Language · 11 published
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
Category
Typical visit duration
Osaka Castle is a Japanese castle in Chuo-ku, Osaka. The local name is 大阪城. It is a major historical landmark and one of Japan's most famous castles.
Byōdō-in is a Buddhist temple in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Its local name is 平等院. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, forming part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
To-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. It was founded in the eighth century and stands as one of the city's most historically significant religious sites.
Kamigamo Shrine is one of Kyoto's most significant Shinto shrines, formally known as Kamo-wakeikazuchi-jinja.
Ninna-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. It serves as the head temple of the Omuro school of the Shingon sect. The temple was founded in 888 CE by Emperor Uda.
Edo Castle, known locally as 天守台, stands as the historic fortress at the heart of Tokyo. Once the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate from 1603 to 1868, this site shaped Japan's political destiny for over two centuries.
Shimogamo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kyoto, Japan, situated at the confluence of the Kamo and Takano rivers.
Enryaku-ji Temple is a major Buddhist temple complex located on Mount Hiei, northeast of Kyoto. Founded in 788 by Saicho, who introduced Tendai Buddhism to Japan, it serves as the headquarters of the Tendai sect.
Arashiyama is a district on the western outskirts of Kyoto, Japan, situated along the base of the Arashiyama Mountains. The area encompasses the Ōi River and is renowned for its natural scenery, including bamboo groves and seasonal foliage.
Nishi Hongan-ji is a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. It serves as the headquarters of the Hongan-ji branch of the sect.
Akasaka Palace is a state guest house in Tokyo, Japan, designated as a National Treasure. Originally built as the Imperial Palace for the Crown Prince in 1909, it now serves as accommodation for visiting heads of state and dignitaries.
Daigo-ji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple complex in southeastern Kyoto, Japan. Founded in 874 CE, it holds significance as a major center of Shingon Buddhism.
Saiho-ji, commonly known as Kokedera or the Moss Temple, is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple located in western Kyoto. The temple is renowned for its exceptional moss garden, which covers much of the temple grounds with dense, velvety green carpets.
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.
Kōzan-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan, bearing the local name 高山寺. The temple holds status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site within the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto designation.
Ujigami Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Its local name is 宇治上神社. The shrine is situated in the same vicinity as the more famous Byodo-in temple, in the historic Uji area known for tea cultivation.
The Kyoto Imperial Palace served as the residence of Japan's Imperial Family until 1869, when the capital moved to Tokyo.
Katsura Imperial Villa is a historic imperial residence in western Kyoto, renowned as a masterpiece of Japanese garden and architectural design.
Mimizuka, also known as Hanazuka, is a historical mound monument located in Kyoto, Japan. The name translates to Mound of Ears or Mound of Noses.
The Tokyo Imperial Palace is the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. Located in Chiyoda ward, it occupies the site of the former Edo Castle, which served as the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate from 1603 to 1868.
Meiji Jingū is a Shinto shrine in Tokyo dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken. The shrine occupies a forested area within the dense metropolis.
Ueno Tōshō-gū is a Shinto shrine located in Ueno Park, Tokyo. It enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate that ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is a renowned natural attraction in the Arashiyama district of western Kyoto. The site features a dense stand of tall bamboo stalks forming a distinctive pathway that draws visitors from across the world.
Kyoto Tower is an observation tower located in Kyoto, Japan. Its local name is 京都タワー. The structure stands as a prominent landmark in the city, offering visitors elevated views of the surrounding urban and natural landscape.
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.
Fushimi Inari Taisha is a Shinto shrine located in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto. It serves as the head shrine of approximately 30,000 Inari shrines across Japan.
Yoshiwara is a historic district in Tokyo with a documented past as a licensed pleasure quarter during the Edo period.
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.
Tofuku-ji is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple in southeastern Kyoto. Founded in 1236 by the statesman Kujo Michiie, it took its name from combining characters from Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji in Nara.
Yasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kyoto, Japan. It is also known as Gion Shrine. The shrine stands at the eastern end of Shijo-dori, a major thoroughfare in the city.
Fushimi Castle, known locally as 伏見城, is a historic Japanese castle site in Kyoto. The original structure was built in the late 16th century and played significant roles during the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
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.
Sakurada-mon is a historic gate in Tokyo, Japan, known locally as 桜田門. It stands as a significant surviving element of Edo Castle's former fortifications.
Chion-in is a Jodo-shu Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. It serves as the headquarters of the Jodo-shu sect founded by Honen. The temple complex occupies a significant site on the slopes of Higashiyama.
Kitano Tenmangu is a Shinto shrine in Kyoto, Japan, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, a scholar and politician of the Heian period who was later deified as Tenjin, the god of learning.
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 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.
Shiodome Freight Terminal, known locally as 旧新橋停車場, is a former railway freight facility in Tokyo. The site holds historical significance as part of Japan's rail infrastructure development.
Yasuda Auditorium is a prominent auditorium building located on the Hongo campus of the University of Tokyo in Bunkyo ward.
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.
Sugamo Prison, known locally as 巣鴨プリズン跡, was a major correctional facility in Tokyo that gained international notoriety during the post-World War II period.
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.
Holy Resurrection Cathedral, known locally as Nikolai-do, is a Russian Orthodox cathedral in Tokyo. The local name ニコライ堂 derives from its dedication to Saint Nicholas of Japan, who introduced Orthodox Christianity to Japan in the nineteenth century.
The Battle of Uji, known locally as 以仁王の挙兵, is a historical site in Kyoto associated with the 1180 uprising led by Prince Mochihito against the Taira clan.
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.
Kodaiji Temple is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto's Higashiyama district. It was established in 1606 by Kita-no-Mandokoro, also known as Nene, in memory of her husband Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the prominent unifier of Japan.
The Japan Vertical Datum, known locally as 水準原点 (Suijun Genten), is a geodetic benchmark serving as Japan's official reference point for measuring elevation above sea level.
Ōkuma Auditorium is a prominent building on the Waseda University campus in Tokyo, Japan. Its local name is 早稲田大学大隈記念講堂. The auditorium serves as a significant venue for the university and stands as a recognizable landmark within the Shinjuku ward.
Sannenzaka is a historic stone-paved pedestrian slope in the Higashiyama district of eastern Kyoto, Japan. The name translates to Three-Year Slope, derived from a folk belief that falling here brings three years of bad luck.
Higashi Hongan-ji is a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist temple in Kyoto, serving as the headquarters of the Otani-ha branch. Founded in 1602 by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, it was established to reduce the political influence of the original Hongan-ji faction.
Nezu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Tokyo's Bunkyo ward, among the city's oldest surviving places of worship. The local name is 根津神社.
Nanzen-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto, Japan. It stands as one of the most significant temples in the city's extensive religious landscape.
Ōoku, known locally as 大奥跡, marks the site of the women's quarters in Edo Castle, the administrative heart of the Tokugawa shogunate from 1603 to 1868.
Roppongi Hills is a major urban development in Tokyo's Minato ward, centered around the Mori Tower. Opened in 2003, the complex was developed by Mori Building Company as a model for integrated urban renewal.
Kennin-ji is a historic Zen Buddhist temple located in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, Japan. It stands as the oldest Zen temple in the city, having been founded in the early Kamakura period.
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 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 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.
Daitoku-ji is a major Zen Buddhist temple complex in northern Kyoto, Japan. Founded in the fourteenth century, it belongs to the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen Buddhism.
Philosopher's Path is a pedestrian walkway in Kyoto, Japan, following a canal lined with cherry trees. The route connects Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) with Nanzen-ji temple precincts.
Shiodome is a major commercial and entertainment district in central Tokyo, Japan. The area was historically a terminal station for Japan National Railways and underwent significant redevelopment beginning in the late 1990s.
Akamon, known locally as 赤門, is a historic red gate located in Tokyo, Japan. It stands as a significant architectural landmark within the urban landscape.
Meiji Seimei Kan is a historic building in Tokyo, Japan, known locally as 明治生命館. The structure was originally constructed as the headquarters for Meiji Life Insurance Company.
Honno-ji is a temple of the Nichiren Buddhist sect located in central Kyoto.
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.
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.
Mii-dera Temple, locally known as Onjo-ji, is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, near Kyoto. It stands as one of the four principal temples of the Tendai school.
The Battle of Uji refers to multiple historic military engagements fought near the Uji River in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The most famous occurred in 1180 and 1184 during the Genpei War between the Minamoto and Taira clans.
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.
Sensō-ji is a historic Buddhist temple located in the Asakusa district of Tokyo. It is widely recognized as the city's oldest temple, with origins traditionally traced to the seventh century.
Daikaku-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple located in the Ukyo ward of Kyoto, Japan. The temple was originally constructed in the early ninth century as a detached palace for Emperor Saga before being converted into a religious institution.
Sentō Imperial Palace, known locally as 仙洞御所, served as the residence for retired emperors in Kyoto. Established in 1630, it represents an important chapter of Japan's imperial history.
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.
Iwashimizu Hachimangū is a Shinto shrine in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Its local name is 石清水八幡宮. The shrine appears in OpenStreetMap data as node 2484765205 and holds a Wikidata entry at Q710098.
Myoshin-ji is a major Zen Buddhist temple complex in western Kyoto. It serves as the head temple of the associated branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism.
Rokuharamitsu-ji is a Buddhist temple located in Kyoto, Japan. The temple belongs to the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. It sits in the Higashiyama district, an area known for its concentration of historic temples and cultural sites.
Shugakuin Imperial Villa is an imperial property in northeastern Kyoto, Japan. It was established in the seventeenth century as a retreat for retired emperors. The site comprises multiple garden areas set against the foothills of Mount Hiei.
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.
.jpg){kind=link}
