If you’re planning a trip to Japan, there’s probably an underlying excitement in your brain: What if you’re never able to make it back? How will you ever understand the mysteries of a culture so different from yours? But then again, what if you never have the opportunity to go back? You don’t know anything about this country, and what if it really is just for one time in your life? If that was the case, would you miss it? These were some of the questions we asked ourselves before embarking on our first trip to Japan. We had no plans for this trip except that we needed to get out of the house after a year of college. The decision was made and we couldn’t wait for our new adventure.
Tokyo
First stop on our journey to Japan is the capital city of Tokyo. Tokyo is the most populous metropolis in the world, with a population of more than 13.2 million people. We would have loved to spend more time exploring the city, but we had to keep moving to make it to our next destination by the end of our trip. Tokyo is a massive city, especially when you’re a first-timer. There’s simply so much to see and do in this bustling metropolitan area. But if you’re looking for some must-see attractions and things to do, you can safely pack a few days into your trip. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Tokyo.
Kyoto
Next stop is the ancient capital of Kyoto. Kyoto is one of Japan’s most visited destinations, and with good reason. Kyoto was once the imperial capital of Japan and is full of beautiful architecture and art. Popular sites in Kyoto include the Golden Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, the Ryoanji Temple, and the Kinkaku Temple. There are also a plethora of museums in Kyoto that are worth exploring, including the Kyoto National Museum, the National Museum of Modern Art, and the Kyoto Museum. Kyoto is also a great place to learn about Japanese culture, with many language schools and a few universities to choose from.
Nara
After Kyoto, we went to Nara, the ancient capital of Japan. Nara is another gorgeous ancient city. You’ll find many Buddhist temples and historic shrines in this city, including the World Heritage-Listed Todai-ji Temple, the National Museum of Modern Art, and the National Museum of History. Nara is also home to the spectacular Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, the country’s most famous bamboo forest. To see the beautiful countryside of Nara and the surrounding area, we recommend taking a day trip to Aridaizushi, a town located in the Kumano area of Nara Prefecture. Here you can visit the Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine, a World Heritage Site and one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan.
Osaka
Then we went to Osaka, the largest city in Western Japan. It wasn’t until our last trip to Japan that we had the opportunity to visit the city of Osaka. While Kyoto and Tokyo are internationally renowned, Osaka is often overshadowed by the other two cities. We feel this is a shame, though, because Osaka is a beautiful city with a lot of character and history. We recommend visiting the Osaka Castle, where you can see the Daimyō’s Palace, which is one of Japan’s top National Treasures. Popular tourist sites in Osaka include the Nara and Himeji Castles, the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyuen, and Universal Studios Japan.
Yokohama and Around
After a stop in Osaka, we went to Yokohama, a smaller port city on the Pacific Ocean. This was the first stop on our journey that we only had a few days to explore, so we chose to make the most of our time by visiting the nearby cities of Kobe and Hiroshima. We recommend visiting Kobe, which was the location for the 1988 Olympics. Kobe has a lot of character and is great for exploring on foot. Popular tourist sites include the Hyogo Prefectural Museum and the Hyogo Museum of Art. We also recommend visiting the Daimyō’s Palace in Hiroshima, which was the location of the first atomic bombing.
Sumoto and Around
After visiting Hiroshima, we went to Shima-Oita, the capital of Oita Prefecture. For a short visit to the interior of Kyushu, we recommend going to Shima-Oita. You can spend the night here in a traditional Japanese inn surrounded by beautiful nature. You can also visit the Sōun Shima Kanroku National Natural Park, which is the site of the world’s largest concentration of Miya Stone Sculpture.
Bagan and Around
Our next stop was the ancient city of Bagan, the second-largest city in Myanmar. Bagan is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, with many temples and a bustling bazaar. Here, you can easily visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in one city: the temples at Ananda and the Pyu City ruins. Bagan is a great stop if you’re traveling between Kyoto and Bangkok, as it’s only a three-hour flight from the nearest international airport in Yangon. You can also take a day trip to Bagan from the popular cultural cities of Mandalay and Yangon.
Hanoi
For our last stop in Japan, we went to the capital of Hanoi, a bustling metropolis with incredible architecture. Hanoi is a great city to visit if you want to meet the locals, as many Vietnamese people live in the city and are eager to meet a tourist. Hanoi has a lot of character and is a vibrant place to visit. Here you can visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Popular tourist sites include the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Hanoi Opera House.
Summary
We hope that this guide has helped you prepare for your trip to Japan. The country might be different than you expect, but don’t be afraid. While the Japanese culture is far from what you’re familiar with, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to fit in once you get a few things down. Don’t be afraid to try a new food, don’t be afraid to ask for directions, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes and be yourself. Traveling to a new country can be intimidating, but remember that everyone makes mistakes when they first start traveling. From here, you can make up for them with each new trip you take.
