Choose from 200 Fun Things to Do in Japan
Yatai Kaikan Hall
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Kamigamo Shrine
Kamigamo and its sister-shrine, Shimogamo, are situated in the ancient Tadasu no Mori, a preserved forest with trees over 600 years old. Visitors flock to two sand cones that rest in front of the shrine's main building. These structures are said to protect and purify the grounds. Of the shrine buildings, the worship hall is the most famous.
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Tokyo DisneySea
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Happo-en Garden
Happo-en means "beautiful from every angle." When visiting the Happo-en Garden in Tokyo, you'll see that the name doesn't even begin to describe this Japanese garden and teahouse.
Take a stroll through tree-lined paths of century old bonsai, cherry, and maple trees. Take in the lush gardens and budding flowers surrounding a tranquil pond. Enjoy a traditional tea-ceremony served by women in elaborate kimonos. Then, enjoy a romantic dinner at Enju or Thrush, one of the two restaurants overlooking the lovely gardens.
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Transportation to the Happo-en Garden is simple. Located in Tokyo, in the Shirokanedai area, just take the subway to the JR Meguro Station. You can also get to this area by bus or car. You can visit the Happo-en Garden as one of many destinations on an all-day tour, or make a reservation to see the garden in advance and view it at your leisure on a group tour.
Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
The buildings, spread out over many acres of parkland, are all authentic historical buildings either relocated or reconstructed from various places in Japan. This is one of the only places to see buildings of this style as most have been destroyed by redevelopment and earthquakes. There are middle class homes, bathhouses, working shops and restaurants, even the former residence of a prime minister. It's possible to explore both the inside and outside of many of the buildings, which are full of historical artifacts.
The effect is surreal. Film buffs may find some of the buildings look familiar; Hayao Miyazaki visited here for inspiration when making the famous film Spirited Away.
Toshogu Shrine
The shrine complex consists of more than a dozen religious buildings set within a forest of some 15,000 Japanese cypress trees planted in the 17th century. Made famous by the 300 carvings of mythical and symbolic beasts, such as dragons, giraffes, and lions, Toshogu is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Japan's most important and sacred destinations.
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Kiyotaki River
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Edo-Tokyo Museum
- Entry to the museum is via paid ticket.
- The museum is wheelchair-/stroller-friendly"”wheelchairs and strollers can be rented on-site.
- Guided tours are available but must be booked in advance.
- There is a cafe/restaurant and souvenir shop on-site.
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
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Zenkō-ji Temple
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Urauchi River
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Narusawa Ice Cave
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Yurakucho Yakitori Alley
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Kusakabe Folk Museum
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Owaku-dani Valley
A short walking trail leads from the base of the Hakone Ropeway past bubbling sulfurous pools to a tourist stand where you can purchase black eggs. Local legend claims that eating a single egg will extend your life by seven years. From the Owaku-dani tourist station, you can either return on the Hakone Ropeway or continue to hike up to the peak of Mount Kamiyama and nearby Mount Komagatake. From there, a ropeway will ferry you down to beautiful Lake Ashi.
Zojo-ji Temple
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Odawara Castle
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National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
Exhibits are based around four major themes: "Global Environment and Frontiers", "Technological Innovations and the Future", "Information Sciences and Technologies for Society" and "Life Science and Humans." All exhibits are explained in Japanese as well as English and volunteer staff answer questions and conduct scientific demonstrations.
A large area is dedicated to earthquakes, a huge issue in Japan, and here you can watch real time seismometers across the country vibrating. An enormous Geo-cosmos globe shows global weather patterns as they happen. The most popular exhibit however is ASIMO, a humanoid robot created by Honda who can walk, run and interact with humans.
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Maryudo Falls
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Seaside Top
At the top you'll find a unique view of Tokyo Bay, other skyscrapers like the Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Sky Tree and even Mount Fuji on a good day. Display screens with light up buttons help you to determine exactly what you're looking at. The deck is usually not crowded so you can linger and enjoy the 360 degree views. The night view is considered particularly romantic, but keep in mind that the deck closes at 8:30.