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

951.

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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952.

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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953.

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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954.

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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955.

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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956.

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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957.

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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958.

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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959.

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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960.

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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961.

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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962.

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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963.

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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964.

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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965.

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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966.

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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967.

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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968.

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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969.

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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970.

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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971.

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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972.

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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973.

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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974.

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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975.

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

Godaido Temple in Matsushima

by PolishChick

On a tiny island connected with the coast by 2 short bridges there is a little Godaido temple. This very orginal in its shape temple was built in IX century. It is opened only 3 times a century, so good luck fitting it in your sheduele!!! ;) However, you can still see the beautiful outside with very orginal Chinese zodiac sculptures. The bridges leading to the temple are very fun too- there are built so you can see the water deep underneath your feet- a bit freaky and watch your step! Surrouned by pine trees Godaido looks really great on the water and is one of Matsushimas must-sees.

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HAKONE - ALL IN JAPANESE-STYLE

by I-Believe-I-Can-Fly

We stayed in a small Japanese-style hotel with a Japanese-style room, complete with a paper sliding door. There were no beds in the room, instead there were futons on the tatami mat floor. The hotel provided yukata (a casual cotton kimono) and slippers in each room and we were expected to wear them during our dinner.Our guide instructed us on the proper manner to wear these robes. Fold the right side to cover the body, then fold the left side over the top of the right side. Never do the reverse version as it is preparing for the dead person. Then tie the obi around the waist. Once it have tied the bow, slide the obi around so the ribbon is behind.

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MT. FUJI - BEST IN WINTER

by I-Believe-I-Can-Fly

At the height of 3,776m, FUJI-SAN is Japan's highest mountain. Mt. Fuji is a notoriously reclusive mountain, often hidden by cloud. So the best time to reach the top is at dawn - because early morning is the time the mountain is least likely to be shrouded in cloud. The view are usually best in winter and early spring when a snow cap adds to the spectacle.

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KIYOMIZU TEMPLE - THE VERANDA

by I-Believe-I-Can-Fly

Its wooden veranda which juts out over a wooded canyon is functioned as "viewing veranda" where most of the visitors enjoyed the panoramic view of Kyoto and the woods around the temple. The view from here is dramatically beautiful.Facing this wooden veranda there is an altar dedicated to Kannon (goddess of mercy) who can bring about easy childbirth. I saw many women tossed in an offering, usually something like a 100 yen coin donation then said little prayers.

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KIYOMIZU TEMPLE - WOODEN TEMPLE

by I-Believe-I-Can-Fly

KIYOMIZU-DERA is one of KYOTO's most visited temples, founded in 807 AD, but its present huge wooden building that is really stunning were rebuilt in 1633 by Tokugawa Shogun. Built on the side of Higashiyama Hill, the whole complex nestles with the arms of nature.Kiyomizu Temple is listed on the UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage site.

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KIYOMIZU TEMPLE - PURE WATER

by I-Believe-I-Can-Fly

Kiyomizu-Dera means Pure Water Temple. The temple gets its name from the underground spring below.Most of visitors (including myself!) made a long line waiting for the turn to sip the pure water by holding out a long handled cup to dip from the flowing water. The spring is divided into three small trickles flowing through a notch cut into each of three beams protruding out near the roof of the alcove. According to our guide, each of the streams has a special property. The right waterfall enhances your intelligence, the middle makes you handsome or beautiful and the left waterfall gives you a long life. The choice is yours!

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KIYOMIZU TEMPLE - "LOVE STONES"

by I-Believe-I-Can-Fly

In the shrine's main hall, there are two big holy stones called "makura ishi" (love stones). The Japanese believe that a person who succeeds in walking straight ahead from one end to the other between the two stone which is about 6 meter long, with closed eyes while reciting the loved one's name will see his/her relationship in love becoming into marriage....

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KIYOMIZU TEMPLE - JISHU JINJA TEMPLE

by I-Believe-I-Can-Fly

Kiyomizu temple is a complex that consist of more than one building or structure. There are a collection of buildings and structures located on the ground. Inside we find various smaller structures or temples devoted to a variety of different things where the faithful come to pray. Among them is the famous Jishu Jinja shrine.

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Tokyo

by yen_2

Ginza is the most famous shopping area in Tokyo. Ueno-Koen, a park north of the centre, has some of Japan's best museums and galleries.Asakusa, north-east of the centre, is one of the few places where you can experience something of the real-life flavour of old ***amachi.Senso-ji Temple, probably the liveliest place of Buddhist worship in all Japan.Shinjuku, west of the centre, is present-day Tokyo's rowdiest entertainment quarter.Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest mountain (3776m/12,385ft) is the only natural feature most visitors to this beautiful place are sure they want to check out and you want to visit too.

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KIYOMIZU TEMPLE - A TEMPLE OF LOVE

by I-Believe-I-Can-Fly

This temple of love is frequented visit by young people eager to see their relationship in love and marriage.A Japanese girl pointed the red ribbons and asked me to pull, then said some words in broken English which I only got the "love... love..." word. I had no idea what did it mean but I did pull the ribbon.

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Top 3 Hotels in Japan

Park Hyatt Tokyo  Tokyo

 7 Reviews and 328 Opinions  Most memorable 

 Hotels in Tokyo

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,... 

 Hotels in Kyoto

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... 

 Hotels in Osaka

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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