Best places to visit in Japan?

Question

Hi im planning a trip to Japan for approx 10-14 days this month, can anyone help me out on best places/cities to visit and how long to stay there?

Answer 1

There are so many amazing places to see in Japan that it's hard to pick out the cream of the crop. But having traveled there myself this past October, these are my picks.

1) Kyoto - No trip to Japan is complete without visiting Kyoto. There is so much history in this city, so many temples and shrines that you could spend weeks here and barely scratch the surface. I spent 6 days there, but you can see most of the highlights in 3 full days. The areas you most want to see is Arishiyama, Higashiyama-ku (which includes the Gion - the historical geisha district), and the Philosophers Stroll. Must sees in the city is Nijo Castle, Sanjusangendo Hall, the Gold Pavilion & the Silver Pavilion, Ryoanji Temple (with its world famous Zen garden) and Kiyomizu Temple.

2) Nara - a short train ride from Kyoto and the oldest capital of the Japanese nation. I would spend at least 1 full day here (most tourists do day trips from Kyoto), but it's wonderful to spend at least an overnight stay. Nara Park is full of important historical sights, including Kasuga Grand Shrine and Daibutsuden with its giant bronze Buddha. Feeding the deer in the park is always entertaining.

3) Takayama - sometimes called the Little Kyoto of the Mountains, this is a relatively small city in the Japanese Alps. It's a little remote (best way to reach it is by catching the train from Nagoya), but it is well worth it. Beautiful historic streets with its old merchent houses (some of which are open as museums), a restored village with gasho houses (at the Hida Folk Village), wonderful resturants and one of the best morning markets I've ever visited. Spend 2 days here.

4) Nikko - The town center is surrounded by gorgeous woodlands and major temples and shrines, including Toshogu Shrine, Futarasen Shrine and Shinkyo (the Sacred Bridge). Most tourists are daytrippers from Tokyo, but it's well worth staying overnight in town for. Lots of little hidden things to see here.

5) Tokyo - ok, Tokyo is a huge city and you could spend your whole vacation here and not see even a fraction of the place. I spent 2 days in Tokyo at the tail end of my trip and that was enough for me (I live in NYC, so big cities don't impress me much). See the Asakusa district, visit the Meji Shrine, walk through Harajuka and splurge on a great dinner in the Ginza.

6) Hokkaido - this is the frontier of Japan. Visit in winter for the best skiing around, or in wamer weather for hiking and nature walks. (Admittedly, I did not have the time to visit Hokkaido due to time. - If you are limited timewise and want to see as much as possible, it might not be possible to visit Hokkaido. It would take you nearly a full day just to travel there by train.)

7) Visit an onsen. Japanese people love their baths and natural hot springs are some of the more relaxing, interesting places to visit. I visited Naruko, an onsen town north of Sendai, but there are hundreds scattered all over the country. One day is plenty, but it makes a nice break during your trip. There is something very cool about sitting in a natural hot spring with snow all around you.

Have a great time!

Answer 2

Get a good guide book like Lonely Planet Japan or Fodor's Japan for all the descriptions.

Since you're not there that long, I advise going to a region with a lot to see and do. Don't spend too much time on the train.

My favorite cities are Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka. If you can afford the shinkansen (bullet train) take a day or two in Tokyo, but I don't think it's essential since Osaka is enough of a big city and slightly cheaper.

Answer 3

Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara are all great places that have been mentioned.

No one has mentioned Hiroshima, and I would definitely try to go there if I were you. The Hiroshima Peace Park and Memorial Museum is a great place to learn about and see the effects of the atomic bomb dropping in WWII. It's especially great if you're American, because you can see the results of our actions which are often left out of textbooks, but anyone can learn from it.

Also, when you go to Hiroshima, it is easy to then take the ferry to Miyajima, which is the site of Itsukushima Shrine, arguably the most famous in Japan. It is the most photographed in Japan.

You really would only need to spend one day in Hiroshima and half of a day in Miyajima, I think, so you could still travel to the other cities!

Answer 4

Hi, so you will experience a new life there, like going to Mars. First, most people oesnt speak or know english, try to learn some words and currency matterns.
Best thing is to have japanese friend (boy or girl). If you are american so you are hero for a girl, just make a jump to The international centre in any city and pick up people annoucements.
Best places ive been, is to go to Tokyo where u have many choices you could visit : Big towers, Disney land Japan, For shopping and nightlife : shinjuku and shibuya.
Then, easily by rapid train (shinkansen) you can reach Osaka where you can experience the life underground. I highly advice you to go to Kyoto, the ancient city which is near osaka, then you can reach another day Kobe which was one of my favourite cities there.
For the food, you can find your choice in big cities, but expensive.
for hotels try TokyoInn it is quiet , peaceful and clean and not expensive.
Wish you good time there.

Answer 5

Oze swamp in Fukushima. "Swamp" does not sound inviting in English, but Oze is truly mind boggling once you get there. Geibeiki gorge is pretty neat too-it's the Japanese grand canyon-but maybe Takechibo is?! Read the Mishima novel and watch the Ichikawa movie before you go to Kinkakuji-that's some heavy stuff! When you go through the tunnel from Honshu to Hokkaido the pictures on the tunnel wall become anime just like a flip book-it just rocks. I've heard of the road that plays a nice tune when you travel on it at the speed limit, but I have no personal experience with that myself.

Answer 6

One of the most popular destinations in Japan for the winter is Hokkaido, and the city of Sapporo. There's a winter festival that occurs there every winter (i forgot which month), but it is supposed to be one of the best ice festivals in the world. There's also Tokyo and its nightlife, and the old city of Kyoto. Also, some hot springs wouldn't be too bad as well.

Answer 7

Tokyo--Tokyo Tower, Emperor's Palace and Meiji Shrine.
Kyoto--Nijo Castle and Kinkakuji temple. There are other temples too but that was my favorite.
Hiroshima--Peace Park. Miyajima Island.
Sapporo--Sapporo Beer factory. The arcitecture is great. There is this Historical Village that is cool.
Nara--Many temples and deer roam wild.

Answer 8

Try Tokyo and Kyoto/Nara, for starters.

If you want to take them off the beaten trail, one possibility is Shikoku - it has a wonderful mountain shrine, Konpirasan in Kotohira, with a spiritual trip to the top, which is beautiful. It is one of the most beautiful yet little known places in Japan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ley9rVIewoQ

Matsuyama also has a wonderful castle, the Dogo hot springs area which is one of Japan's best, and plenty more.

Answer 9

go to the snow festival in Sapporo. It should be starting up really soon. i went this year... well its last year now, being 2007 and all. times flies. When Japanese people go on holiday they go to Hokkaido. Its beautiful and you don't have the concrete jungle of the other cities in Japan.

Answer 10

Hi!
I live in japan.
I think that Kanazawa is the best.
Kenroku-en Garden in Kanazawa is very beautiful!!
And you can enjoy skiing because a lot of snow falls in winter.
In addition,you can eat delicious food.
Example,a crab,fish...especially sushi!!
Wish you good time there.