Plan Your Next Trip to Japan: The Best Cities to Visit in Japan
Japan has many vibrant, cultural cities that are lively and full of things to do. There are cities like Kyoto that have more traditional attractions, such as temples, and cities like Osaka that have fun things for adults to do, such as various unique bars.
Although Tokyo is the most popular city in Japan to visit, many people may not know that there are a lot of other awesome cities in the country. So before planning your trip to Japan, check out this list of the best cities in the country to help you decide where you want to visit!
Source: Wikimedia Commons, Photo by Benh LIEU SONG/ CC BY 2.0
tokyo
Starting off with the most popular tourist destination—Tokyo! There are so many things to do in Japan’s capital. There’s Tokyo Disneyland, the Imperial Palace, and attractions such as the Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower. The city also houses many museums, such as teamLab—an immersive, optical illusion museum—the Studio Ghibli Museum, and the Tokyo National Museum.
For those interested in more cultural and peaceful things to do, there are temples such as the Sensoji Temple and Toshogu Shrine. There are also many gardens and parks to take strolls in and enjoy the beautiful scenery that the country has to offer. Some include the bamboo forest Suzume-no Oyado Ryokuchi Park and gardens such as Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
For those who love to shop, you’ll want to check out the neighborhood Harajuku, which houses unique shops selling trendy clothing, thrift stores, and more. Shimokitazawa is another neighborhood to check out. It has vintage clothing stores, bars, music shops, bookstores, and more. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed or busy vacation, Tokyo has something for you!
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kyoto
Kyoto is the perfect city to visit if you’re looking to experience Japanese culture. Once the capital of Japan, Kyoto is a city on the island of Honshu. The city is best known for housing a wide variety of gorgeous temples. Some notable ones include the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shinto shrine and the Kinkaku-ji Buddhist temple.
The city also has the stunning Nijo Castle and Kyoto Imperial Palace. In addition to this, there are many beautiful forests and parks. The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is a popular tourist attraction. It’s one of Kyoto’s top sights to visit! The Okochi Sanso Garden and Kyoto Botanical Garden are two other gorgeous attractions to visit. They offer peaceful green and floral scenery.
The city also offers unique experiences, such as ramen cooking classes, samurai experiences, and traditional tea ceremonies. There are museums such as the Samurai & Ninja Museum, and places to shop for traditional Japanese snacks, crafts, and produce, such as the 400-year-old Nishiki Market Shopping District. A trip to Kyoto gives you a full cultural experience of Japan!
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osaka
Osaka is a large port city on the island of Honshu. The city is best known for its nightlife, making it the perfect place for adults to have fun! There are many notable attractions throughout the city. Universal Studios Japan is one of the top ones. It houses the brand-new Super Nintendo World theme park, with fun rides and cafés designed after the Super Mario world.
There’s also the stunning Osaka Castle, the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, and the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel. In addition to this, the city has more historical attractions, such as the Namba Yasaka Shinto shrine and the Hozenji Buddhist temple. There’s the Tower of the Sun, which is a large, white building with wings protruding from it and a face printed in the center. For those interested in the history of the city, the Osaka Museum of History is the perfect place to visit.
The city houses many shopping streets, such as the Kuromon Ichiba Market and the Shinasaibashi-Suji Shopping District. But one of the highlights of Osaka is the vibrant nightlife. Some of the best places to go are Dotonbori—a restaurant and bar district situated along the Dotonbori River and offering great food and beer—Hozenji Yokocho that has over 60 bars and restaurants, and Shinesekai—an old downtown district full of neon lights and signs, as well as retro-themed bars with a traditional Japanese flare.
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okinawa
Okinawa City is part of the island of Okinawa. If you’re looking for a beachy summer vacation, this is the perfect place to go to! Notable tourist attractions include the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, the Southeast Botanical Gardens, the Shuri Castle, and the Nakagusuku Castle Ruins. There are shrines like the Futenma Shinto Shrine and shopping like the Naha Kokusai Dori shopping street.
The city also houses the Okinawa World theme park, which has a cave and folk craft village showcasing Okinawan culture. The theme park has the Kingdom Village—a replica of the Ryukyu Village—and workshops for traditional crafts like pottery and weaving. There’s also the Gyokusendo Cave, which is the longest cave in the south of Okinawa Island. The cave has a long pathway that takes visitors 850 meters (about 2788.71 ft) deep into the cave to see the various stalactites and stalagmites.
But one of the highlights of Okinawa is the gorgeous views of the sea. Cape Manzamo is one of the perfect scenic spots to hit for a clear view of the water. It’s a rock formation located near Kunigami District. There’s also the Kouri Bridge View Point that has a sandy beach and a stunning view of the sea.
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Fukuoka
Fukuoka is a city on the northern shore of Kyushu Island. The city is best known for its many temples, gorgeous parks, and shopping districts. Some of the most stunning attractions in Fukuoka are the Uminonakamichi Seaside Park—a national park covered in colorful, seasonal flowers—Nokonoshima Island—a stunning peaceful island housing fields of flowers, markets with local produce and freshly caught fish, and extensive views of the waters surrounding Fukuoka city—and Fukuoka Castle ruins—a historical landmark on top of Fukusaki Hill.
The city also has many Shinto shrines, such as the Kushida, Sumiyoshi Jinja, and Dazaifu Tenmangu shrines. In addition to this, there’s a teamLab museum and the Fukuoka Art Museum. The city offers many shopping malls, including the Tenjin Underground Mall and AMU Plaza Hakata City shopping mall.
Other attractions in the city that are worth a visit are the Marine World Aquarium, Fukuoka Tower, and Ohori Park—a park in central Fukuoka that offers a walking path and view of a large pond.
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nagoya
Nagoya is the capital of Aichi Prefecture in Honshu. The city has various unique museums, such as the Nagoya City Science Museum and SCMaglev and Railway Park, which is a railway museum. There’s also the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology and the Tokugawa Art Museum.
In addition to the many museums, there are also a lot of gardens. There’s the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Noritake Garden, Shirotori Garden, and Tokugawa Park. The gardens offer lush green scenery and ponds.
Other notable tourist attractions include Nagoya Castle, Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Legoland Japan Resort, and temples such as the Osu Kannon Buddhist temple. For those who like shopping, the Aeon and Hoshigaoka Terrace are shopping malls packed with a wide selection of stores.
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yokohama
Yokohama is a city south of Tokyo. There are many cool attractions in the city, such as the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum—a court lined with shops offering different samples of ramen from various regions. Yokohama Chinatown is also a popular attraction, and it houses shops and restaurants serving various types of Chinese cuisines.
Other popular attractions include the Yokohama Cosmo World amusement park, the Sky Garden observation deck, the Shomyo Buddhist temple, and the Gundam Factory—a factory featuring an 18-meter tall Gundam that is pilot-operated to move.
For those interested in more peaceful things to do in the city, there’s Yamashita Park, the Harbor View Park, and the Sankeien Garden. These parks and gardens are especially beautiful to visit during the fall—when the leaves change to red and orange—and during the spring, when the cherry blossoms are out.
Souvenirs
Scenes such as cherry blossoms, ocean waves, Tokyo Tower, and Mount Fuji have all left a deep impression on tourists and visitors alike. For those that would like to keep memories of these scenes in a tangible way, there are many souvenir shops and options to take advantage of.
For those that would like to remember their trip even after departing Japan, these experiences can be made into customizable pins. Custom Pins are a great option for tourists to share their memories and stories from their trip with friends and family.
conclusion
There is so much more to Japan than just the bustling, crowded streets of Tokyo. Each of these cities gives visitors the opportunity to experience the culture and history of Japan, while also taking in the country’s gorgeous scenery. Whether you’re looking for a busy trip packed with shopping and seeing tourist attractions, or a more peaceful trip of walking through parks and visiting temples, these cities will have something for you! So, what are you waiting for? Plan a trip to one of these culturally-rich cities in Japan!
