Japan · best-of list
26 Top Things to Do in Japan
All 26 things to do our route editors picked in Japan, across 6 destinations, gathered in one list. 18 come with an insider tip, and 11 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
26 things to do in Japan, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Osaka 6 picks
Dotonbori
Osaka · On our Japan Golden Route
Canal-side strip of giant neon signs, the Glico runner and street food stalls.
Tip: Takoyaki stands line the street; the canal cruise is short and cheap.
Photo: Type specimen · CC BY-SA 3.0
Hozenji Yokocho
Osaka · On our Japan Golden Route
Stone-paved alley with a moss-covered Fudo Myoo statue that visitors splash with water.
Photo: 林雅彦 · Google
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Osaka · On our Japan Golden Route
Huge aquarium built around a central Pacific tank with whale sharks.
Photo: Sakai Yayoi · CC0
Osaka Castle
Osaka · On our Japan Golden Route
Reconstructed castle keep with a history museum and moat-ringed park.
Tip: Walk the park at opening; the top deck has city views.
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5
Tsutenkaku Tower
Osaka · On our Japan Golden Route
Retro tower above the Shinsekai neighborhood, Osaka's early-1900s amusement district.
Photo: Savoir Aimer (Admin) · Google
Umeda Sky Building
Osaka · On our Japan Golden Route
Twin towers joined by an open-air Floating Garden Observatory 173 m up.
Tip: Go at sunset for the city lights.
Photo: Kakidai · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sapporo 5 picks
Hokkaido Shrine
Sapporo · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Main Shinto shrine of Hokkaido, set in forested Maruyama Park.
Tip: Cherry blossoms bloom here in early May.
Photo: S5A-0043 · CC BY 4.0
Jozankei Onsen
Sapporo · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Hot spring town in a forested river gorge an hour from downtown.
Tip: Many ryokan sell day-use baths.
Photo: 北海道振興 · Google
Odori Park
Sapporo · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Long green strip through downtown, home to the Snow Festival in February.
Tip: The Sapporo TV Tower at its east end has a city view deck.
Photo: Nkns · CC BY-SA 3.0
Sapporo Beer Museum
Sapporo · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Red-brick brewery building with exhibits on Japan's oldest beer brand and a tasting bar.
Tip: Paid tasting sets include a historic recipe only sold here.
Photo: The original uploader was K. Takeda at Japanese Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0
Sapporo Clock Tower
Sapporo · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
1878 wooden building from the city's founding era, with a small museum.
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Tokyo 5 picks
Meiji Jingu
Tokyo · On our Japan Golden Route
Forested Shinto shrine to Emperor Meiji, steps from Harajuku station.
Photo: Arne Müseler · CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Senso-ji
Tokyo · On our Japan Golden Route
Tokyo's oldest temple, reached through the Kaminarimon gate and Nakamise shopping street.
Tip: Come at dawn or after dark for an empty, lit-up temple.
Photo: Akonnchiroll · CC0
Shibuya Crossing
Tokyo · On our Japan Golden Route
The world's busiest scramble crossing, best seen from above and then crossed yourself.
Tip: Watch from the Shibuya Sky deck or the Starbucks above.
Photo: David Kernan · CC BY 4.0
Shibuya Sky
Tokyo · On our Japan Golden Route
Open-air rooftop deck 230 m up Shibuya Scramble Square with 360-degree views.
Tip: Sunset slots sell out; book a week or more ahead.
Photo: Kathy Hung · Google
teamLab Planets TOKYO
Tokyo · On our Japan Golden Route
Walk-through digital art installations, some knee-deep in water.
Tip: Book timed tickets ahead; wear shorts or roll-up pants.
Photo: Phan Tom · Google
Kyoto 4 picks
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Kyoto · On our Japan Golden Route
Thousands of vermilion torii gates climbing Mount Inari behind the main shrine.
Tip: Start by 7am; crowds thin past the Yotsutsuji viewpoint.
Photo: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hanamikoji Street
Kyoto · On our Japan Golden Route
Gion's main lane of wooden teahouses where geiko and maiko are sometimes seen at dusk.
Tip: Photos are banned on private side alleys; be respectful.
Photo: Wei Wei · Google
Kinkaku-ji
Kyoto · On our Japan Golden Route
Gold-leaf-covered pavilion reflected in a pond, Kyoto's most photographed temple.
Photo: Nacaru · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kiyomizu-dera
Kyoto · On our Japan Golden Route
Hillside temple with a wooden stage over the trees and views across the city.
Tip: Walk down via Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka lanes.
Photo: Jordy Meow · CC BY-SA 3.0
Otaru 4 picks
Kitaichi Glass
Otaru · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Glassworks and shops; Kitaichi Hall is lit by 167 oil lamps.
Tip: Watch glassblowing at the workshop next door.
Photo: 北一硝子 三号館 · Google
Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery
Otaru · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Stone distillery founded in 1934, with coal-fired stills and a tasting hall.
Tip: Free guided tours need advance booking; Yoichi is 25 minutes by train.
Photo: 水野雅浩 · Google
Otaru Canal
Otaru · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Canal lined with restored stone warehouses and gas lamps.
Tip: Lamps come on at dusk; the canal is lit with candles during the February Snow Light Path.
Photo: Joey Gentile · Google
Otaru Music Box Museum
Otaru · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Brick hall filled with thousands of music boxes and a steam clock outside.
Photo: 松岡明芳 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Furano and Biei 2 picks
Furano Ski Resort
Furano and Biei · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Ski area with powder snow and a ropeway that runs to summer viewpoints.
Photo: Amy · Google
Patchwork Road
Furano and Biei · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Scenic farm roads past the Ken and Mary Tree and Seven Stars Tree.
Tip: Rent a bike or car; stay on the road, not the fields.
Photo: Razgriz · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the things to do in Japan?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 26 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Japan has the most things to do on this list?
Osaka has the most (6 of 26), followed by Sapporo (5) and Tokyo (5).
Are any of these free?
11 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Hokkaido Shrine, Senso-ji, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Patchwork Road, Shibuya Crossing, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
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