You can’t possibly see all of Japan on your first visit, unless you’re staying for several months. But if you aren’t, what are the top things to do in Japan that you absolutely have to do!?
This is my list of all the top 10 must-dos for any first time trip to Japan.
Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!
Top 10 Things To Do In Japan
Here’s my list of what to see and do in Japan for first timers! I’ve included both must see cities and must-do experiences.
P.S. for what to avoid your first time in Japan, check out my post…
1. Visit Hiroshima & The Peace Memorial Museum
At the top of the list of things to do in Japan, you have to visit Hiroshima. It’s almost rude not to! (You can also visit Nagasaki if it works better for your itinerary, but it is further than Hiroshima from Kyoto and Tokyo.)
Hiroshima is undoubtedly most famous for its tragic past. At the close of World War II, an atomic bomb was dropped on the city, followed only days later by one dropped on Nagasaki.
This history isn’t exactly a happy reason to visit, but it also shouldn’t be ignored.
Hiroshima miraculously rebuilt the city and has made an effort to spread peace and ban nuclear warfare. You can learn about the history and future peace efforts at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
Visiting Hiroshima is chilling, especially when you see the Atomic Bomb Dome for the first time – one of the only buildings that remained after the bombing.
But I can’t stress the importance of visiting to learn about this side of Japan’s history so it never happens again.
P.S. As a side benefit of going to Hiroshima, and putting a slight damper on your holiday, you’re now very close to one of the coolest islands in Japan: Miyajima Island. This is the island with a floating shrine! It’s an easy day trip from Hiroshima, and ultimately shouldn’t be missed on a first time trip to Japan! Check out this organized tour around Hiroshima AND Miyajima Island on Viator.
Need A Place To Stay In Hiroshima?
We knew we were going to be using the train quite a bit while we were in Hiroshima (to go to Miyajima), so we opted to stay at the Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel.
If you manage to get a room on a higher floor, the view is spectacular. But even if you don’t, the convenience factor is worth it for a 2 minute walk to the train station (and 5 minutes to the baseball stadium for those interested!).
See room rates and availability on Booking.com.
2. All-In-One Must Do Japan Experience: Ryokan Onsen
If you only had one night, this is hands down the only must-do in Japan.
Staying at a Ryokan Onsen with a Kaiseki dinner (and breakfast) is the ultimate all-in-one traditional Japanese experience.
A ryokan is a traditional Japanese hotel where you sleep on a futon on the floor. It doesn’t sound like something you’d want to do, but it’s quite the unique experience you’ll only get in Japan!
When staying at a Ryokan, you should opt for the dinner and breakfast option for the most authentic stay!
To really complete the experience though, find a Ryokan Onsen (typically in an onsen town!). Onsen is a natural hot spring bath in Japan. So Onsen towns are centered around these natural hot springs.
It’s common to bathe completely nude, and walk around in a yukata (bathrobe) going from public bath to public bath. It’s all about the experience… right!
Alternatively, you can book a Ryokan Onsen with private baths (which is what we did!)… see the perks of private onsens.
We stayed at Kanaguya in Shibu Onsen. Other popular onsen towns are Hakone (near Mount Fuji) and Kusatsu.
It’s a multi-level experience, and this is when you will definitely feel like you’re in Japan!
Ryokan Onsen Recommendations In Shibu Onsen
We stayed at Kanaguya in Shibu Onsen, but it wasn’t an easy experience. From somehow booking our stay under the name “Princess Meghan” to arriving and no one understanding a word of English…
The building itself is also quite old, and I’m not going to lie, I was freaked out by some of the spider webs and bug repellent I found in the closet… But this very building was the inspiration for Ghibli’s Spirited Away. You can attempt to book on their website.
Another option, that’s actually right across the street, is Shibu Onsen KOKUYA which we had originally booked and I think we would have been happier here. It looked a lot more modern and you can EASILY book it on Booking.com. And because it’s across the street, you can look at the nicest building in Shibu Onsen while in your more “modern” Ryokan. P.S. Don’t forget to book the option with breakfast AND dinner included!
Read more about Shibu Onsen.
3. First Time Trip To Japan: Pick Up Fruit Sando & Onigiri From 7-Eleven
Now that you’ve spent your Japan travel budget staying at a Ryokan Onsen to sleep on the floor, you can only afford 7-Eleven meals in Japan. Thankfully, that’s not a big deal at all!
7-Eleven in Japan isn’t what you’re used to in the States. They have some of THE BEST Onigiri in Japan (filled rice balls covered by nori).
Another staple that I loved picking up for breakfast and can’t be missed on a first time trip to Japan are Fruit Sandos. It’s a delicious fruit and whipped cream sandwich using milk break. Not your typical sandwich, I know!
These sandwiches sell out fast though, so when you see one you should snatch it up!
Bonus points if you eat these 7-Eleven goodies on the train to your next destination!
4. Take Part In A Traditional Matcha Ceremony
Tea is a huge part of Japan’s history and life, even today. From growing and producing tea, to drinking it on the daily!
There are tons of different types of Japanese green tea, but at the top of that list is matcha. Matcha originated in Japan, and they’re still the leading producers of this super tea.
Matcha in Japan also goes far beyond matcha lattes. Not only do they bake and cook with it, but it’s a part of a larger traditional tea ceremony that’s been preformed for centuries.
As one of the top things to do in Japan, you have to take part in a traditional matcha ceremony. That means watching a professional make it for you, potentially learning how to make it yourself, and finally trying this authentic matcha.
This is the way that matcha is meant to be enjoyed!
Even if you don’t typically like matcha, give this a shot. They’re using a much higher quality matcha that’s a lot sweeter. Plus, matcha is also always served with traditional sweets to trick your taste buds into thinking the tea is sweeter than it actually is!
You can book a traditional tea ceremony on Viator.
Take It One Step Further: Visit A Tea Farm
If possible, take learning about Japan’s tea culture one step further and go to a tea farm.
Visiting a tea farm might be harder to include on a first time trip to Japan itinerary, but it will be worth it!
I visited Obubu Tea in Wazuka and had the tea experience of a lifetime! We visited the breathtaking tea fields, saw the factory where the tea is made, and tried every type of Japanese tea imaginable! See their website to book a tour.
5. Visit The Ultimate All-In-One Must See Japan City: Kanazawa
Of course you’re going to add Kyoto and Tokyo to your itinerary, but consider adding Kanazawa as well. As somewhat of a hidden gem, Kanazawa should absolutely be included in any first time trip to Japan itinerary just as much as those cities.
Kanazawa is similar to Kyoto, but has a few extras and is less overpopulated with tourists that make it a worthwhile addition.
When I was researching, I stumbled upon Kanazawa a few times, but never looked into it that seriously. It didn’t look that pretty (because most of it isn’t!), and it was kind of out of the way.
P.S. See my full travel guide to Kanazawa Japan…
In reality though, it’s on a Shinkansen train line that takes you from Tokyo to Kyoto. It’s not as direct of course, but it’s a worthwhile detour and one that’s fairly easy to include.
Kanazawa has an old tea district (Chaya), but also a Samurai District (Naga-machi) with one of the last remaining samurai houses.
Similar to Kyoto, Kanazawa has food markets, gardens, and an epic castle that’s worth checking out. But on top of that, Kanazawa also produces 99% of Japan’s gold leaf so there’s also that part of history to learn about that you won’t get anywhere else!
Need A Place To Stay In Kanazawa?
We stayed at Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi and could NOT have been more impressed with our stay. I won’t lie, the room is quite small, but it’s really all you need, especially if you’re only staying for one night (as we did).
The hospitality went above and beyond what I would expect from a hotel, and we loved the modern twist on a traditional Japanese room.
See room rates and availability on Booking.com.
6. Must See In Japan: Sumo Tournament Or Sumo Practice
Sumo wrestling is a one of the only ancient sports that’s still played today. Depending on when you’re visiting Japan, you can either go to a sumo tournament or watch the athletes train at practice.
It’s incredible to watch and very entertaining, even if you aren’t into sports. Plus, it’s only practiced in Japan, so if you don’t watch it here, then where!?
You can reserve tournament tickets with a guided tour about Sumo wrestling in Tokyo on Viator.
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7. First Time Trip To Japan: Try Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki were such a pleasant surprise in Japan.
It’s one of those dishes that sounds absolutely delicious and actually lives up to your expectations! An okonomiyaki is a pancake that’s typically filled with cabbage, meats, seafood, and sometimes noodles too! But the best part is that they’re completely customizable.
So even if you’re a bit of a picky eater, you should be able to find one that you can enjoy. I had beef only okonomiyaki and even a vegetarian one!
The best place to try okonomiyaki is either in Osaka or Hiroshima. There’s a rivalry between both cities as to who actually invented them!
P.S. This is yet another reason why you have to visit Hiroshima on a first time trip to Japan. They’re known for a specific type of okonomiyaki, a Hiroshimayaki, where they flip the pancake over to grill both sides. It’s to die for!
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8. Must Do Japan: Sing Your Heart Out At KARAOKE!
Karaoke has become a popular activity worldwide, but Japan is where it originated from.
So whether you’re already a fan of Karaoke or you’ve never done it before, you have to go at least once while you’re in Japan.
And they take their Karaoke to a whole other level in Japan.
There are Karaoke bars, but I prefer the individual booths you can reserve for several hours at a time.
I went to Karaoke Pasela Shinjuku Yasukunidori in Tokyo and it was a high rise Karaoke building! Each floor had even more Karaoke rooms to reserve. We had unlimited drinks for the night and were even served dinner while we sang!
9. What To See And Do In Japan: Go To A Baseball Game
I’m not into sports… like at all. But my partner loves baseball so we’ve gone to a few baseball games over the years in both Canada and the United States, and now we’ve added Japan to that list!
Japan baseball games are unlike any sports game I’ve been to… and it was so much fun too! So even if you aren’t into sports, like me, you should go to a baseball game in Japan.
If not for the game, go just to order ramen from a vending machine and eat in the stands! It was hilarious!
Make sure to also buy a balloon AND a pump at the gift shop before the game ends, you’ll need this for the 7th inning stretch (I won’t give any spoilers as to why you’ll need them!). You can also pick up inflatable tubes to smash together and cheer on the home team, I felt a little left out without them!
Depending on when you’re visiting Japan, you should be able to see a game, the season lasts from late March until October, and the games are every day of the week. Find out more about baseball in Japan.
10. Must Do Japan: Watch The Sunset Over Kiyomizu-dera
And last, but certainly not least, if you’re going to Kyoto in Japan you have to go to Kiyomizu-dera.
Kiyomizu-dera is a Buddhist temple, but what sets it a part is that it’s on the side of a mountain overlooking Kyoto. So if you’re going to go to any Buddhist temple in Japan (and you have to go to at least one!) Kiyomizu-dera HAS to be at the top of your list.
On top of that, I would really try to get there for sunset if you can.
Check the closing hours so you can get there just as it closes. Depending on when you’re visiting, it might be closed during sunset (which is what happened in the summer when I was visiting).
Sunset is a lot later in the summer in Japan, but you should be able to see golden hour at Kiyomizu-dera. I would try to get there an hour before closing so you have enough time to walk around, and then enjoy the sunset.
This is not only the best Buddhist temple but it’s also THE BEST place for sunset in Kyoto, it just took my breath away… figuratively and literally… from running up the hill to make it there in time!
Need A Place To Stay In Kyoto?
We booked the Rinn Gion Yasaka, in Gion of course. It was the perfect mix of modern and Japanese style hotel.
The location was a hit or miss though. Being so close to Gion, we were able to enjoy it without any tourists in the mornings and evenings.
But, staying in Gion also meant that we weren’t directly on a train or subway line. There were a few bus stops near our hotel though.
P.S. Japan can be so overwhelming to plan a trip to, especially your first time visiting! So I put together the perfect two week itinerary in Japan, which includes all the must-dos and more! And to make planning your trip to Japan even easier, print out my travel planner from Etsy (use my code ATRLOVE for an extra $1.00 off at checkout!).
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Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API