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15 Top Japan Tourist Attractions by Local Guides

by GoWithGuide travel specialist:Akane N.

Last updated : Sep 14, 2022・17 min read

Choosing the top attractions in Japan is a difficult task because Japan is a country that has lots to offer. It really depends on what foreign tourists are interested in and what they see as must see sightseeing spots during their brief stay. This said, below are 15 of the most iconic spots in Japan that are popular sightseeing spots among tourists. They represent the history, culture, and traditions of Japan, and give tourists insight about the country of Japan as a whole.

15 Top Tourist Attractions in Japan

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is the most famous mountain in Japan and is a symbol of the country itself. It is the center of philosophical and spiritual reverence. In Shintoism, the indigenous religion of Japan, there is a belief that all things in nature, be it a rock, tree, or mountain, are imbued with a godlike presence. So, the tallest volcanic mountain in Japan with it’s beautiful symmetrical features was revered from centuries ago and was considered a sacred site of the Shinto faith. When you see the mountain yourself, you will probably understand why it is so special. You can see Mt. Fuji from the Yamanashi prefecture side or the Shizuoka prefecture side, or at a distance from around Hakone. Mount Fuji is not really easy to get to. If you had a car, it would be much more easier to go and sightsee, thus hiring a private car for yourselves is highly recommended.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima is a city known worldwide as one of the only places the atomic bomb was dropped at the end of World War II. From the death and destruction, the city has rebuilt itself, and is now a place to pray for world peace. The atomic bomb dome with the blown out roof still stands with a ghostly presence, reminding us of the atrocity that occurred here. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is a must see spot, though it will leave you with a heavy heart. This memorial park is to remind the world that we must work towards peace in order not to repeat the devastation that happened, so it’s an educational spot especially for the younger generation who’ve never experienced war.

Address: 1-2 Nakajima-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0811

Hours: 8:30-18:00 (Mar. - Jul. & Sept. - Nov.) / 8:30-19:00 (Aug.) / 8:30-17:00 (Dec. - Feb.)

Closed: Dec. 30 and 31

Fee: Adults 200 yen/15-18 yr old 100 yen / free of charge for children 14 and under

Website: http://hpmmuseum.jp/?lang=eng

Itsukushima Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine is located on Miyajima island just a short ferry ride from Hiroshima city. It’s one of the most beautiful shrines you’ll ever see. At high tide, the red “Torii” gate standing a few hundred meters from shore seems to be growing out of the ocean and the red shrine building itself looks like it’s floating as the building sits on stilts, designed to have the water come in under it. On the other hand at low tide, you’ll be able to see the sandy ground underneath the building and you can even walk out to the base of the “Torii” gate. Try a “momiji manju”, a maple leaf shaped red bean bun, which is famous local sweet of Miyajima island.

Address: 1-1 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0588

Hours: 6:30 to 18:00 (March to October 14) / 6:30 to 17:30 (January, February & October 15 thru November) / 6:30 to 17:00 (December)

Fee: 300 yen

Website: http://www.en.itsukushimajinja.jp/

Jigokudani Monkey Park

You’ve probably seen this picture of Japanese monkeys soaking in the hot springs before. Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano is the only place you can see these monkeys up close. It’s really amusing to see the monkeys in the snow covered landscape warming up their cold bodies in the warm water just like humans. Most monkeys don’t have an affinity for water, but for some reason, the monkeys here have discovered just how relaxing soaking in the hot springs is, and have passed down this information from generation to generation. The person who discovered this character trait actually built the wild monkeys the big hot springs pool that you see now.

Address: 6845 Yamanouchi-machi Shimotakai-gun Nagano 381-0401

Hours: 8:30 - 17:00 (Apr. - Oct.) / 9:00-16:00 (Nov. - Ma.)

Fee: Adults 800 yen / Children 400 yen

Website: http://en.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

This temple is a must see spot when you visit Kyoto. It’s a beautiful temple, built on the side of a hill. Because of where it was built, the veranda, juts out from the hillside on tall wooden stilts. It’s kind of amazing that the whole thing has lasted as long as it has. It was said in the olden days that if you jumped off this veranda and survived, your wish would come true. This truly terrifying practice was banned after several deaths, but believe it or not, some people actually did survive the jump. In the spring, cherry blossoms surround the temple in pink, and in the autumn, the whole area glows in red, yellow, and orange. It’s a wonderful place to take some pictures.

Address: 1-294, Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 605-0862

Hours: 6:00 to 18:00 (until 18:30 on weekends and holidays from mid Apr.-Jul. and everyday in Aug.-Sep.)

Fee: 400 yen

Website: https://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/en/

Himeji Castle

Himeji castle is said to be the most beautiful castle in the whole of Japan so it is definitely one of the most famous places to visit in Japan. The castle’s whitewashed walls and roof give it a kind of elegant look. In Japan, this castle is nicknamed the “White Heron Castle” because of how it looks. It’s a national treasure and also a World Heritage Site. Many of the castles in Japan have been destroyed by fire, earthquake, or war, but the Himeji castle has been spared all of this, and the original structure still stands strong. It was renovated in 2015, so now you can see the brightly whitewashed castle as it would have stood long ago.

Address: 68 Honmachi, Himeji, 670-0012

Hours: 9:00-16:00 (until 17:00 from April 27 - August 31)

Closed: Dec. 29 & 30

Fee: Adults 1,000 yen / Children 300 yen

Website: https://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/castle/

Todaiji Temple

Todaiji Temple, in Nara Prefecture, is known as the temple where the huge Buddha statue sits. It’s humongous! It looks even bigger than it really is because it’s housed inside the main temple building and not outside in the open air. The temple is located in Nara Park where you’ll find lots of wild deer. You can buy deer biscuits and feed the deer, but beware, they’re very pushy. They’ll surround you from all sides so it can be a bit scary for children.

Address: 406-1 Zoushi-cho Nara-shi Nara-ken 630-8587

Hours: 7:30-17:30 (Apr. -Oct.) / 8:00-17:00 (Nov. -Mar.)

Fee: Over 13 yrs old 600 yen / 12 yrs old and under 300 yen

Website: http://www.todaiji.or.jp/english/

Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace is where the current Emperor of Japan resides. It is one of the main sightseeing spots in Tokyo. Contrary to its name, you won’t find a palace there. The modern residence of the Emperor is in a part of the grounds that is not open to the public. However, you’ll be able to see the magnificent stone Nijubashi bridge over the moat and the East Gardens of the palace grounds. So there’s lots to see even if there is no actual castle. If you're interested in seeing the gardens of the Imperial Palace or looking to discover more of Tokyo in general, consider taking a Private Tour and letting a local guide show you around. It is an efficient way to see the major attractions of Tokyo.

Address: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8111

Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Mar. - Apr. 14 & Sep.) 9:00-18:00 (Apr. 15 - end of Aug.) 9:00-16:30 (Oct.) 9:00-16:00 (Nov. - Feb.)

Closed: Mon. & Fri. (other days may be closed so please see the website calendar)

East Garden Website: https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/shisetsu/higashigyoen-map.html

Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion)

Kinkakuji is another one of Japan’s most famous sightseeing spots. The golden temple stands magnificently in the middle of the large pond, glinting in the sun. Completely covered in gold leaf, this temple is a picturesque scene in any season. In spring, the pink cherry blossoms compliment the temple, and in summer the fresh greenery and strong sunlight makes the glittering temple look even more golden. In the fall, the whole area is covered in red, orange, and gold, and in the bitter winter, a serene scene of the snow covered temple awaits you.

Address: 1 Kinkakujimachi, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8361

Hours: 9:00-17:00

Fee: 400 yen

Website (Japanese Only): https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/kinkakuji/

Fushimi Inari

Fushimi Inari has become especially famous in the last ten years because foreign tourists shared their pictures of the shrine online and these amazing pictures brought even more foreign visitors to the shrine. What is amazing about the temple is the tunnel made up of countless red “Torii” gates. Usually, there is only one “Torii” gate at the entrance of a shrine, but this shrine was donated gate after gate by the people of the area. You’ll find large ones you can walk under as well as cute little miniature ones. Because of its popularity, this shrine is always very crowded so I would recommend going very early on a weekday in order to escape the throngs of people.

Address: 68 Fukakusa Yabunouchi-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-0882

Fee: free of charge

Website: http://inari.jp/en/

Kenrokuen Garden

This Japanese garden located in Kanazawa city is one of the three best Japanese gardens in Japan. It is especially beautiful in the winter when snow piles up on top of the trees. The pine trees are protected from breaking under the the weight of the snow by ropes spread out on top of it like an umbrella. As in a traditional Japanese garden, this one is centered upon a large pond and is meant to be seen by walking the paths around the pond. The difference from a western style garden can be felt just by entering the premises, so visit the garden to experience Japanese culture while sightseeing.

Address: 1 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa

Hours: 7:00 - 18:00 (Mar. 1 - Oct.15) / 8:00 - 17:00 (Oct.16 - end of Feb.)

Fee: Adults 320 yen / Children 100 yen

Website: http://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/siro-niwa/kenrokuen/e/index.html

Koyasan (Mount Koya)

“Koyasan” or Mount Koya is the home of Shingon Buddhism. A monk called Kukai first travelled to China to study this sect of Buddhism and he returned to Japan in 840 to establish his first monastery on Mount Koya. So as the birthplace of Shingon Buddhism in Japan, it’s now a famous spiritual spot for its followers. It has also become a popular sightseeing spot for tourists. It is not easy to visit as its out of the way and it involves a lot of hiking, but the spiritual and cultural experience is something you cannot have anywhere else. There are also some temples that provide overnight accommodations in the dormitories for monks including their very simple vegetarian food and other Buddhist practices like meditation or sutra writing. Randomly walking this World Heritage Site can be a bit daunting because it’s literally a mountain so I advise requesting a tour by a local guide of the area.

Website: https://en.visitwakayama.jp/destinations/koyasan/

Nikko Toshogu Shrine

This shrine in Nikko is another World Heritage site that Japan boasts. The elaborately decorated gate is especially beautiful. The famous three monkeys each holding their eyes, ears, and mouth, designed on the shrine, depict the proverb “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”. It’s only a 2.5 hour train ride away from Tokyo, so it’s possible to sightsee in the Nikko area on a day trip. However, you’ll need to be efficient in how you spend your time so having a local guide take you there on a private tour maybe a good idea.

Address: 2301 Yamauchi, Nikko-shi, Tochigi Pref. 321-1431

Hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (Apr. - Oct.) / 9:00 - 16:00 (Nov. - Mar.)

Fee: Adults 1,300 yen / 15 yrs old and under 450 yen

Website (Japanese Only): https://www.toshogu.jp/

Sanjusangendo Temple

Sanjusangendo Temple is famous for its “Kannon” or goddess of mercy statues. There are 1001 of them in all. It’s an awe inspiring sight. There’s one large wooden Kannon statue in the middle which has 1000 arms. And there are 500 smaller, but human sized, statues on each side of her. Look closely at the detailed carvings on each of these statues. Each of their expressions are a little bit different on close inspection. The hall where the statues stand is 120 meters long and is the longest wooden structure in Japan.

Address: 657 Sanjusangendo Mawaricho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0941

Hours: 8:30 - 17:00 (9:00 - 16:00 from Nov. 16 - end of Mar.)

Fee: Adults 600 yen / 13 - 18 yr olds 400 yen / Children 300 yen

Website (Japanese only): http://www.sanjusangendo.jp/

Shinjuku Gyoen Park

This park is situated right in the center of a bustling metropolis. A mere 15 minute walk from Shinjuku station, one of the busiest stations in Japan, lies a lush green park where you can picnic under the cherry blossoms in the spring or see a traditional Japanese garden and have some tea at a tea house, or see a French garden. It’s a place where people go to relax and get away from the noise of the big city. Because of its vicinity to Shinjuku, a popular sightseeing location, this park is also popular with foreign visitors.

Address: 11 Naito-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Hours: 9:00 - 16:00 (Oct. 1 - Mar. 14) / 9:00 to 17:30 (Mar. 15 - June 30 & Aug. 21 to Sept. 30) / 9:00 to 18:30 (Jul. 1 to Aug. 20)

Closed: Mondays (the next day if Monday is a holiday)

Fee: 500 yen

Website: https://www.env.go.jp/garden/shinjukugyoen/english/index.html

Make the most out of your trip to Japan

GoWithGuide provides tours for each of these places, so if you’d like to have a local guide with you to explain about what you’re seeing, be sure to visit the website. You can see each of the local guides’ profile page , so you can choose the perfect companion for your trip. If you're unsure on how these attractions fit with your schedule or if you're short on time for planning your trip, send a request to us and we'll match you with a guide who will create a custom tour itinerary just for you. Enjoy your trip to Japan and be sure to check othese 15 Top Japan Tourist Attractions!