Best activities in Japan

Here are 30 unique and immersive experiences to consider for your Japan bucket list:

1. Drink and Dine at an Izakaya

2. Soak in Healing Onsen (Hot Springs)

3, Splurge on a Night at a Tokyo Luxury Hotel

4. Attend a Japanese Matsuri (Festival)

5. Sample the World’s Finest Sushi & Sashimi

6. Ride the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Around Japan

7. Stroll Through Arashiyama’s Bamboo Forest

8. Eat The Best Ramen of Your Life on a Ramen Deep Dive

9. Stay at a Shukubo (Buddhist Temple Lodging)

10. Watch Sumo and Baseball

11. Ski or Snowboard Japan’s Legendary Powder

12. Admire Sakura During Cherry Blossom Season

13. Taste Premium Nihonshu (Sake)

14. Hike Through the Japanese Countryside

15. Experience Nightlife in Japan

16. Cycle Through Kyoto or Tokyo

17. Trek Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

18. Eat Your Way Through Tsukiji’s Outer Market

19. Climb or Admire Fuji-san (Mount Fuji)

20. Marvel at Japan’s Modern Architecture

21. Find Zen in a Japanese Garden

22. Visit an Original Japanese Castle

23. Experience Paradise in the Islands of Okinawa

24. See the Famous Snow Monkeys in Nagano

1. Drink and Dine at an Izakaya

In addition to being the perfect place to sample a wide variety of Japanese dishes — from sashimi and fried foods, to tofu and seasonal vegetables — eating and drinking at an izakaya is also a great way to mingle with locals. Kanpai!

2. Soak in Healing Onsen (Hot Springs)

Soaking in a remote onsen while the snow falls around you is one of the most magical experiences you can have in Japan, and makes braving the cold all the more worthwhile.

3. Splurge on a Night at a Tokyo Luxury Hotel

Luxury options include Aman Tokyo, Palace Hotel Tokyo, and HOSHINOYA Tokyo. Stylish boutique hotels in Tokyo include TRUNK, K5, and Hotel Ryumeikan Ochanomizu Honten.

With so many fun and beautiful options, it’s worth splurging on at least one night at a luxurious Tokyo hotel.

If you can, it’s also worth splurging on a night at a luxury ryokan, as well!

4. Attend a Japanese Matsuri (Festival)

If you want to see Japan at its liveliest, a high-energy matsuri is the place to do it! Matsuris are full of color, tradition, and exuberance. Some of the most remarkable include Hokkaido’s Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival), Shikoku’s boisterous Awa Odori dance festival, and the beautiful Gion Matsuri of Kyoto.

5. Sample the World’s Finest Sushi & Sashimi

Sushi and sashimi in Japan are, unsurprisingly, on a level of their own. Tokyo Sushi shops are just the tip of the iceberg, and you’ll find top-quality sushi and sashimi throughout the country, in places such as Kanazawa, Hokkaido, Toyama Prefecture, and beyond.

Even more price-conscious travelers will find excellent sushi and sashimi at moderately priced restaurants, and in beautiful depachika bentos.

6. Ride the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Around Japan

Part of the fun of riding the bullet train is the food. Before hopping on the train, pick up a delicious seasonal bento and a bottle of sake (eating and drinking on the train is a national tradition), and enjoy the landscape as it zips by.

7. Stroll Through Arashiyama’s Bamboo Forest

Too touristy? Not necessarily. Yes, Kyoto’s scenic Arashiyama district (home to Zen temples and the iconic bamboo forest) can get extremely crowded at peak hours, and during peak seasons.

On the other hand, if you visit off-season — or have the motivation to wake up early — you may have this magical place all to yourself. Depending on the time of year, the crowds often also begin thinning out in the late afternoon, when most tourists head back to their hotels.

8. Eat The Best Ramen of Your Life on a Ramen Deep Dive

These days you can find good-quality ramen in most major cities around the world, but there’s still nothing like ramen in Japan. Wherever you go, you’ll find incredibly good ramen shops with passionately devoted followers.

If you’re a hardcore ramen lover, geek out with a ramen-obsessed expert who will take you to a selection of great ramen-ya to experience distinct styles and varieties. There are also less obsessive ramen guides for travelers seeking a more basic introduction to these famous noodles.

9. Stay at a Shukubo (Buddhist Temple Lodging)

For a taste of traditional Japanese Buddhist life, there’s no better experience than spending a night or two at a shukubo (temple lodging).

Temple accommodations are typically on the rustic side, but prepare for a fascinating and immersive cultural experience, and delicious vegetarian shojin ryori cuisine.

10. Watch Sumo and Baseball

The chance to watch Sumo should not be missed! Along with being highly entertaining, attending a sumo basho (tournament) is also a fascinating cultural experience.

And even if you’re not a baseball fan, few things are more fun than going to a baseball game in Japan. Japanese baseball fans are renowned for their liveliness, and the food and drink is also a highlight!

11. Ski or Snowboard Japan’s Legendary Powder

From the legendary powder of Niseko and Hokkaido, to the Japanese Alps and Tohoku, Japan has some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the world. After a day on the slopes, rejuvenate with cozy izakaya food and healing onsen.

12. Admire Sakura During Cherry Blossom Season

We were torn about whether to include this on our list, as we generally believe Japan is best experienced with fewer crowds. On the other hand, despite the number of tourists, there is nevertheless something beguilingly magical about sakura (cherry blossoms).

During hanami (cherry blossom viewing) season, the country is covered in pink blossoms, and parks and gardens are filled with revelers celebrating over sake and seasonal bentos.

13. Taste Premium Nihonshu (Sake)

Many would-be sake lovers have been turned off of sake thanks to subpar experiences at Japanese restaurants outside of Japan. But the quality of sake to be found in Japan is simply remarkable. Forget the sake you’ve tried in the US, Europe, or Australia. Come to Japan with an open mind and prepare to sample premium nihonshu from small local producers who rarely export.

14. Hike Through the Japanese Countryside

Japan is a hiker’s paradise, with wonderful day hikes and multi-day walks throughout the country.

15. Experience Nightlife in Japan

Japan is culturally thrilling during the day, and equally dynamic at night.

Whether you’re enjoying craft cocktails at a tiny bar, drinking with locals at a casual izakaya or tachinomi (stand bar), or singing all-night karaoke, Japan has some of the most varied and entertaining nightlife in the world.

16. Cycle Through Kyoto or Tokyo

For serious cyclists, the Japanese countryside offers countless opportunities for distance rides (mountain biking is also popular in Japan). But even if you’re not looking to plan your whole trip around cycling, you can still fit some in while having fun exploring cities such as Kyoto and Tokyo.

Both are great cycling cities, especially when you’re winding your way through charming backstreets, away from the tourist centers. Think of it as a neighborhood stroll by bicycle, taking in quiet areas filled with authentic street life, old-fashioned shops, and neighborhood shrines and temples.

17. Trek Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

Like Arashiyama’s bamboo forest, Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Taisha tends to draw huge crowds. Yet also like the bamboo forest, Fushimi Inari is nevertheless still worth visiting.

One way to minimize exposure to crowds is by coming here early in the morning before most travelers have had their morning tea or coffee. For a more off-the-beaten-path experience, hike up Mount Inari and you’ll see that gradually the selfie sticks give way to peace and quiet!

18. Eat Your Way Through Tsukiji’s Outer Market

Wait, didn’t Tokyo’s fish market move to Toyosu? Yes, it did! But Tsukiji remains a must for food and market lovers. While the market’s wholesale operations have moved to the slightly out-of-the-way Toyosu, the jogai (outer market) at Tsukiji is still thriving.

In Tsukiji’s Outer Market you’ll find historic lanes and alleys packed with a colorful array of shops and small restaurants, not to mention atmosphere and charm to spare.

19. Climb or Admire Fuji-san (Mount Fuji)

As the old saying goes, there are two types of fools in the world: those who never climb Mount Fuji, and those who climb it more than once. On the way up you’ll see children and grandparents, and while not the most scenic trek, it is all worthwhile when you reach the summit in time for sunrise.

20. Marvel at Japan’s Modern Architecture

Along with its traditional gems, Japan is home to some of the world’s most accomplished architects, and you’ll find stunning architecture throughout the country.

In Tokyo, you could spend hours strolling the main avenues and backstreets of the Ginza, Aoyama, and Omotesando neighborhoods, filled with iconic buildings by Japanese luminaries. Throughout Japan, from tiny villages to major cities, you’ll come across the work of legendary architects such as Tadao Ando and Kengo Kuma, often in the most surprising of locations.

21. Find Zen in a Japanese Garden

Kyoto is particularly renowned for its wealth of gardens. Even beyond Kyoto, impeccable gardens abound in Japan, from stroll gardens like Kenrokue, to the gorgeous gardens of the Adachi Museum of Art.

22. Visit an Original Japanese Castle

Lovers of history and traditional architecture should go out of their way to visit at least one original, preserved Japanese castle. Most castles you see in photos (for example, Osaka Castle) are reconstructions, with beautiful external appearances but lackluster interiors.

Japan retains a small but wonderful collection of preserved original castles including Himeji-jo (Himeji Castle), Matsumoto-jo, Hikone-jo, Matsuyama-jo, and more. With gorgeous exteriors and captivating interiors full of intrigue, these national treasures are a must for history buffs.

23. Experience Paradise in the Islands of Okinawa

The islands of Okinawa are home to stunning beaches, world-class scuba diving, and fascinating culture and history. In particular, the remote islands of Okinawa — such as the pristine Yaeyama Islands — feel worlds apart from mainland Japan.

24. See the Famous Snow Monkeys in Nagano

Located in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, animal lovers flock to the Jigokudani Yaen Koen (Snow Monkey Park) to see Japan’s famous snow monkeys up close. While possible to visit throughout the year, the best time to visit the onsen-loving snow monkeys is in deep winter, when the landscape is completely covered in snow.