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32
45 min
Sakaro no Matsu
逆艪の松
Sakaro no Matsu, known locally as 逆艪の松, is a visitor place in Osaka with a name connected to a pine and nautical imagery.
- High
- Historic monument
- Osaka
Country guide
Historic monuments in Japan — page 3
Around three quarters of Japan is mountain and forest, which pushes almost everyone onto the eastern coastal plains and makes the country far narrower in practi...
Photograph · Midori · CC BY 3.0
47,395
Places
3Cities
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Around three quarters of Japan is mountain and forest, which pushes almost everyone onto the eastern coastal plains and makes the country far narrower in practice than 377,975 km2 suggests. Forty-seven prefectures, eight traditional regions and more than 14,000 smaller islands, and yet a first visit usually runs along a single rail corridor with Tokyo at one end and Kyoto and Osaka at the other. Tokyo is the capital and largest city of a country of almost 123 million people. Hokkaido in the north and Okinawa in the south are different climates rather than day trips, and both need their own week.
Checked 2026-08-25
Cities
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
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Tokyo
Photograph · Morio · CC BY-SA 3.0
Tokyo 22,518 places -
Kyoto
Photograph · Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kyoto 13,290 places -
Osaka
Photograph · Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0
Osaka 11,587 places
Practical information
- Language spoken
- Japanese
- National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
- Dialling code
- +81
- International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
- Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY)
- Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
- Emergency number
- 110 police · 119 fire and ambulance
- Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
- Plug type
- Type A · 100 V
- Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
- Tap water
- Safe from the mains
- JNTO states that tap water is safe to drink
Top things to see
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
Filter the list
47 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
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奥田家住宅 33 45 min奥田家住宅
The Okuda Family Residence, 奥田家住宅, is a historic Japanese home in Osaka. Its value lies in domestic architecture and the chance to encounter a preserved residential setting within a city better known for commerce, food, and modern movement.
- High
- Historic monument
- Osaka
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34 45 minDaigo-ji Temple
下醍醐
Daigo-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in southeastern Kyoto, Japan. Founded in 874 CE by the monk Shōbō, it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
- Notable
- Historic monument
- Kyoto
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35 45 minEikan-do
永觀堂
Eikan-do, formally called Zenrin-ji, is a historic Buddhist temple in Kyoto’s eastern Sakyo ward. It belongs to the Jodo sect and was founded in the ninth century.
- Notable
- Historic monument
- Kyoto
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36 45 minJimbōchō Book Town
神田古書店街
Jimbocho Book Town, known locally as 神保町古書店街, is a historic district in central Tokyo renowned for its dense concentration of antiquarian bookstores. The area has served as Japan's preeminent center for used and rare books since the early twentieth century.
- Notable
- Historic monument
- Tokyo
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37 45 minKabukicho
歌舞伎町
Kabukichō is Shinjuku’s dense entertainment district, occupying the area northeast of Shinjuku Station. The neighborhood combines restaurants, bars, karaoke, cinemas, pachinko halls, hotels and adult-oriented businesses in a compact grid of bright signs and narrow streets.
- Notable
- Historic monument
- Tokyo
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38 45 minKappabashi kitchen street
合羽橋
Kappabashi Kitchen Street, known locally as かっぱ橋道具街, is a specialized commercial district in Tokyo dedicated to restaurant supply and kitchenware. The street stretches approximately 800 meters and hosts numerous shops selling professional-grade cooking equipment, tableware, food replicas, and culinary tools.
- Notable
- Historic monument
- Tokyo
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39 45 minOsaka Castle
大阪城
Osaka Castle is a historic fortress in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan. The present structure is a concrete reconstruction dating from 1931, with extensive modern renovations.
- Notable
- Historic monument
- Osaka
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40 45 minSagano Scenic Railway
Sagano Romantic Train
The Sagano Scenic Railway is a tourist railway in Kyoto's Arashiyama district. It operates along a former freight line that runs parallel to the Hozu River gorge.
- Notable
- Historic monument
- Kyoto
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41 45 minTakeshita Street
Takeshita Street is a narrow pedestrian shopping street in Harajuku, running from the area beside Harajuku Station toward the northern end of Omotesando. The street is known for youth fashion, accessories, cosmetics, novelty goods, crepes and quick-service food.
- Notable
- Historic monument
- Tokyo
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42 45 mintenryu-ji
Tenryu-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto's Arashiyama district. It ranks among the city's five great temples and holds World Heritage status as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
- Notable
- Historic monument
- Kyoto
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43 45 minTokyo Character Street
Tokyo Character Street is a commercial attraction located in Tokyo Station's Ichibangai shopping area beneath Marunouchi. The destination features shops and displays centered on popular Japanese characters from animation, manga, and related media franchises.
- Notable
- Historic monument
- Tokyo
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44 45 minTokyo International Forum
Tokyo International Forum is a major convention and exhibition center in the Marunouchi district near Tokyo Station. The complex comprises multiple halls and exhibition spaces designed for international conferences, trade shows, concerts, and corporate events.
- Notable
- Historic monument
- Tokyo
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45 45 minYanaka Ginza
谷中銀座
Yanaka Ginza is a historic shopping street in Tokyo's Yanaka district, part of the traditional shitamachi downtown area.
- Notable
- Historic monument
- Tokyo
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46 45 min日本橋
Nihonbashi Bridge is a historic bridge in central Tokyo, Japan. The current structure is a reconstruction of the original wooden bridge first built in 1603 during the Edo period.
- Notable
- Historic monument
- Tokyo
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47 45 min道頓堀 / Doutonbori Street
Dotonbori is a principal entertainment and dining district in Osaka's Chuo Ward, centred on a canal of the same name. The area traces its origins to the early 17th century when merchant Yasui Doton initiated canal construction.
- Notable
- Historic monument
- Osaka
Common questions
How long should a first trip to Japan be?
Ten to fourteen days supports four or five days in Tokyo, three or four in Kyoto, and two or three in Osaka. Add Nara or Himeji only after those bases have enough time, and avoid turning every rail stop into a hotel change.
What entry documents are needed for Japan?
Japan's visa exemption or visa requirement depends on passport and travel purpose. Confirm the current rule through Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the embassy responsible for the traveller's residence.
What is the best way to travel around Japan?
The Tokaido Shinkansen links Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, while local rail and buses cover city travel. An IC card simplifies many local journeys but does not replace every reserved long-distance ticket, and luggage forwarding can reduce friction between bases.
When is a practical time to visit Japan?
March to May and October to November are broad options for the main-island route, with blossom and autumn periods creating concentrated demand. Confirm regional weather and reservations for the exact cities rather than assuming one national season behaves uniformly.
What money and payment basics apply in Japan?
Japan uses the yen (JPY). Electronic payment is common but not universal, so carry some yen for smaller businesses, ticket machines, or rural transport without assuming that one stored-value card works for every purchase.
What practical safety details should I save for Japan?
Japan's emergency numbers are 110 for police and 119 for fire or ambulance. Type A sockets operate at 100 V, which is lower than in the other wave-A countries, and mains tap water is recorded as safe.