WHAT TO DO IN JAPAN – 15 TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN JAPAN

15 Tourist Attractions in Japan

Japan is such a beautiful country and people from all walks of life around the world would love to visit it and see the many wonderful structures – some ancient and some natural spots. If you are up for long walks, usually quiet and peaceful, Japan is your place to be. But there are party spots and shop-til-you-drop districts in the country too. So, to give you a complete rundown, here is a foolproof Japan travel guide for the vacationer like you.

1. Mount Fuji

The most famous tourist attraction in Japan is Mount Fuji. Have you noticed its perfect cone? The scene is just breathtaking even in pictures – what more if you go there and see it for yourself?

The summit is the highest peak in all of Japan at 12,389 feet. Some people attempt to trek the low peaks of the mountain. Some achieve to climb up to the top. At one point, there were 300,000 climbers in 365 days which means that the summit is a “crowded” climbing spot.

2. Kinkaku-ji

Kinkaku-ji means the Temple of the Golden Pavilion. They also call it the Rokuon-ji or in English, the Deer Garden Temple. It is the second most popular structure in Japan, UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site and a National Special Historic Site award holder in Japan. It was a project of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and was built by 1397. The whole temple has three floors with a golden phoenix statue on the roof top. It is enveloped in a pond and century’s old pagoda also exists in the area like the White Snake Pagoda.

3. Sensō-ji

If ever you’re in Japan, you must visit Sensō-ji. It is located in Taito, Japan and a very old Buddhist temple devoted to Kannon, Goddess of Mercy. The ancient temple was founded by Kaishō and it was fully established around 628 AD.

This is the third most visited attraction in Japan due to its historical and cultural significance. Every year, there is a festival within the area of the temple called the Sanja Matsuri (happens every third Sunday in May). The whole (wild) affair lasts for four days and the street wherein the temple is situated are closed for public and private transportation.

4. Kiyomizu-dera

One of the most visited tourist attractions in Japan is Kiyomizu-dera. It is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto and is part of the Historic Monument of Ancient Kyoto by UNESCO. Yes, it is a World Heritage Site which was inscribed in 1994 and has the level ii and iv criteria.

The temple was completed by 778 AD as founded by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, a ruler during the Heian period. Later on the temple was damaged and it was restored by Tokugawa Iemitsu.

5. Tōdai-ji

The Tōdai-ji is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan which was constructed in the 8th century, specifically 728 AD, through the efforts of Emperor Shōmu. UNESCO included this temple under the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara together with seven other structures in the city. They used to name Tōdai-ji as one of the Seven Great Temples in Japan. The temple was dedicated to the Emperor’s son named Prince Motoi. He didn’t have the chance to grow old and died a year after he was born.

6. Meiji Shrine

The Meiji Shrine is another Shinto temple in Japan. It is located in Shibuya and was dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. The complex was established in 1920 and all in all, the area is 70 hectares.

The most common activity to do in the Meiji Shrine is to write your prayers. There is an area in the complex where you can sit down and write your deepest wishes and hopes. You can leave your prayer at the designated structure and it is believed by many to eventually come true.

7. Harajuku

You may be familiar with the Harajuku phenomenon. Well it started here in Japan and in Harajuku district. It is popular because of their fashion sense – you will see a variety of fashion statements in the area worn by young people. Some of them too colorful and some too gothic; just watching them stroll by will surely make you smile. There are also a lot of tourist sites and shopping destinations in Harajuku – include this district in your bucket list.

8. Shinjuku Gyoen

The Shinjuku Gyoen is a very relaxing and scenic garden park in Tokyo, Japan. The Naito family used to reside within the area back in the Edo period days (1603 to 1868). Today, it is a famous public park that locals and tourists visit just to admire the view and a place to unwind. It is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Japan.

The whole park is 58.3 hectares with around 20,000 trees. Of the 20,000 trees existing in the park, 1,500 of that are cherry trees. They grow during the months of March to April. They also have a greenhouse which protects 1,700 tropical flowers.

9. Itsukushima

They also call Itsukushima as Miyajima. It is an island is near Hiroshima Bay and it forms part of the Inland Sea of Japan. People go there because of its UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Itsukushima Shrine. They inscribed it as Itsukushima Shinto Shrine in 1996 with criteria of i, ii, iv and vi. It is believed that the shrine was erected in the 6th century.

If you go to the area, you will see the shrine and some pagoda temples like the Toyokuni Shrine. The Daiganji Temple is also in Itsukushima and it is a prominent Benzaiten temple.

10. Tokyo Imperial Palace

The Tokyo Imperial Palace is in Tokyo and it is the official imperial residence of the Emperor of Japan and the Imperial family. The palace now is where the Edo Castle to be located. The Edo Castle was a 15th century castle built by Ōta Dōkan (military government) and was used until 1873 before it was destroyed. In 1888, construction of the now Tokyo Imperial Palace began. There is a museum within the palace, an archive and many imperial offices.

11. Fushimi Inari-taisha

Fushimi Inari-taisha is a shrine in Kyoto, Japan which was established in the early 8th century as an Inari Shrine. It is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Japan which must be visited. When one says Inari Shrine it means that the shrine was dedicated to a Japanese God named Inari Ōkami – God of foxes, fertility, agriculture and industry. You will see a lot of statues and structures within the shrine and it would be nice to personally experience the place.

12. Hiroshima Peace Memorial

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial is also called the Atomic Bomb Dome. The structure is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with level vi criteria and name inscribed as Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome). It was recognized in 1996 and it is the only building in Japan left standing after the atomic bomb was released. It is both a symbol of solidity – how it endured the bomb, one of the most destructive forces ever created by mankind – and hope; that there is life after such devastation.

13. Arashiyama

What to do in Japan, you ask? Well, go to Arashiyama. It is a spot outside Kyoto which is known to be a Place of Scenic Beauty in Japan. It has many attractions within the district and tourists go there for a day to explore the site. It has the Iwatayama Monkey Park – monkeys are living in the wild and you can take photos with them, feed them (supervised) and touch them too. Japan is famous for its Cherry Blossoms and you can see it here by the Moon Crossing Bridge. There is also a spectacular Bamboo Forest in the area and a lot more places to see.

14. Nijo Castle

The Nijo Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with inscription title Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities). It was constructed in 1679 under the initiative of Tokugawa shogunate, a Japanese military regime. The castle was last used in 1939. Today, it is a historical landmark in Japan and is one of the most popular tourist spots in the country. It is located in Kyoto and is a two in one fort. The Nijo Castle is composed of two palaces – the Ninomaru Palace and the remnants of Honmaru Palace.

15. Universal Studios Japan

The Universal Studios Japan is quite similar to the Universal Orlando Resort – it is composed of exclusive attractions which can also be found in the Orlando theme park. The whole park is 54 hectares or 108 acres big and it has five roller coaster rides. There are 10 areas in the park with numerous rides and two of which is unique to Japan namely Hogwarts Express Photo Op and the Black Lake. The Universal Studios Japan is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Japan with over 10,000,000 visitors each year since its opening in 2001.