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Country guide
Around three quarters of Japan is mountain and forest, which pushes almost everyone onto the eastern coastal plains and makes the country far narrower in practice than 377,975 km2 suggests. Forty-seven prefectures, eight traditional regions and more than 14,000 smaller islands, and yet a first visit usually runs along a single rail corridor with Tokyo at one end and Kyoto and Osaka at the other. Tokyo is the capital and largest city of a country of almost 123 million people. Hokkaido in the north and Okinawa in the south are different climates rather than day trips, and both need their own week.
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Morio · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photograph · Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photograph · Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
100 places match
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Typical visit duration
Shibuya Scramble Crossing is a major pedestrian intersection located in front of Shibuya Station in Tokyo. It is widely recognized as one of the busiest crossings globally, with multiple large digital screens mounted on surrounding buildings.
Gion District is a historic entertainment quarter in eastern Kyoto, Japan. It developed as a pleasure district during the Edo period and remains one of the most famous geisha districts in the country.
Akihabara is a district in central Tokyo known for electronics retail and otaku culture. The area developed from a post-war black market for radio parts into a major commercial hub.
The Umeda Sky Building is a distinctive high-rise structure in Osaka's Kita district, completed in 1993.
Ginza is a prominent upscale shopping and entertainment district in central Tokyo, Japan. Its local name is 銀座. The area developed significantly following the Meiji Restoration and became a symbol of Japanese modernization and Western influence.
Shinjuku is a major commercial and administrative district in central Tokyo, widely recognized as one of the city's most vibrant urban centers.
Harajuku is a district in Shibuya, Tokyo, internationally recognised for its youth culture, street fashion, and distinctive subcultural expressions.
Ryōgoku Kokugikan is the principal indoor arena for professional sumo wrestling in Tokyo, located in the Ryōgoku district. The facility serves as headquarters for the Japan Sumo Association and hosts three of the six annual honbasho tournaments.
Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda is an interactive museum dedicated to the history of instant noodles and the legacy of Momofuku Ando, inventor of Chicken Ramen and Cup Noodles.
Tokyo Station is a major railway station in the Marunouchi business district near the Imperial Palace. It serves as the primary terminal for multiple Shinkansen lines and regional rail services.
Pontocho Alley is a narrow pedestrian street in central Kyoto, running parallel to the Kamo River between Sanjo and Shijo streets. It is one of Kyoto's most atmospheric dining and entertainment districts, characterized by its tightly packed traditional wooden buildings.
Kiyomizu-dera stands on the wooded slope of Mount Otowa at the eastern edge of Kyoto, above the Higashiyama district and roughly a kilometre uphill from the nearest bus stop.
Kyoto Station Building is the main railway station and a prominent landmark in Kyoto, Japan. It serves as a major transportation hub for the city and wider region, handling both local and long-distance services including Shinkansen bullet trains.
Tokyo National Museum stands as Japan's oldest and largest museum. Established in 1872, it occupies grounds within Ueno Park in the Taito ward.
Nijo-jo Castle is the Kyoto seat of the Tokugawa shoguns, completed in 1603 on the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu in the year he was appointed Shogun, and it bracketed the whole of the regime it was built for.
Omotesandō is a tree-lined avenue in Tokyo, stretching from Harajuku to Aoyama. The local name is 表参道.
Tenryu-ji sits in Arashiyama, at the foot of the mountains on the western edge of Kyoto, and it is easier to understand once a visitor separates its garden from its buildings.
The National Museum of Nature and Science is a major museum in Tokyo dedicated to natural history and scientific research. Its local name is 国立科学博物館.
The National Museum of Western Art, known in Japanese as 国立西洋美術館, is an art museum in Tokyo dedicated to Western art. It is located in Ueno Park, a cultural district in the northern part of central Tokyo.
Kagurazaka is a historic hillside district in Tokyo, once known as a prominent geisha quarter during the Edo period. The area retains much of its old Tokyo atmosphere with narrow cobblestone alleyways, traditional wooden buildings, and hidden restaurants.
Rainbow Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning northern Tokyo Bay between Shibaura Pier and the Odaiba waterfront district. The structure carries multiple transportation layers including the Yurikamome transit line, vehicular traffic on an expressway, and pedestrian walkways.
The Kyoto International Manga Museum is a cultural institution in Kyoto, Japan, dedicated to manga, the Japanese art of comics and graphic novels. The museum occupies a former elementary school building, repurposed to house its extensive collections.
The Kyoto National Museum is one of Japan's major national museums, established to preserve and exhibit cultural properties connected to Kyoto's long history as the former imperial capital.
The Ghibli Museum is a museum dedicated to the animated works of Studio Ghibli, the renowned Japanese animation studio founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, known locally as 東京国立近代美術館, is a major Japanese art museum located in the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum is a municipal art museum located in Tokyo, Japan. The building was originally constructed as a residence for the Imperial family in 1933, designed with significant Art Deco influences.
The Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, known locally as Meiji Jingu Seitoku Kinen Kaigakan, is a commemorative art museum in Tokyo. It houses a collection of paintings depicting events from the life of Emperor Meiji and the broader Meiji era.
The Okura Museum of Art is a private art museum located in Tokyo, Japan. Its local name is 大倉集古館. The museum is associated with the Okura cultural tradition and holds collections developed through the Okura family's efforts.
The Edo-Tokyo Museum is a history museum in Tokyo dedicated to the history and culture of the city from the Edo period through to modern times.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum is a public art museum operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Located in Ueno Park, it serves as a venue for diverse art exhibitions rather than maintaining a permanent collection.
The Artizon Museum is a private art museum in Tokyo, Japan. Its local name is アーティゾン美術館. The museum is identified on OpenStreetMap as node 250668618 and on Wikidata as Q913808.
The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, known locally as Miraikan, is a science museum located in Tokyo's Odaiba district.
The Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art is a municipal art museum located in Kyoto, Japan. It was established to preserve and exhibit artworks relevant to the city's cultural heritage.
The Japanese Folk Crafts Museum, known locally as 日本民藝館, is a museum in Tokyo dedicated to the Mingei folk craft movement founded by Yanagi Sōetsu.
The National Art Center, Tokyo is a major museum in Roppongi, Minato ward. Its local name is 国立新美術館. The building was designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa and opened in 2007.
The Currency Museum of the Bank of Japan is a specialized museum dedicated to the history of Japanese and world currency.
The Tokyo Metro Museum, known locally as 地下鉄博物館, is a railway museum dedicated to the history and operations of the Tokyo subway system.
The Asakura Museum of Sculpture is a municipal museum operated by Taito City, located in Tokyo's Taito Ward. It preserves and displays the works of sculptor Fumio Asakura, a significant figure in modern Japanese sculpture.
The Kyoto Art Center is a municipal cultural facility in Kyoto, Japan, dedicated to supporting and promoting contemporary arts. Operated by the city, it serves as a hub for artistic creation, exhibition, and community engagement.
The Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum is a food-themed museum dedicated to Japanese ramen culture, located in Yokohama's Shin-Yokohama district. The facility celebrates the history and diversity of ramen, one of Japan's most popular noodle dishes.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo is a major art institution in the Koto ward of Tokyo, Japan. Its local name is 東京都現代美術館.
JCG Sōya is a Japanese Coast Guard icebreaker vessel preserved as a museum ship in Tokyo. The ship bears the local name 宗谷.
The Mori Art Museum is a contemporary art museum located in Tokyo, Japan. Its local name is 森美術館. The museum is situated within the Roppongi Hills complex, a major urban development in the Minato ward.
The Nezu Museum is a private art museum located in the Minato ward of Tokyo. It was established to preserve and display the collection of Nezu Kaichiro, a businessman and politician who assembled significant works of East Asian art.
The Ōta Memorial Museum of Art is a museum in Tokyo, Japan, dedicated to ukiyo-e woodblock prints. It holds the collection assembled by the late Seizō Ōta, former president of Toho Insurance Company.
The Tale of Genji Museum is a cultural institution in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, dedicated to the classical Japanese literary work The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu.
The Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, known locally as 東京都写真美術館, is a cultural institution in Tokyo dedicated to the art of photography. It operates under the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's cultural programs.
The Asahi Group Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art is a museum located in Oyamazaki, Kyoto Prefecture. It occupies a historic villa property associated with the Asahi Group, one of Japan's major beverage corporations.
Koishikawa Annex is a branch facility of The University Museum, The University of Tokyo, located in Tokyo. It serves as an exhibition and research space associated with Japan's oldest university museum system.
Shinsekai is a small neighbourhood in Naniwa ward, pressed between Tennoji Park on its east side and Nishinari on its south, and it is one of the few parts of Osaka people travel to for the street itself rather than…
Mitsui Memorial Museum is an art museum located in Tokyo, Japan. It is operated by the Mitsui conglomerate and houses the Mitsui family collection.
The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan, preserves cultural works formerly owned by Japan's Imperial Family. Its Japanese name means an imperial storehouse in the third bailey, reflecting its location within the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace.
The National Showa Memorial Museum, known locally as 昭和館 (Showa-kan), is a museum in Tokyo dedicated to the Showa period of Japanese history. The institution commemorates civilian experiences during World War II and the reconstruction era that followed.
The Suntory Museum of Art is a private art museum located in Tokyo, Japan. Its local name is サントリー美術館. The institution is operated by the Suntory corporation, a major Japanese beverage and food company.
Shitennoji is a working temple in Tennoji ward, in the middle of southern Osaka, and it dates its own founding to 593.
The Kikuchi Kanjitsu Memorial Tomo Museum is an art museum in Tokyo, Japan, bearing the local name 菊池寛実記念智美術館. It appears in OpenStreetMap data and Wikidata as a cultural institution.
Kyu Asakura House is a historic Japanese residence in Tokyo, designated as an Important Cultural Property. The property preserves traditional architectural elements of a pre-war elite home.
The Museum of Kyoto is a cultural institution located in Kyoto, Japan. It occupies a distinctive building that blends historical architectural elements with modern museum facilities.
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto is a major Japanese art museum located in the Okazaki Park cultural district. Established as an institution dedicated to modern and contemporary art, it operates alongside its counterpart in Tokyo.
The Osaka Science Museum is a hands-on science museum and planetarium located in Osaka, Japan. It is separately ticketed from other attractions. The museum focuses on interactive exhibits designed to engage visitors directly with scientific concepts.
The Institute for Nature Study is a nature education garden operated as an annex of the National Museum of Nature and Science. Located in central Tokyo, it preserves a remnant of the Musashino woodland ecosystem that once covered the region.
The Shimadzu Foundation Memorial Museum commemorates the founding of Shimadzu Corporation, a major Japanese scientific instruments and industrial equipment manufacturer.
The Fukagawa Edo Museum is a history museum in Tokyo's Koto Ward dedicated to preserving and presenting the culture of the Edo period. The facility focuses on the Fukagawa district, a working-class neighborhood that flourished during the Tokugawa era.
The Osaka Museum of History is the city's history museum, at 4-1-32 Otemae in Chuo-ku, immediately south-west of Osaka Castle Park.
The National Museum of Art, Osaka is a modern art museum located on Nakanoshima, an island in central Osaka. The museum is a national institution housing a government collection.
The Nintendo Museum is a cultural institution dedicated to the history of Nintendo, the Japanese video game company. Located in Kyoto, it occupies a site with OpenStreetMap identifier way/263330850.
The Sumida Hokusai Museum is a municipal art museum in Tokyo's Sumida ward, dedicated to Katsushika Hokusai, the ukiyo-e artist who lived in this area during his later years.
teamLab Planets TOKYO is a digital art museum operated by the art collective teamLab in the Toyosu district of Tokyo. The immersive installation invites visitors to walk barefoot through various spaces where digital artworks respond to human presence.
Nakano Broadway is a covered shopping complex in Nakano, Tokyo. It opened in 1966 and has become widely known as a destination for subculture enthusiasts, particularly those interested in anime, manga, and collectibles.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
Ten to fourteen days supports four or five days in Tokyo, three or four in Kyoto, and two or three in Osaka. Add Nara or Himeji only after those bases have enough time, and avoid turning every rail stop into a hotel change.
Japan's visa exemption or visa requirement depends on passport and travel purpose. Confirm the current rule through Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the embassy responsible for the traveller's residence.
The Tokaido Shinkansen links Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, while local rail and buses cover city travel. An IC card simplifies many local journeys but does not replace every reserved long-distance ticket, and luggage forwarding can reduce friction between bases.
March to May and October to November are broad options for the main-island route, with blossom and autumn periods creating concentrated demand. Confirm regional weather and reservations for the exact cities rather than assuming one national season behaves uniformly.
Japan uses the yen (JPY). Electronic payment is common but not universal, so carry some yen for smaller businesses, ticket machines, or rural transport without assuming that one stored-value card works for every purchase.
Japan's emergency numbers are 110 for police and 119 for fire or ambulance. Type A sockets operate at 100 V, which is lower than in the other wave-A countries, and mains tap water is recorded as safe.
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