The 5 must-see places in Japan and how to visit them all in a crazy adventure between ancient and modern

Japan is a country that captivates with its ancient and modern culture, its refined cuisine – including delicious sushi – and its cutting-edge technology.

Located in the Pacific Ocean, it is made up of four main islands and numerous smaller ones. Its capital, Tokyo, is a bustling metropolis, with modern skyscrapers as well as traditional shrines and parks.

In short, we could talk for hours and hours about Japan, a country that offers a unique and unforgettable experience to anyone who decides to visit it.

That is why today we have decided to write an article for you, briefly telling you about five must-see places in Japan.

Then, we will reveal a way to visit them all in one unique and unforgettable experience – but for that, you will have to read all the way to the end.

Ready?!

What to see in Japan? Here are five unmissable places in this magnificent (and orderly) country

1. Tokyo – The best for contemporary culture

As everyone knows, Tokyo is a city constantly looking toward the future, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in a densely populated area prone to earthquakes, adding ever taller and more slender structures.

It is Japan’s best destination for contemporary art and architecture, pop culture, shopping, nightlife, and entertainment (and tied with Kyoto when it comes to restaurants).

But more than anything else, it is the city itself that enchants visitors. It is an organic, sprawling place that stretches as far as the eye can see. Constantly evolving and made up of a series of distinct neighborhoods, no two experiences of Tokyo are ever the same (seeing is believing).

2. Mount Fuji – The best for views and pilgrimages

Even from afar, Mount Fuji will take your breath away. Up close, the perfectly symmetrical cone of Japan’s highest peak is nothing short of incredible.

Sunrise from the summit? Pure magic.

Fuji-san is one of Japan’s most revered and timeless landmarks. Hundreds of thousands of people climb it every year, continuing a centuries-old tradition of pilgrimages to the sacred volcano.

Those who prefer to seek perfect views from less demanding nearby peaks can follow in the footsteps of Japan’s most famous painters and poets.

Read also: What to see in Costa Rica if you want to be left speechless (and not just because of the heat!)

3. Hiroshima – The best for quiet reflection

Hiroshima today is a forward-looking city with attractive tree-lined avenues.

Only when visiting the Peace Memorial Museum does the true scale of the human tragedy caused by the atomic bomb become vividly clear. A visit here is an important and heartbreaking history lesson.

The park surrounding the museum, largely designed by the great Japanese modernist architect Tange Kenzō, offers many opportunities for reflection. But the city’s spirit of determination, as well as its food, will ensure you leave with good memories to take home.

4. Naoshima – The best for architecture

Naoshima is one of Japan’s great success stories: a rural island that was on the verge of becoming a ghost town, now a world-class center for contemporary art.

Many of Japan’s most acclaimed architects have contributed to creating structures here, including museums, a boutique hotel, and even a bathhouse, all designed to highlight the island’s natural beauty and integrate with the existing settlements. The resulting blend of avant-garde design and rural Japan is captivating.

It has also inspired some Japanese people to pursue a slower life outside the big cities, moving to Naoshima to open cafés and inns.

5. Kyoto – The best for traditional experiences

Kyoto, Japan’s imperial capital for a thousand years, is home to more than a thousand temples (we did not count them all!).

Among them are monumental ones such as Kinkaku-ji – an exquisite pavilion entirely covered in gold leaf – and meditative ones such as Ryōan-ji, with its austere Zen rock garden.

And the temples are only the beginning: there is also tea culture, which can be enjoyed in one of the city’s many elegant teahouses, the art of the geisha, the iconic performers of traditional music and dance, and also a rich food culture, including kaiseki (Japanese haute cuisine).

Read also: Tired of the usual gifts? If you want to give an unforgettable experience, give the gift of travel!

Conclusion

In this article, we have listed the five places in Japan that you absolutely cannot miss.

Well, in reality there are plenty of other things to see, but there was not enough room in this article to tell you about them all.

However, if you want to discover them all and find out how to experience this trip in the spirit of adventure, then check out this Japan itinerary. Boom.

So, are you ready to pack your backpack?!