Leisure / Outdoors 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
  
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  Yamanashi
  
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  Mie
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  Osaka
  
  Hyogo
  
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  Wakayama
- Chugoku
  
  Tottori
  
  Shimane
  
  Okayama
  
  Hiroshima
  
  Yamaguchi
- Shikoku
  
  Tokushima
  
  Kagawa
  
  Ehime
  
  Kochi
- Kyushu / Okinawa
  
  Fukuoka
  
  Saga
  
  Nagasaki
  
  Kumamoto
  
  Oita
  
  Miyazaki
  
  Kagoshima
  
  Okinawa

Category

Leisure / Hobbies

Leisure / Outdoors

Toba Aquarium

4.5

818 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Mie Pref. Tobashi Toba 3-3-6

Located in Toba City, this is Japan’s largest aquarium. Appropriate of its catch phrase “Japan’s largest number of species bred” the aquarium is home to approximately 1,200 species of animals. The aquarium has 12 zones that come close to natural environments, and one characteristic is that there is no prescribed viewing route. The aquarium has Japan’s only dugong, a sea creature which served as a model for the mermaid legends, and along with the manatees is a popular animal to see. Moreover, the museum not only features aquatic animals but also displays animals that live close to water such as capybara. The humorous show featuring sea lions and walruses is a must-see.

Toba aquarium is a nice attraction with the animals generally seeming well looked after. Visiting on a rainy day it was quite busy inside, but the spaces inside were large enough that it did not feel...
Nezu Museum

4.5

879 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Minato-ku Minamiaoyama 6-5-1

This art museum located in Minami Aoyama opened in 1941 to conserve and exhibit the collection of Kaichiro Nezu, whose career included being president of Tobu Railway Co., Ltd. The collection of over 7,400 items (as of March 2016) is mostly comprised of pre-modern Japanese and East Asian art, and encompasses many National Treasures, Important Cultural Properties, and important works of art. In addition to the galleries in the main building, visitors can also view the Japanese garden that includes a teahouse, a stone Buddhist image, and stone lanterns.

The museum itself is lovely, if small-ish. But the real treasure here are the gardens and tea room! So thoughtfully designed, quiet, and wonderful to walk around—you’ll forget you’re in the middle of...
Tennoji Zoo

3.5

740 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Osaka Osakashi Tennouji-ku Chausuyamachou 1-108

A municipal zoo located in Tennoji Ward, Osaka City first opened in 1915. The zoo cares for some 200 species and around 1,000 individual animals and is famous the efforts it takes to recreate their natural environments. Popular zoo areas include the African Savanna Zone, home to giraffes, lions, and hippos; Reptile House; Asian Tropical Rain Forest, site of the popular elephant exhibit; and the Friendship Square, a favorite for children where they can pet sheep and goats. Visitors can also watch animals such as the elephants, lions, and penguins being fed.

Small zoo . A few animals . The only catch for me is to see the white polar. The place is easy to walk . Wheelchair friendly . A basic zoo . I will not recommend to come here unless the children...
The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

4.0

838 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Osaka Osakashi Kita-ku Tenjimbashi 6-4-20 Housing Information Center Building 8F

The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, which opened in 2001, is located in Tenjinbashi in the Kita Ward of Osaka City. The Museum is focused on the cultural and historical aspects of how people in Osaka lived during the period from the latter part of the Edo period through to the Showa period. The ninth floor of the Museum building features a row of life-size replica buildings facing onto a “main road,” including Machiya shop-houses, stores, a firewatching tower, etc.; visitors can enjoy strolling around this recreation of an Osaka street scene from days gone by. The eighth floor has dioramas and other exhibits showing Osaka’s streets looked like at different times between the Meiji period and Showa period. The Museum also holds seasonal special exhibitions.

Cannot recommend enough. Appears like an outside museum but it is indoor and perfect to do on a rainy day.xa0 Located inside a building so take an elevator to the 8th Floor where you can purchase your...
EDO WONDERLAND Nikko Edomura

4.0

678 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tochigi Pref. Nikkoushi Karakura 470-2

This Edo-period theme park is located in Karakura, Nikko City. You’ll find authentic-feeling replicas of everything from merchant district to warrior homes, ninja villages, and many other areas inspired by Edo-period townscapes. There’s a facility where visitors can dress up as Edo-period townspeople and warriors, as well as a playhouse, restaurant, and Edo artisanal experiences, allowing them to truly feel like they’re in the Edo period. Many seasonal events are held as well.

Very good place. Who like samurai and ninja must visit here. Very recommended place to visit. You can change your clothes to become ninja or samurai or etc.
Shukkeien Garden

4.5

1095 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Hiroshima Pref. Hiroshimashinakaku Kaminoborichou 2-11

A garden located in Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture that was chosen as one of the top 100 of Japan’s historic parks and designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty. Shukkeien was created in 1620 by Ueda Shigeyasu, a high-ranking retainer in the service of the Asano Clan who was also a renowned master of tea ceremony, to serve as a villa for Asano feudal lords. It is said that the garden is a condensed version modeled on the scenic beauty of China’s West Lake and the garden’s name is derived from this meaning “condensed scenery garden”. The garden is picturesque with an island floating in the pond, mountains, valleys, and elegant tea ceremonial houses. In “Sensuitei” near the entrance you can enjoy matcha green tea and light refreshments.

We saw Shukkei-en Garden on a map of Hiroshima, and decided to visit, walking about 2km each way from our hotel. The entry fee is only 260 yen each. The variety of plants is incredible, and in...
Shibuya109

4.0

608 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Shibuya-ku Dougenzaka 2-29-1

This mall filled with shops on the cutting edge of youth fashion located in the Dogenzaka area of Shibuya City is popularly known as “Marukyu.” In addition to ladies fashion and cosmetic shops, here patrons can also find stores carrying unique items created in collaboration with famous young entertainers. Restaurants can be found on the seventh floor serving authentic Italian pasta and novel desserts. Known as a mecca for young people, this popular spot has come to be a symbol of Shibuya.

I am in my forties so I would say, if you want to browse or eat, then yes. To buy, probably not. This is one of those pretty department stores. Some of the items were nice but I have gone past the...
Hakone Grasunomori Museum (Hakone Venetian Glass Museum)

4.0

882 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kanagawa Pref. Ashigarashimogunhakonemachi Sengokuhara 940-48

Located in Sengokuhara district, Hakone, the Hakone Grasunomori Museum (Hakone Venetian Glass Museum) is Japan’s first museum dedicated to Venetian glass. It actually comprises two museums: the Venetian Glass Museum itself, which has on display around 100 masterpieces of the delicate, finely-wrought Venetian glass for which there was a vogue among the noble families of Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries, and the Modern Glass Museum, which displays Venetian glass dating from the 19th century onwards. Particularly worth seeing is the approximately 10-meter-long crystal glass arch over the bridge between the garden and the Museums; the arch is made from around 160,000 pieces of crystal glass, which sparkle in the breeze. The Hakone Grasunomori Museum offers glassmaking experience activities (including sandblasting, etc.), with participants being able to make their own pieces to take home as a souvenir.

We dined in the restaurant for lunch. The chicken wasn’t cooked well, but the rest of the food was very good and dessert was especially good with cheesecake, panna cotta and dense chocolate cake...
Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens

4.0

761 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Aichi Pref. Nagoyashi Chikusa-ku Higashiyamamotomachi 3-70

The Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens are located within Higashiyama Park in Nagoya City, and are divided up into three zones comprised of a zoo, botanical gardens, and an amusement park. The zoo is home to approximately 500 types of animals ranging from popular creatures such as elephants, giraffes and koalas to killifish. Complete with a corner to enjoy feeding and petting of animals, the zoo attracted attention in 2015 for its very handsome gorilla, Shabani, who was said to be “too ikemen” (a colloquial phrase for “hot guy”). The botanical gardens which display approximately 7,000 types of plants allows visitors to come in contact with nature in the large greenhouse and around the gentle walking course. The amusement park is popular among families with many attractions costing between 100 and 300 yen.

Wow! Such an incredible zoo. So many things to see it takes all day. My only suggestion for improvement would be for them to charge more for the tickets. Costs only 500 Yen --should be 3 or 4 times...
SUMIDA AQUARIUM

4.0

851 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Sumida-ku Oshiage 1-1-2 Tokyo Sky Tree Town/Sola Machi 5/6 F

This aquarium is located in the 5th and 6th floors of Tokyo Soramachi(R) inside Tokyo Skytree Town(R). It has attracted attention for exhibits that break the mold of typical aquariums. These include the Tokyo Daisuiso, which recreates the waters of the Ogasawara Islands, a world heritage site. It also includes the Edorium, which displays goldfish in dreamlike Japanese-style spaces. At the Aqua Lab, visitors can watch the caretakers breed and research jellyfish. Visitors love watching the penguins swim in the aquarium's indoor open pool tank, one of the largest in Japan.

This aquarium is next to the Tokyo Skytree. It is a world class attraction with penquins, jellyfish, and a plethora of other sea life.
Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse

4.0

1022 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Hokkaido Hakodateshi Suehirochou 14-12

The Kanemori Warehouses in Hakodate are a complex of warehouses now used for general purposes. There are shops, the Hakodate Beer Hall and more in the Kanemori Youbutsukan and Hakodate Street Plaza, and BAY Hakodate has cafes and a chapel. The fourth area is Kanemori Hall, which hosts concerts and other events. The warehouses are lit up at night for a totally different atmosphere from the daytime.

Warehouses converted to house shopping stalls that sell glassware , souvenirs , hokkaido food and coffee stalls and restaurants . Fascinating and fun shopping . Opposite , there is a Starbucks and...
Sunshine Aquarium

4.0

722 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Toshima-ku Higashikebukuro 3-1 Sunshine City World Import Mart Bill/rooftop

"This aquarium was designed to be an ""oasis in the sky."" Located inside Sunshine City, an Ikebukuro landmark, in addition to being visited by tourists from across the country and the world, the aquarium is also a favorite destination for couples, friends, families, and people of all ages. Along with exhibits modeled after actual coral reefs, lakes, rivers, and other scenery, the aquarium's new atmospheric jellyfish exhibit, remodeled and reopened on July 9, 2020, is also popular. In the aquarium's outdoor area, visitors can see seals and penguins swimming overhead as if they were flying through the sky."

Very nice Aquarium, but hard to find without help.Had great display tanks with slot of unusual animals like sea dragons. A lot of stuff I have never seen in aquariums in the US or Thiland. Hard to...
Kobe Animal Kingdom

4.5

608 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Hyogo Pref. Koubeshi Chuou-ku Minatojimaminamimachi 7-1-9

An all-weather theme park located on Port Island in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. Its predecessor was the Kobe Flower and Bird Garden, a facility which brought guests in contact with flowers and birds. The park contains numerous greenhouses and outdoor exhibition spaces where tropical flowers bloom in profusion. Numerous varieties of animals and birds are also allowed to roam the park freely, or can be view up close in special exhibits. Visitors can enjoy getting close to and even feeding rare birds, capybara, alpacas, and penguins. The impressive bird show and dog performances are a must-see. The park’s seasonal buffet can be enjoyed by all ages, from children to senior citizens, making it well-received with families.

Really fun experience, much better than we expected. We needed something fun for our son who has been a trooper the past few days. This was really great. There are a few animals who look a bit...
Enoshima Aquarium

4.0

651 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kanagawa Pref. Fujisawashi Katasekaigan 2-19-1

Nicknamed the “Enosui” by locals, this aquarium is located inside Shonan Kaigan Park. The aquarium’s beautiful exhibits, designed to evoke a wondrous undersea world, are quite popular. The spherical “Jellyfish Planet” aquarium houses 14 varieties of jellyfish lit up with beautiful lighting. Once every hour, the world’s first 3D projection mapped jellyfish show is held throughout the entire floor. Enoshima Aquarium is filled with entertainment. A school of some 8,000 Japanese sardines can be seen swimming in a giant aquarium replicating the environment of Sagami Bay. An edutainment facility, another exhibit at the aquarium maps ocean currents and presents the various sea life which visits the area seasonally.

The ocean cafe by the dolphin stadium only take pasmo and cash so be ready. Popcorn, dippin dots, and chicken all for ¥1210. They suggest an hour here and that is definitely possible but it also...
The National Museum of Western Art

4.5

912 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen 7-7

This art museum, located in Ueno Onshi Park in Tokyo's Taito Ward, preserves and displays Western art. Designed by French architect Le Corbusier, the museum building, which has been designated a World Heritage site, is a highlight in itself. The Matsukata Collection, which was assembled by businessman Kojiro Matsukata and donated and returned to Japan by the French government, forms the foundation of the museum's standing exhibition, which also includes paintings from the end of the Middle Ages to the early 20th century by artists like Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, as well as modern French sculptures. In addition, the museum holds special exhibitions several times a year.

The museum is an UNESCO world heritage site itself and outside are several large Rodin sculptures. Some more in the lobby as well Inside, there is the regular collection and special Picasso...
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

4.0

545 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen 8-36

Located within Ueno Onshi Koen (Ueno Park) in Tokyo’s Taito City, this is Japan’s first national art museum and opened in 1926. With a goal of serving as an entrance to art for Tokyo’s citizens, it hosts numerous exhibitions throughout the year such as special exhibitions jointly sponsored with media outlets, competitions arranged through art organizations, and collection exhibits that primarily include works of calligraphy. The facility also includes a café where guests can enjoy beverages and light meals, a restaurant that takes pride in its authentic roast beef, and a museum shop.

The special exhibit was the well-known Gustave Klimt. Id seen quite a few of his works before but this was extensive and very educational about his history and philosophy. Not all of his...
Yebisu Garden Place

4.0

481 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Shibuya-ku Ebisu 4-20

This is a complex in Shibuya City housing office buildings, shopping facilities, restaurants, the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Museum of Yebisu Beer, and the Westin Hotel Tokyo etc. Among the restaurants, the French restaurant “Gastronomy Joel Robuchon” is famous for being awarded three stars in the Tokyo Michelin Guide. It is about a five-minute walk on the “Ebisu Skywalk”—a moving footpath from the east exit of Ebisu Station.

Worth a look if you happen to be in the area. This commercial complex has a stunning architecture and stands out thanks to the castle like building at its end, which is quite unexpected in Tokyo !
EXPOCITY

4.0

501 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Osaka Suitashi Senribampakukouen 2-1

A massive entertainment complex located inside Expo’70 Commemorative Park in Suita, Osaka which was built on the site of the Expoland amusement park and first opened in November 2015. The complex hosts eight entertainment facilities, including the large Lalaport Expocity shopping mall; the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan-produced Nifrel aquarium; the Pokemon Expo Gym, popular with children; and Orbi Osaka, a nature-oriented hands-on amusement and exploration center. This popular destination features shopping, fun, and learning, making it a fun place for families, couples, and men and women of all ages.

Good shops and good food hall. We found what we were after the day we went and got a good lunch also. We were hoping the pokemon gym was still there but sadly not.
Tokyo Sea Life Park

4.0

563 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Edogawa-ku Rinkaichou 6-2-3

This is an aquarium inside Kasai Rinkai Park where guests can see Bluefin tuna swimming around up close—an unusual feature by global standards. Said to be the most popular aquarium in eastern Japan, it recorded 3.55 million visitors when it opened in 1989. There are a main building with its glass dome, a freshwater fish exhibit and an external area, and many attractions such as the large donut-shaped tank where Bluefin tuna swim around and Japan’s largest penguin exhibit. The facility also displays countless varieties of unusual sea creatures such as fish from the coastal waters near Australia and the polar regions.

Tokyo Sea Life Park is a perfect place for people from all walks of life. Besides the variety of sea life indoors, outside was a picturesque view overlooking the water, and a very well-maintained...
Chiran Peace Museum

4.5

712 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kagoshima Pref. Minamikyushushi Chiranchoukori 17881

This museum collects materials and personal items relating to the special attack unit (kamikaze unit) active at the end of World War II. The museum was erected on the site of a former launch base with the aim of preserving records of the time for future generations and in a prayer for peace. Parties of 10 or more can listen to a storyteller with advance reservation. The museum also provides English, Chinese, and Korean audio guides. A five-minute walk from the Tokkokannon-iriguchi bus stop.

We were on a tour, so I hadn’t read any reviews beforehand, but as we had limited time in the museum I did not hire an audio guide. I wish I had as very few exhibits have an English translation. The...