Top 10 places to visit in Japan

I’ve been to quite a number of cities and countries around the world for holidays. From London, Paris, Brussels, Lucern, Rome and Barcelona in Europe, Gold Cost in Australia, to Phuket, Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo in Asia. Among them all, Japan is by far my favourite country to visit and which is why I visited Japan twice in 6 months! 🙂 What made Japan such an attractive place for travelers to visit Japan in droves are their people, culture, foods, weather and off course the countless numbers of attraction Japan has to offer.

If you are visiting Japan for the first time, I have gathered here a little Japan travel guide on the Top 10 of the places you can’t miss to go in especially the Honshu island of Japan where I’ve been to:

1. Tokyo – No visit to Japan would complete without staying in Tokyo for a few nights. Tokyo has too many world class attractions to explore. Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, Ginza, Shinjuku, Disneyland, Shibuya, Rainbow Bridge, Sensoji Temple, Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, Tsukiji Market and the list goes on. Tokyo is the central of Japan rail and bus system. All international flights land here too. Tokyo is also the fashion capital of Japan with all leading brands opening flagship stores in various regions such as Ginza, Shibuya and Shinjuku.
   
2. Kyoto – Another city you can’t miss to go for the first time in Japan, Kyoto is the old capital of Japan and it offers too many shrines and temples to explore them all in a week! All of them have their unique highlighted features. Some of the notable and most popular attractions include Gion, Kiyomizudera temple, Kinkakuji temple, Kyoto tower, Fushimi-Inari shrine, and the list goes on again. Other than tourist attractions, there are many traditional Japanese handcrafts and local foods that Kyoto has to offer.
   
3. Osaka – If you are flying to Japan by Airasia budget airline, Osaka is the best place to start your Japan travel with, as Kansai airport is where you will most likely be arriving at. Osaka is another large city in Japan and it also offers plenty of attractions which you can’t miss. Namba downtown, Osaka Castle, Aquarium, Universal Studios, Shinsaibashi shopping street are among the most popular destinations for a traveler. I personally love this city very much as the price of foods and fashions here are more affordable.
   
4. Kobe – If you love beef as much as I do, Kobe is the “Must-visit” place for you as Kobe beef is by far the best beef I have ever tasted. Even though you need to pay a decent price for a beef dish, but to be able to taste one of the best beef in the world that can’t be exported out to any where of the world except Macao and Hong Kong means you have your money well spent!
   
5. Nara – A little city famous for its world largest bronze Buddha statue (Daibutsu) resides in the biggest wooden structure in Japan, Todaiji temple! Other than religious devotion, seeing deers running around the garden and roads are another attraction in the city.
   
6. Mount Fuji – Don’t tell me you have never heard of Fujisan of Japan. The highest mountain covered with snows all year long, Mount Fuji is perhaps the most iconic feature of Japan. Eventhough it can be seen from many cities in central Japan include Tokyo, Mount Fuji is best to be viewed from its surrounding towns include the Kawaguchiko Lake.
   
7. Kamakura – if Daibutsu is the biggest bronze buddha statue in Japan, the Great Buddha in Kamakura is the second. Sometimes called the Kyoto of Eastern Japan, Kamakura offers numerous temples, shrines and other historical monuments. In addition, Kamakura’s sand beaches attract large crowds during the summer months.
   
8. Hakone – Japan is famous for its various types and many hot spring resorts. Hakone is perhaps one of the most popular hot spring destinations for international visitors. Having a large Lake Ashif overlooking the Mount Fuji from a distance, Hakone is an ideal city to visit as a day trip.
9. Hakodate – Hakodate is an important harbor city in the most Southen tip of Hokkaido island. Famous for its fresh seafoods and beautiful city night view from Mount Hakodate, it is the nearest city to visit in Hokkaido if you are coming from Tokyo.
   
10. Hiroshima – Floating Torii Gate in Miyajima alone can attract millions of visitors from all over the world to Hiroshima each year. It is one of the 3 best scenes to view in Japan, apart from the fact that Hiroshima is one of the cities being hit by the Atomic bombs during the WWII.

With the list and photos of top places to visit in Japan that I shared above, I bet you are now eagerly searching for flights to Japan in the nearest future! Yes. Trust me. You won’t regret. You may wish to read also my list of souvenirs to buy in Japan as well as foods to try in Japan. ) – Travel Feeder

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.