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Things to Do in Japan
From the Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka route to hot springs and the far north, in a sensible order.
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Intrepid Travel's rundown starts with the Golden Route of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, then moves on to history towns, mountains and hot springs. The shinkansen is what makes a short trip with many stops workable, per Intrepid. Tokyo ideas lead here, with a few food and quirky picks, and the att.JAPAN picks cover the north. Season matters: att.JAPAN says the Kushiro marsh train runs only April to October, so time the north accordingly. It leaves out hotels, flights and rail passes.
Why these items are on the list
- Walk Asakusa to Senso-ji Temple. Intrepid describes a traditional neighbourhood holding the 1400-year-old Senso-ji Temple.
- Eat rainbow cotton candy in Harajuku. Brittany Kulick places Totti Candy Factory on Takeshita Street, where fashion and everything kawaii reigns.
- Cook your own okonomiyaki. Brittany Kulick calls it a savory pancake cooked tableside, at a fraction of a cooking class's cost.
- Shop a 100 yen shop. Brittany Kulick says Daiso is in most cities. Leave room in the suitcase for souvenirs.
- Visit Tokyo DisneySea. Brittany Kulick of Nearby Tokyo cites adult entry at 7,500 yen. Check the current price.
- Order coffee from a vending machine. Nearby Tokyo's Brittany Kulick cites an estimated one vending machine per 23 people in Japan.
- Drink in Omoide Yokocho. Brittany Kulick says the backstreets suit beer and yakitori, with a glimpse of old Tokyo.
- Take purikura photos. Brittany Kulick warns edits have a time limit, so work fast with the stylus.
- Explore Kyoto on foot or bike. Intrepid counts more than 2000 temples, shrines and gardens, and calls it very explorable on foot and bike.
- See Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama. Intrepid names both among Kyoto's highlights, alongside golden temples and charming old streets.
- Eat through Dotonbori in Osaka. Intrepid says Osaka's motto is kuidaore, eat until you drop, and Kuromon Market has 100 stalls.
- Stroll Kenroku-en in Kanazawa. Intrepid praises its classical ponds and streams. The Higashi Chaya district is another stop in Kanazawa.
- Visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Intrepid lists the Cenotaph, the Peace Memorial Museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome.
- Ferry to Miyajima's floating torii. Intrepid calls it a short ferry ride from Hiroshima. The gate appears to float at high tide.
- See Mt Fuji. Intrepid gives the height as over 3650 m. Clear days are luck; it calls a snowy summit most iconic.
- Wander Takayama's old streets. Intrepid cites Edo-period buildings, sake breweries and the Hida Folk Village, set among the Japanese Alps.
- Watch snow monkeys at Jigokudani. Intrepid says Yamanouchi, Nagano, is the only place in the world where monkeys bathe in hot springs.
- Soak in a Hakone onsen. Destination 195 advises cleansing yourself before entering the tub, not the other way around.
- Tour Beppu's Jigoku and onsens. Intrepid says the whole city sits on geothermal activity. It suggests Jigoku's steaming pools, then a local onsen.
- Ride the Kushiro Norokko train. att.JAPAN says it runs April to October to Toro, where you can join a canoe tour.
- Footbath in Oyunuma River. att.JAPAN says it's free, with natural hot spring water, in Noboribetsu.
- Parfait hop in Sapporo. att.JAPAN says parfait after a night of drinking is common, and many shops stay open late.
- See lavender fields in Hokkaido. Intrepid suggests visiting from late June to early August for the expansive fields.
Tick what you want and skip the rest. On your phone between cities, you can sort the list into what stays and what goes.
When to use it
Use it when you're sketching a first trip, while you can still match stops to the season.