Japan Things to Do

  Edo-Tokyo Museum
by Rabbityama
 
  • Edo-Tokyo Museum
      Edo-Tokyo Museum
    by Rabbityama
  • Edo-Tokyo Museum
      Edo-Tokyo Museum
    by Rabbityama
  • Mount Hakko Viewed From Fukuroi(Left Peak)
      Mount Hakko Viewed From Fukuroi(Left...
    by taigaa001
  • Mt. Kamifutago(Right) and Mt. Shimofutago(Left)
      Mt. Kamifutago(Right) and Mt....
    by taigaa001
  • From Shinjuku Station West Exit
      From Shinjuku Station West Exit
    by taigaa001
 

Most Viewed Things to Do in Japan

1.

Asakusa   Tokyo

Asakusa, Tokyo

 142 Reviews  If you are not able to visit Kyoto the mother of temples in japan, then Go to asakusa and you will get little of kyoto's atmosphere. visit the temple Sensoji, it's nice but for sure NOT like those in... 

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2.

Gion (Geisha district)   Kyoto

Gion (Geisha district), Kyoto

 45 Reviews  It's not a long walk but it really holds a historical look. building looks new but in the old japanese style. Restaurants there are little above the average price wise. at the end of the road you will... 

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3.

Universal studio   Osaka

Universal studio, Osaka

 22 Reviews  in japanese that ture but still loads for fun for those who have never been to universal stuido of usa. just access the site of universal sutio and you will understand everthing , it is a very... 

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4.

Nagoya Castle   Nagoya

Nagoya Castle, Nagoya

 46 Reviews  Nagoya Castle is one of the former Tokugawa Castles. The original castle was actually built prior to the Tokugawa in 1518 by the Imagawa. It was conquered by Oda Nobuhiga but the castle was left to... 

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5.

Peace Park and Memorial Museum   Hiroshima

Peace Park and Memorial Museum, Hiroshima

 98 Reviews  I once stayed with a friend who lived a stone's throw away from the Peace Museum in Nagasaki and since then, I have always wondered what it was like to live near a building charged with so much... 

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6.

Meriken Park & Harborland   Kobe

Meriken Park & Harborland, Kobe

 15 Reviews  in this area, you can do a lot. there is the mosaic mall just on the other side from kobe tower, all the cafe and restaurants there have the sea view. i wrote a review about the aswome fisherman... 

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7.

Todaiji Temple   Nara

Todaiji Temple, Nara

 49 Reviews  Todai-ji ("Great Eastern Temple") is reputedly the largest wooden structure in the world, and it houses what must be one of the largest bronze statues of Buddha around, the Daibutsu or Great Buddha.... 

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8.

Korakuen Garden   Okayama

Korakuen Garden, Okayama

 9 Reviews  Now here's one of those all too rare havens from the outside world Overlooked by the Black Castle one can wander around this larger than normal setting. Yes there's a lot of open space but as you wind... 

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9.

Itsukushima Shrine   Miyajima

Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima

 20 Reviews  If you are in the Hiroshima city, you must visit Itsukushima-Jinjya in Miyajima. It's the shrine (not a temple) with famous red torii (gate) in the water, but has lots more than just the... 

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10.

Snow Monkey Park   Nagano

Snow Monkey Park, Nagano

 3 Reviews  Without a doubt, one of the coolest spectacles in all of Japan is to watch the wild snow monkeys of the Japanese Alps sit out a snowy winter day soaking in the hot waters of a naturally-heated onsen.... 

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11.

Ginza   Tokyo

Ginza, Tokyo

 47 Reviews  Ginza is a high-end shopping and fashion district, known as one of the most luxurious shopping areas in the world. Some of the big stores here include Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, the Sony... 

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12.

Kiyomizu Temple   Kyoto

Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto

 71 Reviews  Kiyomizu-dera Temple is perhaps the most beloved of Kyoto's temples and is a fixture in the minds of the Japanese people. The temple's veranda juts out of the side of a mountain supported by... 

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13.

Dotombori   Osaka

Dotombori, Osaka

 18 Reviews  When you see images of Japan this is what the outside world sees ... The neon light, the big crowds .... and this is exactly what you experience when coming to Dontobori Street in Osaka ..... lined... 

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14.

Parks   Nagoya

Parks, Nagoya

 13 Reviews  Shirotori Teien close to Atsuta Shrine was designed in 1989 for World Design Expo held in Nagoya. This stroll landscape garden has a imcoming tide pond just like that of Hamarikyu Garden in Tokyo. I... 

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15.

Miyajima   Hiroshima

Miyajima, Hiroshima

 26 Reviews  I was skeptical about the appeal of Mt. Misen since one round trip ticket costed me 1800 yen, which was by far the most expensive ropeway I had ever used. "No view is worth this much, " I remember... 

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16.

Chinatown (Nankin-Machi)   Kobe

Chinatown (Nankin-Machi), Kobe

 11 Reviews  Kobe is home to one of Japan's three most famous Chinatowns (Yokohama and Nagasaki being the other two), so when the Chinese New Year arrives (setsubun), the Chinatowns are great places to visit, and... 

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17.

Nara Park   Nara

Nara Park, Nara

 21 Reviews  Nara Park and Miyajima are probably Japan's most famous places to see, pet, and feed deer! The park itself is rather ordinary and unspectacular (not counting all of the historical sites within and... 

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18.

Kibiji District (Kibi Plains)   Okayama

Kibiji District (Kibi Plains), Okayama

 6 Reviews  Kibitsuhiko Shrine is dedicated to Prince Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto, who is known for being the heroine of the tale that, over time, became the famous tale of Momotaro! The main shrine was rebuilt in... 

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19.

Mount Misen   Miyajima

Mount Misen, Miyajima

 7 Reviews  Mount Misen is a historic holy mountain on Miyajima established by the Priest Kukai, also known as Kobo Daishi, founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. There are religious sites on the mountain and... 

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20.

Zenkoji Temple   Nagano

Zenkoji Temple, Nagano

 5 Reviews  The main hall is typical Buddhist architecture from the mid Edo Period. The principle image is enshrined inside the altar in the innermost temple. Admission to the inner temple is 500 Yen, and... 

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21.

Shinjuku   Tokyo

Shinjuku, Tokyo

 49 Reviews  Shinjuku is not only the most crowded part of Tokyo, but it has a little something for everyone... especially if you like a wide variety of nightlife. Shinjuku is a transit hub. It has the busiest... 

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22.

Fushimi Inari Shrine   Kyoto

Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto

 26 Reviews  Fushimi Inari Shrine is the most famous of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari across Japan. Inari is the Shinto god of rice, and foxes are thought to be his messengers. Therefore, many... 

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23.

Umeda Sky Building   Osaka

Umeda Sky Building, Osaka

 16 Reviews  While many of Japan's cities have some sort of building where you can view the surrounding city, not all of them are really worth the money. The Umeda Sky Building is one however that is worth it,... 

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24.

Zoo & Botanic Gardens   Nagoya

Zoo & Botanic Gardens, Nagoya

 9 Reviews  Higashiyama Koen(Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden, Higashiyama Park, Nagoya Zoo and Botanic Garden) is the second popular zoo in Japan in 2010 with 2.18 million annual visitors twice as large... 

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25.

Hiroshima Castle   Hiroshima

Hiroshima Castle, Hiroshima

 16 Reviews  Hiroshima Castle was built in 1589 by Mori Terumoto where he ruled over much of the Chugoku region. The castle survived through the years, even when other castles were torn down in the Meiji Period,... 

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Comments

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

The "ART" of manholes......

by cheesecake17

In Japan almost everything takes on a certain artistic quality, and manhole covers are no exception. The artwork on Japanese manhole covers varies from city-to-city. Some covers display images representative of a city's unique culture, while others display icons that are representative of the function of the hole they are covering, like those for the fire department....Japanese manhole covers are so interesting,so next time you find yourself wandering the streets looking for something artistic, make sure you take a moment to look down ...... the link below is for MANHOLE tours...but only in japanese....

inuyama manhole
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Kawagoe - Old Edo (Tokyo)

by Ewingjr98

Kawagoe is a city of nearly 350,000 citizens in Saitama Prefecture, just an hour outside of Tokyo by train. The town is most famous as Koedo, or Little Edo, due to its resemblance to Tokyo in the Edo Period from 1603 to 1868.The most famous area of town is Kurazukuri Street, which is line with shops in old Showa-era warehouses. Confectionery Row, or Penny Candy Lane, is a favorite of children due to its 12 or 15 old-style candy stores selling traditional and modern candies and toys. The Bell of Time, originally completed in 1644 and rebuilt in 1894, is the city's symbol. Kawagoe Castle dates back to the 1400s, but was largely dismantled in the 1870s.The best part of Kawagoe? Without a doubt, my favorite thing in Kawagoe is Coedo beer. It is relatively cheap in town (300-400 Yen for a can or bottle), and it is delicious.

Kawagoe's  Bell of Time
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Tokyo - Land of the Rising Prices

by Ewingjr98

Tokyo is the capital of Japan and, with 35 million people, the largest metropolitan area in the world. Japan is home to 68 Fortune 500 companies, with 47 located in Tokyo, the most of any city in the world (in comparison, New York City has only 18 Fortune 500 companies and Seoul has just 12). Tokyo has something for everyone: busy shopping areas, famous nightlife, historical sights, quiet parks, and amazing scenery. Most visitors will find plenty to keep them busy, if they can find their way around the complex web of neighborhoods that make up Tokyo.Below are capsules of Tokyo's major neighborhoods to help plan a visit to the fun and exciting city of Tokyo.Central Tokyo - There is no "downtown" in Tokyo, but the core of the city includes Chiyoda & Chuo (meaning center). This area features the massive Imperial Palace, the national government buildings, the city's famous shopping area...

The Five-Story Pagoda in Asakusa, Tokyo
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Climb Mt. Fuji

by djreggiereg

If you're the preson that likes to put things off do not put this one in the back burner. "Climb Mt. Fuji"... I've put this off since July 1992, on the 27 July 2006 "I climbed the rock and it was great". It was one of those thing that you will never forget...

TIp wear clothing. if not sunburn will sneak up.
Day trip to Otaru - from Sapporo

by sheherezad

Otaru is the most 'Westernized! part of Hokkaido, building wise, with a canal parallel to its water front. It famed for its sea food and glass work but there are other quaint attractions, too, like the clock museum/shop. It is a very interesting place to visit and I would certainly go back to Otaru if I were to go to Sapporo, again: great place! Very picturesque, too!Btw you don't need to take one of those tours promoted for Otaru. I did it as a day trip by train from Sapporo station and got a map from the information office at Otaru station (which advised me I can do it myself) and walked down to the canal and walked about Otaru before taking a regular bus back to the station.

Kyoto

by Jim_Eliason

Kyoto is the historical and cultural soul of Japan. The sights are so many one could easily spend 2 weeks here and just scratch the surface. if your thinking of going to Japan put Kyoto on the top of the list.

Kyoto
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Tokyo

by Jim_Eliason

Tokyo, the captial of Japan is a great palce to see the most modern of japan, Huge display screens and neon lights everywhere, then around the corner a tranquil temple. If your interested in modern architecture, culture and shopping then Tokyo is the destination.

Tokyo
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Kochi

by IreneMcKay

Kochi is a small town on Shikoku - the smallest of Japan's four islands. The train journey to Kochi from Okayama was spectacular as you travel through a stunning gorge with fantastic scenery. Kochi has a little bridge called Lover's Bridge with a little monument to two ill-fated lovers who died rather than give up their love. It also has a very pretty castle. We arrived at the castle after closing time, but were pleased to find we could still wander around the castle grounds. The grounds were very pleasant with several statues and lots of colourful flowering shrubs. There is a moat around the bottom of the castle. ApparentlY Kochi Castle is the only Japanese Castle where you can easily take a picture with the castle and its main gate in the same shot. When you climb up to the castle itself, you'll be rewarded with good views over Kochi. Dusk was falling as we left the grounds and the...

Kobe

by IreneMcKay

Kobe may not be the most fascinating city in Japan, but it has enough to merit a visit and it is a good base for exploring the area. We've stayed in Kobe twice - both times living in the Holiday Inn Hotel which is near Shin Kobe Station. Both visits we have had a Japan rail pass and found Kobe an excellent location from which to enjoy a variety of day trips.Kobe itself has a cable car- in Japan they are called ropeways which will take you up the mountain behind the Shin Kobe station. There are good views; there is quite a nice herb garden and a little statue donated by the people of El Salvador in sympathy for earthquake victims the world over.Kobe is famous for having experienced a devastating earthquake in 1995 in which around 6,000 people died and Kobe was left in ruins. There is park by the seaside in Kobe near the Port Tower and Maratime Museum where some of the earthquake damage...

Earthquake damage Kobe
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Old Ladies' Harajuku

by IreneMcKay

For an unusual trip in Tokyo, take the train to Sugamo Station and go to Jizo dori. This street is known as Harajuku for old ladies. While Harajuku is a trendy young people's shopping area with all the latest in fashion, Jizo dori sells everything the elderly could ever want, including shop after shop of rather large bright red thermal underwear. Red is thought to have heat inducing properties.There is also an interesting temple in this area - Kogan-ji Temple. the temple has a statue outside it. Legend states that if you are afflicted with pain on part of your body and wash the corresponding part of the statue,s body the pain will disappear. You'll see a long line of people next to the statue waiting to do just this.Keep wandering down Jizo dori and you will eventually come to one of the stations on the Toden Arkawa Line - Tokyo's last remaining tramway. We took a ride to the last stop...

My husband and me in Komagone Park
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Top 3 Hotels in Japan

Park Hyatt Tokyo  Tokyo

 7 Reviews and 518 Opinions  Most memorable 

 Hotels in Tokyo

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Hotel Granvia Kyoto  Kyoto

 6 Reviews and 699 Opinions  We stayed 3 nights at Kyoto Granvia Hotel from Feb. 27 to Mar 1, 2008. We paid Yen 17,600 per night,... 

 Hotels in Kyoto

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Dotonbori Hotel Osaka  Osaka

 7 Reviews and 154 Opinions  I've personally stayed in this hotel twice in my previous 2 trips to Osaka. Famous for their... 

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Japan Things to Do

Reviews and photos of Japan things to do posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Japan sightseeing.
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