Japan offers a rich tapestry of experiences that cater to every type of traveler. Whether you’re looking for thrilling hiking adventures, world-class culinary experiences, immersive theme parks for the family, or just serene relaxation, Japan has it all.
We spent 3 weeks in Japan exploring bustling cities and majestic temples to indulging in gourmet sushi and ramen, and then going off-the-beaten path to unwind in the tranquil hot springs and traditional ryokans. Each corner of Japan presents its own unique set of experiences, so we have come up with a list of the top 14 things you must do when visiting Japan. Instead of just naming places to visit, we’ve highlighted the distinct experiences you can have that promise to make your trip truly unforgettable!
Quick Tip: Book accommodation, tours, and transport ahead of time online to save money and stress.
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Best Tokyo Transport: Click here to book a bus, ferry, or train in Tokyo
Experience a Ryokan and sleep in a tatami room
One of the most unique experiences you can have in Japan is to spend a night (or two or three!) at a local traditional Ryokan. For those who don’t know, a Ryokan is a Japanese inn that incorporates traditional design including tatami-mat flooring, sliding shoji doors, and futon bedding that is placed directly on the tatami mats.
Additionally, many Ryokans are located in onsen towns allowing you to soak in their hot healing mineral waters. During your entire stay, you will be wearing their traditional yukatas which are comfortable and provide an even more culturally immersive experience.
Our stays in Ryokans were among the most restful experiences we’ve ever had, allowing us to fully unwind and focus on relaxing our bodies. Although Ryokans are available all over Japan, including the main cities, we would highly recommend going a bit off the beaten path to have the best experience. We did a road trip through Izu Peninsula, only 2 hours away from Tokyo, and had the most wonderful stays at local Ryokans, far away from the tourist crowds.
Try out a seafood Kaiseki meal
If you will be staying at Ryokans, most will have a full seafood kaiseki meal already included in the price. A Kaiseki meal is a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner that is considered the pinnacle of Japanese haute cuisine. These can range from 12 to 18 courses, where each course features a fresh seasonal ingredient, meticulously prepared. In particular, we recommend trying out their seafood kaisekis where you will get to taste delicacies including sashimi boat, grilled abalone, O-toro, and even sea urchin.
When we explored Izu Peninsula, we stayed at Ryokans every night, and a full 12+ course seafood Kaiseki meal was always included. Sitting down at the table, with all the beautifully plated dishes in front of you, is one of the most unique culinary experiences we have ever had.
Rent a Kimono and explore the ancient city of Kyoto
What better way to immerse in the local culture than by renting a their traditional Japanese garment typically worn on formal occasions and cultural events. To have the full experience, we recommend renting the kimono in a historical town such as Kyoto, Nara, or Kurashiki.
That way, you can do a beautiful photoshoot among the historical buildings. We rented Kimonos twice during our trip and both times were incredibly enjoyable. This experience is suitable for both men and women as there are kimonos suitable for each. We saw so many couples wearing matching cute kimono outfits doing photoshoots while in Kyoto.
Road trip through Izu Peninsula
Japan is a very busy touristic place to visit, so we recommend spending part of your trip off-the-beaten path. One of the best experiences we had in Japan was doing a 5 day road trip through the Izu Peninsula. The Izu Peninsula is located about 2 hours west of Tokyo by Shinkansen and features some of the most amazing coastal landscapes in Japan.
By doing a road trip, you will pass through small local Japanese villages where almost no English is spoken. You can spend each night at a local family Ryokan and enjoy the days admiring the dramatic ocean views. What’s more is that the lookout points on the Izu Peninsula provide some of the best views of Mount Fuji! If you would like to learn more about what you’ll get to experience there and if it is for you, check out our post on the best things to do in Izu Peninsula.
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Admire the majestic Mont Fuji or if you are adventurous, hike Mount Fuji
If you will be in Japan, you must try to witness the majestic Mount Fuji. However, we hear that the chance to see Mount Fuji not covered by clouds is only 20%! In our experience, this is true as we spent 7 days in areas where Mount Fuji should be visible but we only saw her for a small portion within two days.
If you would like to admire Japan’s most famous volcano, you can head over to the closest town of Hakone. This is a touristic town surrounding Mount Fuji where you will also find many Ryokans. Alternatively, you can see it from the Izu Peninsula like we did. Finally, for the adventurous, you can even climb Mount Fuji during the months of early July to early September.
Explore Harry Potter Studio tour in Tokyo
One of the lesser-mentioned things to do in Japan is to visit the ‘Making of Harry Potter’ studio tour. This is especially fun for those who have read the books but you will certainly appreciate it even if you haven’t. The Harry Potter studio tour is located in Tokyo and showcases the actual film sets and costumes. Walking into the studio, you really feel like you have entered Hogwarts.
They go into a lot of detail on how they designed and chose the costumes, the incredibly meticulous work of crafting the magical beings, and everything about the lore. The studio is absolutely huge and we were able to spend a good 4-5 hours inside. The Harry Potter Studio tour was one of the best things to do in Tokyo Japan.
Quick Tip:
If you are looking for a fun, and tasty way to prepare for your trip to Japan then I highly recommend Sakuraco
Each box is thoughtfully curated with authentic Japanese snacks, sweets, and cultural items that bring the vibrant essence of Japan right to your doorstep. I loved how every detail felt like a mini-journey, sparking excitement for future travels while savoring the unique flavors and traditions.
It’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in Japanese culture before stepping foot in the country—an experience I highly recommend!
Visit Universal Studios in Osaka
Universal Studios, abbreviated as USJ, is a world-renowned theme park located in Osaka. Here, you will find an entire Harry Potter Wizarding World as well as a full Super Nintendo World featuring Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. USJ is one of the coolest things you can do in Osaka Japan and is perfect for the video gamer fans as well as families.
They have both thrilling rides as well as rides for the little ones, and include live-action shows and performances from popular franchises like Minions, Jurassic World, Transformers, and more! USJ is located conveniently in Osaka Bay, just a short 20 minutes train ride from central Osaka.
Learn about the history of Hiroshima at Hiroshima Peace Memorial
We always feel that when traveling, it is important to learn about the history and culture of that destination. So if you will be visiting Japan, one of the important experiences would be to go to Hiroshima and see the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. It was here that in 1945, during the second world war, the United States dropped the first ever atomic bomb that consequently lead to Japan’s surrender in the war.
Although this is a very dark part of the history, the memorial promotes a message of hope, peace, and a world free of nuclear weapons. It seeks to inspire nations to work together towards reconciliation and prevent future tragedies. Hiroshima, can be reached as a day trip from Osaka, however we would recommend to stay longer to fully appreciate the place.
Try out the famous Wagyu beef in Kobe
Wagyu beef is one of the most famous breeds of beef in the world. One of the most distinctive features of this breed of cattle is it’s superior marbling, exceptional flavour, and tenderness. Many Wagyu beef that you will find in Japan have a grade of A5, which denotes the highest quality of meat. Due to the meticulous care involved in raising Wagyu cattle, the price of eating Wagyu beef is quite high.
We got to experience it twice during our trip to Japan and it is definitely something you need to try! The meat is so buttery tender that it almost melts in your mouth. You can find Wagyu beef in all the main cities but for the most authentic experience, we would recommend heading over to Kobe, one of the most famous regions for Wagyu.
If you want to find it somewhere closer, then we would recommend going to Kijurou in Arashiyama. There are also several ‘Wagyu tasting experiences’ available in the main cities.
Explore the sprawling otaku culture and go electronics shopping at Akihabara
When visiting Tokyo, you must visit Akihabara where you will experience one of the biggest sensory overloads of Otaku culture and electronics! Once you arrive here, you will be surrounded by rows of tall buildings all lit up with flashing lights and large screens projecting commercials.
Within the stores, you will find every assortment of electronic gadgets, cameras, as well as anime figurines. Just walking through here is a full experience and you can really see the integration of anime culture within Japan. If you are keen on shopping for electronics, this is also one of best districts to do so. Keep in mind you can shop tax-free here and save from 8-10% on the purchase price when above 5000 yen.
Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?
The Insurance companies I recommend are Hey Mondo and Safety Wing
Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single-trip cover, annual multi-trip cover, and long-term travel cover. Safety Wing is great value, with monthly coverage starting at $45.08. It’s super easy to use, and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy.
Read my full travel insurance post here, where I go into detail about all companies.
See the famous red tori gates at Fushimi Inarii
If you have researched Japan, you have definitely seen the picture of the thousand red Tori gates lining up the pathway up a mountain. This site is called Fushimi Inarii and is one of the best things to do in Japan, and can be done as a day trip from either Osaka or Kyoto. Here, you will get to climb up Mount Inari and witness the countless Shinto Shrines.
These gates were donated by individuals and businesses in order to earn the blessings of good fortune, health, and prosperity from the god Inari. It is a very popular site to visit in Japan so it can get quite crowded. However, we discovered a secret alternative pathway where you get to experience the Tori gates almost all to yourself. This was one the favourite things we did during our visit to Kyoto and we describe how to find this secret spot in detail, as well as other awesome activities, in our itinerary guide to Kyoto.
Explore Nara’s deer park and at the same time have one of the best Tuna Bowls
There are not many places in the world where you get to see deer roaming in a park that will bow their heads to you in order to ask for crackers. This experience can be found in Nara and has become one of the most unique experiences in Japan in the recent years. However, there is so much more to visiting Nara beyond the bowing deers.
Nara is located just 40 minutes from Kyoto and provides a beautiful respite in their tranquil gardens and shrines. There is also a wonderful cafe called Orange cafe where you can enjoy some matcha tea and cake while sitting in a tatami room overlooking a beautiful Japanese zen garden. Finally, what’s more is that here in Nara, you will find what we consider is the best Tuna Bowl of our entire trip in Japan. To see all the best things to do and where to eat in Nara, check out our Nara Day Trip guide!
Witness the amazing cherry blossoms (Sakura) blooming around early April
One of the top things to do in Japan is to witness the blooming of cherry blossoms (Sakura). This happens every year around early April and if you time it right, you will see the entire city and park trees covered in beautiful white and pink flowers.
One of the most unique ways to see it would be visiting Osaka castle (or any of the other castles in Tokyo or Kyoto) where you have the entire majestic Japanese castle surrounded by the Sakura blooms! You can also combine this with the kimono rental for the ultimate Japan photoshoot experience! During our trip to Japan, we timed in with the Sakura season and were able to witness it in Kyoto, Tokyo, and the Izu Peninsula.
Try Sake tasting
Sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice. The best way to experience it would be to do a Sake Tasting. We did one in Osaka and another in Tokyo and both times were very enjoyable. for a small fee, they will explain to you how sake is made and then you will get to taste from 3-7 different sakes.
When we did it, we first drank from a small glass sake cup and the owner encouraged us to savour the taste. He then poured the same sake into a ceramic sake cup and told us to taste it again. Incredibly, the same sake in the ceramic cup tasted at least 30% fuller and more flavourful. It was a very enlightening experience and allowed us to appreciate sake even more!
Looking for somewhere to stay in Japan? Check out these options!
Grids Tokyo Ueno Hotel&Hostel
Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel
Sakura Hotel Jimbocho
Summary: Top things to do in Japan
Japan is definitely a destination that we would love to go back to one day. This list of 14 best things to do in Japan primarily cover the more popular central areas of the country. You can also head north to Sapporo to enjoy exhilarating skiing in the snow-covered mountains, or venture south to Okinawa for vibrant scuba diving and beautiful beaches. This country has so much to offer and we hope this curated list of activities will guide you in planning your first and unforgettable trip to Japan!
Japan Travel Guide Planning
🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation?
I recommend Bookaway or 12goAsia. You can find lots of different transportation available in all over Asia.
🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours?
I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide. They have a lot of options!
👩⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?
I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance.
I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here
✈️ Any flight recommendations?
WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go-to flight searching platforms.
📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?
I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.
With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using eitherAirhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.
🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?
The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.
🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?
I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack.
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Author’s Bio:
Ryan & Nan are two curious travel storytellers and adventure photographers who started WaylessTravelers to share their passion for travel with the world. Having explored over 35 countries across the globe, they seek to share their passion for travel planning and photography to help others organize their next adventure.
Ryan & Nan seek authentic culture, adventure, hiking, and venturing off-the-beaten paths to uncover the true marvels of the world. Click here to check out our Instagram!
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