Japan is one of the beautiful countries in Asia which attracts tourist from all over the world. Even though it is an island, there is so much to do from exploring the ancient temples, participating in their cultural activities, exploring cities, Museums, climbing mounts to visiting parks.
If you are planning to visit Japan from Dubai, you need to know you have to obtain Japan visa from Dubai to be allowed enter the country. With the right visa, here we have listed the best things to do in Japan you can add to your itinerary.
Whether you are visiting Japan for days, weeks or months, here are the best things you can do for a memorable trip.
If you like hiking or mount climbing this sis one of the bets things you can do in Japan, go mount climbing at Mount Fuji. It is the tallest mountain in Japan. You need to have some experience given this mountain is at 3,776m (12,388ft) elevation.
If you are historian you know about the nuclear bombing by the US in Japan 1945. The bombing destroyed the Hiroshima city. You can visit the Hiroshima Peace Museum to learn beyond the books. At the Museum you will get to see artefacts, exhibitions and stories.
You should be prepared for harrowing pictures and stories what the Japanese had to go through. It is one of the must visit places in Japan for tourists to honor and learn about this even which will forever never be forgotten.
You can enjoy a ride in one of the fastest train in the world shinkansen or bullet when you visit Japan. The train is clean, comfy, safe and quite. You should arrive at the train station on time because it never delays.
The train travels at 320 km/h (199 mph) which makes it easy and fast to get from one city to another in Japan. For Instance you can use the train to get from Tokyo to Kyoto which is 450km within 2 hours 15 minutes.
Even if you have visited the Disney Park, you will have unique experience at DisneySea. The park features ports like Mysterious Island where there is active volcano erupting and Mediterranean Harbor.
You can also get to enjoy fun rides at the DisneySea. If you want adult attractions, you can head to 1920s lounge for a cocktail or catch the Broadway show.
The name of this mountain means Fear Mountain but the mountain is among the sacred places in Japan. It is believed the entrance to underworld is through this mountain. At this mountain there is a temple which is famous Bodaiji Temple in Mutsu City.
There is Sulphur odor in the entire area around this mountain because of the volcanic activity. The spring neat this mountain is hot and tourist love to visit for a soak. The water at the spring is hot due to the volcanic activity underground.
Sumo wrestling is one of the traditional sports you can enjoy in Japan. The sport has been enjoyed for centuries and it is still up to date. The fighters wrestle to entertain the goods.
It is a fun and entertaining sport to watch as the heavyweights wrestle each other. The official Sumo tournaments, or basho are hosted only 6 times every year.
One of the largest cultural exports in Japan is anime. So many people across the world enjoy watching anime for hours. If you have watched Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, and plenty of Anime classics anime you know the creator is Hayao Miyazaki.
You can get to have a glimpse peek into the Miyazak genius mind when you visit Ghibli Museum. You will get to understand how he created those anime characters and also contact with some of his finest works.
Nishiki Market also called the Kyoto kitchen is among the market to explore in Japan. The market is made up of shops, street food stalls and restaurants. It is a historical market and the first shop was opened in 14th century.
The market used to be fish wholesale market, but today you can shop for different food products. You can enjoy different Japanese cuisines at this market made using fresh ingredients.
Meiji Shrine is names after the modern Japan first emperor Emperor Meiji. He started serving in 1867 after end of Edo Period. The shrine was built after his and her wife Empress Shoken death.
The shire was destroyed during World War II but was later re-built and it is a complex building. It is surrounded by hundred thousand trees. Every year over 3 million visit this shrine making it among the top places to visit in Japan.
The center and birthplace of Shingon Buddhism is said to be at Mount Koya. It is the first place in the 9th century where Kobo Daishi last set place. In the hisoty of Japan Kobo Daishi is regarded among the significant religious figures. The Shingon sect artisanal headquarters and the nearby town are evident.
Among the temples at Mount Koya is Garan temple and is recognized as among sacred sites in Japan. You can stay overnight at the lodgings in the temple.
The long decorated tunnels which are well maintained and the wisteria flowers are what attract visitiors at Kawachi Wisteria Garden. It is a unique place to visit in Japan.
You will enjoy the view of the beautiful flower which blooms on the looming wisteria trees. The other spectacular views are hillside garden. From a distance you can also see the sloping hills and sea of wisteria flowers. The best time to get a good view is from mid-April to mid-May & mid-November to early December
You can learn about Japan history when you visit Imperial Palace which was the Edo Castle. It is a historical building and was once the residence of the Royal family and the Tokugawa Shogun.
The visitors are restricted from entering the inner courtyard and buildings. You can explore the palace grounds and eastern gardens. You will get to learn about Japan past at this building.
If you are touring Kyoto, you should not miss to visit the Sagano bamboo forest. It is among the traditional sites in Japan and you can follow the routes in the forest for a relaxed walk.
You should schedule your visit during sunny day. The sun rays are filtered through the leaves and you can take a stunning photo.
Tsukiji Fish Market was one time the largest fish market in the world. Today, the market is the best place in Japan where you can enjoy different sea food cuisines ranging from fried octopus to grilled tuna.
If you love sea food or want to try this is the place to visit. You can try fresh sushi or deep fried crab. If you take guided tour will enjoy the stories about this market which are fascinating.
Tokyo is a busy and big city which you cannot cover every corners. But you can to get see the skyline of Tokyo from the tallest building in Japan Tokyo Skytree. The view is stunning from the observation deck.
Although the weather is not perfect you will get to appreciate how amazing is Tokyo from up there. For clear view you should visit the Tokyo Skytree when the skies are clear. You will get to see Tokyo Bay and even Mount Fuji.
If you have seen a video how people scramble to cross the road at Shibuya Crossing without collision you may think it is not real. Well, you can have firsthand experience by getting of that this probably busiest intersection in the world.
There are sizeable crossroads outside the ever-manic Shibuya station. The fun start after few minutes when the traffic grinds and there is rumbling. Thousands of people heading in different direct try to cross the road and will not see a single collision.
The cycle happens every 20 seconds when the traffic light changes. You can catch good view from the viewing terraces.
Constructed by well-known Japanese warrior and politician Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1586, Osaka Castle is place to learn about Osaka. The castle has been re-built over the year and the designing was done in 1931 and holds faithful to the original.
The foundation stone of this castle is 14 meters in height and several meters thick and the main tower has 5 stories and is 42-meters. There are different exhibition in the castle covering the Osaka history. You can enjoy magical views of the Osaka from the castle top from when the sun is setting.
If you are visiting Tokyo you should not miss to visit Emperor Meiji resting place Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu in Japanese) and Empress Shoken. Before you reach to the shrine buildings you will get to notice the towering wooden torii gate.
Few minutes’ walk from the shrine, you can explore the bustling Takeshita Street in Harajuku. Majority of people in this street are young people looking for accessories and “Kawaii Fashion.”
The other place to visit in Tokyo is Harajuku near the Shibuya Station. It is among the buisieis t areas in Tokyo and you can go for sightseeing of various popular sights like the Hachiko Memorial Statue and Shibuya Crossing.
If you have watched Ninjas movies, you may want to know if they are real. Well, they are real and they exist even to date. But, they are not trained to kill has it is portrayed in the movies.
You can visit the Iga and Koka to learn about the notorious clans because that their ancestral homes of two. You will get the accurate information not the one portrayed in the media and movies. You can also visit the Iga Ninja Museum, where there are exhibition of ancient texts, tools, and weapons, and watch choreographed martial arts performances.
Jinichi Kawakami, the head of the Banke Shinobinoden group claims to the last living Ninja and youngest. When you are touring Koka, you will get to see ninja mansion which were built 3000 years ago. They may look like normal house but inside they are alarms, ingenious traps and escape routes.
The 9th to early 17th-centuries war in Japan lead to almost constant state of fluctuating regime changes. The latter lead to enlisting by the Feudal leaders skilled footmen supposed to serve as their last standing militia.
These fighters over the years became an aristocratic class referred to as samurai. They were able to gain adequate political weight leading to usurping the emperor and at last unifying the Japan’s feudal states under the Tokugawa Shogunate.
The skills used by these fighters were unique and you can be take classes on Samurai sword training during your trip in Japan. It will be an exciting learning skill.
If you love anime and manga, you should not miss to visit Akihabara neighborhood. You can buy any of your favorite series figurines, DVDs or comic books. While in the neighborhood you should visit their popular maid cafes and enjoy a meal or head to any of the storied arcade to play video games.
If you love art performances, there is no better place to enjoy exciting art style performers like Kabuki Theater. The performances are based on play with plot about the Japanese history and legends. The artist employs dramatic retellings and use poetic songs, rhythmic dances and imposing makeup during the performances.
The Kabuki actor’s men but play both male and female roles and were born or legally adopted into the business. The women were banned from performing the in the 1600s. Hence, you shouldn’t liken onnagata to drag queens; the tradition came from a legal policy.
You can learn to start making sushi at your house in Japan. You will get to maze your family or friends when you get back home by preparing them delicious sushi after you learn the preparation process.
You will have to enroll in sushi-making class, you will be taught by profession chef from how to cut the fish, slabbing the on the wasabi and how to press a piece of nigari. It is a lifetime skill which you should not miss to learn while on vacation in Japan.
Buit in the 17th century, Himeji castle is among the remaining eighty-two buildings and twelve original castles in Japan. The castle is still standing all thanks to the preservation efforts.
This castle is also called “White Heron” and even though is those years old it is elegant and live up to name because the plaster walls are pure white. The architectural is a masterpiece embodying the Japanese engineering pinnacle.
There was additional of Kokoen garden in 992 to the west of the castle’s grounds. Even though it is an additional, you can explore the garden and will feel like you have stepped into the Edo Period.
There are also nine traditional aesthetics Japanese-style landscape gardens surround the castle. Among the gardens are tea garden, evergreen garden, water garden, flower garden and bamboo garden.
Senso-ji Temple is the largest and oldest temple in Tokyo. If you are visiting Tokyo you should not miss to include a visit to this temple. The temple is situated in Asakusa district. Even after several restorations this temple remains its original appurtenance since its construction in 645.
Even after it was destroyed during World War II, it was restores to its original appearance. The dedication of this temple is the Buddhist god of compassion, Sensō-ji.
1. Which are the best things to do in Japan for couples?
If you are visiting Japan as a couple here are the best things you can do:
2. Which are the best adventure things to do in Japan?
If you adventurous travelers, the best adventure things to do in Japan are:
3. What are the best Japan tour packages that we can book with Arooha Tours?
The best Japan tour package that you can book with Arooha Tours is All-Inclusive Spring in Japan Package.
