Japan Attractions

Recommended by Aleem Raheem, Earth Trip co-founder and Japan specialist · Updated October 2026

Things to Do in Japan: Temples, Gardens, Hot Springs and Food

Japan packs an amazing amount into a small space. In two weeks you can explore the neon streets and quiet shrines of Tokyo, soak in a hot spring with a view of Mount Fuji, walk through thatched villages in the Japanese Alps, follow the red torii gates of Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, feed the deer in Nara and eat your way around Osaka. Fast, punctual trains link them all.

These are the experiences our Japan specialist Aleem Raheem recommends most. Every one can be arranged privately, with your own English-speaking guide where it helps, as part of a tailor-made Japan holiday.

1. Tokyo

Japan’s capital is huge, but it is easy to get around and very safe.

• Asakusa and Senso-ji: Tokyo’s oldest temple, reached along a street of snack and souvenir stalls. Go early in the morning before the crowds.
• Meiji Shrine, Harajuku and Shibuya: walk through the forest to the shrine, then to the street fashion of Harajuku and the famous Shibuya Crossing.
• Food tour: try sushi, yakitori and ramen with a local guide at the Tsukiji Outer Market or in the small bars of Shinjuku.
• Ghibli Museum and teamLab: the animation studio’s museum in Mitaka, and teamLab’s immersive digital art. Both need tickets booked in advance.

Where to stay: The Prince Park Tower Tokyo, The Blossom Hibiya or Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo.

2. Hakone and Mount Fuji

• The Hakone loop: ride the mountain railway, cable car and ropeway over the steaming volcanic valley of Owakudani, then cruise across Lake Ashi, with views of Mount Fuji on clear days.
• Hakone Open-Air Museum: sculpture in the hills and a large Picasso collection.
• Hot springs: end the day in an onsen bath and stay the night in a ryokan.
• Climbing Mount Fuji: possible in summer only, usually from early July to early September, and best with a mountain guide.

Where to stay: the historic Fujiya Hotel, opened in 1878.

3. Takayama and Shirakawa-go

• Takayama old town: wooden merchant houses, sake breweries and morning markets in the mountains of central Japan.
• Shirakawa-go: a UNESCO-listed village of steep thatched farmhouses, beautiful in every season and magical under snow.
• Hida beef: try the local beef, grilled on a magnolia leaf or as sushi.

Where to stay: Takayama Green Hotel, with its own hot spring baths.

4. Kanazawa

• Kenrokuen: one of Japan’s three most famous gardens, next to Kanazawa Castle.
• Higashi Chaya and Nagamachi: an old geisha district of wooden teahouses and a samurai quarter of earthen walls and canals.
• Omicho Market and gold leaf: fresh seafood for breakfast, and a workshop in the city’s traditional gold leaf craft.

Where to stay: Hyatt Centric Kanazawa or Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi.

5. Kyoto

Japan’s capital for more than 1,000 years, Kyoto has hundreds of temples and shrines.

• Fushimi Inari: walk up the mountain through thousands of red torii gates. Start early, or go higher up the trail, to escape the crowds.
• Arashiyama: the bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji temple garden and a boat on the river.
• The Golden Pavilion and Ryoan-ji: a gold-covered temple on a lake, and Japan’s most famous Zen rock garden.
• Gion and Higashiyama: old streets of teahouses below Kiyomizu-dera temple, best in the evening.
• Tea ceremony and cooking: learn the tea ceremony from a tea master, or cook Japanese home food with a local family.

Where to stay: Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or Onyado Nono Kyoto Shichijo.

6. Nara

An easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka. See the giant bronze Buddha inside Todai-ji, one of the world’s largest wooden buildings, walk among the friendly deer of Nara Park and visit Kasuga Taisha, a shrine lined with stone and bronze lanterns.

7. Hiroshima and Miyajima

• Peace Memorial Park and Museum: a moving visit to the Atomic Bomb Dome and the museum telling the story of 6 August 1945.
• Miyajima: take the ferry to the island, where the great torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine seems to float at high tide. Take the ropeway up Mount Misen for views over the Inland Sea.
• Okonomiyaki: try Hiroshima’s famous layered savoury pancake.

Where to stay: RIHGA Royal Hotel Hiroshima or The Royal Park Hotel.

8. Osaka

• Dotonbori street food: takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu under the neon signs by the canal.
• Osaka Castle: the castle and its park, beautiful in cherry blossom season.
• Kuromon Market and Shinsekai: a covered food market and an old-fashioned neighbourhood below the Tsutenkaku tower.

Where to stay: Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka or Hotel Leben Osaka.

Japan Experiences at a Glance

Travelling Responsibly in Japan

Kyoto, Miyajima and Mount Fuji have become very busy, and local people have asked visitors to take more care. We plan visits early in the morning, add quieter places such as Kanazawa and Takayama, and use trains rather than flights. Please follow local rules: some private lanes in Kyoto’s Gion district are closed to visitors, and you should never photograph geisha or maiko without permission. Read more about our responsible travel approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is cherry blossom season in Japan?

In Tokyo and Kyoto the cherry blossom usually blooms from late March to early April, lasting about a week at its best. It starts earlier in the south and later in the north, reaching Hokkaido in early May. Exact dates change every year, so we plan your route around the latest forecast.

How do I get tickets for the Ghibli Museum?

Tickets are not sold at the door. They go on sale at 10am Japan time on the 10th of each month for the following month, for a set date and entry time, and often sell out quickly. The museum is normally closed on Tuesdays. We can help you book.

Can I climb Mount Fuji?

Yes, but only in the summer climbing season, usually from early July to early September. On the popular Yoshida Trail there is a climbing fee of ¥4,000, a daily limit on climbers and rules on the right clothing and equipment. We recommend climbing with a mountain guide and staying overnight in a mountain hut.

Where can I see geisha in Kyoto?

You may see geiko and maiko, as geisha are called in Kyoto, in the Gion and Pontocho districts in the early evening. Photography is banned on Gion’s private streets and some lanes are closed to visitors. The best way to meet them is a private dinner or tea with a maiko, which we can arrange.

Is there a fee to visit Miyajima?

Yes. Since October 2023, visitors to Miyajima pay a small visitor tax of ¥100, usually added to the ferry fare. Itsukushima Shrine charges a separate entry fee.

How should I behave at temples and shrines?

Bow at the gate, rinse your hands and mouth at the water basin at shrines, and take your shoes off when asked. Speak quietly, don’t touch statues or sit on walls, and check for signs before taking photos, as photography is not allowed inside many halls.

Plan Your Japan Holiday

Many of these experiences feature in our 15-day Japan Classic Holiday, from £5,790 per person, and our 11-day Japan Family Holiday. Browse our Japan hotels, read our Japan travel guide, or see our guide to Japan’s regions. Japan combines well with South Korea. To start planning, request a video call with Aleem.