Japan Things to Do

  Kiyomaru Statue
by Rabbityama
 
  • Kiyomaru Statue
      Kiyomaru Statue
    by Rabbityama
  • Kodokan Hall
      Kodokan Hall
    by Rabbityama
  • Kairakuen from Kobuntei
      Kairakuen from Kobuntei
    by Rabbityama
  • Naoya Shiga's Study
      Naoya Shiga's Study
    by Rabbityama
  • This broke my heart
      This broke my heart
    by sanukseeker
 

Most Viewed Things to Do in Japan

476.

Asakusa   Tokyo

Asakusa, Tokyo

 159 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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477.

Gion (Geisha district)   Kyoto

Gion (Geisha district), Kyoto

 64 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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478.

Universal studio   Osaka

Universal studio, Osaka

 25 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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479.

Nagoya Castle   Nagoya

Nagoya Castle, Nagoya

 28 Reviews  With its famed golden shachi dolphin roof decorations, Nagoya Castle is the de-facto symbol of the city. Built in 1612, the main edifice was reconstructed in 1959 on its original foundation after... 

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480.

Meriken Park & Harborland   Kobe

Meriken Park & Harborland, Kobe

 24 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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481.

Peace Park and Memorial Museum   Hiroshima

Peace Park and Memorial Museum, Hiroshima

 128 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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482.

Todaiji Temple   Nara

Todaiji Temple, Nara

 75 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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483.

Itsukushima Shrine   Miyajima

Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima

 30 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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484.

Korakuen Garden   Okayama

Korakuen Garden, Okayama

 12 Reviews  Korakuen Garden is considered to be one of the three best gardens in Japan since the Edo Period. It was constructed by Tsuda Nagatada by orders of the daimyo Ikeda Tsunamasa and took thirteen years to... 

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485.

Snow Monkey Park   Nagano

Snow Monkey Park, Nagano

 4 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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486.

Shinjuku   Tokyo

Shinjuku, Tokyo

 72 Reviews  This was a stunning experience with all the different varieties of cherry trees in full blossom. Incredibly beautiful! The garden is run by the Ministry of the environment now but it has a long... 

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487.

Kiyomizu Temple   Kyoto

Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto

 99 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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488.

castle   Osaka

castle, Osaka

 63 Reviews  First built in the 1580s on the order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Osaka Castle was the largest castle in Japan, a magnificent structure used by Toyotomi as a military stronghold from which to wage war... 

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489.

Parks   Nagoya

Parks, Nagoya

 9 Reviews  Huge success of Shiratori Garden in 1989 led to a number of Japanese garden reconstructions throughout Japan. Tokugawaen Garden built in 2004 is one of such notable examples slightly based on the... 

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490.

Chinatown (Nankin-Machi)   Kobe

Chinatown (Nankin-Machi), Kobe

 12 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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491.

Miyajima   Hiroshima

Miyajima, Hiroshima

 33 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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492.

Nara Park   Nara

Nara Park, Nara

 33 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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493.

Five-Tiered Pagoda   Miyajima

Five-Tiered Pagoda, Miyajima

 8 Reviews  The beautiful curved roofs of the Goju-no-to Pagoda and strinking vermilion colouring are a familiar sight on the island of Miyajima. Standing on a hill overlooking the bay and Itsukushima Shrine, the... 

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494.

Kibiji District (Kibi Plains)   Okayama

Kibiji District (Kibi Plains), Okayama

 6 Reviews  Saijo Inari is known as one of the three great Inari Shrines in Japan (Fushimi Inari in Kyoto and Toyokawa Inari in Aichi being the other two). It is unique, because the complex is composed of a... 

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495.

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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496.

Ueno Park   Tokyo

Ueno Park, Tokyo

 78 Reviews  It's a large public park in central Tokyo, not the best but probably the one offering the most attractions (museums, zoo,temples..). It's also one of the most famous and popular spot in Tokyo for... 

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497.

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)   Kyoto

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Kyoto

 103 Reviews  So when someone has vision's of Japan you imagine 2 things ... first... the modern neon lights, crowded Japan and then the 2nd vision is the peaceful gardens with ancient temples ...... And the Golden... 

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498.

Dotombori   Osaka

Dotombori, Osaka

 22 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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499.

Shrines & Temples   Nagoya

Shrines & Temples, Nagoya

 12 Reviews  1900-year-old shrine with lush evergreen forest is best known by one of the three Imperial Regalia, Kusanagi sword. The shrine saw the modification after the Meiji Restoration. It is a nice place to... 

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500.

Mount Rokko   Kobe

Mount Rokko, Kobe

 7 Reviews  A highland pasture spread on the peak of Mt. Rokko. Sheep, donkeys and ponies are free to graze, and visitors can come in close contact with the animals. Children can learn and try to take milk from... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Kyoto - a city of temples

by SLLiew

In Kyoto, you can soak into the culture of Japan whether a tea ceremony or visit one of the many temples here.Get a guided tour to better understand the elements of Japanese temple architecture, or the must-haves of a Japanese garden or the basic rituals in a Zen or Buddhist temples plus a dose of Japanese history. Alternatively, read them from a guideline or on the internet.Then allow your own senses and personal enjoyment of visiting these many temples, strolling and perhaps a meditation or two without worrying about facts or photography. Kyoto is an amazing place not to be missed. Easy to get by fast train from Tokyo or overnight bus.

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Tokyo (or Kyoto)

by SLLiew

These are the top two tourist destinations.Personally, for a first visit to Japan, I will go to Tokyo. This is the place to be in Japan where the political and economic center of Japan and the capital since the Meiji restoration or rise of Modern Japan.There are many districts in Tokyo like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Akihabara, Ginza, Haranjuku, Ikebukoro, etc. with their own speciality in restaurant, shopping and entertainment outlets.There are many temples, shrines and gardens with museums to see the culture of Japan including the hot baths and pachinko parlors as well as annual cherry blossoms, fireworks and parade festivals.Tokyo is easy to get around by subway. Tokyoites make Tokyo.

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Another Nara landmark - Kofukuji Temple

by SLLiew

One of the tallest in Japan, the 5 storey pagoda of Kofukuji Temple is one of the remaining few remaining buildings of this temple complex of the powerful Fujiwara family clan that ruled during the Nara and Heian Period. There is also a 3 storey pagoda. Located at Sanjo Dori near Nara Park, it currently houses some important Buddhist statues, treasures and relics.

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Largest Buddhist Temple - Todaiji of Nara

by SLLiew

One of the major temple landmark of Japan is one of the largest wooden building in the world. Todaiji means "Great Eastern Temple" in Japan.Located in Nara which was once the old capital of Japan, Todaiji was built in 752 AD. This was a period with Buddhist monastries were at the height of their powerful influence.Inside the temple, you will one of the largest wooden Buddha in Japan. The space outside the temple is just as impressive as the overall size of the temple. Admission is 500 yen. Location: Nara Park

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Kumamoto - Suizenji Garden

by SLLiew

Kumamoto is in Kyushu island and not far from Nagasaki.The town is famous for Suizenji Garden which is rated as one of the most beautiful garden in Japan.In the garden landscape, there is also a green mount which is to represent Mt. Fuji and a a shape of lake to represent Lake Biwa.A beautiful garden which I enjoyed one afternoon.

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Mt. Aso - Naka Dake & Volcano Exhibition

by SLLiew

Within Mt. Aso caldera, Mt Naka (Naka dake) is active and steaming. One can take a cable car over Mt. Nakar to have a closer view.However, when I was there, it is considered "unsafe" as activity level was high and so only see the crater from a video monitor at the Exhibition Hall.Exhibition Hall is interesting showing all the different rocks and information of the volcano. There are some English text but mostly in Japanese.

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Mount Aso, Kyushu Island

by SLLiew

Mount Aso is the largest active volcano in Japan. Wworth visiting in Kyushu island. It is located between Kumamoto in the south and Beppu in the north. Best way is take a tour bus that goes to this green highland with some cloud cover and you can go horse riding or see the fat cows grazing. There are many school buses of school children too.You will going into a giant Aso caldera with many inner volcano peaks.

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Mount Bandai (Fukushima) - Lake view

by SLLiew

Mount Bandai is famous for colored lakes due to different mineral in the water.In winter, some of the lakes are frozen and fun to walk on them too as long as there is no thin ice.Quite a quiet relaxing atmosphere to enjoy the views of the different lakes in this mountainous region of Fukushima.

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Mount Bandai (Fukushima) - a town view

by SLLiew

Aizu Wakamatsu town is a quiet typical Japanese town with Mount Bandai in the background.Tokyo folks come here for the weekend for vactaion to ski in the winter or enjoy the many onsen (hot springs). Was there with local Japanese friends to soak in one of the famous hot spring resorts.

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Nara Deer’s Park

by jorgejuansanchez

I arrived late in Nara, from Kyoto. The Todaiji temple (the greatest wooden structure in the world) sheltering the highest statue representing Buddha in Japan (over 16 metres), was already closed. I felt tired and looked for a bench in the park to spend the night (I had no money). Then, between 4 and 5 AM, I felt my face being licked. I woke up at once, incorporated with surprise in my bench and saw: deers!!! So funny! I laughed. There were several of them looking at me, impassive; they were tender and harmless. I did not sleep anymore and stayed with the deers, smiling, until they opened the covered Buddha temple.

Top 3 Hotels in Japan

Park Hyatt Tokyo  Tokyo

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Hotel Granvia Kyoto  Kyoto

 6 Reviews and 478 Opinions  We stayed 3 nights at Kyoto Granvia Hotel from Feb. 27 to Mar 1, 2008. We paid Yen 17,600 per night,... 

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Dotonbori Hotel Osaka  Osaka

 7 Reviews and 88 Opinions  I've personally stayed in this hotel twice in my previous 2 trips to Osaka. Famous for their... 

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Toyoko Inn Club Card - I read that the price for this membership card is 1500yen. When is the expiration for this card for... 

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A: Generally the price of the room listed on the website should be the price of the room, at least for Japanese hotels. I can't guarantee it though. Booking.com may add... 

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