaka · Nagoya · Yokohama · Fukuoka · Ginza · Chuo · Minato · Asakusa · Kanazawa · Hiroshima — or check visa rules for Japan

Rather have a human do the planning? A Local Friend can build this trip for you, at local prices.