10 Top Tourist Attractions in Japan

10 - Hiroshima Peace Memorial

One of the most moving day trips you can take in Japan is to Hiroshima.
Prosperous once again, the city will forever be synonymous with the tragedy of war and the atomic bomb that was dropped on the city at the close of World War II in 1945.
A visit to Hiroshima focuses on Peak Memorial Park, and the enigmatic shell of the ruined A Bomb Dome. A cenotaph contains the names of the bomb’s known victims, lit by the Flame of Peace.

9 - Jigokudani Monkey Park

Some of Japan's most photogenic residents spend their days soaking in the natural hot springs of the snowy Japanese Alps near Nagano Prefecture. These are Japanese white macaques, more popularly called snow monkeys, and the best place to see them is at Jigokudani Monkey Park.

While located some 150 miles (240 kilometers) from Tokyo, the trip to Nagano only takes 90 minutes by bullet train, making it possible to see the snow monkeys and other Nagano highlights on a day trip from the capital. While the bathing primates are certainly the stars of the show in Nagano, a trip to this chilly northern region of Japan wouldn’t be complete without enjoying your own soak in a traditional onsen, or hot spring.

8 - Kiyomizu-Dera

The Kiyomizu Temple is an ancient institution, dating back to 798 AD and the days of Nara. Its classic design influenced temple architecture for centuries.
The hill-top temple is a Kyoto landmark, and provides fabulous views over the city. The main hall juts out over the hillside and its tumbling waterfall, and is surrounded by gardens and shrines.
You’ll find pavilion tea houses and restaurants in the grounds, and the steeply inclining steps leading up to the temple are lined with souvenir and snack stalls.

 

7 - Himeji Castle 

If you take a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, make it Himeji. The famous many-tiered white castle at Himeji is acclaimed as Japan’s most beautiful and complete historic citadel.
Known as the White Egret, the hilltop castle was built in 1580. The main features are its five-story central tower and surrounding moats, walls and pagodas. From its mountain-top eerie, the castle appears to float on a sea of Japanese pine trees.
Take an organized tour to discover the castle’s history and many nuances, such as the many openings in the defensive walls that were used for pouring boiling oil onto intruders.
The castle grounds are flanked by the ponds and tea rooms of Koko-en Gardens, a welcome retreat for a stroll or lunchtime stop.

6 - Great Buddha of Kamakura 

Get a taste for the beautiful landscapes and serene religious monuments outside Tokyo as you visit the city of Kamakura on this guided day trip. Take a Kamakura tour, gazing at the city’s Great Buddha, historic Hasedera Temple and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine. Sip green tea while overlooking a rock garden and enjoy a Japanese lunch before heading to Yokohama, where you’ll cross the city’s iconic cable-supported bridge. Round-trip coach transport from selected hotels is included.

5 - Todaiji Temple 

Located in Deer Park (Nara Park) in Nara, about 35 minutes from Osaka by train, Todaiji Temple is one of Japan’s most famous and historically significant Buddhist temples. Originally built in the year 752, the temple as it exists today dates back to 1709. The main hall, called Big Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden), is the world’s largest wooden building, even though it’s a third smaller than the original hall from the 700s. 

 The greatest attraction in the Todaiji Temple complex is the enormous bronze Buddha statue (Japan’s largest) housed with the massive main hall. When the temple was first built, Emperor Shomu planned for Todaiji to serve as the headquarters of Buddhism throughout Japan, and he ordered the casting of the statue as part of that plan. The 50-foot-tall (15-meter-tall) statue required eight castings to complete. 

 

4 - Tokyo Tower

At 1,092 feet (333 meters) tall, Tokyo Tower is an impressive Japanese landmark that offers 360-degree views of the city. Housing an aquarium, two observation decks, a Shinto shrine, a wax museum and the famous Foot-Town, Tokyo Tower is a great center for entertainment. Built in 1958 and inspired by the Eiffel Tower, this structure is the central feature of Tokyo. At night, the tower lights up, creating a beautiful glow throughout the city.

On the first floor travelers will find an aquarium of more than 50,000 fish, a souvenir shop, multiple restaurants and an observatory. The second floor houses the food court, while the third floor includes the wax museum and the Guinness World Record Museum. An arcade center can be found on the fourth floor, and finally, on the top floor is the main observatory and the amusement park roof garden.

3 - Tokyo Imperial Palace 

The Tokyo Imperial Palace is home to the head of state, and is where the Imperial Family lives. It is also the former site of the Edo Castle. Filled with gardens, ancient stone bridges, and museums, the Tokyo Imperial Palace is a beautiful, historical, and important cultural landmark in Japan.
In front of the Imperial Palace, visitors can view the Nijubashi, two ancient, stone bridges that lead to the inner palace grounds. The inner palace grounds are not open to the public, except on January 2 and December 23, two days that commemorate the New Year and the Emperor's birthday. However, the Imperial East Gardens are open to the public, and stand at the foot of the hill where the foundation of the Edo Castle tower still remains. The gardens have a natural pond, with groomed trees and lush greenery.

2- Mount Fuji 

Japan’s Mt. Fuji is an active volcano about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. Commonly called “Fuji-san,” it’s the country’s tallest peak, at 3,776 meters. A pilgrimage site for centuries, it’s considered one of Japan’s 3 sacred mountains, and summit hikes remain a popular activity. Its iconic profile is the subject of numerous works of art, notably Edo Period prints by Hokusai and Hiroshige.

1 - Golden Pavilion 

Be it capped by snow in winter or set against a lush green background in summer, nothing is as symbolic of Kyoto as Kinkaku-ji's golden reflection shimmering across the rippled surface of the pond before it. Not even the crowds of tourists — and they come by the thousands — can detract from Kinkaku-ji's undoubted splendor. The current gold leaf-coated reconstruction was unveiled in 1955, five years after the 14th-century original was torched by one of the temple's monks.