What comes to your mind when we talk about Japan? Sushi? Sake? Japan is certainly much more. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Eastern Asia and a country with an ancient culture. What makes Japan unique is the mix between its ancient and modern cultures.
Besides the culture, Japan also has beautiful landscapes, parks, and tasty food that will make you fall in love with this country. Here are 10 places you must visit when you are in Japan.
1. Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is an active stratovolcano located on the island of Honshū. It is the highest mountain in Japan and the second-highest volcano located on an island in Asia (after Mount Kerinci on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia). Mount Fuji is one of Japan’ s “Three Holy Mountains”, along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku. It is a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and one of Japan’s Historic Sites. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013.
2. Fushimi Inari Taisha
Fushimi Inari-Taisha is the head shrine of the Kami Inari, located in Fushimi-Ku, Kyoto Prefecture. The most famous part of this attraction is the Torii that is leading to the outer shrine. Torii is a traditional Japanese gate that is most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred.
3. Kiyomizu-dera
Kiyomizu-Dera is a Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Kyoto, Uji, and Otsu Cities). The gate and the pagoda are famous Instagram spots. This temple is always crowded by tourists.
4. Sensō-ji
This ancient Buddhist temple is located in Asakusa, Tokyo. Sensō-Ji is famous for the red and yellow colors and gets even more beautiful at night with all the lamps. During the spring, around this area there is a big festival called Sanja Matsuri festival.
5. Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo Skytree is the tallest tower in Japan. It is a broadcasting and observation tower located in Sumida, Tokyo. It opened for the public in 2020; from the top of the building you can see the panoramic view of Tokyo from above. During the night, the colorful LED lights make the tower even more beautiful.
6. Arashiyama
Arashiyama is a district on the Western outskirts of Kyoto. There are some tourist attractions in this place such as the Arashiyama mountain, the Bamboo forest, the monkey park, etc. The Bamboo Forest is certainly the most popular place here.
7. Osaka Castle
This castle is located in Chūō-Ku, Osaka. The castle is one of Japan’s most famous landmarks and it played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century (Azuchi-Momoyama period). Today the castle is surrounded by urban towers and buildings. During the night, the castle looks even more beautiful with the lighting.
8. Nishiki Market
Nishiki Market is a marketplace in downtown Kyoto, located on a road one block North and parallel to Shijō Street and West of Teramachi Street. This market is famous because you can find so many things in this place, from food, to souvenirs to fresh fish. Its long history and tradition make this market very special.
9. Jigokudani Monkey Park
If you have ever seen photos of monkeys playing in hot water, then they were probably taken in this place. The name Jigokudani, meaning “Hell’s Valley”, derives from the steam and boiling water that bubbles out of small crevices in the frozen ground, surrounded by steep cliffs and hostile forests. The best season to visit is during the winter when the monkeys go to the hot springs to warm themselves up.
10. Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland was the first Disney park to be built outside the United States, and it opened on 15 April, 1983. If you like Disney movies and all their characters, this place is the right one for you. This park is famous for its parade with its iconic Disney characters.
