The best tourist attractions in Japan - What to see and what to do in Japan - includes festival and holiday information and current events in Japan. Here are the Top 10 Tourist Destinations in Japan according to the Japanese National Tourist Organization:
1. Shinjuku, Tokyo
Ginza at Night - The New York bar where Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson enjoyed cocktails in the movie Lost in Translation offers great views of the Tokyo skyline from Shinjuku. Approximately 2 million people move through Shinjuku’s vast train station each day and it is the portal to a busy business area populated by modern skyscrapers and fashionable department stores. One of Tokyo’s best parks, Shinjuku Gyoen is also located in Shinjukju and you can get a taste for Tokyo’s red-light nightlife in Kabukicho (learn about recently released audio tour of Shinjuku at Ping Mag).
2. Ginza, Tokyo
Ginza is to Tokyo what 5th Avenue is to New York. This famous shopping district is famous for it’s grand nightly display of colorful neon and almost every luxury store that you can imagine. The area is also home to some great western style and modern architecture and the main street in closed to traffic on weekend afternoons which make being seen that much easier – because being seen or saying that you have been to Ginza has a certain cache worldwide.
3. Shibuya, Tokyo
The name "Shibuya" is also used to refer to the central business district of Shibuya Ward, which surrounds Shibuya Station, one of Tokyo's busiest railway stations. Shibuya is known as one of the fashion centers of Japan, particularly for young people, and as a major nightlife area.
Shibuya is full of trendy and cool stores that cater to Tokyo’s younger generation. The famous Hachiko Crossing is one of the busiest intersections in the world and is home to large video screens, funky billboards and one of Starbucks busiest stores in the world. Catch the energy of the area with a walk around Shibuya.
4. Harajuku, Tokyo
Harajuku ( "meadow lodging") is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan.
Every Sunday, young people dressed in a variety of styles including gothic lolita, visual kei, and decora, as well as cosplayers spend the day in Harajuku socializing. The fashion styles of these youths rarely conform to one particular style and are usually a mesh of many. Most young people gather on Jingu Bridge, which is a pedestrian bridge that connects Harajuku to the neighboring Meiji Shrine area.
Harajuku is also a fashion capital of the world, renowned for its unique street fashion.[2] Harajuku street style is promoted in Japanese and international publications such as Kera, Tune, Gothic & Lolita Bible and Fruits. Many prominent designers and fashion ideas have sprung from Harajuku and incorporated themselves into other fashions throughout the world.
Harajuku is also a large shopping district that includes international brands, its own brands, and shops selling clothes young people can afford.
5. Asakusa, Tokyo
Asakusa is a district in Taitō, Tokyo, Japan, most famous for the Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. There are several other temples in Asakusa, as well as various festivals.
Asakusa Senso-ji Gate Asakusa’s Senso-ji temple and Nakamise Dori, a shopping street leading up to it are well worth visiting on any trip to Tokyo. The area is also home to a number of famous tempura restaurants an is a short walk from the Kappabashi wholesale district where you can pick up beautiful Japanese dishes, ceramics, iron tea kettles, knives and even one of the plastic food replicas that you will find in almost every restaurant window in Japan. Asakusa is also the place where you can embark on a cruise of the Sumida river.
6. Ueno, Tokyo
Ueno is a district in Tokyo's Taitō Ward, best known as the home of Ueno Station and Ueno Park. Ueno is also home to some of Tokyo's finest cultural sites, including the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Western Art, and the National Science Museum, as well as a major public concert hall. Many Buddhist temples are in the area, including the Bentendo temple dedicated to goddess Benzaiten, on an island in Shinobazu Pond. The Kan'ei-ji, a major temple of the Tokugawa shoguns, stood in this area, and its pagoda is now within the grounds of the Ueno Zoo.
Nearby is the Ueno Tōshōgū, a Shinto shrine to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Near the Tokyo National Museum there is The International Library of Children's Literature. Just south of the station is the Ameyayokocho, a street market district that evolved out of an open-air black market that sprung up after World War II. Just east is the Ueno motorcycle district, with English-speaking staff available in some stores.
Ueno is part of the historical Shitamachi (literally "low city") district of Japan, a working class area rather than where the aristocrats and rich merchants lived. Today the immediate area, due to its close proximity to a major transportation hub, retains high land value but just a short walk away to the east or north reveals some of the less glitzy architecture of Tokyo.
Ueno Park and Ueno Station are also home to a large percentage of Tokyo's homeless population. Though nearly invisible in other parts of Tokyo, the homeless population in Ueno can be found sleeping or communing in large numbers around the "ike" (ponds) of this district.
7. The Rest Of Tokyo
There is a lot to see in this city with a population that exceeds 12 million and is divided into 23 separate wards. Other areas that made this roundup of the most popular sights in Tokyo are the ultra modern cities within the city: Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Midtown and Odaiba. To get a glimpse of how royalty lives you may also want to consider a visit to the Imperial Palace, home to the Emperor of Japan, and the adjacent gardens.
8. Yokohama
Yokohama is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu. It is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area.
Yokohama's population of 3.6 million makes it Japan's largest incorporated city.
Yokohama developed rapidly as Japan's prominent port city following the end of Japan's relative isolation in the mid-19th century, and is today one of its major ports along with Kobe, Osaka, Nagoya, Hakata, Tokyo, and Chiba.
9. Kyoto
Kyoto is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.
Kyoto can be described as the cradle of Japanese history and culture. Once the capital, Kyoto has an amazing number of ancient temples, shrines, traditional buildings and excellent museums that are well worth visiting. Kyoto is one of the most beautiful places in Japan and is well deserving of a spot on this list.
10. Osaka
Osaka is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshū, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. Located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, Osaka is the third largest city by population after Tokyo and Yokohama.
Osaka, two-and-a-half hours from Tokyo by shinkansen, is home to traditional architecture and the famous Osaka Castle. About 40 minutes away is Himeji Castle, a World Heritage Site built from the 14th to 17th centuries and nearby Kobe is home to the world famous beef of the same name. Visit the Osaka and Kobe tourism websites to learn more about theses great cities.
Returning visitors are a bit more adventurous and head for some of the other regions of Japan to enjoy great skiing and hiking in Hokkaido or some of the areas well know for their onsens or spas. With the slowing of the worldwide economy and an underdeveloped tourism infrastructure Japan has it’s work cut out to increase the number of tourists that visit each year.
1. Shinjuku, Tokyo
Ginza at Night - The New York bar where Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson enjoyed cocktails in the movie Lost in Translation offers great views of the Tokyo skyline from Shinjuku. Approximately 2 million people move through Shinjuku’s vast train station each day and it is the portal to a busy business area populated by modern skyscrapers and fashionable department stores. One of Tokyo’s best parks, Shinjuku Gyoen is also located in Shinjukju and you can get a taste for Tokyo’s red-light nightlife in Kabukicho (learn about recently released audio tour of Shinjuku at Ping Mag).
2. Ginza, Tokyo
Ginza is to Tokyo what 5th Avenue is to New York. This famous shopping district is famous for it’s grand nightly display of colorful neon and almost every luxury store that you can imagine. The area is also home to some great western style and modern architecture and the main street in closed to traffic on weekend afternoons which make being seen that much easier – because being seen or saying that you have been to Ginza has a certain cache worldwide.
3. Shibuya, Tokyo
The name "Shibuya" is also used to refer to the central business district of Shibuya Ward, which surrounds Shibuya Station, one of Tokyo's busiest railway stations. Shibuya is known as one of the fashion centers of Japan, particularly for young people, and as a major nightlife area.
Shibuya is full of trendy and cool stores that cater to Tokyo’s younger generation. The famous Hachiko Crossing is one of the busiest intersections in the world and is home to large video screens, funky billboards and one of Starbucks busiest stores in the world. Catch the energy of the area with a walk around Shibuya.
4. Harajuku, Tokyo
Harajuku ( "meadow lodging") is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan.
Every Sunday, young people dressed in a variety of styles including gothic lolita, visual kei, and decora, as well as cosplayers spend the day in Harajuku socializing. The fashion styles of these youths rarely conform to one particular style and are usually a mesh of many. Most young people gather on Jingu Bridge, which is a pedestrian bridge that connects Harajuku to the neighboring Meiji Shrine area.
Harajuku is also a fashion capital of the world, renowned for its unique street fashion.[2] Harajuku street style is promoted in Japanese and international publications such as Kera, Tune, Gothic & Lolita Bible and Fruits. Many prominent designers and fashion ideas have sprung from Harajuku and incorporated themselves into other fashions throughout the world.
Harajuku is also a large shopping district that includes international brands, its own brands, and shops selling clothes young people can afford.
5. Asakusa, Tokyo
Asakusa is a district in Taitō, Tokyo, Japan, most famous for the Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. There are several other temples in Asakusa, as well as various festivals.
Asakusa Senso-ji Gate Asakusa’s Senso-ji temple and Nakamise Dori, a shopping street leading up to it are well worth visiting on any trip to Tokyo. The area is also home to a number of famous tempura restaurants an is a short walk from the Kappabashi wholesale district where you can pick up beautiful Japanese dishes, ceramics, iron tea kettles, knives and even one of the plastic food replicas that you will find in almost every restaurant window in Japan. Asakusa is also the place where you can embark on a cruise of the Sumida river.
6. Ueno, Tokyo
Ueno is a district in Tokyo's Taitō Ward, best known as the home of Ueno Station and Ueno Park. Ueno is also home to some of Tokyo's finest cultural sites, including the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Western Art, and the National Science Museum, as well as a major public concert hall. Many Buddhist temples are in the area, including the Bentendo temple dedicated to goddess Benzaiten, on an island in Shinobazu Pond. The Kan'ei-ji, a major temple of the Tokugawa shoguns, stood in this area, and its pagoda is now within the grounds of the Ueno Zoo.
Nearby is the Ueno Tōshōgū, a Shinto shrine to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Near the Tokyo National Museum there is The International Library of Children's Literature. Just south of the station is the Ameyayokocho, a street market district that evolved out of an open-air black market that sprung up after World War II. Just east is the Ueno motorcycle district, with English-speaking staff available in some stores.
Ueno is part of the historical Shitamachi (literally "low city") district of Japan, a working class area rather than where the aristocrats and rich merchants lived. Today the immediate area, due to its close proximity to a major transportation hub, retains high land value but just a short walk away to the east or north reveals some of the less glitzy architecture of Tokyo.
Ueno Park and Ueno Station are also home to a large percentage of Tokyo's homeless population. Though nearly invisible in other parts of Tokyo, the homeless population in Ueno can be found sleeping or communing in large numbers around the "ike" (ponds) of this district.
7. The Rest Of Tokyo
There is a lot to see in this city with a population that exceeds 12 million and is divided into 23 separate wards. Other areas that made this roundup of the most popular sights in Tokyo are the ultra modern cities within the city: Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Midtown and Odaiba. To get a glimpse of how royalty lives you may also want to consider a visit to the Imperial Palace, home to the Emperor of Japan, and the adjacent gardens.
8. Yokohama
Yokohama is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu. It is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area.
Yokohama's population of 3.6 million makes it Japan's largest incorporated city.
Yokohama developed rapidly as Japan's prominent port city following the end of Japan's relative isolation in the mid-19th century, and is today one of its major ports along with Kobe, Osaka, Nagoya, Hakata, Tokyo, and Chiba.
9. Kyoto
Kyoto is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.
Kyoto can be described as the cradle of Japanese history and culture. Once the capital, Kyoto has an amazing number of ancient temples, shrines, traditional buildings and excellent museums that are well worth visiting. Kyoto is one of the most beautiful places in Japan and is well deserving of a spot on this list.
10. Osaka
Osaka is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshū, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. Located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, Osaka is the third largest city by population after Tokyo and Yokohama.
Osaka, two-and-a-half hours from Tokyo by shinkansen, is home to traditional architecture and the famous Osaka Castle. About 40 minutes away is Himeji Castle, a World Heritage Site built from the 14th to 17th centuries and nearby Kobe is home to the world famous beef of the same name. Visit the Osaka and Kobe tourism websites to learn more about theses great cities.
Returning visitors are a bit more adventurous and head for some of the other regions of Japan to enjoy great skiing and hiking in Hokkaido or some of the areas well know for their onsens or spas. With the slowing of the worldwide economy and an underdeveloped tourism infrastructure Japan has it’s work cut out to increase the number of tourists that visit each year.