Spots in Japan

Area

Japan
- Japan
- Hokkaido / Tohoku
  
  Hokkaido
  
  Aomori
  
  Iwate
  
  Miyagi
  
  Akita
  
  Yamagata
  
  Fukushima
- Kanto
  
  Ibaraki
  
  Tochigi
  
  Gunma
  
  Saitama
  
  Chiba
  
  Tokyo
  
  Kanagawa
- Koshinetsu / Hokuriku
  
  Niigata
  
  Toyama
  
  Ishikawa
  
  Fukui
  
  Yamanashi
  
  Nagano
- Tokai
  
  Gifu
  
  Shizuoka
  
  Aichi
  
  Mie
- Kinki
  
  Shiga
  
  Kyoto
  
  Osaka
  
  Hyogo
  
  Nara
  
  Wakayama
- Chugoku
  
  Tottori
  
  Shimane
  
  Okayama
  
  Hiroshima
  
  Yamaguchi
- Shikoku
  
  Tokushima
  
  Kagawa
  
  Ehime
  
  Kochi
- Kyushu / Okinawa
  
  Fukuoka
  
  Saga
  
  Nagasaki
  
  Kumamoto
  
  Oita
  
  Miyazaki
  
  Kagoshima
  
  Okinawa

Category

Fushimi Inari Taisha

4.5

24849 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Fushimi-ku Fukakusa Yabunouchi cho 68

This shrine in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, is the head of all Inari Shrines in Japan, which total to around 30,000 shrines. The shrine is particularly famous for its vermillion lacquered Torii gate tunnels, as well as to parishioners visiting the god for business, harvest, and fortune. Many of the buildings on the grounds are also painted with brilliant vermillion lacquer including the front shrine, main shrine, and tower gate, which has been designated an Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The torii gate corridor, said to consist of several thousand to 10,000 torii gates, twists and turns making it quite the spectacle. Beyond that is the rear shrine as well as the entrance to Mt. Inari-san which is dotted with countless small burial mounds. It is one of the most famous spots in the Kansai region to visit for the annual New Year Shrine Visit and draws huge numbers of visitors every year.

The defining shrine of Kyoto, Fushimi Inari is teeming with tourists & locals. The pathway behind the shrine comprises a 1000 toris or gates, going all the way to the top of Mount Inari. Sacred sites...
Universal Studios Japan

4.0

11016 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Osaka Osakashi Konohana-ku Sakurajima 2-1-33

A theme park in Osaka City. Come enjoy a variety of attractions based on famous Hollywood movies including Jaws and Jurassic Park. Following the popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter, they opened the Minion Park in 2017 to great domestic and international interest. There is also the Universal Cool Japan area with limited collaboration attractions based on popular video games and anime.

Pro: -The decorations and buildings are very realistic and make you feel like you are actually there -The Marioland is amazing in terms of its design, beautiful in day and night -Most staffs are...
Tokyo Tower

4.0

8296 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Minato-ku Shibakouen 4-2-8

This is a full-purpose radio tower in Shiba Park in Minato City, Tokyo. The tower began operating in 1958, and has remained as a landmark symbol of Tokyo, receiving many tourists from both in and out of Japan every year. Reaching 333 meters at its apex, the tower has a main observation deck at 150 meters, and a top deck at 250 meters, providing a panoramic view of the greater Tokyo area. The lighting of the tower, changed seasonally in various colors, is popular with many. A commercial complex, the Foot Town, is arrayed with souvenir, character goods, and eatery shops at the base of the tower.

I did enjoy going up this tower to the top. The views were very impressive. It is well run with many friendly staff. A must do in Tokyo.
Osaka Castle

4.0

7958 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Osaka Osakashi Chuou-ku Osakajou 1-1

Osaka Castle was built by the Imperial Regent Toyotomi Hideyoshi between 1583 and 1598. The castle was built on a magnificent scale, but was destroyed just 17 years later after the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the destruction of the Toyotomi clan in the Siege of Osaka in 1615. Thereafter, the castle was rebuilt by the Tokugawa shogunate under the command of Todo Takatora but was once again lost due to a fire caused by a lightning strike. The current castle tower is the third generation to stand here and was completed in 1931 through donations from local citizens. The interior of the castle is a history museum and visitors can enjoy information about the history of Osaka Castle and dioramas. The castle was registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property in 1997.

Beautiful is the first thing you feel when you stand at the base of this castle. Perfection in construction when you walk around it and inside it. A couple hours minimum to see everything.
Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan)

4.0

6728 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Osaka Osakashi Minato-ku Kaigandori 1-1-10

This aquarium in the Tempozan Bay Area is the world's largest aquarium. It is even more popular now as they have drastically changed how guests view the exhibits, including the Pacific Ocean Tank where you can see whale sharks leisurely swimming about. Enjoy a wide variety of Pacific-Rim themed exhibits to see and enjoy including California Sea Lions, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, and a fish tank with a tunnel from which you can observe the animals.

Outstanding! Such beautiful displays and such a great variety of species. Includes a colossal tank with a pair of whale sharks! Maybe the best aquarium I’ve ever seen.
Nijojo Castle

4.5

7072 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto City Kyoto City Nakagyo-ku Nijyotoru Horikawa Western Nishi Nijo Castle Town 541

This fortification was built in 1603 to lodge Tokugawa Ieyasu when he travelled to the capital after his victory at the Battle of Sekigahara. Later, the site was significantly renovated by the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, resulting in its present form. In addition to the entire grounds being a nationally designated Historic Site, the site is dotted with numerous historically valuable structures and beautiful sights, including the Ninomaru Palace, the outer citadel palace (a National Treasure), Honmaru Palace, the inner citadel palace (an Important Cultural Property), and Ninomaru Garden, the outer citadel palace garden (a Special Place of Scenic Beauty).

Located a short walk away from the JR Nijo station, Nijo Castle is one of the landmarks in Kyoto. A nicely maintained castle, surrounded by impressive gardens.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

4.5

7129 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Hiroshima Pref. Hiroshimashinakaku Nakajimachou 1-2

This museum is located in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, in Naka District, of Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture. It was founded with the objective of imparting the reality of the harm from the atomic bomb dropped on August 6, 1945, and the abolition of nuclear weapons, and the attainment of world peace. The museum is divided between the main building and the east building. Along with items that reveal the horrible spectacle and mementos of the bomb victims, the conditions of pre and post-bomb Hiroshima and an introduction to the nuclear era are introduced. The museum is remembered also by the 2016 visit of President Barak Obama, the first ever incumbent head of state of a nuclear power to visit the museum.

Our top #1 site to visit while in Hiroshima! Full of the horrific graphic photos, damaged personal belongings and written descriptions of the impact of the atomic bomb, on the people, that hit...
Tōdai-ji

4.5

5740 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Zoushichou 406-1

"Located in Nara City, as the head temple of the Kegon sect of Buddhism. The principal image is Vairocana Buddha, the symbol of Nara as the ""Great Buddha of Nara"". In 743, Emperor Shomu issued his imperial edict for the erection of the Great Buddha Image, and with the cooperation of many people, it was constructed in the hope that all would be happy. The temple grounds are dotted with the national treasures such as Nandai-mon (Great South Gate), Daibutsu-den (Great Buddha Hall), Bell Tower, and Hokke-do (Lotus Hall, Sangatsu-do). It is also known worldwide as one of Japan's most popular tourist spots and attracts many foreign tourists."

Ok, this place was brutally crowded - like uncomfortably so - and I liked other shrines and halls on the grounds to the northwest of Todai-ji better. But the temple is just so historically important...
Jisho-ji Temple (Ginkaku-ji Temple)

4.5

4663 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Ginkakujichou 2

A mountain retreat modeled after the Kinkaku-ji Temple (Gold Pavillion Temple) built by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, grandfather of the eighth Muromachi shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, in 1482. After Yoshimasa’s death, the villa was turned into a Rinzai Shokoku-ji school Zen Buddhist temple and, based on Yoshimasa’s posthumous name, the temple was named the Jishoji Temple. The Kannon Hall, commonly known as the Ginkaku (Silver Pavillion), is simple and elegant in its design; the Togu-do hall is the oldest extant example of ancient Japanese shoin-zukuri architecture and is designated a National Treasure.

Near the Philosophers Path, was this temple. Very beautiful and calming. The gardens were well maintained. One of my favorite temples.
National Treasure Matsumoto Castle

4.5

3675 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Marunouchi 4-1

"Matsumoto Castle is said to feature Japan's oldest surviving five-storied six-floor pagoda. It is one of the few castles designated as a National Treasure, and maintains the image of the past. The black and white contrast of the castle rising amid the Alps in the background is beautiful, and the castle has become a symbol of Matsumoto City. In addition to the castle facilities of the Sengoku period, such as the stone drops meant to rebuff invaders, or samurai windows or the gun slits, there are exhibits such as the ""Matsumoto Castle Gunhouse"" centered around matchlock guns, and artifacts unearthed during the ninomaru palace excavation performed from 1979-1984. In the precinct, you'd do well to see the black gate with eave roof tiles marked with the family crests of historical castle lords, or the taiko gate which was restored in 1999."

Beautiful castle and gardens, especially in cherry blossom season. The reflection of the castle on the water is stunning. Some of my tour group, including me, decided not to go in the castle as we...
Kuromon Ichiba Market

4.0

3281 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Osaka Osakashi Chuou-ku Nippombashi 2-4-1

Kuromon Ichiba Market, located not far off from Namba, helps keep Osaka, “the Kitchen of the Nation” functioning. The market where professionals from a number of famous restaurants do their shopping, shops here stock the highest quality seafoods as well as the freshest vegetables. In recent years, the market has also come to be a popular tourist destination, and one can frequently catch sight of visitors sampling the various wares on offer. Come here when you’re looking for “honmamon” (the genuine article).

We visited this market to see if we could get some fugu as my husband wanted to try this and didnt see much during our trip The market was great with a wide selection of seafood and meats and we...
Ueno Zoo

4.0

3077 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen 9-83

This urban zoo located in Taito City’s Ueno-onshi-koen Park is Japan’s oldest zoo, having opened in 1882. Inside are more than 500 types of animals, and it is most famous for giant panda in particular. The zoo is breeding and displaying the world’s three rarest animals that include the pygmy hippopotamus and okapi as well as the panda. From the 1990s the animal enclosures were refurbished to provide a space for patrons to see animals in more natural surroundings.

They do need to update the cage sizes but overall, very nice big zoo. My favorite part was seeing the red pandas. Easy to get there. Once you leave the station , the zoo is a very distance away.
Odori Park

4.0

3816 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Hokkaido Sapporoshi Chuou-ku Odorinishi 1 from 12-chome

Odori Park is a unique park located in the center of Sapporo City running about 1.5 kilometers from Odorinishi 1-chome to Odorinishi 12-chome. It also forms a base point that divides the city into north and south. In addition to the beautiful flowerbeds and lawns, as many as 4,700 trees from 92 species are spread about inside the park, and their changing appearance can be enjoyed through the four seasons. Odori Park is also a venue for the Lilac Festival, YOSAKOI Soran Festival, and Sapporo Snow Festival, and is popular as a place where many Sapporo locals and tourists gather for recreation as well.

Beautiful park with flowers and autumn foliage. The corn truck had delicious corn on the cob that was worth the queue! Wish I had more of it! The parallel street had a tranquil small park that...
Asahiyama Zoo

4.5

2774 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Hokkaido Asahikawashi Higashiasahikawachou Kuranuma

Asahiyama Zoo is a zoo in Asahikawa City. The exhibits allow you to see the expressions of the animals close up and include the penguin enclosure where you can see the penguins swimming as if they are flying through the air from an underwater tunnel that gives a 360° view (at the Penguin Building), the polar bear enclosure where the 300kg giants swim around energetically (at the Polar Bear Building), the seal enclosure where you can watch the distinctive swimming of seals (at the Seal Building), and the beasts of prey enclosure where you can see tigers, lions, leopards and other from various angles (at the Beast Building). The penguin walk held outside in the snow season is also popular.

A good place to kill time if you have. It is definitely not the place of not visiting will die. However, good to see some of the animals which is natively of Hokkaido It is reachable by bus from...
Kotoku-in Temple (Kamakura Daibutsu)

4.5

3085 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kanagawa Pref. Kamakurashi Hase 4-2-28

A Pure Land Buddhist temple founded by the great priest Honen. The 11.3 meter tall, 121 ton giant copper Buddha statue known as the Kamakura Daibutsu, a National Treasure, is the temple’s principal object of worship and depicts a seated Amitabha. The original daibutsu was made of wood and was destroyed by a typhoon. The copper form of the current statue first began to be cast in 1252. This figure, too, was damaged by typhoons and earthquakes but was repaired each time, leading to its current excellent condition. The interior of the statue can be viewed and from here visitors can see evidence of the repairs that have been made.

The image of the Great Buddha was one of the key drivers for the visit to Ksmakura. And the experience is incredible. You just look up in awe and pray with reverence.
Tokyo Disneyland

4.0

223 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Chiba Pref. Urayasushi Maihama 1-1

A Disney theme park built around the image of a kingdom of dreams and magic located inside the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture. The park is divided into seven differently themed lands, including an American townscape, storybook world, and futuristic space port. The park’s symbol is the gleaming white Cinderella’s Castle. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and other Disney favorites appear in the park parade and greet park visitors. The park is famous for its roller coasters such as Big Thunder Mountain as well as a variety of attractions modeled after animated and live action movies. The Tokyo Disney Land Electrical Parade Dreamlights held at night is so popular some fans come just to watch it.

The main Tokyo Disney Resort store for park merchandise, without having enter the parks. Much like before the pandemic, you could now walk in to do shopping without having to wait in a queue for...
Ameyoko Shopping Street (Ameyoko)

4.0

2758 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Taitou-ku Ueno 6-10-7

Located in Tokyo’s Taito City, this is an approximately 500 meter-long market street along the Yamanote Line tracks between Okachimachi and Ueno Stations. The street is lined with all types of shops including grocery stores, clothing stores and miscellaneous good stores, and is well-known for being crammed with people buying goods for the New Year’s holidays during the year-end season.

Decent value seafood options (including more exotic stuff like shirako, monkfish liver, etc). Has most of the same snacks as in Harajuku apart from crepes. Also some Pachinko and arcade stuff, but...
Imperial Palace East Garden

4.0

2062 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Chiyoda-ku Chiyoda The Imperial Palace East Gardens

The Imperial Palace East Garden was created on land that had formerly formed part of the Honmaru, Ninomaru and Sannomaru zones of Edo Castle, during the construction of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo; the East Garden is open to the public. A number of historical remains and vestiges of Edo Castle can be seen in the East Garden, including part of the Tenshu-dai (the foundation platform for the castle’s main tower), the Ote-mon Gate, the Hyakunin Bansho guardhouse, etc., and as a result the East Garden attracts large numbers of both overseas and domestic tourists. The East Garden also has a wealth of natural beauty, including the “Prefectural Trees” presented to the Garden by every prefecture in Japan, making it a popular place for a stroll or just to sit and relax.

Got to the gardens 75 minutes before closing on a rainy late afternoon. It was magical and I wish wed had time to meander more. But its a stunning botanical garden, lots of little ponds and bridges...
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

4.5

1950 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Mitakashi Shimorenjaku 1-1-83 Metropolitan Inokashira Park In Saiten

This is an animation art museum managed by Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki with a motto of “Let's get lost together.” In addition to displaying materials and storyboards of past Ghibli works, the museum always features various sections that will expand one's perception of animation such as the replicated animation studio and the screenings of short animated films made just for the museum. With a nostalgic building and a route that blends in greenery, this is a place that both adults and children can enjoy just as they please. Entry to the museum is only by reservation and the closest station is Mitaka Station.

No photos allowed inside so ‘taken’ these from the official website. Hayao Miyazaki designed the Studio Ghibli Museum himself, using storyboards similar to the ones he creates for his films. Miyazaki...
Umeda Sky Building Kuchu-Teien Observatory

4.0

3035 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Osaka Osakashi Kita-ku Oyodonaka 1-1-88 Umeda Sky Building

An observatory facility located at the top of the 173 meter high Umeda Sky Building skyscraper located in Osaka City’s Kita Ward. Visitors can enjoy a 360 degree panorama of the streets of Osaka from the open air Sky Walk circular gallery, and many tourists both Japanese and international alike come to this famous spot to view the setting sun and Osaka’s nightscape. At night, the area is lit up by small, foot-level lights, creating a magical atmosphere. There is a fence at the site where lovers can attach a heart-shaped padlock to vow their love for one another, a popular destination for couples on dates. There is also a café on the 40th floor where you can take a break while enjoying the view.

We had one of the most beautiful, memorable and romantic view of Osaka and its surroundings all because of Umeda Kuchu Teien Observatory!!! Located on top of the 173m tall Umeda Sky Building, which...