Japan is secretive. It’s the peak of conventional procedures with cutting-edge speed and efficacy. Despite being one of the world’s most industrialized nations, Japan has a fascinating past.
Japan’s Shinto and Buddhist temples were well-established and attracted pilgrims and consumers to its sophisticated architecture and décor before many of Europe’s most stunning cathedrals were built. The country also perfected silk and excellent pottery, which would contribute to its future wealth.
Japan is a once-in-a-lifetime trip since much of its rich culture has survived wars and natural disasters.
Japan is a fantastic travel destination, packed with must-see attractions, fun things to do, and educational museums. So Book Your Tickets now and visit some of the most amzing places in Japan.
Read this travel guide for information on the best Japan offers as a visitor.
1. Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima
No need to revisit the horrors of the atomic violence in Hiroshima in August 1945. Still, the extraordinary measures taken by this thriving metropolis to remember the victims of the first nuclear assault on humanity are moving. The significance of Hiroshima as a symbol of perpetual peace cannot be overstated.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was constructed on the site of the atomic blast, formerly a bustling commercial district of the city. In this area, you may visit several memorials, museums, and other places that honor the victims and heroes of September 11th.
The park is home to the Peace Memorial Museum, which, in addition to its grounds and gardens with their beautiful cherry blossoms, has many exhibitions on the issue of international peace. Here you’ll find the Memorial Cenotaph, the Atom Bomb Dome, and the ruins of an administration building in the blast’s core.
2. Itsukushima Shrine on the Island of Miyajima
Hiroshima’s Shrine Island, Miyajima, can be reached by ferry in an hour. Itsukushima Shrine, dedicated to Susanoo’s daughters, is located on Miyajima, a tiny island in Hiroshima Bay (approximately 30 square kilometers).
Many of the shrine’s structures, some as old as the seventh century, are hoisted out of a shallow harbor on nothing but pilings.
. These structures, notably the internationally renowned Great Floating Gate (O-Torii), take on an eerie look during high tide, creating the impression that they are floating on the water.
Larger rooms are exciting to explore, especially those linked by passageways and bridges. The Honden (Main Hall), Heiden (Offerings Hall), Haiden (Prayer Hall), and Hall with a Thousand Mats are among the most stunning (Senjokaku).
Visitors can watch cultural performances, including traditional dances and musical concerts, on a stage at the shrine. The Island’s beautiful gardens and lawns attract a wide variety of wildlife, including several bird species.
3. Fuji-san
The iconic peak of Fuji-san (Mount Fuji) in Japan. With its towering 3,776-meter height, this renowned peak towers above the otherwise flat terrain to the south and east, making it visible from Tokyo, over 100 kilometers away.
The United Nations Educational and Cultural Organization formally recognized Mount Fuji for its cultural and historical worth to the global world in 2013. The mountain has been a topic of awe in the arts for millennia. In the summer, more than a million visitors trek to the top of Mount Fuji in Japan’s Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park to see the sunrise from the peak.
Most hikers start at the 5th Station, well over the halfway mark, shortening the route to a more manageable six hours or so. Those who intend to climb should set out in the afternoon and stay in one of the “Mountain Huts” spaced out along the way. The following day, you should get an early start if you want to reach the summit in time to watch the sunrise.
4. Fukuoka Castle’s Ancient Ruins and the Festivals
In the middle of Maizuru Park is the ruined Fukuoka Castle (Fukuoka-j), built in the early 1600s. The castle was an excellent representation of the massive hilltop residences that were commonplace in the era of the Shoguns and other powerful city lords. During the anti-feudal purges that followed the Meiji Restoration, it was unfortunately destroyed.
Among the rubble, you can still make out the castle’s main gate and one of its turrets. Reaching the peak will reward you with a panoramic view of the city beyond the ruins. The main attractions are the leafy walking paths and the scenic lookouts with views across the Naka River. In the spring, when the cherry trees blossom, the park is at its most picturesque.
Fukuoka is also famous for its plethora of festivals and other events. Examples include Hakata Gion Yamakasa, a 700-year-old festival held in July that lasts for two weeks and is notable for its extravagant costumes, traditional races, and colorful parades.
In addition to its historic landmarks, the city also features some more modern attractions. Canal City Hakata, a mini-city with high-quality shops, hotels, restaurants, and even a theater, all connected by a canal, tops the list.
5. Koyasan Okunoin
A cemetery isn’t the first site that springs to mind when considering must-see tourist attractions. But Japan’s Koyasan Okunoin is a significant deviation. This important shrine is one of Japan’s holiest places because it may contain Kobo Daishi’s grave, the founder of Shingon Buddhism.
Daishi, often spelled Kukai, had an essential role in the growth of Japanese Buddhism. One theory has him waiting for the Future Buddha in a meditative trance. Those who make the journey to his grave do so in the immediate future of eternal salvation.
When visiting the cemetery, the first bridge visitors will encounter the Ichinohashi Bridge. Over 200,000 gravestones line the tomb’s path. Visit Gokusho Offering Hall to pray and offer for your ancestors.
Gobyobashi Bridge divides the cemetery’s holiest area from the rest. Toronto Hall, a primary worship hall, may house the Miroku Stone in front of the grave. If you find the tomb beyond that Hall, it’s beautiful. Many lanterns illuminate.
Even if you don’t believe in Kobo Daishi, being in the same room with hundreds of pilgrims from throughout Japan singing and praying for him is moving.
6. The Izu Peninsula
Get away from it all on this peninsula 62 miles southwest of Tokyo. White sand beaches and relaxing hot springs draw both locals and tourists. They may be found at Atami and Shimoda, two cities on the Izu Peninsula’s eastern coast that also include several museums and traditional inns (traditional Japanese inns). The cherry blossoms of Kawazu are a must-see for springtime visitors. Nagashima and the other rocky but still stunning beaches to the south and west of the Island may be found in this region.
