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07
45 min
Kamigamo Shrine
上賀茂神社
Kamigamo Shrine is one of Kyoto's most significant Shinto shrines, formally known as Kamo-wakeikazuchi-jinja.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Kyoto
Country guide
Up to 1 hour in Japan — page 2
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
212 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
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08 45 minTokyo Skytree
東京スカイツリー
Tokyo Skytree is a broadcasting and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo. It serves as the primary structure for digital terrestrial television broadcasting in the Kantō region.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Tokyo
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09 45 minNinna-ji Temple
仁和寺
Ninna-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. It serves as the head temple of the Omuro school of the Shingon sect. The temple was founded in 888 CE by Emperor Uda.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Kyoto
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10 45 minShimogamo Shrine
下鴨神社
Shimogamo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kyoto, Japan, situated at the confluence of the Kamo and Takano rivers.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Kyoto
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11 1 hourTsūtenkaku
通天閣
Tsutenkaku is an observation tower in Shinsekai, in Osaka's Naniwa ward, and it is the second tower to stand on the spot.
- Must see
- Viewpoint
- Osaka
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12 45 minNishi Hongan-ji Temple
西本願寺
Nishi Hongan-ji is a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist temple in central Kyoto and the headquarters of one branch of the Hongan-ji tradition. The large complex represents an important religious and architectural landmark close to Kyoto Station.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Kyoto
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13 45 minSaihō-ji Temple
西芳寺
Saiho-ji, widely known as Kokedera or the Moss Temple, is a Rinzai Zen temple in western Kyoto. Its principal attraction is a garden covered by thick moss in many shades of green.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Kyoto
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14 45 minKyoto Imperial Palace
京都御所
The Kyoto Imperial Palace served as the residence of Japan's Imperial Family until 1869, when the capital moved to Tokyo.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Kyoto
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15 45 minRikugi Garden
六義園
Rikugien Gardens is a historic Japanese strolling garden in Tokyo’s Bunkyo ward. Known locally as 六義園, it follows the kaiyushiki teien tradition: a walking route organized around a central pond and a sequence of changing viewpoints.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Tokyo
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16 45 minKatsura Imperial Villa
桂離宮
Katsura Imperial Villa is a historic imperial residence in western Kyoto, celebrated for the relationship between restrained architecture and a carefully composed landscape.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Kyoto
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17 1 hourUeno Imperial Grant Park
上野公園
Ueno Park, known locally as Ueno Onshi Koen, is a major public park in Tokyo. It occupies a significant area in the Taito ward and serves as one of the city's most prominent green spaces.
- Must see
- Nature site
- Tokyo
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18 1 hourHamarikyu Gardens
浜離宮恩賜庭園
Hamarikyu Gardens is a public garden in central Tokyo, located at the mouth of the Sumida River where it meets Tokyo Bay.
- Must see
- Nature site
- Tokyo
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19 45 minOdaiba
お台場
Odaiba is a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, originally developed for defensive purposes in the 1850s and later transformed into a major commercial and leisure district during the late 20th century.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Tokyo
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20 45 minBamboo Forest
嵐山竹林
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is a renowned natural attraction in the Arashiyama district of western Kyoto. The site features a dense stand of tall bamboo stalks forming a distinctive pathway that draws visitors from across the world.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Kyoto
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21 1 hourKyu Shiba Rikyu Garden
旧芝離宮恩賜庭園
Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden is a historic landscape garden in central Tokyo, originally developed as a feudal lord's residence garden during the Edo period.
- Must see
- Nature site
- Tokyo
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22 30 minFushimi Inari-taisha
伏見稲荷大社
Fushimi Inari Taisha is a Shinto shrine located in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto. It serves as the head shrine of approximately 30,000 Inari shrines across Japan.
- Must see
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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23 1 hourKoishikawa Kōrakuen Garden
小石川後楽園
Koishikawa Kōrakuen is a historic Japanese garden in Bunkyō Ward, Tokyo. Its local name is 小石川後楽園. The garden is recognized as a Special Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the national government.
- Must see
- Nature site
- Tokyo
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24 30 minTōfuku-ji Temple
東福寺
Tofuku-ji is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple in southeastern Kyoto. Founded in 1236 by the statesman Kujo Michiie, it took its name from combining characters from Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji in Nara.
- Must see
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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25 30 minYasaka Shrine
八坂神社
Yasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Kyoto, Japan. It is also known as Gion Shrine. The shrine stands at the eastern end of Shijo-dori, a major thoroughfare in the city.
- Must see
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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26 1 hourKyu-Furukawa Gardens
旧古河庭園
Kyu-Furukawa Gardens is a historic garden in Tokyo, known locally as 旧古河庭園. The site represents an important example of Japanese landscape design combined with Western architectural influence.
- Must see
- Nature site
- Tokyo
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27 1 hourKiyosumi Garden
清澄庭園
Kiyosumi Gardens is a traditional Japanese stroll garden in Tokyo’s Fukagawa district. Its design leads visitors around a central pond, where islands, bridges, hills, and carefully positioned stones create changing views at walking level.
- Must see
- Nature site
- Tokyo
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28 45 minSanjūsangen-dō Temple
三十三間堂
Sanjusangen-do is the main hall of Rengeo-in, a Tendai temple in the Higashiyama ward of Kyoto, a few minutes south of the Kyoto National Museum.
- Must see
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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29 30 minChion-in Temple
知恩院
Chion-in is a Jodo-shu Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. It serves as the headquarters of the Jodo-shu sect founded by Honen. The temple complex occupies a significant site on the slopes of Higashiyama.
- Must see
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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30 30 minKitano Tenmangū
北野天満宮
Kitano Tenmangu is a Shinto shrine in Kyoto, Japan, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, a scholar and politician of the Heian period who was later deified as Tenjin, the god of learning.
- Must see
- Place of worship
- Kyoto
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31 1 hourMaruyama Park
円山公園
Maruyama Park is a public park located in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, Japan. It sits at the base of the Eastern Mountains and serves as one of the city's most popular cherry blossom viewing locations.
- Must see
- Nature site
- Kyoto
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.