It is undeniable that Japan is a land with many things that make it unique. From its history to its culture to its magnificent natural beauty, Japan has been enticing tourists for centuries. It is one of the world’s most visited countries, and for good reason!
Packed into Japan’s 145,869 square miles (377,800 square kilometers) is an almost endless number of tourist attractions.
These are our top 10 tourist destinations in Japan.
1. Mount Fuji, A Symbol of Japan
An iconic symbol of the Land of the Rising Sun, Mount Fuji, known affectionately as “Fuji-San” by the locals, is an active stratovolcano situated about 60 miles (100 kilometers) southwest of Tokyo. Designated as a World Heritage Site in 2013, Mount Fuji holds a special place in the hearts of Japanese people.
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Standing 12,388 feet (3,776 meters) above sea level, Mount Fuji is Japan’s highest peak and is open to those who wish to brave its slopes. Despite the gentle-looking contours, getting to the top of Mount Fuji is not an easy task and not one that should be taken lightly. It takes a good degree of fitness! Mountain lodges dot the trails, so rest and respite are never too far away.
For those just wishing to see the mountain from afar, it is a glorious sight in any season!
2. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
One of the most solemn and poignant places in the world, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is built over the site of the devastation that occurred on August 6, 1945 during the Second World War when the United States dropped the first nuclear weapon. On that fateful day at 8:15 in the morning, the world entered a new era, and its significance is certainly not forgotten.
The Peace Memorial Park is built in memory of this date, not just to honor the dead but to make sure that the horror of nuclear war never happens again.
The park covers 30 acres, and dotted around it are numerous statues and memorials to the event and its victims. There is also a fascinating museum that preserves the horror of what happened.
On August 6 every year, the city hosts a memorial ceremony where the paths are illuminated by candles, and thousands of lanterns are placed on the river to commemorate the fallen and to show a desire for peace.
3. Himeji Castle, Japan’s Most Famous Castle
Registered in 1993 as one of Japan’s first four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Himeji Castle is Japan’s biggest and most visited castle. The building traces its roots back to 1333, but most of what is seen today was built during the 17th century.
Representing the pinnacle of the castle-building era in Japan, Himeji is an important part of Japan’s history. It draws crowds who come to marvel at its exterior visage as well as the displays and architecture inside.
The site is easily accessible, being a twenty-minute walk north of Himeji Station. The surroundings are designed with tourists in mind, and transport and guides are available.
4. Ginza, A Shopper’s Paradise
Built upon an old swamp in the 16th century, Tokyo’s district of Ginza has come a long way to become Japan’s premier upscale shopping district. The district is home to the flagship stores of many renowned shopping brands and draws vast crowds, especially over the weekends when the north-south artery is closed to traffic.
The prices in Ginza are equally “upscale,” and many people engage in window shopping rather than actual shopping. Apart from the boutiques, there are also grocery stores, restaurants, electronics stores, other department stores, and art galleries.
However, not everything in Ginza is a symbol of modern capitalism! Ginza is home to Kabuki-za, a theater dedicated to the country’s traditional Kabuki performances, a highly stylized form of Japanese drama.
5. Fushimi Inari-taisha, Thousands of Torii Gates
Located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Fushimi Inari-taisha is a shrine complex that sits at the base of Inari Mountain. The site is home to roughly 10,000 torii gates as well as many other monuments and smaller shrines in honor of Inari Ōkami, the kami (spirit deity) of fertility, rice, agriculture, tea, and sake, business, and industry. Four other deities are also honored at this shrine site.
One of the main attractions here is the Senbon-Torii, a “tunnel” made of hundreds of torii set in a row. Senbon-Torii snakes its way up Inari Mountain, which is a famous trail for tourists.
Most of the torii were donated by businesses that honor Inari Ōkami and wish for good luck in the world of trade and commerce!
Tourists visiting this site will also want to see Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, a neighboring site of singularly unique beauty. Surrounded by immensely tall bamboo, the site offers an otherworldly experience!
6. Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, the Home of the Emperor
Tokyo is the world’s biggest city by population. It is also Japan’s capital and home to Japanese Emperor Akihito and the royal family who live in the Imperial Palace, a vast complex of beautiful buildings and scenic gardens.
Given that the palace is still in use, most of the grounds are off-limits to the public. Nevertheless, a huge section is accessible, and since the site is right in the center of the world’s most populous city, it is no wonder that the Imperial Palace draws in tourists.
The site has gardens, pathways, bridges, moats, and walls, making for a gentle and relaxing walk through Japanese history and culture.
7. Ghibli Museum
Dedicated to the art and technique of Japanese animation, the Ghibli Museum is a world-famous place that draws crowds all year round. The museum’s popularity is so widespread that entrance can only be acquired by booking in advance.
Those who know about Japanese animation will recognize the name of Hayao Miyazaki, a filmmaker, animator, and manga artist whose charming style has proven immensely popular worldwide. Miyazaki founded Studio Ghibli and thus serves as the museum’s director.
The museum itself is a combination of exhibitions that provide a host of different themes created by Studio Ghibli. It is a wonderful experience for children and adults. Those who are fascinated by the technology behind the art and the fine art associated with Studio Ghibli will not be disappointed!
8. Yakushima, an Island of Unspoiled Natural Beauty
Inspiring the landscape of Hayao Miyazaki’s film Princess Mononoke (1997), the cedar forests of Yakushima form a realm of natural enchantment that evokes a sense of fantastical wonder.
Yakushima is an island of 194.94 square miles (504.88 square kilometers) that sits around 60 miles (about 100 kilometers) south of the port city of Kagoshima at the southern tip of Kyushu.
Getting to Yakushima requires a two-and-a-half-hour ferry trip, and once there, the magic of the place becomes real. The island is a rough circle and can be driven around in a total of three hours. Within this circular route, the island contains mountains, ravines, and the most lush forests imaginable.
As if the island’s botanical majesty weren’t enough, Yakushima is also home to animals that are endemic to the island. Of prominent note are the macaques and deer, the latter of which outnumbers the human population of around 13,500.
Yakushima is also a valuable nesting ground for loggerhead and green sea turtles.
In 1993, one-fifth of the island was designated a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site of Natural Beauty because of its ecological value.
9. Tokyo Disneyland
For those wishing for the thrill of theme park rides and the fantasy of imagined worlds, Tokyo is home to one of the world’s most famous theme parks. Tokyo Disneyland covers 115 acres and was opened in 1983, making it the first Disney theme park outside of the United States.
Connected to Tokyo Disneyland is the Disneyland Resort, where visitors can stay in one of the many hotels, and DisneySea, which has proven to be extremely popular with its aquatic-themed rides.
For 2023, the total number of visitors to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea amounted to 27.51 million. Given the fun to be had at these destinations, it’s unsurprising they manage to pull so many visitors, both from at home and abroad.
10. Kinkaku-ji, the “Golden Pavilion”
The city of Kyoto is popular for being a place where traditional Japanese culture is very much on display. Buddhism is the second-most popular religion in Japan, and the Kinkaku-ji Temple in Kyoto is one of the most stunning examples of Japanese Zen Buddhism.
Built in 1398, the “Golden Pavilion” was part of a complex used as a retirement villa for the shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, before it became a Zen Buddhist temple by his wishes upon his death in 1408.
The complex was burned during the Ōnin war (1467–1477), but the Golden Pavilion survived. Almost half a millennium later, the temple succumbed to flames from a monk who attempted to commit suicide. The arsonist was taken into custody and ruled to be mentally unstable. Nevertheless, in 1950, the building was a ruined husk and was rebuilt in 1955.
Despite the relatively young age of the actual structure today, it is no less beautiful. Each of its three floors is built to represent a different architectural period. The first floor is built in the Shinden style of the Heian period. The second floor is of the Bukke style found in samurai houses, and the third floor is a Chinese Zen Hall.
Overlooking a large pond and surrounded by lush vegetation, the building and its environs are an absolute vision of Japan’s uniqueness.
Japan is an ancient land full of splendor, whether it’s the islands’ unique natural beauty or the people’s culture and history. It is a fascinating country that draws tourists from all over the world. With so many incredible sights and sounds, it is no wonder so many foreigners have fallen in love with this enchanting country.
