Best Things to Do in Japan (Top Travel Guide)

Want a holiday which transforms you into a completely different world? Love to explore electric cities, peaceful zen gardens, fun anime, and learn about traditional Japanese culture? Then Japan is the place to visit. Japan was a place that was starkly different to any other place I have visited, but easily had some of the best places to visit. I spent the first 5 days solo travelling in Japan before my friend joined me for the rest of my Japan trip, and even as a solo traveller, the experience was great. Generally speaking, Japan is a safe place to travel. Whether you are spending time in major cities or meditating on a sacred mountain, there are plenty of fun things and unique experiences to get involved in. Here are the best things to do in Japan (Top Travel Guide).

1| Fushimi Inari

Although Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine is a popular tourist destination, the local parks, gardens, temples, and shrines offer less-travelled areas for strolling and introspection. The 32,000 sub-shrines that make up the Fushimi Inari Shrine attract hikers, picnickers, and nature lovers to the mountain they are scattered across. The tranquil mountain can be savoured at a slow pace because many of the mountain’s off-set pathways aren’t used by many tourists. The area of southern Kyoto is ideal for outdoor recreation and for paying respects to the region’s revered old structures and deities.

There is a reason why it is such a popular site to visit. My friend and I visited early morning, so it was less crowded, and it was worth it as we got to enjoy the shrine itself and the peaceful nature that surrounded this site. It was also nice to walk through a bamboo forest with nothing but the noise heard from swaying trees and minimal chat among those walking with us.

2| Mount Koya

This was one of my best experiences during my Japan holiday that is 100% worth visiting. South of Osaka, in the Japanese prefecture of Wakayama, is Mount Koya, the birthplace of Shingon Buddhism. Home to over 100 temples and pagodas, as well as the eerie Okunoin cemetery, where ghosts are rumoured to prowl. Visitors have the option of spending the night in a temple, which is ideal for a short visit to this magical site. You get to see a glimpse into the life of a Buddhist at one of the temples, eat the Japanese food they eat, and observe them pray in the early morning. Koyasan has eight peaks reminiscent of a lotus flower with forested surroundings, which makes the place of Koyasan very beautiful and a great place to visit. 

The 52 ancient temples offer the ideal way to enjoy Koyasan; some are linked to illustrious samurai, while others have beautiful gardens or hot springs. Every single one of them serves Shojin-Ryori, a traditional Buddhist meal made with locally sourced seasonal vegetables, for breakfast and dinner. Participating in a fascinating early-morning meditation with a stream of peace-promoting chants and trails of incense smoke punctuated by the muted beat of a gong is part of the experience.

While visiting the Buddhist temples, pagodas, and the well-known rock garden during the day, a nighttime monk-led tour of the otherworldly Okunoin Cemetery is an unforgettable experience. With moss-covered plaques and monuments created to honour the memory of those that have passed, including feudal princes, samurai, and monks, it is an unforgettable moment to be part of. Visitors are guided down stone-paved routes by dim stone lanterns, which provide a sense of spirituality and mystery when walking through the cemetery. 

3| Takeshita Street

In Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan, the young and hip Takeshita Area is a pedestrian shopping street lined with fashion boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. Major chains like The Body Shop, McDonald’s, and 7-Eleven are among the stores on Takeshita Street, but the majority of the shops are tiny local boutique stores that provide a variety of fashion cosmetics and eateries which you will have never come across! It is a unique experience if this is the first time you visit this special place. 

It is a place filled with fun, fashion, and food, so it’s a highly recommended place to go to in Tokyo. You can also grab yourself some snacks and desserts when passing through, like the candyfloss I bought, which is honestly one of the best candyflosses I have eaten and tasted surprisingly better than I expected. 

4| Temples

Okay, so I have kept this one broad, which is kinda cheating, but honestly couldn’t say which temple was the best because they are all incredible sites to visit! There are amazing temples located in Japan, but below are some of my favourite temples I have visited.

I would say the most memorable temples I went to were Toji Temple in Kyoto, Sensō-ji temple, and Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. The Toji Temple is a five-storied pagoda and is one of the most important Shingon temples besides the sect’s headquarters in Mt. Koya. The Toji temple is the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan, and it is a beauty to see in the distance amongst the surrounding Japanese architecture and Komono-wearing locals walking around makes you truly feel like you are in Japan. I have not visited this site during the blossom season, but I heard it is a great spot for cherry blossom enthusiasts. During this season, at night, the Temple and its garden containing cherry blossoms are illuminated to give locals and tourists a breathtaking site to see. 

One temple I particularly loved going to at night was Sensō-ji temple in Tokyo, as it was quiet, and we got to see the beauty of the oldest temple in Tokyo. During the day, it is often busy, but this gave life to the area where people flocked to the nearby markets selling local items and traditional food and taking pictures at the Kaminarimon, other known as ‘thunder gate’ where a large paper lantern with striking red and black colours hangs. 

Meiji Jingu Shrine in Shibuya was one of the more isolated shrines in the city I visited, and I loved it for this reason. Because the shrine is built within a large central park in Tokyo, you almost feel that you are not in one of the busiest cities in the world. You take a really nice walk through the park on a tree-lined walk, which is very serene and peaceful to get to the shrine. I loved visiting the temples, which is a must-do activity during the Japan holiday trip. 

5| Mount Fuji

Take the opportunity to get off to a town locally around the tallest mountain in Japan, Mt Fuji. I’d recommend staying at a traditional Japanese inn with a view of Mt. Fuji, ideally close to one of the Fuji Five Lakes (Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Yamankako, Shojiko, and Motosuko), which offer a great view of this popular destination. This was a very peaceful part of our trip, away from the busy streets of cities like Tokyo and Osaka, and we enjoyed it very much. You can also climb Mt. Fuji, which is a popular activity to do, and there are small stations during your incline where you will be able to buy snacks and sleep, so it does make the experience safer and more enjoyable. We stayed at a hotel right by Lake Kawaguchi and explored the local area. Our rooms had a traditional Japanese interior design along with a private onsen on the balcony which provided a view of the lake, and it was very enjoyable. 

To get to Lake Kawaguchi, we took the Fuji Excursion Limited Express train from Shinjuku Train Station in Tokyo, Japan, to Kawaguchiko and then got a taxi to the hotel by the lake. The train journey takes around 2 hours in total, and it usually runs twice during the weekday and three times at the weekend and can depart as early as 7:30 am, and the last return time is around 5:38 pm. We later got the bullet train to continue our journey down south towards Kyoto, and you will be able to see pretty epic views of Mt. Fuji, so look out for this on the way.

It was very difficult to write my top five tourist attractions in Japan as there are never-ending fun and memorable activities to do in Japan, which I will provide more in-depth details about at a later point. However, these are my top 5 most memorable activities that stick in my mind when I think of Japan which is suited for both solo travelers and group travellers. 

I hope this blog has helped you gain insight into Japan’s wonders and activities to do. If you enjoyed reading this blog, please feel free to read my other blogs at https://www.mymemoriesabroad.com/category/blog/ or head to my Pinterest profile to have a look at travel photos which will hopefully inspire you to book your holiday to remember at https://www.pinterest.co.uk/mymemoriesabroad/.