# Things to do in Japan: best places to visit

> Japan's essentials: Tokyo's Shibuya Crossing, Imperial Palace and Akihabara; Kyoto's Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera and the Gion district; Todai-ji and the deer of Nara Park; Osaka Castle and Dotonbori; and the Great Buddha of Kamakura. The shinkansen gets you from Tokyo to Kyoto in just over two hours.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan

## Cities

- [Tokyo](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo.md): 30 places with the YesGo score
- [Kyoto](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto.md): 10 places with the YesGo score
- [Osaka](https://yesgo.io/japan/osaka.md): 10 places with the YesGo score
- [Nara](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara.md): 10 places with the YesGo score
- [Hiroshima](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima.md): 6 places with the YesGo score
- [Kamakura](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura.md): 10 places with the YesGo score
- [Okinawa](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa.md): 10 places with the YesGo score

## Itineraries across the country

- [7 days in Japan: an itinerary by city](https://yesgo.io/japan/in-7-days.md): Tokyo's Shibuya, Senso-ji and Akihabara, Kyoto's red torii and temples, Nara's Great Buddha and deer, and Osaka's neon Dotonbori — all linked by shinkansen.

## Top places across the country

- [Tokyo Imperial Palace](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tokyo-imperial-palace.md), Tokyo: YesGo score 62/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · free. The Imperial Palace (Kokyo) is the Japanese emperor's residence on the site of Edo Castle, 10–15 minutes' walk from Tokyo Station. From…
- [Fushimi Inari Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/fushimi-inari.md), Kyoto: YesGo score 55/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · free. Fushimi Inari is Japan's head shrine of the god Inari, in south-east Kyoto. Thousands of red torii gates climb the slopes of Mount Inari…
- [Osaka Castle](https://yesgo.io/japan/osaka/osaka-castle.md), Osaka: YesGo score 55/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · ¥1,200. Osaka Castle is the city's symbol: a white eight-floor keep on tall stone walls in a moated park. Inside is a museum, and at the top an…
- [Todai-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/todai-ji.md), Nara: YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ¥800. Todai-ji is Nara's main temple and a UNESCO site. In its Daibutsuden hall — the world's largest wooden building — sits a bronze Buddha…
- [Hiroshima Castle](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/hiroshima-castle.md), Hiroshima: YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free (keep closed). Hiroshima Castle is the 'Carp Castle', built by Mori Terumoto from 1589. Since March 2026 its keep has been closed — you can only see it…
- [Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kamakura-great-buddha.md), Kamakura: YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · ¥300. The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha, 13.35 metres tall, cast around 1252 and a National Treasure. It sits in…
- [Kokusai-dori](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/kokusai-street.md), Okinawa: YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free. Kokusai-dori, 'International Street', is Naha's main shopping street, about 1.6 km long: souvenirs, Okinawan restaurants and izakaya. Two…
- [Shibuya Crossing](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/shibuya-crossing.md), Tokyo: YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · free; Shibuya Sky ≈ ¥2,700–3,400. Shibuya Crossing is the famous scramble by Shibuya Station, where 1,000–3,000 people cross on a single green light. Crossing is free and…
- [Kiyomizu-dera](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/kiyomizu-dera.md), Kyoto: YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥500. Kiyomizu-dera, the 'temple of pure water', stands on the slopes of Mount Otowa and is a UNESCO site. Its 1633 main hall sits on a huge…
- [Dotonbori](https://yesgo.io/japan/osaka/dotonbori.md), Osaka: YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · free. Dotonbori is a street and canal in the Namba area, Osaka's food and neon heart. Here you'll find the famous Glico running man sign on…
- [Nara Park](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/nara-park.md), Nara: YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free. Nara Park is a large free park in central Nara where about 1,500 deer roam freely. They're a protected Natural Monument and bow for shika…
- [Okonomi-mura](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/okonomi-mura.md), Hiroshima: YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free entry; okonomiyaki ≈ from ¥1,000. Okonomi-mura, the 'okonomiyaki village' in central Hiroshima, is a building where about two dozen small counters on several floors cook…
- [Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/tsurugaoka-hachimangu.md), Kamakura: YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is Kamakura's main shrine, dedicated to Hachiman, patron of the samurai. The first shogun, Minamoto no Yoritomo…
- [Naminoue Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/naminoue-shrine.md), Okinawa: YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free. Naminoue is Okinawa's chief Shinto shrine, on a coral bluff above the sea; the name means 'above the waves'. Below the bluff is Naminoue…
- [Tokyo Tower](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tokyo-tower.md), Tokyo: YesGo score 56/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Main Deck ¥1,500; Top Deck ¥3,300 online. Tokyo Tower is a 333 m red-and-white broadcasting tower that opened in 1958. The Main Deck at 150 m costs ¥1,500, and the Top Deck Tour to…
- [Kinkaku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/kinkaku-ji.md), Kyoto: YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥500. Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, is a Zen temple in north-west Kyoto and a UNESCO site. The three-storey pavilion, covered in gold, is…
- [Himeji Castle](https://yesgo.io/japan/osaka/himeji-castle.md), Osaka: YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ¥2,500; under 18 free. Himeji Castle is Japan's finest original castle, the 'White Heron': a 1609 keep, a National Treasure and a UNESCO site. It stands 90 km…
- [Kofuku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/kofuku-ji.md), Nara: YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · grounds free; museum ≈ ¥900. Kofuku-ji is the Fujiwara clan's temple at the entrance to Nara Park and a UNESCO site. The grounds are free and always open. Paid areas…
- [Shukkei-en Garden](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/shukkei-en.md), Hiroshima: YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥350. Shukkei-en is a Japanese stroll garden from 1620 in central Hiroshima, set around a pond with islets and the arched Koko-kyo bridge. Entry…
- [Komachi-dori Street](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/komachi-dori.md), Kamakura: YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free. Komachi-dori is a pedestrian shopping street about 360 metres long running from Kamakura Station to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine. You…
- [Shuri Castle](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/shuri-castle.md), Okinawa: YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · ¥400; from 23.11.2026 ¥1,000. Shuri Castle is the Ryukyu royal palace on a hill above Naha and a UNESCO site. The gates and walls are free to see; the inner area is…
- [Kabukicho](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/kabukicho.md), Tokyo: YesGo score 55/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · free. Kabukicho is Shinjuku's main entertainment district, the 'Sleepless Town', 5 minutes from the station's east exit. It has the neon…
- [Gion](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/gion.md), Kyoto: YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free. Gion is Japan's best-known geisha district, on the east bank of the Kamo River by Yasaka Shrine. It has wooden machiya townhouses…
- [Shinsaibashi](https://yesgo.io/japan/osaka/shinsaibashi.md), Osaka: YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free. Shinsaibashi is Osaka's main shopping area. At its heart is Shinsaibashi-suji, a covered street about 600 metres long running north from…

## Japan travel guide

Before you go: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, visa and arrival, money, the shinkansen and JR Pass, cherry blossom and autumn leaves, weather.

## Trip essentials

- Visa: Depends on your passport — many are visa-exempt for short stays
- Arrival: Fill in Visit Japan Web before you land
- Currency: Japanese yen (JPY); carry some cash
- First trip: Tokyo → Kyoto → Nara → Osaka in 10 days
- Trains: Shinkansen: Tokyo–Kyoto ≈ 2 h 15 min
- When to go: Cherry blossom (late March–April), maples (November)
- Connectivity: eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi; coverage everywhere
- Luggage: Forward suitcases between hotels
- Tipping: Not done
- Time zone: UTC+9 all year

## Key facts

- **26** — UNESCO World Heritage Sites, from Mount Fuji to the Ryukyu castles (source: UNESCO World Heritage List)
- **1964** — the first shinkansen opened between Tokyo and Osaka (source: Wikipedia, “Shinkansen”)
- **≈ 6,800** — islands in the archipelago; the main four are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku (source: Wikipedia, “Japan”)
- **3,776 m** — height of Mount Fuji, the country’s highest point (source: Wikipedia, “Mount Fuji”)

## Best places to visit in Japan

The best places to visit in Japan on a first trip follow the classic route: Tokyo for 4–5 days with Kamakura and Fuji, the shinkansen to Kyoto for 3 days, a day in Nara and 2 days in Osaka. With more time, add Hiroshima and Miyajima; for beaches in winter and spring, Okinawa. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.

| City | Why go | Days |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Tokyo](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo) | Asakusa, Shibuya, a Fuji day trip | 4–5 days |
| [Kyoto](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto) | Temples, Gion, Arashiyama | 3 days |
| [Osaka](https://yesgo.io/japan/osaka) | Castle, Dotonbori, food | 2 days |
| [Nara](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara) | Deer, Todai-ji | 1 day |
| [Hiroshima](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima) | Miyajima, okonomiyaki | 2 days |
| [Kamakura](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura) | Great Buddha, temples | 1 day |
| [Okinawa](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa) | Beaches, Shuri Castle, Churaumi | 4–7 days |

Ready trips across the country are above on this page.

## Japan visa and money

Japan visa rules depend on your passport: many nationalities are visa-exempt for short stays, others apply for a visa or eVISA in advance, and all visitors can pre-register in Visit Japan Web. The currency is the yen; cards are widely accepted in cities, but cash is still needed at temples, small cafés and machines.

- **ATMs** — 7-Eleven and post offices take foreign cards.
- **Cash** — still common at shrines, small restaurants and ticket machines.
- **Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA** — IC cards for transport and shops.
- **Tax-free** — from 5,000 yen in one shop, with your passport.

## Getting around Japan by train

The shinkansen is Japan’s backbone: Tokyo–Kyoto ≈ 2 hours 15 minutes, Osaka–Hiroshima ≈ 1 hour 25 minutes. Tickets are sold at stations or online; the JR Pass only pays off on some routes, so do the maths first. Fly to Okinawa.

- **Shinkansen** — high-speed trains between the big cities.
- **JR Pass** — 7, 14 or 21 days; worth it for long-distance loops.
- **Metro and buses** — in cities, with Suica or ICOCA.
- **Luggage forwarding** — send suitcases between hotels.

## Japan weather by month

The best time to visit Japan is spring for cherry blossom (late March to April) and autumn for red maples (October to November). June is the tsuyu rainy season, July and August are hot and humid, and September can bring typhoons. Winter is dry and sunny on the Pacific side. Below is Tokyo.

- **January in Tokyo**: day ≈ 10°C, night ≈ 1°C, rainy days: 5. Dry, ≈ 10°; cherry blossom in Okinawa.
- **February in Tokyo**: day ≈ 11°C, night ≈ 2°C, rainy days: 6. Plum blossom.
- **March in Tokyo** (best time): day ≈ 14°C, night ≈ 5°C, rainy days: 10. Cherry blossom moves north.
- **April in Tokyo** (best time): day ≈ 19°C, night ≈ 10°C, rainy days: 10. Cherry blossom in Tokyo and Kyoto.
- **May in Tokyo**: day ≈ 23°C, night ≈ 15°C, rainy days: 11. Golden Week — everything is busy.
- **June in Tokyo**: day ≈ 26°C, night ≈ 19°C, rainy days: 13. Tsuyu rainy season.
- **July in Tokyo**: day ≈ 30°C, night ≈ 23°C, rainy days: 12. Heat and humidity.
- **August in Tokyo**: day ≈ 31°C, night ≈ 24°C, rainy days: 9. The hottest month; Obon.
- **September in Tokyo**: day ≈ 27°C, night ≈ 21°C, rainy days: 12. Typhoons.
- **October in Tokyo** (best time): day ≈ 22°C, night ≈ 15°C, rainy days: 10. About 22° — excellent.
- **November in Tokyo** (best time): day ≈ 17°C, night ≈ 9°C, rainy days: 7. Peak maples in Kyoto.
- **December in Tokyo**: day ≈ 12°C, night ≈ 4°C, rainy days: 5. Dry; illuminations.

Each city has its own weather: Okinawa is ≈ 20° in winter, and Kyoto is hotter than Tokyo in summer.

## Japan etiquette for visitors

Japan etiquette is easy to follow: keep quiet on trains and don’t take calls, take off shoes where slippers are laid out, don’t eat while walking at temples and markets, and carry your rubbish — public bins are rare. In onsen hot springs, wash before entering the water.

- **Trains** — quiet, phones on silent, queue at the floor markings.
- **Shrines** — rinse your hands at the basin; photos are often banned inside halls.
- **Rubbish** — take it with you and sort it.
- **Onsen** — not all admit visible tattoos; check ahead.

## Tips

- Book accommodation for cherry-blossom and autumn-leaf seasons months ahead.
- Work out whether the JR Pass pays off: for Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka and back it often doesn’t.
- Carry some cash — many temples and small eateries don’t take cards.

## Questions

### Do I need a visa for Japan?

It depends on your passport: many nationalities are visa-exempt for short stays, others apply for a visa or eVISA. Check the official MOFA rules for your passport.

### What are the best places to visit in Japan?

Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka for a first trip; Hiroshima and Miyajima next; Okinawa for beaches.

### How many days do you need in Japan?

Ten days covers Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka; two weeks adds Hiroshima or the Japanese Alps.

### When is cherry blossom in Japan?

Okinawa in January–February, Tokyo and Kyoto usually late March to early April, Hokkaido in early May.

### When is the best time to visit Japan?

Spring for cherry blossom and autumn for maples; summer is hot and humid, with typhoons in September.

### Is the JR Pass worth it?

Only for lots of long trips — Tokyo to Hiroshima and back, Kyushu, the north. For a short loop, single tickets are cheaper.

### Is Japan expensive?

Flights and peak-season hotels are the big costs; convenience-store and casual meals are cheap, and temple fees are a few hundred yen.

### Do cards work in Japan?

Foreign Visa and Mastercard work widely in cities, but carry cash for temples, small restaurants and rural areas.

### Is Japan safe for tourists?

Japan is among the safest countries for travellers; check your government’s advice and local typhoon warnings.

### What etiquette should I know in Japan?

Be quiet on trains, take shoes off indoors where slippers are provided, carry your rubbish and don’t tip.

## Sources

- UNESCO World Heritage List — sites in Japan
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — visa information
- Wikipedia, “Japan”; “Shinkansen”; Tokyo climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

Facts checked: 09.11.2026

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