It’s hard to make a list of the best things to do in Japan, because there are just so many cool and fun activities in this country.
Every island in Japan is interesting, but as a first timer, many of the best sights and activities for tourists are in the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo.
There’s a huge variety of cultural attractions here, both old and new. You can ride a futuristic bullet train through the city and then explore an ancient temple or Samurai castle in the same day.
We’ve visited Japan a bunch of times over the years, but it never gets old. It’s one of our favorite countries in the world to travel.
Best Things To Do In Japan
1. Visit The Samurai Castles
Japan has lots of castles left over from its medieval period, when Samurai warriors ruled the land. These fortresses are impressive works of art and they can be fascinating to explore.
There are a bunch of these Samurai castles scattered across the country, but two of the top ones to see are Himeji Castle (near Osaka and Kyoto) and Matsumoto Castle (near Tokyo).
This is hands down one of the best things to do in Japan, and it’s pretty budget friendly!
2. Wear A Kimono
There are lots of kimono rental shops in Japan where you can try on the country’s famous traditional dress for a day.
My wife rented a kimono in Tokyo and we headed over to the famous Shibuya Crossing — perfect photo spot! We also did a kimono rental in Kyoto, which is loaded with great photo spots because of all the temples and shrines.
If you ask the locals, they aren’t offended at all by foreigners wearing the kimono. It’s a popular tourist activity here, and Japanese people like to see others enjoying their culture.
3. Stroll A Landscape Garden
Japanese gardens are famously pristine and photogenic. There are lots of them all over Japan, and they’re great for a relaxing walk.
The gardens are nice year round, but they’re especially scenic when the fall colors start (usually in November). It’s one of our favorite activities in Japan.
The pictures below are from the garden at Tenryu-ji Temple in Kyoto.
4. Join A Tea Ceremony
As you may already know, tea is a big deal in Japan, so it can be a fun cultural experience to join a Japanese tea ceremony!
This is an important traditional ceremony that takes place on a tatami (floor mat), and a lot of preparation goes into it. The tea ceremony is full of artistic detail. For Japanese people, it’s meant to represent purity, tranquility, respect, and harmony.
Even if you’re not really a tea lover, it’s a good dose of Japanese culture and history. Some places also let you rent a kimono to wear as an add-on, making the experience even more immersive and unique.
5. Ride A Bullet Train
It’s always fun to travel by train, and Japan has some of the world’s coolest trains. They’re very efficient, and some of the rural routes can be incredibly scenic.
The futuristic bullet trains in Japan are called ‘shinkansen’ and they’re especially fun to ride since they can go hundreds of kilometers per hour. You can ride these in Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, and many other places in Japan.
If you buy a Japan Rail Pass (also known as JR Pass) you can enjoy unlimited rides on JR trains for one, two, or three weeks. This can be a very cost effective way to do long distance train travel in Japan!
6. See The Landmarks
A lot of the famous landmarks of Japan can be seen in the three popular cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo.
Some of the coolest iconic sights include the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (Kyoto), Todaiji Temple (Nara), and the giant Kamakura Buddha (Tokyo).
Don’t forget natural landmarks like Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi, which are possible to visit on a long day trip from Tokyo!
7. Visit The Temples & Shrines
Japan is full of ancient temples and shrines, and they’re as interesting as they are photogenic.
A lot of the best ones are in the Kyoto area in my opinion, but every island in Japan has unique temples with their own nice designs and history.
A few of our top recommendations would be Sensoji Temple (Tokyo), Kinkakuji Temple (Kyoto), and the Fushimi Inari Shrine (Kyoto).
8. See The Koyo (Fall Colors)
It’s hard to beat the autumn season in Japan, when the leaves turn into bright colors of orange, red, pink, and yellow.
The best time to see fall foliage in Japan depends on where you’re going, but for Kyoto and Tokyo it generally peaks in mid to late November. The locals call the fall leaf colors ‘koyo’ and they can be really stunning.
9. See The Sakura (Cherry Blossoms)
If there’s anything more popular than the autumn colors in Japan, it’s the sakura season.
The cherry blossoms are very photogenic and you can see them at a lot of Japan’s famous sights like Himeji Castle, Mount Fuji, and others.
The exact dates for this depend on the year and which part of the country you’re in, but generally the best viewing is in the last week of March. It’s a must do activity!
10. Feed The Deer At Nara Park
The Nara Deer Park is famous for having hundreds of friendly deer you can feed and take pictures with. The semi-wild deer roam around the park freely and interacting with them can be lots of fun.
Also scattered around the 1,600-acre park are a bunch of old temples and shrines from hundreds of years ago, when Nara was the ancient capital of Japan. It’s one of the best things to do in Japan.
You can easily visit the Nara Park on a day trip from Osaka or Kyoto since they’re just a 30-60 minute train ride apart!
11. Meet The Japanese Snow Monkeys
One of the best winter day trips you can do from Tokyo is to visit the Snow Monkey Park near Nagano.
This is a long day trip if you’re coming from Tokyo, so ideally it’s better to do as a 2 day trip, but you get to hang out with Japanese snow monkeys in the mountains and watch them soak in the natural hot springs!
The monkeys are hilarious to watch, and photo ops are endless. It’s great for kids. There’s a bit of easy hiking required, but the snowy views along the way are one of the best things about the trip.
12. See Mount Fuji
As the highest peak in Japan, Mount Fuji is also one of the country’s most beloved icons. You’ll see it on postcard photos, souvenirs, and artwork all over Japan, and you should see the mountain with your own eyes too!
The Fuji Five Lakes area is spectacular and you can visit it on a day trip from Tokyo. Prime photo spots include the scenic lakes and the Chureito Pagoda, which is a picturesque 5-story red pagoda you can photograph with Mount Fuji in the background.
Long ago, Fuji used to be an active volcano, but it hasn’t erupted for hundreds of years (since 1707). If you enjoy hiking, you can also climb Mount Fuji! The trail is beginner friendly, but also challenging enough to be a good workout.