Japan is Nippon 日本語
Seasonal feature 2026 Christmas in Japan 2026: Illuminations, Christmas Markets, KFC and Cake It isn't a public holiday, yet whole streets light up, and families sit down to fried chicken and strawberry cake. Here are the 2026 dates and how Christmas works in Japan. See the feature →
47 prefectures

Where in Japan will you go?

  • Hokkaido
  • Tohoku
  • Kanto
  • Chubu
  • Kansai
  • Chugoku
  • Shikoku
  • Kyushu & Okinawa
Ranking

Popular places in Japan

Full ranking →
1
Osaka · theme park Universal Studios Japan ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン The first Universal Studios park outside the USA, home to Super Nintendo World and its recreation of Mario's world. It turned 25 in 2026.
2
Tokyo · landmark Tokyo Skytree 東京スカイツリー Tokyo's 634 m landmark, the world's tallest freestanding broadcast tower, with two observation decks at 350 m and 450 m giving 360-degree views over the city.
3
Tokyo · landmark Tokyo Tower 東京タワー The 333 m red-and-white broadcast tower watching over Tokyo since 1958. Enjoy the views from its decks, or climb about 600 outdoor steps to get there.
4
Kyoto · shrine Fushimi Inari Taisha 伏見稲荷大社 Head shrine of Japan's some 30,000 Inari shrines. Walk the red torii tunnels of Senbon Torii and hike 233m Mount Inari, right by the station.
5
Osaka · castle Osaka Castle 大阪城 Osaka's symbol: built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, rebuilt by the Tokugawa, keep revived in 1931 by citizens' donations. Now a museum in a vast walled park.
6
Osaka · other Dotonbori 道頓堀 Osaka's best-known nightlife strip in Minami, lined with giant 3D signs and neon. Snack on takoyaki and enjoy the lights from the riverside walk.
7
Okinawa · zoo aquarium Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium 沖縄美ら海水族館 A northern Okinawa aquarium famous for its Kuroshio Sea tank, where whale sharks and giant manta rays swim: all of Okinawa's sea in one place.
8
Nara · park Nara Park 奈良公園 A vast Nara park where over a thousand wild deer roam among ancient temples and shrines, Todaiji and Kasuga Taisha among them: the heart of any Nara visit.
9
Kyoto · temple Kiyomizu-dera Temple 清水寺 A temple founded in 778 on Mount Otowa in Kyoto's Higashiyama. From its clifftop stage you look over Kyoto and trees that change colour with the seasons.
10
Kyoto · temple Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) 金閣寺 A Zen temple in north Kyoto whose gold-leafed pavilion is mirrored in its pond. Once shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's villa; formally named Rokuon-ji.
Why Japan?

The questions every visitor asks

The history and everyday logic behind the things that surprise people about Japan.

All explainers →
Illustration of a quiet commuter train platform at dawn with one boarding area marked on the floor
transport Why Do Japanese Trains Have Women-Only Cars? Those "Women Only" signs on the platform mark cars set aside to protect women from groping on packed trains. Who can ride, when, and how binding is it?
Illustration of red and yellow autumn trees around a wooden bridge and a temple roof in a mountain valley
seasons Why Is Autumn Leaf Viewing Such a Big Deal in Japan? Every autumn Japan heads out to see the leaves turn. From a court pastime over 1,000 years old to the weather agency's yearly records, here is why.
Illustration of a child in a kimono walking to a shrine with family in autumn, holding a long candy bag
culture Why Do Japanese Families Celebrate Shichi-Go-San (Around 15 November)? Tiny children in kimono and long bags of sweets at a November shrine? That's Shichi-Go-San, when families give thanks that a child has reached 3, 5 or 7.
Illustration of a traditional Japanese inn entrance with a small paper envelope on the counter at dusk
etiquette Why Is Tipping Considered Rude in Japan? It is less "rude" than "awkward". How tipping disappeared from Japan, and the best ways to say thank you instead.
Illustration of a calm hospital corridor with a row of doors, one number in the sequence quietly skipped
culture Why Is the Number Four Unlucky in Japan? The reason is simply how it sounds. Traces of it survive in hospital room numbers, car number plates and even gift-giving etiquette.
Bowl of rice topped with a raw egg yolk and soy sauce on a kitchen table in morning light
food Why Is It Safe to Eat Raw Eggs in Japan? Raw egg on rice is an everyday dish in Japan because the whole chain from farm to table is built on the assumption that eggs will be eaten raw.
Two people seen from behind eating noodles at a steamy, lantern-lit soba stall on an autumn evening
etiquette Why Is It OK to Slurp Noodles in Japan? Eating noisily is bad manners in Japan too. So why do noodles get a pass? The answer lies in Edo-period food stalls and in aroma.
Illustration of a convenience store shelf full of pink cherry blossom themed snacks in spring
seasons Why Is Everything in Japan a Seasonal Limited Edition? Cherry blossom flavours in spring, chestnut and sweet potato in autumn. An old food culture of the seasons meets our weakness for "only for now".