Japan

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Young tourist enjoying the sunset in Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, one of the most famoust places in Kyoto, Japan

INIGO CIA DA RIVA / Stocksy United

Overview

Japan is truly timeless, a place where ancient traditions fuse with modern life, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Mt Fuji and Cherry Blossom

    Mt Fuji

    Fuji Five Lakes

    Fuji-san is among Japan's most revered and timeless attractions, the inspiration for generations of poets and the focus of countless artworks. Hundreds of…

  • Tokyo Imperial Palace, tokyo, japan 138905807 ancient, architecture, asia, asian, attraction, bridge, building, castle, city, edo, emperor, fort, fortress, historic, historical, history, imperial, japan, japanese, king, landmark, moat, monarchy, nijubashi, old, oriental, otemachi, palace, royal, royalty, stone, tokyo, tower, travel, urban, wall

    Imperial Palace

    Tokyo

    The Imperial Palace occupies the site of the original Edo-jō, the Tokugawa shogunate's castle. In its heyday this was the largest fortress in the world,…

  • Vendors prepare chestnuts to sell at Nishiki Market in Kyoto, Japan on 22 November 2016. 1011566827 traditional, street, asian, nutrition, priest, tourism, fruit, editorial, cooking, design, east, tradition, chinese, famous, stall, recommend, sale, asia, vendor, nut, cuisine, chef, color, people, culture, food, castanea, healthy, place, chestnut, travel, vegetable, market, business, tourist, architecture, marron, buy, furniture, decoration, colorful, merchant, city, nishiki market, japan, street food, japanese, sell, kyoto, shop

    Nishiki Market

    Downtown Kyoto

    The covered Nishiki Market (Nishiki-kōji Ichiba) is one of Kyoto’s real highlights, especially if you have an interest in cooking and dining. Commonly…

  • April 29, 2018: The Robot statue in an open garden space at the Ghibli museum.

    Ghibli Museum

    Tokyo

    This museum is the heart of the Studio Ghibli world, a beloved (even 'adored') film studio responsible for classic, critically-acclaimed animated titles…

  • Shinjuku, Tokyo, Kanto region, Japan. Tiny alleys crowded with night bars and clubs at Golden Gai district.

    Golden Gai

    Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

    Golden Gai – a Shinjuku institution for over half a century – is a collection of tiny bars, often literally no bigger than a closet and seating maybe a…

  • Tokyo, Ueno, Taito-ku: Tokyo National Museum, Honkan

    Tokyo National Museum

    Ueno & Yanesen

    If you visit only one museum in Tokyo, make it the Tokyo National Museum. Here you'll find the world's largest collection of Japanese art, including…

  • Tokyo, Japan view of Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest crosswalks in the world. aerial, architecture, asia, asian, billboards, buildings, business, city, cityscape, commercial, cross, crosswalk, crowd, district, downtown, dusk, evening, famous, futuristic, japan, japanese, landmark, lights, location, metropolis, metropolitan, modern, morning, night, office, pedestrian, people, place, plaza, road, scene, scenery, scenic, shibuya, shopping, signs, skyline, skyscrapers, square, street, tokyo, twilight, urban, view, walk

    Shibuya Crossing

    Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

    Rumoured to be the busiest intersection in the world (and definitely in Japan), Shibuya Crossing is like a giant beating heart, sending people in all…

  • Tokyo, Japan - May 6, 2017: Cup noodles Museum Front display in Yokohama.; Shutterstock ID 652705672; Your name (First / Last): Laura Crawford; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: BiA: Takayama, south of Tokyo POI images for online

    Cup Noodles Museum

    Yokohama

    This impressively slick attraction is dedicated to, you guessed it, cup noodles. But in reality, its focus is more broad, with numerous exhibitions…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

From exploring Tokyo's nightlife to eating local dishes, these are Japan's unmissable experiences.

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Best Places to Visit

From Tokyo's neon-lit streets to Kyoto's serene temples, we give you expert tips and local insights for an unforgettable Japanese adventure.

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Best Time to Visit

Japan's seasons offer an incredible range of natural and cultural wonders that draw huge numbers of visitors. Here's how to pick the perfect time for you.

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Things to Know

What should you pack for the bullet train? Do you tip? How do you handle the crowds at train stations? We have these and more Japan pointers covered.

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Visa Requirements

From mystic mountains to mighty megacities, Japan is awash with iconic travel experiences. Here's what you need to know about visa requirements.

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Money and Costs

Keep costs low when exploring Japan with these top money-saving tips.

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Traveling with Kids

Japan is a fantastically easy, fun and safe place to travel for families.

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Best Road Trips

Japan has excellent roads, dramatic landscapes and exciting regions to discover. Here are the best 10 road trips for getting to know the country better.

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Get Connected

Want to use your phone in Japan? Here's what you need to know about cell service providers and wi-fi.

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Plan with a local

Articles

Latest stories from Japan

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Yamanashi, Japan - April 9, 2023 : Kawaguchiko railway station platform and Fuji Mountain at spring, License Type: media, Download Time: 2025-01-26T20:17:18.000Z, User: Ppeterson948, Editorial: true, purchase_order: 56530 - Guidebooks, job: Global Publishing WIP, client: Global Publishing WIP, other: Pia Peterson Haggarty

Destination Practicalities

Lonely Planet guide to the Japan Rail Pass

Apr 8, 2025 • 8 min read

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Go Beyond

Japan and beyond

Beyond Japan