Check our extensive guides to destinations and places to visit all over Japan to help you travel and get around, and find what to do and see in each location.
Find the best points of interest you can visit by train, how to get there, main attractions and off the beaten tracks suggestions in Japan’s four islands.
The Northern Japan Alps is a scenic volcanic mountain range spanning parts of Toyama, Nagano, and Gifu Prefectures. This range is home to the Kurobe River and one of the deepest and most beautiful forested ravines in the country.
The Kurobe Gorge is a famous destination for enjoying natural beauty. Visitors flock to this site to view stunning autumn colors and relax in natural hot springs. The Gorge makes an ideal day trip for hiking or viewing autumn leaves.
Shinjuku is a lively part of the capital which is famous for its shops and entertainment. It’s renowned for its karaoke bars, neon-lit streets, and its towering skyscrapers.
The district is also home to the world’s busiest train station, which serves over two million passengers each day. It’s common point of connection for visitors heading to various other parts of the prefecture as it links around 12 different rail lines.
The location of many of the most appealing attractions in Nara, including the National Museum, Kofukuji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and Todaiji Temple, the city’s deer park was founded in 1880 and is one of the oldest in Japan.
Visitors to the park can also buy special crackers on-site to feed some of the hundreds of tame animals that roam the grounds, and enjoy the spectacular cherry blossom in the spring. Nara can be easily reached by train from either Osaka or Kyoto.
Narita and Haneda both serve Tokyo and it’s typical to transfer between the two airports. However, people who are booking flights often underestimate the distance between them.
Narita is 70 km east of Tokyo whereas Haneda is 19 km south of the capital. There are many ways of making the journey from Narita to Haneda (or vice versa) and the journey time varies greatly depending on the chosen route.
Yoyogi Park, called Yoyogi-Koen in Japanese, has been described as “one of the liveliest parks in the city.” It is also one of the largest green spaces in Tokyo. It is located conveniently between two other bucket list areas, Shibuya and Harajuku.
Festivals and other events are held there almost every weekend. Whether you’re traveling solo, in a group, as a couple, or with children, Yoyogi Park offers something for everyone.
The city of Fukuoka is one of the main tourist destinations in southern Japan. It’s the largest city on the island of Kyushu, and is a must-see for travelers visiting the region.
Fukuoka is known for its cultural landmarks and events, including Japan’s largest wooden Great Buddha statue, and the UNESCO-listed Hakata Gion Yamakasa float festival, which takes place every July.
