Tokyo gets the headlines, but the top 10 places to visit in Japan for a genuinely complete trip sit well outside the capital — ancient temple cities, a floating torii gate, snow festivals, and a subtropical island chain with its own royal history. Here are the 10 worth building an itinerary around, roughly ordered by how easy they are to reach from Tokyo, plus a short bonus section at the end if you’re also squeezing in Tokyo itself.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Japan Beyond Tokyo
1. Kyoto
About two hours and fifteen minutes from Tokyo on the Tokaido Shinkansen, Kyoto is the clearest answer to “best tourist places in Japan” for anyone chasing temples. Fushimi Inari Taisha, predating Kyoto’s own founding as capital in 794, draws visitors for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, while the golden pavilion of Kinkaku-ji remains one of the most photographed Buddhist temples in the country.
2. Osaka
A short hop from Kyoto, Osaka trades temples for food and nightlife — Dotonbori’s canal-side neon signs mark the city’s best-known entertainment district. Osaka Castle, first built in 1583 under Toyotomi Hideyoshi, was destroyed and rebuilt more than once before the current 1931 reconstruction, making it more a symbol of the city’s turbulent history than an original structure.
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3. Nara
Around 40-50 minutes from Osaka or Kyoto, Nara Park is home to over 1,000 free-roaming sika deer considered messengers of the gods in Shinto tradition, alongside Todai-ji Temple, founded in the Nara period (710-784) and home to Japan’s Great Buddha. It’s an easy half-day add-on to a Kyoto or Osaka stay rather than a destination requiring its own overnight.
4. Hiroshima and Miyajima
Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park anchors any visit, but pair it with a short train-and-ferry ride (about an hour from Hiroshima Station) to Miyajima Island, where Itsukushima Shrine’s 16-meter vermilion torii appears to float at high tide. The shrine’s roots go back roughly 1,400 years to 593 CE, with its current dramatic form dating to a 1168 expansion.
5. Hakone and Mount Fuji
About 100 km and roughly 90 minutes from Tokyo by the Romancecar train, Hakone is the closest proper Fuji-viewing base on this list, with hot springs and Lake Ashi cruises alongside mountain views. Lake Kawaguchiko, part of the Fuji Five Lakes, sits a similar distance out and is reachable by direct highway bus if Hakone’s train changes feel like one hop too many.
6. Kanazawa
Reached via the Hokuriku Shinkansen in about 2.5 hours from Tokyo, Kanazawa’s Kenroku-en is ranked among the Three Great Gardens of Japan, dating to 1676 under the Maeda clan. The nearby Nagamachi samurai district preserves Edo-period earthen walls and cobblestone streets from when the Kaga domain was one of Japan’s wealthiest.
7. Takayama and Shirakawa-go
Takayama makes a good base for reaching Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage village (designated 1995) about 50 minutes away by direct bus, known for Gassho-zukuri thatched farmhouses built without nails to shed heavy snowfall—some of the surviving structures are over 250 years old.
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8. Nikko
About 150 km and two hours north of Tokyo by train, Nikko is built around Toshogu Shrine, the elaborately gilded mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Built in 1617 and expanded in 1636, its 55 buildings are a striking contrast to the understated style typical of most Shinto architecture, and it’s an easy day trip from the capital.
9. Sapporo and Hokkaido
A roughly 1.5-2 hour flight from Tokyo to New Chitose Airport, Sapporo is best known for its Snow Festival every February, which started with six student-built snow statues in 1950 and now draws over two million visitors to see around 300 sculptures across three venues. Outside festival season, Hokkaido’s cooler climate and nature make it a solid summer counterpoint to the rest of Japan’s heat.
10. Okinawa
About 2.5 hours by flight from Tokyo, Okinawa feels like a different country — white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and the remains of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which ruled the islands from 1429 to 1879. Shuri Castle, the kingdom’s former royal seat, is worth visiting for its history even though its main buildings are currently under reconstruction following a 2019 fire that destroyed the 1992 restoration.
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Best Time for Top 10 Places to Visit in Japan
Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) are the two strongest windows: late March into early April brings cherry blossoms, while mid-October through late November brings peak autumn foliage—both are beautiful but also the most crowded and expensive times to travel. If you’re set on Sapporo’s Snow Festival specifically, February is non-negotiable regardless of general seasonal advice.
How to Reach Japan for the Top 10 Places to Visit in Japan
Most international flights land at Narita or Haneda Airport near Tokyo; a Japan Rail Pass activated on arrival covers the Narita Express into the city and connections between the two airports if needed. For everything on this list, the Shinkansen network handles Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, and Nikko comfortably, while Sapporo and Okinawa require a domestic flight rather than rail.
Conclusion: Top 10 Places to Visit in Japan
Tokyo is a fine starting point, but the top 10 places to visit in Japan that make a trip memorable are mostly the ones outside it — Kyoto’s torii-lined hillsides, Miyajima’s floating shrine, Hokkaido’s snow sculptures, and Okinawa’s very different pace of island life. Build your route around the Shinkansen network for the mainland stops, budget separate flights for Sapporo and Okinawa, and save Tokyo itself for a shorter bookend rather than the main event.
FAQs On Top 10 Places to Visit in Japan
2. What is the best thing to do in Japan for seeing Mount Fuji?
Hakone offers the most complete package — mountain views, hot springs, and Lake Ashi cruises — within 90 minutes of Tokyo by train, making it more convenient than Lake Kawaguchiko for travelers without a rental car.
3. How many days do I need to see these 10 places?
Realistically, 12-14 days covers everything on this list without excessive rushing, though Kyoto-Osaka-Nara alone can be done well in 4-5 days if Hokkaido and Okinawa aren't part of your route.
4. Is the JR Pass worth it for a trip built around these destinations?
For a route covering Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, and Nikko, a JR Pass is usually worth the cost given how much Shinkansen travel is involved. It doesn't cover flights to Sapporo or Okinawa, so budget those separately.
5. Do I need to see Tokyo before heading to these other destinations?
Not necessarily—Tokyo's two airports are the main international gateways, but there's no requirement to sightsee there first. Many travelers do a short Tokyo stopover (the Shibuya-Senso-ji-Skytree trio covers a solid half-day) before moving on to the rest of the country.
6. What is the best time to see Miyajima's floating torii gate?
High tide is when the shrine appears to float; low tide lets you walk out to the torii's base instead. Check tide tables for your visit date, since the effect is completely different depending on timing.
