What to do in Japan?
Browse by category and by city through the hundreds of places we love most in Japan, and mark anything that catches your eye straight to your personal itinerary.
🍜 Food & markets
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Gyukatsu Motomura Shibuya ★ 4.9 · Tokyo
Rare beef cutlet that each diner sears themselves on a personal hot stone, a cult trend in Tokyo
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Mouriya Honten ★ 4.6 · Kobe
A 130 year old teppanyaki house in Kobe, serving grade five wagyu beef at the counter in front of the diner
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Sushi Sho ★ 4.6 · Tokyo
The legendary no menu sushi temple, the chef chooses everything, a place every serious sushi lover dreams about
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Afuri Harajuku ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
Delicate yuzu shio ramen made with water from Mount Afuri, a light, refreshing citrus broth that started a Tokyo trend
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Sushi Dai ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
A legendary omakase counter in Toyosu market, morning fresh nigiri that has made the Michelin list
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Izakaya Kura Naramachi ★ 4.5 · Nara
A charming izakaya in an old machiya house in Naramachi, serving creative cooking with 15 Nara sake labels
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Tofuya Ukai ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
Traditional kaiseki at a 260 year old sake brewery with tofu courses in a stunning garden
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Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
A pork cutlet institution from 1965 in an old bathhouse building, a light, crisp cutlet without equal
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Ichiran Shinjuku Kabukicho ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
Tonkotsu ramen in a solo booth with a bamboo curtain, open 24 hours in the heart of Kabukicho
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Nagata-ya ★ 4.4 · Hiroshima
A culinary institution next to Peace Park serving Hiroshima style okonomiyaki layered with noodles, pork and seafood
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Daiwa Sushi ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
The sibling of Sushi Dai in Toyosu, more seats and less waiting, the same rare Edomae quality
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Kaikaya ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
A beloved Shibuya izakaya with creative Japanese sea to table fusion, a seasonal menu and a warm neighborhood feel
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Kikunoi Honten ★ 4.4 · Kyoto
A three Michelin star kaiseki restaurant from 1912 that cooks with well water dating to the 15th century
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Tempura Kondo ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
Two Michelin stars in Ginza, chef Fumio Kondo is a living national treasure of the art of tempura
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Torishiki ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
Considered the best yakitori in Japan, chicken from a single Kagoshima farm, reservations only through a concierge
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Ginza Shimada ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
A small standing bar in Ginza from a former kaiseki chef, stunning small plates, no reservations
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Pontocho Fujita ★ 4.4 · Kyoto
Refined kaiseki in the lantern lit Pontocho alley, seasonal Kyoto ingredients and a chef used to guests from abroad
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Sushi Yoshitake ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
A 9 seat sushi counter with three Michelin stars, seasonal Edomae technique at the very highest level
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Harutaka ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
An intimate 8 seat sushi counter with two Michelin stars and perfect seasonal nigiri
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Kyubey Ginza Honten ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
A classic Ginza sushi institution since 1936, which popularized Edomae nigiri for generations
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Yakitori Imai ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
A veteran yakitori corridor in Kanda with a charcoal grill and an old Tokyo atmosphere
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Nishiki Market ★ 4.3 · Kyoto
Kyoto's 400 year old covered kitchen, with a hundred stalls of tofu, matcha and traditional vegetables
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Ameyoko Market ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
A loud 400 stall market under the Yamanote line, cheap street food, skewered fruit and a Showa era feel
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Ichiran Dotonbori ★ 4.3 · Osaka
Hakata tonkotsu ramen in private wooden booths, with a secret 30 ingredient sauce for an unforgettable meal
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Okonomimura ★ 4.3 · Hiroshima
A multi floor building with more than 25 okonomiyaki stalls, the most authentic place to compare styles and eat among locals
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Ramen Nagi Golden Gai ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
Dark, smoky niboshi ramen tucked among the Golden Gai bars, a gem for true ramen lovers
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Fuunji ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
A tsukemen shrine near Shinjuku, a chicken and fish broth simmered 38 hours, there is always a line
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Soup Curry GARAKU ★ 4.3 · Hokkaido
Sapporo's iconic soup curry restaurant with a twenty spice broth and tender chicken leg that draws daily lines
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Nakiryu ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
A one Michelin star tantanmen restaurant, a deep sesame broth and an accessible price that bring a line at every lunch
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Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
The multi floor izakaya that inspired the set of Kill Bill, with yakitori and live music
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Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
Conveyor sushi delivered by bullet train technology, fun and great value for groups and families
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Ramen Shin-Shin Tenjin, Hakata ★ 4.3 · Fukuoka
A legendary ramen restaurant in Fukuoka with velvety tonkotsu broth, voted the best by locals
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Tsukiji Outer Market ★ 4.2 · Tokyo
400 stalls of fresh seafood, tamago on a stick, made to order tuna nigiri and rotating raw fish counters
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Isetan Shinjuku Depachika ★ 4.2 · Tokyo
Isetan's lavish food hall, with wagashi, French boutique sweets and Jean Paul Hevin chocolate
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Omoide Yokocho ★ 4.2 · Tokyo
A smoky yakitori alley with 60 stalls dating to the 1940s, west of Shinjuku Station, an unforgettable atmosphere
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Kani Doraku Dotonbori Honten ★ 4.2 · Osaka
A crab restaurant serving every kind, beneath the giant mechanical crab, the familiar face of Dotonbori
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Sushi Harukoma ★ 4.2 · Osaka
A 70 year old sushi institution on Japan's longest shopping street, with thick toppings and accessible prices
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Ramen Kagari Ginza ★ 4.2 · Tokyo
Silky chicken ramen served at an 8 seat counter in Ginza, with a line that starts before the doors open
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Kuromon Ichiba Market ★ 4.1 · Osaka
Osaka's 200 year old kitchen with 150 shops, fresh seafood, grilled crab and sea urchin
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Mitsukoshi Nihombashi Depachika ★ 4.1 · Tokyo
A food basement in a department store founded in 1673, a living archive of regional specialties and traditional sweets
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Makishi Public Market ★ 4.1 · Okinawa
Naha's veteran kitchen, where you buy fresh fish on the ground floor and take it upstairs to be cooked
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Konjiki Hototogisu ★ 4.1 · Tokyo
Shio ramen with clams and truffle recommended in Michelin, an inventive umami broth that leaves an unforgettable taste
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☕ Cafes
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Lilo Coffee Roasters ★ 4.8 · Osaka
A six seat cafe in Shinsaibashi with single origin pour over, a real Osakan coffee ritual
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Kamakura Chacha ★ 4.8 · Kamakura
A revered matcha specialist on Komachi Street with five intensity levels of ceremonial matcha gelato and lines that never run out
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Owl Cafe Fukurou Ikebukuro ★ 4.8 · Tokyo
An interactive cafe where you hold live owls, popular with tourists and families
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Blue Bottle Coffee Shibuya ★ 4.6 · Tokyo
The Shibuya branch of the iconic chain, precise pour over and minimalist design for coffee lovers
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Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
One of six Starbucks roasteries in the world, a four floor Kengo Kuma building on the Meguro River
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Rokumei Coffee, Nara ★ 4.5 · Nara
An award winning roaster ranked among Japan's best cafes, with elegant service near Nara Station
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Ippodo Tea, Kyoto Main Store ★ 4.5 · Kyoto
A tea house from 1717 that supplied matcha to the imperial court, with a traditional tea room for tasting on site
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About Life Coffee Brewers ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
A tiny standing espresso bar in Dogenzaka, a pioneer of Tokyo's micro roasting scene
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Nakamura Tokichi Honten ★ 4.4 · Kyoto
A 170 year old tea house in the matcha town of Uji, serving a stunning matcha parfait in a historic setting
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Kagizen Yoshifusa ★ 4.4 · Kyoto
A sweets house from 1716 in the heart of Gion, serving thick matcha and traditional sweets in a quiet tea room
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Glitch Coffee Osaka ★ 4.4 · Osaka
A specialty coffee bar with expert baristas who guide you to the single origin that suits you
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Arabica Kyoto Higashiyama ★ 4.4 · Kyoto
Specialty coffee in a stunning minimalist design in Higashiyama, one of the most photographed cafes in Japan
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Nakatanidou ★ 4.3 · Nara
A famous mochi shop near Nara Park, with live high speed pounding demonstrations and fresh yomogi mochi
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LeTAO Pathos ★ 4.2 · Hokkaido
The flagship of Hokkaido's most beloved patisserie, with its nationally famous double cheesecake and Hokkaido milk soft serve
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Bakery & Table Hakone ★ 4.1 · Hakone
A lakeside bakery and cafe right by Hakone Shrine, with a terrace of foot soaking tables and artisan pastries
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🍸 Bars & nightlife
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Club Piccadilly Osaka ★ 4.7 · Osaka
A mega club fully renovated in February 2025, holding 1,000 people with premium international DJs
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The Bellwood ★ 4.6 · Tokyo
Number 48 in the world's 50 Best Bars, kaiseki inspired cocktails and a hidden sushi counter
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Shinjuku Ni-chome Bar District ★ 4.6 · Tokyo
Tokyo's LGBTQ friendly entertainment center with hundreds of small, welcoming bars
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Billboard Live Tokyo ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
An upscale live music venue in Midtown Roppongi, international artists with a panoramic view and seated dining
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Jazz Bar Sometime ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
A classic Tokyo jazz bar with live shows every night and an intimate 1970s atmosphere
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Mixology Salon ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
An upscale cocktail lounge in Ginza Six with molecular drinks and stunning design
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Dotonbori, Namba Walk ★ 4.4 · Osaka
Osaka's neon entertainment center along the canal, alive with izakaya and street food until dawn
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Bar Benfiddich ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
Number 18 in the world's 50 Best Bars, the bartender grows and forages his own botanicals, 17 seats with no menu
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Bar Rocking Chair ★ 4.4 · Kyoto
A warm wood clad cocktail bar where waistcoated bartenders craft every drink to your taste
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New York Bar ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
A jazz bar on the 52nd floor of the Park Hyatt, famous from the film Lost in Translation, a 360 view and Japanese whisky
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Albatross G ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
A narrow three floor bar in Golden Gai with antique decor and an eclectic crowd of eight seats
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Golden Gai ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
200 tiny bars across six alleys, each with 5 to 10 seats and a unique theme, the bohemian heart of Tokyo
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Kokusai-dori Street ★ 4.2 · Okinawa
Okinawa's main street wakes up at night with Ishikawa bars, live music alleys and the colorful Makishi market
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⛩️ Temples & shrines
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Okunoin Cemetery ★ 4.8 · Koyasan
Japan's largest cemetery with 200,000 moss covered gravestones under ancient cedars, at the end of a kilometers long candlelit path
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Todai-ji Temple ★ 4.7 · Nara
A UNESCO site holding the largest bronze Buddha statue in the world, 15 meters tall, from the 8th century
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Senso-ji Temple ★ 4.6 · Tokyo
Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple from the year 645, 30 million visitors a year with the Kaminarimon gate
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Fushimi Inari Taisha ★ 4.6 · Kyoto
Thousands of orange torii gates climb Mount Inari in a sight like no other in Japan
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Kiyomizu-dera Temple ★ 4.6 · Kyoto
An ancient wooden UNESCO stage overlooks Kyoto from a stunning height with a breathtaking panorama
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Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion ★ 4.6 · Kyoto
A pavilion covered in real gold that reflects in a still pond, an unforgettable symbol of Kyoto
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Meiji Jingu Shrine ★ 4.6 · Tokyo
A serene Shinto shrine within a 70 hectare forest, dedicated to Emperor Meiji, the most visited in Japan
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Itsukushima Shrine ★ 4.6 · Hiroshima
A Shinto shrine built over the sea, where the giant red torii gate appears to float on the water at high tide
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Hokkaido Jingu Shrine ★ 4.6 · Hokkaido
Hokkaido's guardian shrine from 1869 in the heart of Maruyama forest, with 1,400 cherry trees that make it Sapporo's top sakura spot
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Daisho-in Temple ★ 4.6 · Hiroshima
A 1,200 year old Buddhist complex at the foot of Mount Misen, with hundreds of capped Jizo statuettes lining moss covered steps
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Taiyuinbyo Temple ★ 4.6 · Nikko
The mausoleum of the third shogun, less crowded than Toshogu but no less magnificent with black lacquer, gold and 315 stone lanterns
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Eikando Temple ★ 4.6 · Kyoto
The halls are lit at night in autumn, and the backward glancing Amida statue is among the most photographed in Kyoto
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Kurama-dera Temple ★ 4.6 · Kyoto
A mountain temple 45 minutes from Kyoto within an ancient cedar forest, a spiritual energy center for pilgrims and hikers
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Gotokuji Temple ★ 4.6 · Tokyo
The legendary birthplace of the maneki-neko doll with thousands of lucky ceramic cats
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Nikko Toshogu Shrine ★ 4.5 · Nikko
A UNESCO heritage mausoleum from 1617 covered in 2.4 million gold leaves with intricate carvings and the three wise monkeys
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Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion ★ 4.5 · Kyoto
A precise sand garden and a wabi sabi temple at the start of the legendary Philosopher's Path
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Hasedera Temple ★ 4.5 · Kamakura
An 8th century cliff temple with a nine meter wooden Kannon statue, gardens with a sea view and hydrangea blossoms
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Kasuga Taisha Grand Shrine ★ 4.5 · Nara
3,000 stone lanterns line forest paths to vermilion halls, with 2,200 rituals a year
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Nanzen-ji Temple ★ 4.5 · Kyoto
An impressive zen complex with a huge gate and a surprising Victorian aqueduct in quiet Kyoto
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Ryoan-ji Temple ★ 4.5 · Kyoto
A mysterious zen rock garden where no angle reveals all 15 of its stones at once
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Danjo Garan Temple Complex ★ 4.5 · Koyasan
The spiritual center of Koyasan since the year 816, with the 49 meter red Konpon Daito pagoda and 20 halls
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Yamadera Temple ★ 4.5 · Tohoku
An ancient mountain temple from 860 AD that requires a climb of 1,000 steps, with a dramatic valley view waiting at the summit
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Tofuku-ji Temple ★ 4.5 · Kyoto
The mythical Tsutenkyo bridge floats over a valley of 2,000 maple trees, the autumn colors are the best in Kyoto
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Kifune Shrine ★ 4.5 · Kyoto
A lantern lit stone path leads to a mysterious water shrine, and in summer meals are served on platforms over the river
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Zojo-ji Temple ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
A large Buddhist temple from the Tokugawa era with a direct view of Tokyo Tower
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Kongobu-ji Temple ★ 4.5 · Wakayama
The head temple of Shingon Buddhism from 816 AD, with a huge rock garden and sliding door paintings by Kano artists
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Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine ★ 4.5 · Fukuoka
An important Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity of learning, surrounded by plum groves and a futuristic Kengo Kuma cafe
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Yasaka Shrine ★ 4.4 · Kyoto
The heart of the enchanting Gion district, home of the annual Gion Festival and Kyoto's central gathering point
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Kotoku-in, the Great Buddha of Kamakura ★ 4.4 · Kamakura
A thirteen and a half meter bronze statue of Amida, a national treasure that has withstood typhoons and tsunamis for seven hundred and fifty years
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Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine ★ 4.4 · Kamakura
Kamakura's most important shrine, founded in 1063 with a grand hilltop stage and stunning seasonal lotus ponds
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Hakone Shrine ★ 4.4 · Hakone
A twelve hundred year old red torii gate rising out of Lake Ashi, a spiritual view like no other in Japan
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Heian Jingu Shrine ★ 4.4 · Kyoto
A grand Shinto shrine in vermilion and white with an extensive traditional garden that opens only rarely
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Kofuku-ji Temple ★ 4.4 · Nara
A UNESCO five story pagoda reflected in Sarusawa Pond, one of the iconic photographs of Japan
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Nezu Shrine ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
One of Tokyo's oldest shrines, famous for its tunnel of red torii gates and April azalea festival
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Zuiganji Temple ★ 4.4 · Tohoku
A zen temple and national treasure, rebuilt in 1609 with gilded fusuma paintings and ancient cedar caves in Momoyama architecture
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Daitoku-ji Temple ★ 4.3 · Kyoto
Kyoto's largest zen complex with 20 sub temples and perfect dry rock gardens across 23 hectares
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Yushima Tenmangu Shrine ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
A classic shrine for the arts and learning that blooms with white plum blossoms in February
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Kushida Shrine ★ 4.3 · Fukuoka
Hakata's guardian shrine and home of the Gion Yamakasa festival, with a giant festival float in the courtyard year round
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🌸 Nature, mountains & gardens
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Kappa Bridge, Kamikochi ★ 4.7 · Nagano
An iconic wooden bridge over the clear Azusa River, surrounded by alpine peaks that stay snowcapped nearly all year
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Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route ★ 4.7 · Toyama
A spectacular mountain route with a 20 meter high snow corridor, crossing the Japanese Alps from end to end
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Nara Park ★ 4.6 · Nara
Hundreds of sacred deer roam freely among ancient temples in a vast park
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Shinjuku Gyoen Garden ★ 4.6 · Tokyo
A 58 hectare park combining Japanese, French and English gardens, offering the best cherry blossoms in Tokyo
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Lake Toya ★ 4.6 · Hokkaido
A caldera lake that never freezes inside the national park, with open air onsen baths overlooking the water and Mount Yotei
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Shiretoko Five Lakes ★ 4.6 · Hokkaido
A UNESCO heritage reserve with five mirror lakes in a pristine forest of brown bears, sea eagles and the wild Shiretoko ridges
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Iwatayama Monkey Park ★ 4.5 · Kyoto
120 free roaming Japanese macaques on the mountain, with a panoramic terrace overlooking all of Kyoto below
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Nunobiki Herb Gardens, Kobe ★ 4.5 · Kobe
Japan's largest herb garden at 400 meters elevation, with a cable car and a breathtaking view over Kobe Bay
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Kabira Bay ★ 4.5 · Okinawa
A three star Michelin bay with emerald water around nine inhabited islands and glass boat tours with manta rays and up to 250 coral species
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Odori Park ★ 4.5 · Hokkaido
A kilometer and a half green spine in central Sapporo, host each February to the world famous Snow Festival
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Isuien Garden ★ 4.5 · Nara
Nara's most stunning Japanese garden, which borrows the gates of Todai-ji as its background scenery
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Jigokudani Monkey Park ★ 4.5 · Nagano
Japanese snow monkeys soak in hot baths in a snowy forest, an experience found nowhere else in the world
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Mount Takao ★ 4.5 · Greater Tokyo
The most accessible mountain from Tokyo, with a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji and varied green trails
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Ritsurin Garden ★ 4.5 · Kagawa
One of Japan's most magnificent gardens with six ponds and ten landscaped hills against forested Mount Shiun
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Kenrokuen Garden ★ 4.4 · Kanazawa
One of Japan's three great gardens, 11 hectares of ponds and stone lanterns opened to the public in 1874 with a Michelin star
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Ueno Park ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
Japan's first public park holds museums, a zoo and Shinobazu Pond, and is the famous cherry blossom celebration site
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Yoyogi Park ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
One of Tokyo's largest parks, bustling with picnics and colorful events next to the famous Meiji Shrine
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Kegon Falls ★ 4.4 · Nikko
A ninety seven meter waterfall counted among Japan's three great falls, with an elevator down to a viewing platform at its base
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Tenryu-ji Temple ★ 4.4 · Kyoto
A world heritage zen temple with a classic water garden that uses the Arashiyama hills as a borrowed natural backdrop
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Jigokudani, Hell Valley ★ 4.4 · Hokkaido
A volcanic caldera venting ten thousand tons of mineral water a day, with bubbling mud and a free thirty minute walking trail
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Hamarikyu Gardens ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
A historic estate garden with tidal ponds and a floating tea house, against the modern Shiodome skyline
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Rikugien Garden ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
An Edo era landscape garden from 1702, considered the most beautiful of Tokyo's gardens, with 88 scenes inspired by waka poetry
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Imperial Palace East Gardens ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
The ancient foundations of Edo Castle with vast moats and rare Japanese gardens, free entry into the imperial grounds
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Farm Tomita ★ 4.4 · Hokkaido
Japan's largest lavender farm, ribbons of purple, pink, red and white in summer that draw over a million visitors a year
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Maruyama Park ★ 4.4 · Kyoto
A beloved veteran public park whose weeping cherry tree has become the symbol of Kyoto's spring bloom
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Hokoku-ji Temple ★ 4.4 · Kamakura
A bamboo grove of two thousand moso stalks filters light like a cathedral, with a matcha tea house at the heart of the forest
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Emerald Beach ★ 4.4 · Okinawa
A perfect white sand beach in a national park near the aquarium, with calm, sheltered water and a view of nearby Ie Island
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Owakudani Valley ★ 4.4 · Kanagawa
A volcanic valley with roaring steam, black eggs boiled in a hot spring and a magical view of Mount Fuji
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Lake Chuzenji ★ 4.4 · More in Japan
A mountain lake at 1,269 meters in Nikko, with red autumn leaves reflected in the blue water
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Koishikawa Korakuen Garden ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
Tokyo's oldest garden, a rare blend of Japanese and Chinese landscape from 1629 next to Tokyo Dome
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Inokashira Park ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
A beloved green park in the heart of Tokyo with a quiet lake, swan boats and an ancient Benzaiten shrine
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Sankeien Garden ★ 4.4 · Greater Tokyo
A historic garden in Yokohama with ancient structures from across Japan, especially beautiful during cherry blossom season
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Suizenji Jojuen Garden ★ 4.4 · Kumamoto
A quiet Edo garden that recreates in miniature the 53 stations of the Tokaido road, including a miniature Mount Fuji
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Arashiyama Bamboo Grove ★ 4.3 · Kyoto
A giant, mystical bamboo corridor that rustles in the wind and creates one of the iconic photographs of Japan
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Kazurabashi Vine Bridge, Iya Valley ★ 4.3 · Tokushima
An ancient suspension bridge woven from mountain vines over a deep river gorge, a wild and stunning view in the heart of Shikoku
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Oshino Hakkai ★ 4.2 · Fuji area
Eight crystal clear spring ponds fed by Mount Fuji snowmelt, in an Edo thatched roof village with giant carp inside
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Shikisai-no-oka Hill ★ 4.2 · Hokkaido
A Hokkaido hill that covers itself in colorful flowers every season, with cute alpacas and fields like a painting
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Cape Manzamo ★ 4.2 · Okinawa
A dramatic limestone cliff shaped like an elephant's trunk over the East China Sea, Okinawa's iconic sunset viewpoint
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Ohara, Kyoto · More in Japan
A quiet mountain village in northern Kyoto with Sanzen-in temple and stunning moss gardens
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🎌 Culture, sights & museums
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Samurai Museum ★ 4.9 · Tokyo
Authentic armor and blades from the feudal era, with live sword demonstrations and a chance to try on a helmet
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Atomic Bomb Dome ★ 4.7 · Hiroshima
The only building skeleton that survived near the hypocenter, a UNESCO heritage site and the world's best known symbol of peace
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Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum ★ 4.7 · Hiroshima
Japan's most moving museum, documenting the destruction of the city in 1945 through personal objects and survivor testimonies
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Himeji Castle ★ 4.6 · Himeji
Japan's great white castle, fully preserved from the 17th century, a world heritage site
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teamLab Borderless Tokyo ★ 4.6 · Tokyo
A borderless museum where digital artworks move and interact between rooms, one of the largest in the world
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teamLab Planets Tokyo ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
A digital art museum you wade through water to explore, 2.5 million visitors a year, a fully immersive experience
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Ogimachi Village, Shirakawa-go ★ 4.5 · Shirakawa-go
A UNESCO heritage village with over 100 thatched roof farmhouses in a river valley, especially magical under a winter layer of snow
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Tokyo National Museum ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
Japan's oldest museum, with over 110,000 objects including samurai armor, Buddha statues and ancient pottery
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Shibuya Crossing ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
The busiest intersection in the world, where thousands of pedestrians cross at once in every direction in the heart of modern Tokyo
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Ghibli Museum ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
A magical Studio Ghibli museum with original artwork and the Laputa robot on the roof, tickets sell out months ahead
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Hakone Open Air Museum ★ 4.5 · Hakone
Seventy thousand square meters of giant sculptures by Picasso and Moore, set against the stunning Hakone mountains
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Akihabara ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
The world center for anime, manga and gaming with multi floor electronics stores, maid cafes and endless arcades
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Hirosaki Park ★ 4.5 · Tohoku
Japan's best cherry blossom destination by reviews, with 2,600 trees 130 years old around a preserved original Edo castle
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Hida Folk Village ★ 4.5 · Takayama
An open air museum showing 30 relocated gassho-zukuri farmhouses, without the tourist crush of Shirakawa-go
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Sanmachi-suji Historic District ★ 4.5 · Takayama
Three Edo era streets of sake brewers and old merchant houses, the best preserved townscape in inland Japan
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Pontocho Alley ★ 4.5 · Kyoto
A legendary lantern lit alley along the Kamogawa River, a hub of geisha and old kaiseki restaurants
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Matsumoto Castle ★ 4.5 · Nagano
The black crow castle, one of Japan's 12 original castles, standing proud since the 16th century
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Nezu Museum ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
A collection of classical Japanese art with a serene tea garden in the quiet alleys of the Aoyama district
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Yayoi Kusama's Pumpkin ★ 4.5 · Naoshima
The world famous yellow dotted pumpkin sculpture, standing on a small pier over the Naoshima sea
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Kumamoto Castle ★ 4.5 · Kumamoto
One of Japan's three premier castles with impressive stone walls, a symbol of resilience after the 2016 earthquake
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Osaka Castle ★ 4.4 · Osaka
A 16th century citadel with an interior museum and cherry blossoms in the surrounding park, the landmark of Osaka
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Nijo Castle ★ 4.4 · Kyoto
A shogun palace with unique nightingale floors and stunning gold paintings that reopened in 2024
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Edo-Tokyo Museum ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
Four hundred years of Tokyo history come alive through giant dioramas and fascinating life size reconstructions
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Chichu Art Museum ★ 4.4 · Naoshima
An underground Tadao Ando museum in Naoshima with works by Monet, Turrell and De Maria in natural light
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Bikan Historic District, Kurashiki ★ 4.4 · Okayama
Beautifully preserved Edo canals with white storehouses, weeping willows and calm gondola rides
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Ohara Museum of Art ★ 4.4 · Okayama
Japan's first museum of western art from 1930, with Monet, Rodin and Picasso beside the canal
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Sapporo Beer Museum ★ 4.3 · Hokkaido
Japan's oldest beer museum in a red brick factory from 1876, with production history and a Genghis Khan hall right beside it
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Nakamise Shopping Street ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
A 250 meter avenue with 89 traditional shops along the path to Senso-ji, one of Japan's oldest streets
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Goryokaku Park ★ 4.3 · Hokkaido
Japan's first western star fort from 1866 turned into a park with 1,600 cherry trees and an observation tower over the perfect pentagon shape
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Mori Art Museum ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
A contemporary art museum on floors 52 and 53 of Roppongi Hills Tower, with pioneering exhibitions and a stunning urban panorama
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Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum ★ 4.3 · Kobe
A leading museum of the Nada-Gogo sake district with historic dioramas, free entry and generous tastings
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Benesse House Museum ★ 4.3 · Naoshima
An Ando museum hotel above the Seto Inland Sea, where contemporary art blends with the landscape
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Nagamachi Samurai District ★ 4.3 · Ishikawa
Narrow, preserved earthen samurai streets in Kanazawa, including the Nomura House with a serene tea garden
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Peace Park, Nagasaki ★ 4.3 · Nagasaki
A moving memorial at the center of the 1945 nuclear blast, with the well known Peace Statue and a deep human message
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Tokyo Station ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
The starting point for day trips, from here express trains depart to every destination in the region
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Shuri Castle ★ 4.2 · Okinawa
A UNESCO heritage Ryukyu royal palace, with unique blazing red architecture reflecting 500 years of independent island culture
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Higashi Chaya District ★ 4.2 · Kanazawa
Kanazawa's best preserved geisha district, with Edo era tea houses, gold leaf ice cream and sake houses along the alleys
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Otaru Music Box Museum ★ 4.2 · Hokkaido
The world's largest music box shop in a red brick building from 1912, with a steam clock that chimes every quarter hour on Sakaimachi Street
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Shinsekai District ★ 4.2 · Osaka
A nostalgic 1900s district with neon signs, Billiken shrines, pachinko and traditional kushikatsu
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Takayama Jinya ★ 4.2 · More in Japan
The only surviving historic government building from 1692, a national site embodying pre modern Japan
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Fushimi Sake District ★ 4.2 · Kyoto
The historic brewing quarter along the Horikawa River with nearly 40 breweries that use the soft groundwater
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Glover Garden ★ 4.2 · Nagasaki
An open air museum of Meiji era merchant villas in Nagasaki, with a panoramic harbor view and inspiration for the opera Madame Butterfly
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Kitano Ijinkan District ★ 4.1 · Kobe
A district of 19th century villas built by foreign merchants in Kobe, including a Starbucks inside a national heritage building
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Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street ★ 4.1 · Tokyo
A nostalgic street in Tokyo's oldest neighborhood with cats, wooden shops and an authentic atmosphere
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♨️ Onsen & ryokan
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Yubatake, Kusatsu Onsen ★ 4.6 · Gunma
Japan's largest hot water field vents 32,000 liters of hot water a minute, especially stunning at night
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Ginzan Onsen Ryokan Street ★ 4.6 · Yamagata
An onsen town steeped in an atmosphere as if it came out of a Ghibli film, old wooden buildings reflected in the river
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Gora Kadan ★ 4.5 · Hakone
A former imperial summer villa turned luxury ryokan with private sulfur baths and kaiseki meals in Japanese gardens
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Tosen Goshobo ★ 4.5 · Kobe
The oldest ryokan in Arima Onsen, open since the 12th century, with outdoor baths on the stream bank
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Tsurunoyu Onsen ★ 4.4 · Tohoku
A three hundred year old mountain inn with milky outdoor baths in an Akita forest, thatched roofs and a traditional hearth in the room
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Sainokawara Rotenburo ★ 4.4 · Gunma
One of Japan's largest open air baths, steam and white snow and a mountain view all around in an especially large rotenburo
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Dai-ichi Takimotokan ★ 4.3 · Hokkaido
Noboribetsu's grand onsen ryokan with thirty five baths from five spring types and a high rating from ten thousand reviews
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Hakone Yuryo ★ 4.3 · Hakone
A modern onsen facility in a bamboo grove with nineteen private forest baths rentable by the hour
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Tenzan-no-yu Onsen ★ 4.2 · Kyoto
A large spa near Arashiyama with natural radium water, a silk bath and a relaxing carbonated bath
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Beppu Hells Tour ★ 4.2 · Oita
A trail of eight stunning hot springs, from cobalt blue to blood red, a geothermal showcase unique in the world
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Dogo Onsen Honkan ★ 4.2 · Ehime
Japan's oldest bathhouse, a three story Meiji era building that inspired the bathhouse in Spirited Away
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📸 Viewpoints
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Chureito Pagoda ★ 4.7 · Fuji area
A red five story pagoda atop three hundred and ninety seven steps, with the most perfectly framed image of Mount Fuji
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Shibuya Sky ★ 4.6 · Tokyo
An open rooftop 229 meters above Shibuya Scramble Square, an unobstructed 360 view over all of Tokyo
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Mount Hakodate ★ 4.6 · Hokkaido
One of Japan's three official night views, a ropeway to the 334 meter summit reveals the peninsula between two bays
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Kiyomizu-dera Stage ★ 4.6 · Kyoto
A wooden stage suspended without a single nail, overlooking Kyoto in a stunning panorama during autumn
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Tokyo Tower ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
The famous red and white lattice tower offers a stunning panoramic view over the city of millions at night
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Oishi Park, north shore of Lake Kawaguchiko ★ 4.5 · Fuji area
An open lake park with an unobstructed panorama of Fuji over the water, blooming with lavender and cosmos in peak season
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Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
A free observatory 202 meters high with a breathtaking view over all of Tokyo and out to Fuji on a clear day
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Kikuseidai Observatory, Mount Maya ★ 4.5 · Kobe
One of Japan's three great night views, a panorama of Kobe's lights and the bay from the mountaintop
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Ogimachi Observatory ★ 4.5 · Shirakawa-go
An impressive hilltop viewpoint with the classic panorama of the whole cluster of thatched farmhouses against the surrounding mountains
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Bunkyo Civic Center Observatory ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
A free 330 degree panorama from the 25th floor, including Shinjuku, Skytree and Fuji
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Tokyo Skytree ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
The second tallest structure in the world, 634 meters, with observation decks at 350 and 450 meters and Mount Fuji on clear days
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Floating Garden Observatory, Umeda Sky Building ★ 4.4 · Osaka
An open ring shaped rooftop on two connected towers, with a stunning sunset over Osaka from 170 meters
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Fuji Panorama Ropeway ★ 4.4 · Fuji area
A short gondola rises a thousand meters above Kawaguchiko for a full frontal view of Mount Fuji in the early morning hours
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Otaru Canal ★ 4.4 · Hokkaido
A nineteenth century stone warehouse canal lit by gas lamps, one of the most photographed scenes in northern Japan in the evening
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Tokyo City View ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
An open rooftop on the 52nd floor of Mori Tower with a stunning view, plus rooftop access to a contemporary art museum
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Shirogane Blue Pond ★ 4.3 · Hokkaido
A vast cobalt blue reservoir in the heart of the Biei larch forest, silver trunks rising out of the turquoise water
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Kanazawa Castle Park ★ 4.3 · Kanazawa
The reconstructed Edo citadel with whitewashed towers and the Ishikawa-mon gate, free entry for an impressive evening stroll
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Kyoto Tower Observation Deck ★ 4.2 · Kyoto
A 360 degree view from 100 meters above Kyoto Station, the highest point accessible to the public
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Shinkyo Bridge ★ 4.2 · Nikko
A red lacquer bridge at the entrance gate to Nikko, one of Japan's great bridges, framing the cedar avenue to the heritage sites
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Sapporo TV Tower ★ 4.1 · Hokkaido
A ninety meter observation deck at the edge of Odori Park with a 360 degree panorama over the street grid and the sea of Japan
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🎎 Experiences
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Kyoto Maikoya Nishiki ★ 4.9 · Kyoto
A tea ceremony and kimono wearing experience in a protected building, ranked number one on Tripadvisor four years running
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Tokyo Disneyland ★ 4.6 · Tokyo
The first Disney park outside the United States, consistently ranked among the best theme parks in the world
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Churaumi Aquarium, Okinawa ★ 4.6 · Okinawa
Japan's most popular aquarium, where whale sharks and manta rays swim behind the world's largest glass panel, 8 meters tall
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Enoshima Island ★ 4.6 · Kamakura
A tidal island connected by a footbridge, with a shrine, lava caves, a sea lighthouse and seafood stalls in one trip
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Hamarikyu Garden Tea House ★ 4.6 · Tokyo
An authentic matcha ceremony inside a historic Edo era garden surrounded by Tokyo's skyscrapers
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Taketomi Island ★ 4.6 · Okinawa
A preserved Ryukyu village with red tiled roofs, star sand beaches and a quiet water buffalo cart ride
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Universal Studios Japan ★ 4.5 · Osaka
Japan's most popular theme park with Super Nintendo World, Harry Potter and Hollywood attractions
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Tokyo DisneySea ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
A unique sea themed park with stunning maritime design, considered the most beautifully designed theme park in the world
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Niseko Grand Hirafu ★ 4.5 · Hokkaido
Japan's most famous ski resort with an average of 900 centimeters of snow a year, night skiing and ski in ski out access to the village
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Yumeyakata, kimono rental ★ 4.5 · Kyoto
Kimono rental for events and photo tours around the city, with vast collections after 1.3 million guests
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Ekoin Temple ★ 4.5 · Koyasan
A leading temple lodging on Mount Koya, where guests join morning rituals, meditation and unique vegetarian meals
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Odaiba Seaside Park ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
A futuristic artificial island in Tokyo Bay with a Statue of Liberty, the Rainbow Bridge and breathtaking digital attractions
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Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
Japan's national sumo arena, host to three grand tournaments a year and the heart of the ancient martial art
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Arashio Stable ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
The only stable in Tokyo that lets you watch sumo training through a street window in the morning hours
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Art House Project, Honmura ★ 4.4 · Naoshima
Seven old Edo era houses converted into contemporary artworks within a real fishing village
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Fuji-Q Highland ★ 4.3 · Fuji area
A roller coaster park with world record rides at the foot of Mount Fuji, with anime attractions and a stunning mountain backdrop
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Kabukiza Theatre ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
The main kabuki theatre in Ginza, with lavish costumes and dramatic traditional makeup dating back centuries
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Nebuta Matsuri Festival, Aomori ★ 4.3 · Tohoku
Tohoku's great festival in early August with giant lit paper warriors carried through the streets to taiko drumming
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Hakone Cruise on Lake Ashi ★ 4.3 · Hakone
A colorful pirate ship ferry crosses the volcanic lake with a direct view of the torii gate and Fuji on clear days
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Nikko Edo Wonderland ★ 4.3 · More in Japan
A spectacular theme park that brings the Edo era to life with samurai shows, ninjas and shogun processions
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Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum ★ 4.2 · Kyoto
A sake production house from 1637 in Fushimi, the capital of sake, with original vessels and traditional ginjo tasting
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Tsutenkaku Tower ★ 4.1 · Osaka
Osaka's retro landmark from 1956 with the god of luck Billiken on the observation deck, above the neon streets of Shinsekai
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Miyagawa Morning Market, Takayama ★ 4.1 · Takayama
A daily riverside morning market since the Edo era, with Hida beef skewers, seasonal pickles and sarubobo dolls
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🛍️ Shopping & markets
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Nintendo Tokyo Store ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
Nintendo's official flagship in Shibuya Parco with exclusive merchandise and game demos
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Sakuda Gold Leaf ★ 4.4 · Ishikawa
The veteran gold leaf factory from 1919 in Kanazawa, with unique workshops and restroom walls plated in real gold
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Beams Japan Shinjuku ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
A select shop of fine Japanese brands blending traditional craft with streetwear
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Mandarake Shibuya ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
A manga and anime resale shop with rare editions, vintage toys and figures
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Omotesando Street, Miyajima ★ 4.4 · Hiroshima
A covered shopping avenue from the pier to the shrine with grilled oysters and fresh momiji-manju sweets
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Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street ★ 4.3 · Osaka
Osaka's longest covered arcade with 600 meters of fashion, snacks and shops for every budget
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Muji Ginza Flagship ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
Muji's global flagship with a hotel, a bakery and the widest product selection in the world
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Shibuya Parco ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
A renewed culture complex with the official Nintendo Tokyo store and art exhibitions
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Pokemon Center Shibuya ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
A large Pokemon center with merchandise exclusive to Shibuya, a paradise for collectors and fans
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Loft Shibuya ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
The flagship of the lifestyle chain with Japanese design goods, planners, cosmetics and gifts
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Kappabashi Kitchen Street ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
A wholesale kitchenware district with professional knives, lacquerware and plastic food models
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Super Potato Akihabara ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
A legendary retro game shop with Famicom, Super Nintendo and vintage arcade cabinets
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Den Den Town, Nipponbashi ★ 4.2 · Osaka
The Akihabara of Kansai: electronics, anime figures, retro games and maid cafes in dense blocks
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Hankyu Umeda Flagship ★ 4.2 · Osaka
Osaka's iconic department store with a gorgeous cosmetics floor and a food basement considered among Japan's best
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Uniqlo Ginza Flagship ★ 4.2 · Tokyo
The world's largest Uniqlo across 12 floors with collections exclusive to Ginza
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Don Quijote Shibuya ★ 4.2 · Tokyo
A 24 hour discount kingdom with electronics, cosmetics and food for every tourist
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Tokyu Hands Shibuya ★ 4.2 · Tokyo
A multi floor creative lifestyle store with DIY tools, stationery and travel goods
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Daiso Harajuku ★ 4.2 · Tokyo
The 100 yen flagship store across 6 floors, the favorite souvenir stop for tourists
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Nakano Broadway ★ 4.2 · Tokyo
An otaku paradise with 4 floors of vintage anime figures, rare manga and cult goods
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Yodobashi Camera Akihabara ★ 4.2 · Tokyo
A giant multi floor mega electronics store, the biggest place for gadgets in Tokyo
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Animate Akihabara ★ 4.2 · Tokyo
The flagship of Japan's largest anime merchandise chain with figures, manga and doujinshi
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Yachimun Street, Tsuboya ★ 4.2 · Okinawa
A 350 year old pottery district with active kilns and traditional Ryukyu kingdom ceramics in the heart of Naha
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Gotemba Premium Outlets ★ 4.1 · Shizuoka
200 international brands under open sky with a direct view of Mount Fuji, the largest outlet mall in Japan
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Mitsukoshi Ginza ★ 4.1 · Tokyo
The iconic department store on Chuo avenue with luxury brands and a lavish food basement
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Yufuin Floral Village ★ 4.1 · Oita
An English countryside style craft village on Yufuin's main street, with pottery, sweets and handmade goods
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Common questions
Common questions
What are the best things to do in Japan?
It depends on your taste: street food in the markets of Tokyo and Osaka, temples and zen gardens in Kyoto, onsen and mountains around Fuji and Hakone, and city views from the skyscrapers. On this page you can browse by category and by city, and add any place that catches your eye straight to your personal itinerary.
How do I add a place from this page to my trip?
Every place has an "+ Add to trip" button. Tapping it saves the place to your places in the browser, with no sign-up. Later, on the "My trip" page, you can slot it into the right day of your trip.
Are the places on the list real and rated?
Yes. Every place is verified against Google Places with a high rating and plenty of reviews. You can filter to show only places rated 4.5 and above, and each place has a link to the full guide on the site.