Explore this map, I made as the ultimate Japan guide, to get inspired and discover the places that will become the highlight of your next trip. Many of the places in this map will have helpful booking links and/or links to social media posts with more inside information.
I see all my Guide Maps as perpetual works in progress and will do my best to add to and update them as my knowledge expands.
Use my Klook promo: ACKUGARTE for 10% off for new users and 3% off for returning users.
Tokyo, Japan’s busy capital, mixes the ultramodern and the traditional, from neon-lit skyscrapers to historic temples. The opulent Meiji Shinto Shrine is known for its towering gate and surrounding woods. The Imperial Palace sits amid large public gardens. The city's many museums offer exhibits ranging from classical art (in the Tokyo National Museum) to a reconstructed kabuki theater (in the Edo-Tokyo Museum).
Set on a bustling street among high-rise buildings, this sleek hotel is 3 minutes on foot from Shimbashi train station, a 16-minute walk from the Imperial Palace, featuring gardens and guided tours, and 2 km from an observation deck at Tokyo Tower. Book on Klook
Add to
Details
Hotel Toranomon Hills - The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
A 3-minute walk from Seibu-Shinjuku train station, this trendy, art- and music-themed hotel in the vibrant Shinjuku neighborhood is 9 minutes away by foot from the Golden Gai entertainment district and 1 km from the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
Set a minute's walk from Asakusa train station, this modern hotel is a 4-minute walk from both Sensō-ji Temple and Hanayashiki, an amusement park. A great budget hotel
In a modern building within the upmarket Ginza district, this polished hotel is 3 minutes' walk from a metro station and 3 km from the iconic Tokyo Tower.
Asakusa retains the vibe of an older Tokyo, with traditional craft shops and street-food stalls along Nakamise Street near the ancient Sensō-ji temple. Mid-19th-century Hanayashiki amusement park has rides and cafes, while riverside Kuritsu Sumida Park hosts regular festivals and firework displays. A trendy upscale dining scene is developing along the waterfront, while backstreets are lined with casual izakaya bars.
Shibuya is a special ward in the Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. A major commercial and finance center, Shibuya houses two of the busiest railway stations in the world, Shibuya Station and Shinjuku Station.
Buzzing Harajuku is renowned for colorful street art and youth fashion, with quirky vintage clothing stores and cosplay shops along Takeshita Street, and traditional, upmarket boutiques on leafy Omotesando Avenue. Small, trendy bars fill the surrounding lanes, while dessert shops and carts specialize in sweet crêpes, donuts, and bubble tea. Watari Museum of Contemporary Art hosts cutting-edge temporary exhibitions.
Traditional Ueno is known for ornate Shinto and Zen landmarks, including 17th-century Benzaiten temple, on an island in Ueno Park. Nearby, Tokyo National Museum displays Japanese antiquities, while the National Museum of Western Art houses works by Van Gogh and Picasso. Also in the park is Ueno Zoo, current home of beloved giant panda Xiang Xiang. Ameya-Yokochō is a vast open-air food and handicrafts market. Also thrifting
Shinjuku City encompasses the buzzing clubs and karaoke rooms of neon-lit East Shinjuku and upscale hotel bars and restaurants in the Skyscraper District. Tokyo Metropolitan Building has a popular observation deck, and Mount Hakone rises over tranquil urban parkland. Galleries, theaters, and bookstores attract students from busy campuses. New National Stadium is a high-tech sports venue built for the 2020 Olympics.
Roppongi is a lively entertainment district where locals and tourists mix in buzzing late-night bars and clubs. By day, the vast Roppongi Hills skyscraper complex draws foot traffic for its observation deck, designer fashion boutiques, and the Mori Art Museum, with rotating exhibitions of international contemporary works. The nearby National Art Center is a sprawling gallery with a similar focus.
Shimokitazawa, or Shimokita, is a hip cultural quarter with a lingering old-Tokyo vibe. Narrow, mural-painted lanes are lined with stylish stores for vintage clothes and vinyl. Craft cafes and brewpubs host art shows and live bands, while bakeries and bistros serve inventive pastries and veggie curries. Edgy new plays debut at Honda Gekijo Theater, and young directors screen short movies at Tollywood cinema.
While Narita is further away from city center depending on where you are flying to/from or your airline it might be your only option so don’t worry it still has a great train service that will get you there without too much fuss.
Whimsical museum dedicated to the famed animation studio with a play area, theater & rooftop garden. Check out the short film "The Day I Harvested a Star"
Tour Tokyo in the most eccentric way possible, driving a custom go-kart on the public roads. Enjoy 1 hour of driving, costumes, infinite smiles, and waves - you will never forget Shibuya Tokyo.
Yokohama, a Japanese city south of Tokyo, was one of the first Japanese ports opened to foreign trade, in 1859. It contains a large Chinatown with hundreds of Chinese restaurants and shops. It’s also known for Sankei-en Garden, a botanical park containing preserved Japanese residences from different eras, and the seaside Minato Mirai district, site of the 296m Landmark Tower.
Set amid the forests and waterfalls of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, this serene hot spring inn is 8 km from Kawazu Station and 13 km from Jōren Falls.
Hakone, in Japan's Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park west of Tokyo, is a mountainous town known for its hot springs resorts (onsen) and views of the iconic volcano Mount Fuji. It also encompasses Hakone Shrine, a Shinto shrine with a red “torii” gate overlooking Lake Ashi, which can be toured by boat, as well as the boiling sulphur springs of the Owakudani Valley.
Nagoya, capital of Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, is a manufacturing and shipping hub in central Honshu. The city’s Naka ward is home to museums and pachinko (gambling machine) parlors. Naka also includes the Sakae entertainment district, with attractions like the Sky-Boat Ferris wheel, which is attached to a mall. In northern Naka is Nagoya Castle, a partly reconstructed 1612 royal home displaying Edo-era artifacts.
Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu. It's famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It’s also known for formal traditions such as kaiseki dining, consisting of multiple courses of precise dishes, and geisha, female entertainers often found in the Gion district.
Set in a row of traditional townhouses dating from the early 1900s, this elegant inn is 6 minutes' walk from Ōmiya train station, 2 km from Nijō Castle and 3 km from Nishiki Market.
Set on a hillside overlooking Lake Biwa, this cozy hot-spring inn is 2 km from Ogotoonsen train station and 15 km from Enryaku-ji, a 7th-century temple.
Scenic train ride along the Katsura River with nature views. In the spring it's great for cherry blossom viewing and in the Fall it's great for viewing the fall leaves.
A fun scenic ride down the river with some small rapids. Don't worry too much about getting wet as the boats have splash guards. The boatmen are friendly, fun and keep the ride entertaining.
Uncover the little-known sake culture of Fushimi, Kyoto, on a brewery tour of Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. Savor the nuances of sake during a guided tasting paired with traditional Japanese snacks.
Very cute souvenir shop with free name embroidery on any purchased towel. They have studio Ghibli towels and you can have your name spelled in kanji. Just google “english to kanji generator” and use any website, then just show the cashier.
Very cool perfumery with a great selection of fragrances made in house and to order. They also have a make your own fragrance experience if you have the time.
Osaka is a large port city and commercial center on the Japanese island of Honshu. It's known for its modern architecture, nightlife and hearty street food. The 16th-century shogunate Osaka Castle, which has undergone several restorations, is its main historical landmark. It's surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom trees. Sumiyoshi-taisha is among Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines.
A 3-minute walk from the nearest subway station, this sleek hotel is a 14-minute walk from eateries in the lively Dotonbori district and 2 km from the Osaka Museum of History. It's 4 km from Osaka Castle.
This is a great budget option hotel that is foreigner friendly and stocked with all the amenities you’ll need, like laundry, a free toiletry bar in the lobby, and fresh pajamas every night.
Dotonbori is a canalside entertainment district popular with students and after-work drinkers who pack into small bars and izakaya taverns. Narrow lanes are lit at night by neon billboards, like the iconic Glico running man sign, and lined with street food vendors serving grilled takoyaki octopus balls. Shochikuza Theatre hosts kabuki drama and live music, and Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum shows classic woodblock prints.
America-Mura is a vibrant hub of Western-oriented youth culture that forms a compact village around the popular hangout Sankakukoen Triangle Park. Street art and street food mix with small independent galleries and cafes, resulting in a laid-back, creative atmosphere. Retro stores sell vintage clothing and secondhand books and records. Nightlife is concentrated in lively rock bars and clubs that play U.S. hip-hop.
Learn how to cook 2 of the most popular Japanese dishes during a cooking class in Osaka. Make your own ramen and gyoza from scratch using fresh ingredients, then sit down and enjoy your creation.
America-Mura is a vibrant hub of Western-oriented youth culture that forms a compact village around the popular hangout Sankakukoen Triangle Park. Street art and street food mix with small independent galleries and cafes, resulting in a laid-back, creative atmosphere. Retro stores sell vintage clothing and secondhand books and records. Nightlife is concentrated in lively rock bars and clubs that play U.S. hip-hop.
Nara is the capital of Japan’s Nara Prefecture, in south-central Honshu. The city has significant temples and artwork dating to the 8th century, when it was Japan’s capital. Deer roam in Nara Park, site of Tōdai-ji temple. Daibutsu, Tōdai-ji's 15m-high bronze Buddha, is displayed in a large wooden hall. On the park's east side is the Shinto shrine Kasuga Taisha, which dates to 768 A.D. and more than 3,000 lanterns.
An udon shop located inside Nara park that looks like it is straight out of a Ghibli film.
Add to
Details
Kobe
Kobe is a city on Osaka Bay in central Japan. It is known for its signature marbled beef and scenic setting of mountains framing the harbor. The Ikuta Shrine, dating to the 3rd century, is among Japan's oldest Shinto shrines. Antique cable cars connect Kobe to Mt. Rokko, which offers panoramic views over the port. Beyond the Mount Rokko hills are the outdoor hot springs of Arima Onsen.
This zoo has a lot of interactive animal exhibits like their large bird and lemur room where the animals free roam with visitors. But the real draw for the zoo could be their red pandas, pallas cats, harbor seals, river otters, sloths, or capybara, which you can hand feed. The cafe inside also makes instagramable animal treats and snacks.
$$ Steakland Kobe-kan is a great place to get that authentic experience without breaking the bank. I have truly never had a better steak, Kobe beef is definitely worth the hype.
Himeji is a city in the Kansai region of Japan. It’s known for the sprawling, centuries-old, white Himeji Castle, one of the few original castles from Japan’s feudal period. The top floor of the 6-story main keep offers views over the extensive castle grounds. The Nishi-no-Maru section of the complex contains royal residential quarters. Next to the castle, Kōko-en is a traditional Edo-style garden.
Iconic circa-1613 castle known for a white facade, plus towers, moats, passageways & cherry trees.
Add to
Details
Fukuoka
Fukuoka, capital of Fukuoka Prefecture, sits on the northern shore of Japan’s Kyushu Island. It’s known for ancient temples, beaches and modern shopping malls, including Canal City. Maizuru Park contains ruins of 17th-century Fukuoka Castle. The central Hakata district contains Tōchō-ji Temple, home to a 10m wooden Buddha and the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum, with displays on daily life in the Meiji and Taishō eras.
Beppu is a city and spa resort on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. Set between Beppu Bay and volcanic mountains, it's home to more than 2,000 onsen (hot springs). Kannawa Onsen district has facilities for bathing in nutrient-rich water, mud and sand. The 8 Hells of Beppu—6 in Kannawa, 2 in outlying Shibaseki—are dramatic landscapes of thermal pools. To the west is Mount Tsurumi, accessible by cable car.