10 unforgettable experiences for your next trip to Japan
Japan is an alluring destination because of its many juxtapositions. Neon skyscrapers tower over Shinto shrines, and salarymen ride the train next to Harajuku girls. The Land of the Rising Sun also has diverse climates and cultural attractions to please every style of traveler. Adventurers can ski Niseko's slopes or hike Mount Fuji, while food lovers can eat their fill of street snacks in Osaka. Those seeking a more 'Zen' vacation can relax in outdoor hot springs, explore an art-filled island, or join Buddhist monks for morning chants.
Here are 10 not-to-be-missed experiences to immerse yourself in Japanese culture.
For centuries, Hakone has been a favorite getaway spot for onsen, or open-air hot springs baths. Stay in a ryokan (traditional inn) with a communal onsen or take a private dip while gazing at Mount Fuji at the luxurious The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Sengokuhara. During the day, join a boat tour of Lake Ashi and ascend the Hakone Ropeway cable car for views of Owakudani, a volcanic valley bubbling from sulfurous vents. For a different perspective, visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum to admire large-scale contemporary sculptures set against the mountains.
(Related: Everything you need to know about Japan.)
Naoshima is a tiny isle on the Seto Inland Sea that has become a hub for groundbreaking art. Reserve tickets to visit the Chichu Art Museum, designed by Tadao Ando. His stark, geometric architecture harmoniously works with the surrounding landscape, highlighted by artwork by James Turrell and Claude Monet. Yayoi Kusama has several sculptures on Naoshima, including an enormous yellow-dotted pumpkin overlooking the shore. Don't miss the Art House Project, which transforms decaying wooden homes into thought-provoking installations.
(Related: Where to go in Japan beyond Tokyo.)
Tokyo's Harajuku district has become world-famous for its experimental street fashion. Shop for Goth platform boots and shredded punk jackets on pedestrian street Takeshita Dori. Find frilled Lolita dresses at the secondhand shop Closet Child and candy-rave kawaii accessories at 6% Doki Doki. Shoppers should also head to the department store Laforet for a dozen floors of street-style attire, as well as J-pop art and a Sailor Moon boutique.
Osaka's Dotonbori neighborhood is a sensory explosion of flashing billboards and smoke wafting from food vendor grills. Take selfies with Glico's retro sign of Running Man (a Korean reality show) and a Godzilla-sized red crab clinging to Kani Doraku seafood restaurant. Follow your nose to stalls hawking takoyaki (octopus balls), okonomiyaki (savory pancakes), and kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers). Pop culture fans can dine on dishes decorated to look like cute characters at a theme café like Eorzea, which is inspired by the Final Fantasy XIV video game.
(Related: Tried street food in Osaka? Then go to Fukuoka.)
Koyasan is an ancient Shingon Buddhist center located high in the misty mountains of Wakayama. Visitors can stay with monks in a shukubo (temple guesthouse) and take part in their spiritual practice. Rise at dawn to watch residents chant sutras at an altar and sit with them for a meal of seasonal vegetables and tofu. Visit the 16th-century Kongobu-ji Temple, known for its stunning rock garden and the sliding doors painted by artist Hiroshi Senju. Visitors can also reflect on impermanence at Okunoin, a cemetery with 200,000 moss-covered graves and miniature Buddha statues in red bibs and hats.
In the 1800s, Kyoto's Gion district was the playground of geisha, the elegant entertainers in intricate kimonos, pale makeup, and stylized wigs. Step back in time at Gion Corner, a theater that keeps its culture alive with tea ceremonies, flower arranging (ikebana), koto music, and dance shows. For a more intimate experience, gather a group of friends for a private kaiseki (multi-course dinner) with geisha entertainment. Or you can get a geisha makeover at a studio and pose for portraits at landmarks like Tatsumi Bridge.
(Related: How this Japanese city is keeping the geisha tradition alive.)
Nara has one of the oldest public parks in Japan, which is home to hundreds of free-roaming deer. The spotted and horned beasts have been protected for over a thousand years, as they are considered the sacred messengers of Shinto gods. Keep a respectful distance as you feed the gentle creatures deer crackers known as shika senbei—some will bow their heads to say thank you. Visitors should not touch the deer but can safely follow the animals as they amble around Nara's serene spaces, such as the large Buddhist complex Todai-ji and the classical Yoshikien and Isuien gardens.
Delve into Hiroshima's past and the city's commitment to peace and rebuilding after the 1945 nuclear bombing. The devastation of the atomic bomb attack is palpable at Genbaku Dome, a building reduced to blackened walls and a cobweb-like roof. At the Peace Memorial Museum, bear witness to powerful exhibits—such as a human shadow burnt into stone—and hear the stories of survivors. End the day with a stroll through Memorial Park, a green space with monuments that pay tribute to Hiroshima's resilience.
(Related: What locals love about Japan.)
The 1998 Winter Olympics put Nagano on the map as a year-round nature destination. In the winter, the slopes of Hakuba, Nozawa onsen, and Shiga Kogen take on the perfect powder for skiers and snowboarders. Animal lovers will be amused by the sight of red-faced snow macaques splashing in the hot springs at Jigokudani Monkey Park. When Nagano warms up, hikers can trek the scenic alpine paths at Kamikochi Valley, as well as the historic Nakasendo Trail that connected Edo to Kyoto in the 17th century.
Tokyo's pleasure center, Shinjuku, has hundreds of niche bars that rage all night long. For a glimpse of Japanese subculture, dance with Day-Glo club kids at DecaBarS in Kabukicho. Pop into one of the many bars crammed into the gritty Golden Gai alley. Each has a distinctive theme—from horror movies to karaoke—and some seat only a handful of people. Those intrigued by Shinjuku's LGBTQ+ nightlife can head to Ni-Chome and cheer on the drag queens at Eagle Tokyo Blue.
This article was originally published on September 20, 2011, and updated on March 17, 2025.
La Carmina is an award-winning travel journalist and blogger, TV host, and Simon & Schuster author, specializing in alternative culture and Japan. Follow her on Instagram.
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