5 Places in Japan You Should Not Miss

From the futuristic city of Tokyo to the peaceful bamboo forests in Kyoto. Japan is one of a kind, but with so much that Japan has to offer, where should we start?

These are the 5 places that you should not miss on your trip to Japan.

1. Tokyo

Tokyo is the capital of Japan and is known for its neon-lit skyscrapers, historic temples, and many delicious restaurants.

There is so much that you can do in Tokyo, here are the things you don’t want to miss:

● A Go-Kart tour (You can also dress up as your favorite character)

● Themed cafes (from owls, cats, and robots)

● Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea

● Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree tower

Stay for at least 6 to 7 days to explore Tokyo, you could also take a day trip to Mt. Fuji and other points of interest.

2. Kyoto

For a more traditional Japanese experience, then Kyoto is the place. You will see geishas in colored kimonos, templates, shrines, forests filled with bamboo, and Zen gardens.

What can you do in Kyoto? You can:

● Walk through the red gates of the Fushimi Inari shrine

● Visit the Otagi Nenbutsuji temple

● Kyoto cherry blossoms (if you visit between late March and early April)

● Visit Arashiyama or the Bamboo Forest

At least 3 or 4 nights is enough to experience as much of Kyoto as you can.

3. Nara

Filled with many historical treasures and UNESCO world heritage sites, Nara is one of the top Japanese attractions to visit. Nara was the first capital of Japan and was originally known as Yamato.

For your visit to Nara make sure you visit:

● Nara Park (Wild deer and cherry blossoms)

● The Daibutsu-den (or Hall of the Great Buddha) - the largest wooden building in the world with a 15-meter tall statue of Buddha.

● The Yakushi-ji Temple

● The Kasuga-taisha shrine

Some people tend to only visit Nara as a day trip from Kyoto, but it is best to see and experience it by staying overnight.

4. Hiroshima

A great way to show your respects to the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing at Hiroshima (and Nagasaki, respectively). The city was almost fully rebuilt after World War II, leaving some of its history behind.

While you are in Hiroshima be sure that you see:

●     The Peace Memorial Museum and Park

●     Atomic Bomb Dome

●     Shukkei-en, a historical Japanese garden

●     Hiroshima Castle

●     Itsukushima Jina - a floating tori gate off the island of Itsukushima

Typically 1 to 2 nights are more than enough, or you could visit Hiroshima as long day trips from Osaka, Kyoto, or Okayama.

5. Osaka

A must-see for a lot of travelers, Osaka is a large port city known for its nightlife, street food, and modern architecture. It has one of the oldest Shinto shrines (called Sumiyoshi-taisha) and is home to the 16th-century Osaka castle.

Things to do in Osaka:

●     Visit the Osaka Castle

●     Universal Studios Japan

●     Dotonbori

●     Sumiyoshi- taisha

●     Shitennoji (A Buddhist temple)

If you are flying in or out of Kansai airport, it may be best to stay overnight but you can also have a day trip from Kyoto.

Conclusion

Many places in Japan didn’t make this list, but these are the top 5 places that people visit when they travel to or around Japan. Immerse yourself in the Japanese culture, experiment with their food, and participate in a tea ceremony.

Traveling is all about having adventures, exploring, and seeing other parts of the world and cultures. With Japan having such rich traditions, history, and culture it is one country that everyone should visit.