7 Places in Japan That You Cannot Miss Out On

O ver 30 million people visit Japan each year to experience its rich culture, built on 30,000 years of history. It is home to countless Buddhist temples, historical buildings, and cultural centers that you need to travel to more than once to explore fully. However, for a one time visit, here are the best places to travel to in Japan

Asakusa 

Situated in Tokyo, this place is often considered the city’s biggest cultural center. The district is home to many small temples, all worth having a look at! But if you are short on time, consider visiting the Senso-Ji temple and the Nakamise block adjacent to it to fulfill your shopping needs. This area is also just a short distance from the Tokyo Sky Tree. If you appreciate a good drink, try visiting the Asahi Beerhall to explore some exquisite alcohol. 

Akihabara 

One of the biggest draws of Japan is its vast contribution to entertainment. From Nintendo to Dragon Ball Z, several important global cultural icons find their home in the land of the rising sun. But what if we told you, you could find a place where you could enjoy everything from Anime to games all in one place. That is Akhihabra, the geek capital of the world and home to one of the biggest geek-based collections you will ever see. So if you are a fan of anime culture, not visiting Akihabara means wasting your trip to Japan

Shibuya 

This place is not a conventional tourist attraction. There is no particular infrastructure or attraction here that you are visiting. This is something you need to see if you want to be amazed by the level of economic activity in Japan. On a normal day, the foot traffic of this crossing is averaged at 2.8 million people a day. In addition to that, Shibuya is also home to some of the most popular shops that are rated very highly by many tourist shoppers. 

Naoshima 

This one is for all the art lovers out there! Naoshima is where you will find some of the best paintings, sculptures, and modern architecture (mostly designed by the renowned architect called Ando Tadao). Some of the can’t-miss places in Naoshima are Chichu Art Museum, Lee Afaun Museum, and Benesse Museum. 

Ueno Park 

Ueno Park is really like a mini Japan. It has a rich collection of sites that have everything you love about Japan, and more. Do visit the Shinbaozu Pond here if you are a lover of nature, and explore its luscious green beauty. Ueno Park is one of the few places that survived the horrors of WW2, so it is a unique gateway into the country’s history.

Niko 

If you find yourself in east Japan, Niko is the place you must not miss. This cultural center has one of the most important shrines in Japanese history, the Toshugu Shrine, which is where Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of Tokugawa Shogunate, is buried and honored till today. Another shrine that is also worth visiting is the Futarasan Shrine. 

Niko is also where Edo Wonderland is situated, a theme park that takes tourists back to the medieval times of Japan. 

Kawagoe 

Similar to Edo Wonderland, this area, located northwest of Tokyo, is a literal time machine. The only difference is that this is not a dedicated theme park, but authentic, preserved sites from Japan’s culturally rich past. This is where you will find the infamous Kita-in temple, which is one of the last remnants of the Edo Castle. The shogunate of the time used the various pieces of the castle to reconstruct this temple.  

Conclusion 

Ultimately, Japan has deeply rich and diverse cultural and historical sites. One or two visits won’t cover everything. However, we understand that a lot of you reading this cannot go there as many times as you would like! Which is why we have rounded up the best places to travel to in Japan in the above list, so you can make the most out of your vacation days and experience the country as deeply as possible!

• This post is tagged in:

• History
• temples
• Japan
• Anime
• Culture
• Shrines