10 Things to do in Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia located in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by the Sea of Japan to the west and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. Here are a few ideas on some of the attractions or activities one can do in Japan.

1. Visit Osaka

Osaka is a large port city and commercial center on the Japanese island of Honshu. It is known for its modern architecture, nightlife and hearty street food. The 16th-century shogunate Osaka Castle, which has undergone several restorations, is its main historical landmark. It is surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom trees. Sumiyoshi-taisha is among Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines.

2. Visit Kyoto

Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu. It is famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It is also known for formal traditions such as kaiseki dining, consisting of multiple courses of precise dishes, and geisha, female entertainers often found in the Gion district.

3. Do a multi-days cycling tour from Kyoto to Tokyo!

I did a cycling tour from Kyoto to Tokyo and around the Noto Peninsula, and have written a detailed post on my wonderful experiences of the multi-days cycling adventure here.

4. Visit Kawaguchiko, near Mt. Fuji

Mount Fuji, Japan’s sacred mountain, which was registered World Cultural Heritage Site in 2014. Since ancient times, Mt. Fuji has been known both domestically and internationally as the symbol of Japan for its graceful shape, and is visited by many people each year who go to catch a glimpse of its beauty.

5. Stay at Hoshinoya Fuji in Kawaguchiko!

Hoshinoya Fuji is based on glamping resort (glamorous camping) style. Located on a red pine slope overlooking beautiful Lake Kawaguchi and a stone’s throw away from Mt. Fuji.

Absolutely love everything (the room, their facilities right in the forest, food and staff! This is probably the first hotel that I felt the staff are incredibly polite, welcoming, joyful and overall happy to work there! Thoroughly enjoy my stay at Hoshinoya Fuji!

6. Mountain biking around Kawaguchiko

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole ride! It was a relaxing 2 hours ish tour…the descent was scary at times as I am not a mountain biker but it was lots of fun! So blessed with the weather! It was sunny and just the right temperature. Then, the clouds started rolling in when we were at the top, halfway through our snacks break. We rode back to our car and 10 mins after we got into the car, it started drizzling. Soon after I arrived back at Hoshinoya, it started pouring the whole afternoon! Thankful!

7. Canoeing on Lake Kawaguchiko

Traded the bike for canoe today in Lake Kawaguchiko. The weather was just incredible – sunny with blue skies, temperature around 20 deg C, perfect weather for canoeing! I could not ask for more than this! Had an amazing time with Country Lake Systems – it was not just full on canoeing for 1.5 hours. We stopped by at a lake inlet I think to take a break and also a bit of walk at the island. I had lots of fun drifting in the lake. The legs got a chance to rest today. But my left shoulder is really sore!

8. Visit Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan’s busy capital, mixes the ultramodern and the traditional, from neon-lit skyscrapers to historic temples. The opulent Meiji Shinto Shrine is known for its towering gate and surrounding woods. The Imperial Palace sits amid large public gardens. The city’s many museums offer exhibits ranging from classical art (in the Tokyo National Museum) to a reconstructed kabuki theater (in the Edo-Tokyo Museum).

I was very fortunate to have a friend who lives in Tokyo. I was able to explore Tokyo from a local’s viewpoint thanks to her! It was a huge blessing to be able to spend time together, sharing our triumphs’ moments and struggles, sharing meals and exploring Tokyo together. Love all the deep discussions/convo that we had! My time in Tokyo has been made much more memorable because of her presence!

9. Take a day trip to Yokohama

Yokohama, a port city south of Tokyo, is a historical city known to have opened Japan’s doors to the world in 1859, after over 200 years of isolation. The city has since become famous for its fusion of eastern and western cultures and its beautiful ocean views. The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, a former port facility on the bay, now houses many stylish shops, cafes and restaurants. If you are craving a gourmet adventure, do not forget to wander through Motomachi Shopping Street and Yokohama Chinatown, Japan’s largest Chinatown. Yokohama Chinatown is a place where you can enjoy various kinds of restaurants as well as a magnificent Chinese temple. The area is gradually lit up in the evening, and the Yokohama night is adorned in beautiful colours. Recently, Yokohama was voted as the most liveable city for young families by residents in this and nearby prefectures.

10. Catch one of the many summer festivals!

This is the Shibuya Hatsudai Awa Odori Festival. Shibuya Hatsudai indicates the location. Awa is the name of a city in Japan, Tokushima. Odori means dancing. So it is the dancing festival from Tokushima area and mainly performed by locals (community groups) from Tokushima that live in Shibuya area.

To be able to experience this among the locals and seeing how much they enjoy the festival themselves made me feel so blessed to be part of it! Even when the rain started to pour an hour into the festival, they still continued on and were dancing happily in the rain! Kudos to all the performers!

I do wish that I can speak Japanese so that I can ask the meaning of their dresses like why the ladies wear those hats and why were they wrapping their noses with cloths. Only during festivals are kids allowed to eat and walk. If one were to eat and walk, she/he would be seen as having no manners or was not taught the right manner.

---

Thank you for reading and visiting my website! Hope you enjoy the blog! 

Please like, share and subscribe (link at sidebar).