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Planning your first trip to Japan? I know how exciting (and a little overwhelming) it can feel. From the bright lights of Tokyo to the peaceful shrines of Kyoto, there’s so much to see, do and eat! I’m very fortunate to have visited Japan twice, so I’ve put together this Japan bucket list of 25 must-do activities – all of which I have tried first-hand. Whether its quintessential Japanese experiences you’re looking for, or something a little more quirky, this list will help you make the most of your Japan adventure.
The Ultimate Japan Bucket List for First Time Travellers
1. Admire the Cherry Blossoms
Spring is a fantastic time to visit Japan, particularly when the cherry blossoms (known as sakura) are in full bloom. The Japanese celebrate with hanami, which literally means ‘flower viewing’, whereby they gather together and picnic under the blossom trees. You can find many themed items in the shops and cafes during sakura season, such as cherry blossom inspired sweets and drinks.
The second time my husband and I went to Japan was at the very start of April so we were lucky enough to catch the blossoms in Tokyo and Kyoto. There is a Cherry Blossom Forecast which predicts when and where the flowers will be blooming.
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2. Visit a themed cafe
Japan is known for its themed cafes, from ninjas and robots to rabbits and owls. Perhaps most well-known however, is the cat cafe. There are many cat cafes in Tokyo to choose from. I would also recommend going to one of the Alice in Wonderland themed restaurants for the pure whimsy of it all!
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3. Geek out in Akihabara and experience the madness of a Maid Cafe
Akihabara is Tokyo’s ‘Electric Town’. This district is home to all kinds of ‘geek’ culture from manga and anime to electronics and video games. Even if you’re not really into Japanese pop culture, it’s worth a visit just for the vibes.
This is also where you will find the majority of maid cafes. If you’re unfamiliar, maid cafes are establishments where the waitresses are all dressed as maids. There’s singing and games, as well as cute looking food. Although to be honest, no one goes to a maid cafe for the food! We had absolutely no idea what was going on during our visit but it was fun all the same!
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4. Have a drink at the Lost in Translation bar
If you’re a fan of the movie Lost in Translation then you will definitely want to sip an L.I.T cocktail at the bar where Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson’s characters meet. The New York Bar at the Park Hyatt in Shinjuku is where you can go pay homage while soaking up the views of the city below.
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5. Experience the Shibuya Scramble Crossing
In no other city would crossing the road be worthy of a list of must-see sights, but Tokyo is not like any other city. The Shibuya Crossing is the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing, with as many as 2,500 people crossing at a time!
And if you want to people watch from above, then head to the Starbucks just by the crossing where you can grab a coffee with a view.
While you’re here: Go and find the Hachiko statue. It is a bronze statue of an Akita dog which can be found just outside Shibuya Station. It is a tribute to the real Hachiko who waited every day outside the station for his owner. After his owner sadly and unexpectedly died, Hachiko continued to wait for him in the same spot every day for almost a decade until his own death. It remains a symbol of faithfulness and loyalty and is a popular meeting point in the city.
6. Go shopping!
Shopping in Japan is fun! My personal favourite place to shop was (Tokyu) Hands, which is a department store. There are many dotted about Japan and several in Tokyo alone. I also really loved Kiddyland, which is a toy shop that can be found in the Harajuku district of Tokyo. Even if you don’t intend to purchase anything, you’ll appreciate looking at all the weird and wonderful items for sale.
And if you just want a small souvenir to take home that isn’t a fridge magnet, then consider a purchase from one of Japan’s 4 million vending machines or gachapon. Gachapon, FYI, are vending machines that dispense capsule toys and can be quite collectible.
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7. Overload your senses in Harajuku
Harajuku is the birthplace of kawaii (cute) culture and the centre of Japanese street fashion. Take a wander down the pedestrianised Takeshita Street and admire all the crazy clothing and colourful snacks in the shops and boutiques that line this busy street.
If you’re lucky you may spot some locals dressed up in their own unique and offbeat style, although this isn’t as common as it once was. Nevertheless, get yourself a crepe from one of the many crepe stalls. There’s just about every flavour you can think of and some of the crepes even come with slices of cheesecake in them, like a dessert within a dessert!
8. Watch sumo wrestling
Sumo wrestling is Japan’s national sport and a big part of Japanese culture. If watching an official sumo match is high on your Japan Bucket List then you should aim to time your visit with a tournament. The three grand tournaments take place in Tokyo in January, May and September.
If you are unable to attend a match during your stay then the alternative option is to watch the sumo wrestlers training at a sumo stable, which is exactly what I did. And it’s free!
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9. Take in the view from Tokyo Tower
When visiting a new city it’s always fun to head to an iconic landmark and take in the view from the top. Standing taller than its inspiration, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Tokyo Tower is a working broadcasting tower as well as a tourist attraction.
We visited the tower at night for glittering views over the city after dark.
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10. Immerse yourself in old Tokyo at Asakusa
Asakusa is a district of Tokyo with an atmosphere of the past. Step through the Thunder Gate (Kaminarimon) and meander down Nakamise – a shopping street selling traditional souvenirs and snacks.
Central to the area is the Sensoji Temple, which was opened in 645 AD, making it the oldest temple in Tokyo. It is a busy area but well worth a visit. If the crowds get too much, go find an ice cream shop and try some unique Japanese ice cream flavours such as purple sweet potato (much nicer than it sounds!).
11. Ride the bullet train
The world-famous Shinkansen (bullet train) is the fastest and safest way to travel around Japan, with top speeds of 199 mph. If you’re planning on using the trains a lot in Japan then it is worth purchasing a Japan Rail Pass, especially if you are intending on exploring beyond one city.
I had a pleasant experience riding the shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto and then Kyoto back to Tokyo. It was clean, spacious and punctual.
12. Marvel at Mount Fuji
Would it even be a Japan bucket list without this guy?! Mount Fuji, aka Fuji-San, is an emblem of Japan. At 3,776 metres tall, it is the highest mountain in the country. It isn’t always visible due to clouds and fog, with visibility being the best during the winter months. We visited in April and were lucky to get a decent view of this icon.
We took a trip to see Fuji from Tokyo where we also saw the sulphur pools of Owakudani, rode the Mt. Komagatake Ropeway cable car and took a boat ride across Lake Ashi. No mountain climbing necessary!
13. Visit one of Japan’s magnificent castles
If it’s history and architecture that you’re looking for, then visiting one of Japan’s castles is a great change of pace to the bright lights of Tokyo. There are 12 castles in total that are considered as “original”. These original castles remain largely intact and untouched by natural disaster or war.
Although I didn’t visit any of the original 12, I did stop at Odawara Castle. This is a reconstructed castle less than 2 hours from Tokyo. Here was one of my favourite places to take pictures of the cherry blossoms, so well worth a visit if you come in spring.
14. Have lunch at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant
You can’t go to Japan and not eat some sushi!
We ate at two different branches of Musashi Sushi while we were in Kyoto. The food is freshly prepared in front of you and travels around on the conveyor belt where you can choose whichever dishes take your fancy. You pay per plate, and the condiments such as soy sauce are available on the table in front of you. If you’ve ever been to Yo Sushi in the UK then you’ll know what I’m talking about – except Musashi Sushi is much cheaper!
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15. Soak in an onsen
An onsen is a hot spring that people bathe in and they usually have facilities attached to them such as a hotel. Bathing in an onsen is a popular past time in Japan but there are rules and onsen etiquette that must be followed. For a start, men and women bathe separately and being naked is a requirement.
We had an onsen experience during our stay at the Senkei Hotel in Hakone and were very fortunate to get the baths to ourselves. At this particular hotel, they had an indoor and an outdoor onsen which was then rotated as to whether it was men or women only. This meant that me and my husband got to experience both onsen (separately) and lucked out that we were the only guests bathing both times!
16. Stay in a ryokan and enjoy a kaiseki meal
A ryokan is a traditional style Japanese inn and is the ultimate Japan bucket list experience. Ryokans typically have tatami mats that you sit on, futons to sleep on and they generally offer yukata robes to lounge in. Some ryokans even have onsen.
We stayed at the Hiiragiya Bekkan in Kyoto where we enjoyed a traditional tea ceremony on arrival. Later this was followed by a kaiseki meal. Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course meal, usually made with seasonal ingredients and presented in an artful way.
We only stayed for one night as ryokans are expensive. But it was a great experience that I would repeat!
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17. Wander through Gion and maybe spot a geisha
Gion is a district in Kyoto that is most famous for its geisha. This is the Kyoto that people think of – traditional with tea houses and temples (as opposed to the modern metropolis that is other areas of Kyoto).
Having read the book Geisha of Gion (which is said to have inspired Memoirs of a Geisha), a visit to Gion was high on my Japan bucket list. When we were wandering through one evening, we caught a glimpse of a geiko or maiko (apprentice geisha) hurrying somewhere. I took a quick photo, I blinked and she was gone.
Note: please do not harass the geisha. I’ve seen videos on social media of people being disrespectful and acting like paparazzi. Don’t do this.
18. Watch a cultural show at Gion Corner
If you’re looking for some culture, albeit in a touristy setting, then consider watching the cultural show at Gion Corner. During this hour you will see traditional Japanese arts being played out on stage. From flower arranging to music to puppetry.
The highlight of the show, of course, is the geisha performance. So if you don’t see any geisha out in the wild (and can’t afford a private performance at a tea house) then this is your best chance to experience some true Japanese culture.
Book your tickets for Gion Corner here.
19. Admire the Golden Pavilion
If there’s only one temple you visit while in Kyoto, then make it one covered in GOLD!
The Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) is covered in gold leaf and overlooks a beautiful pond. One thing to note is, visitors are not actually permitted to enter the temple, so you will just have to make do with admiring it from afar. But it is so photogenic that it would be wrong not to include it on a Japan bucket list.
20. Feed the sacred deer at Nara
Nara is perhaps most famous for its deer. There are around 1400 wild Sika deer living in Nara Park and they are protected by the local people due to being closely connected with the gods. Although they don’t need extra food, you can purchase special deer biscuits (shika senbei) from vendors in the park that you can feed them with, if you so wish.
Be warned though, these deer are not meek! They will politely wait at the tables knowing the vendors won’t feed them but tourists, on the other hand, will get chased for shika senbei!
21. Try all the different flavours of Japanese Kit Kats
Ok so you won’t be able to try ALL the different flavours of Kit Kats in Japan – there are over 300 of them! But it is fun to try and find the more unusual flavours (wasabi Kit Kat anyone?).
I went a little Kit Kat Krazy and bought a load home as souvenirs. I managed to sample about 9 different flavours too. My husband had to stop me from buying every new flavour I saw!
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22. Take an origami class
Cute story: me and my husband travelled to Japan for our first wedding anniversary. Traditionally, your first wedding anniversary is your ‘paper anniversary’ so you buy each other paper gifts. As we were in Japan we thought we would do a private origami class for our paper gift to each other.
Our holiday to Japan remains our most memorable wedding anniversary.
23. Walk through the torii gates at the Fushimi Inari Shrine
The Fushimi Inari is a Shinto shrine in Kyoto. It is most famous for its thousands of orangey-red torii gates which visitors can walk through. There is a famous scene in the movie Memoirs of a Geisha where the main character runs through the torii gates here.
The shrines themself are worth a look, but most people visit to see the torii gates. There is a hike up to a view but many visitors (including myself) tend to turn around before this point.
24. Enjoy a meal at an okonomiyaki restaurant
Okonomiyaki is a savoury pancake that is cooked on a teppan (flat griddle). Common toppings and additions to this savoury pancake include cabbage, meat, bonito flakes, mayonnaise and pickled ginger.
Some restaurants provide you with the ingredients to cook for yourself, but we found an okonomiyaki restaurant where they cook it for you. Then you just warm it on the griddle at your table and garnish it. For first timers in Japan, I would recommend a visit to Nishiki Warai in Nishiki Market, Kyoto. That way you get a taste of okonomiyaki without ruining it by cooking it yourself haha!
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25. Take a day trip to Arashiyama
Situated a relatively short train or bus journey from Central Kyoto is the district Arashiyama. It’s quite touristy but is a fantastic day trip from Kyoto. Here you will find temples, shops, parks, among other things including Arashiyama’s iconic Togetsukyo Bridge.
But what Arashiyama is most famous for is its bamboo grove that you’ve probably seen splashed all over instagram. It’s kind of eerie and magical to be standing amongst the bamboo as it sways in the breeze.
I would also recommend visiting Iwatayama Monkey Park. Here you can see wild Japanese Macaque monkeys and you can even feed them! The clever twist to this is that you go inside a cage, buy the food and then feed the monkeys through the bars. Win win – as there are no caged monkeys and you don’t put yourself at risk of being mobbed by them.
Final thoughts on my Japan Bucket List
That’s my tried and tested bucket list for first timers in Japan. If that has inspired you then check out my other Japan posts or read about some surprising things about Japan I found as a tourist.