Hello there! So you’re planning to visit Japan? That’s great!  If it’s your first time then you may be feeling a little overwhelmed about how to go about planning your trip. Where you should you go? What should you do? You only have a week or two, but there are so many things to do in Japan and you want to do as many as possible! This list is designed to inspire you to help create your perfect travel itinerary for your first visit to Japan.  I live in Japan and have personally tried and tested all these experiences to make sure that I bring you only the best ideas! Happy reading!

Things to do in Japan – a first timer’s ultimate guide!

1. See Japanese cherry blossoms and throw your own ‘hanami’ viewing party

If you are visiting Japan during cherry blossom season (March/April), do as the Japanese do and throw your very own hanami flower viewing party.  All you need is a ground sheet (which can be purchased from most 100 yen stores), and some food and drink from the conbini (convenience stores). Next pick a spot under a tree and watch the world go by!

2.Watch mighty sumo wrestlers battle it out in the ring

The grand sumo tournaments in Japan take place throughout the year in various locations across the country. If you are in town whilst the sumo tournaments are taking place, you have to visit! You can buy tickets outside of Japan if you want to be sure of a good seat, I would highly recommend buying tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. If you’re in Tokyo you can buy tickets to watch their morning practice here, or you can find a schedule of the grand sumo tournaments and ticket information through the official website.

3. Take a mini-pilgrimage along the famous 88 Temples route

The 88 temples pilgrimage is one of Japan’s greatest walking routes and yet it is rarely visited by foreigners. Situated on Shikoku island, to walk the entire route takes around 6 weeks. Don’t have time for that? No problem! You can complete your own mini pilgrimage in Tokushima and walk from temples 1-5 in one day easily.  You will get the chance to experience walking this sacred and ancient path, meet other henro (pilgrims), enjoy the Japanese countryside and see beautiful temples. Check out further information on the official tourism Shikoku website.

4. Take in a traditional Japanese cultural performance or craft

Japan has such a unique history and rich culture, it would be crazy not to experience some of it on your trip. For cultural performances, you could try watching Japanese kabuki, a popular performing art, or a bunraku puppet show. For crafts there are so many to choose from. Some of my favourites include ikebana (flower arranging), shodo (Japanese calligraphy), making washi (Japanese paper) and kiri-e (paper cutting). Or if you are musically inclined you could try taking a taiko drumming class or playing the koto, a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument. For experiences in Tokyo, you can find information on the Go Tokyo website.

5. Visit the 8 Hells of Beppu in Kyushu

Definitely an ‘only in Japan’ experience, this unique natural phenomenon is located in Beppu on the island of Kyushu. Known as the Jigoku Meguri (hell tour), each “hell”, is a natural hot spring site with a different theme. For example, you can visit the blood pond – a hot spring whose clay is so hot the water appears bright red. This sightseeing route is well catered for tourists, with buses easily available to ferry you around to each site.

If you go you must try eating a boiled egg cooked in the hot water from the ground! Book your tour of the Hells of Beppu here.

6. Get buried under volcanic hot sands in Kagoshima

Another experience situated in Kyushu, the southerly town of Ibusuki offers a hot spring with a difference. Here you can experience the world’s only sand onsen, said to be good for releasing toxins in your body. Within the entry price you are given a robe to wear and a small towel to place under your head. Visitors then climb into a hole in the ground before staff shovel warm sand over your body until just your head is left exposed. Relax in the warm sands before showering off feeling refreshed and ready to continue with your day! Further information can be found on the Ibusuki sand bath website.

7. Take a ride on the Shinkansen, Japan’s world famous bullet train

Being a native Londoner, I come from a land of constant late trains, breakdowns, strikes and other irritating delays. (Once the tracks were even closed because some leaves had blown onto them). You can therefore imagine my delight when I was first able to experience Japan’s bullet train. I have taken the bullet train many times, and never once has it been a minute late. The trains are smooth, fast, clean and spacious, a pure joy to travel on. For Japanese residents the Shinkansen is kind of expensive so we don’t take it too often, but tourists to Japan are at an advantage because they can travel as many times as they like all across the country with a Japan rail pass. If you are visiting Japan for more than a week and are travelling to several cities, the Japan rail pass is a must buy.

8. Visit a themed cafe. From cats to maids, Japan has got you covered!

Japan has many different kinds of themed cafes. Two of the most popular kinds are cats and maids. The former involves visitors paying a set fee for a limited time period and will usually include a drink, and the chance to hang out with many cute and fluffy cats. I recently visited the Neko no Jikan cafe in Osaka and had a great time. The cats there are well fed and cared for, and are clearly not bothered by the stream of visitors who come to gawk at them.

The maid cafe is a different and slightly surreal experience. Young Japanese women dressed in French maid uniforms wait to serve their customers, often calling them “master”. Many of the maid cafes in Tokyo are situated in the Akihabara area. I have visited the At Home maid cafe in Tokyo which is used to foreign customers. Here the entrance fee included a stack of super cute pancakes and a drink, along with a photo of a maid of my choice. I was worried before I went that the clientele would be mainly comprised of creepy old men, but I was pleasantly surprised to see a mix of young people to include couples and groups of girlfriends as well as the single males.  Definitely an experience you won’t forget!

9. Stay classy and enjoy cocktails with a view at the Park Hyatt Tokyo

Unfortunately we can’t all afford to stay at the fabulous Park Hyatt in Tokyo, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some of its offerings. The famous New York bar was the setting for the movie Lost In Translation. It is a wonderful place to relax at the end of the day with a cocktail, whilst enjoying the views from the 52nd floor. It’s not cheap and there is a cover charge after 8pm, but I believe holidays are a great time to indulge in the things in life we don’t normally have the chance to!

10. Cycle along the Shimanami Kaido, Japan’s most scenic cycling route

Connecting the island of Shikoku and Hiroshima prefecture is the Shimanami Kaido.  It’s a 70 km cycle path that takes cyclists over a series of islands to include the world’s longest collection of suspension bridges. The route can be completed within a day or over a weekend, so it’s easy to take time out of your itinerary to fit this one in.  You can hire a bike at one end and drop it off at the other before continuing on your Japanese adventure! I wrote a detailed guide about it if you want to take a look!

11. Visit one of Japan’s oldest bathhouses in Matsuyama

It is said that the Dogo Onsen was the inspiration for the bathhouse in the animated Ghibli masterpiece Spirited Away. Whether you are a fan or the movie or not, the Dogo Onsen  is still definitely worth a visit.  Situated in the city of Matsuyama in northern Shikoku, it can be reached fairly easily from mainland Japan. The bathhouse is open from 6 am until 11 pm, and prices start from around 500 yen per person for basic entry. The top priced package includes entry to a private relaxation room where you will be served traditional Japanese sweets.  You can also just tour the baths that were once used by the Imperial family.

12. Discover the delights of Daiso and stock up with presents for your loved ones!

There is often a perception outside of Japan that everything here is really expensive. Those people have clearly never heard of the 100 yen stores! The most well known chain of 100 yen stores in Japan is Daiso. This is a shop I love so much that I often go just to have a mooch around, even if I don’t particularly need to buy anything. If you are visiting Japan on a budget, Daiso is also a good place to pick up cheap and cheerful souvenirs for your friends and family. Examples of items that can be purchased include chopsticks, folding fans, kitchenware, hand towels, sweets and chocolates.  I dare you to leave Daiso without buying something!

13. Experience a Japanese tea ceremony in serene surroundings

Green tea was first introduced to Japan from China, where it was initially drunk by monks in Japan who used it to help them keep awake during meditation.  There is an art to the tea ceremony, and as with so many things in Japan, something that may appear to be a simple act is actually a highly complex process, where great care and attention is required.

Today there are locations all over Japan where visitors can join a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. I tried it out in Kyoto, where it was run by some kind ladies wearing beautiful kimonos. The ceremony was all done in English so we could understand what was happening. You can book a tea ceremony experience online here.

14. Stay in a traditional ryokan

Japan has many western style hotels, but if your budget allows, I recommend staying at least one night in a traditional Japanese ryokan (inn) and experiencing kaiseki (fine dining) cuisine.  If you stay in a Japanese style room, expect to sleep on futons placed on tatami mats. You will be provided with a casual kimono to wear called a yukata, and if you are on a plan that includes dinner, it will usually be served to you in your room. In a ryokan you can really experience the famous Japanese hospitality, known as omotenashi. You can find a comprehensive list of ryokans throughout Japan on the Japan Ryokan Association website.

15. See a real life geisha performance in Kyoto

People often still associate Japan with the geisha culture, even though it’s not really something you will ever encounter now during daily life here. However in Kyoto, there is one place that you can go for a guaranteed maiko (apprentice geisha) dance performance that won’t break the bank; Gion Corner. While you’re there you could also try a Gion Night Walk. Performances at Gion Corner also include other traditional Japanese art forms such as bunraku (puppetry), tea ceremonies and flower arrangement.

16. Feed the deer and see the giant Buddha statue in Nara

There are so many amazing temples to visit in Japan, from Sensoji in Tokyo to Kinkakuji in Kyoto. However if I had to pick one, I’d personally go for the Tadai-ji temple in Nara. If you are visiting Kyoto or Osaka, Nara can be reached in under an hour by train and and you can even book a day tour to the temple from Osaka.  The main hall of the temple is home to the Daibutsu, a giant Buddha statue 15 meters in height.  It is really quite breathtaking to see. Also the parkland surrounding the temple is famous for it’s very friendly if not slightly aggressive wild deer, who have no problem approaching human visitors in exchange for food. You can buy the deer feed in the park, but be warned it won’t last long!

17. Hike Mike Fuji and watch the breathtaking sunrise

Mount Fuji’s official climbing season runs from July to mid-September. If you are visiting Japan during this time, you must climb Mount Fuji, if only to escape from the humidity of the Japanese summer weather!  This was the first mountain I ever climbed, so you could say I’m no climbing expert! However if I can manage the hike I think everyone can do it providing you don’t have any serious health issues. It is tiring, but well worth the fatigue when you can witness the world below your feet waking up as the sun rises over Japan. I wrote all about my experience climbing Mount Fuji here.

18. Stay the night with Buddhist monks on a sacred mountain

Mount Koya is one of Japan’s most sacred mountains, and this small town is home to over 100 temples. The monks of Mount Koya offer visitors from around the world the opportunity to stay with them at the temple lodgings. Here you can experience truly peaceful surroundings, enjoy traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine and watch the monks in their morning prayer service. You need to book in advance, but I was able to easily book my stay online through the JapaniCan website.

19. Visit a Japanese castle

There are a number of traditional castles in Japan that remain today, although many of them no longer have their original structures, due to damage or fire over the years. One of the 12 remaining original castles in Japan and probably the most popular is Himeji, a national treasure and world heritage site. If you can’t make it to Himeji, Matsumoto and Matsuyama castles are also popular castles that still have their original structures.

I particularly like Matsuyama as it is not so crowded, and has a nice cable car ride up the mountain to reach the castle. Inside you can also have your photo taken wearing samurai armor!

20. Hang out with monkeys and spend the day in Arashiyama

If you visit Kyoto you must spend at least one day in Arashiyama. There are lots of things to do here, and one of my favourites was a visit to the monkey park. The Arashiyama monkey park is home to many cute Japanese macaque, or snow monkeys.  It was refreshing to see the monkeys in their natural environment, living wild, not caged like you find in zoos.  In fact if a visitor wants to feed the monkeys, it is the people who must get in the cage, whilst the monkeys take the food from your hand on the outside.

Once you have finished feeding the monkeys, you can enjoy the other sights of Arashiyama. For example you could rent a boat on the river, and visit the famous Bamboo Grove.

There you have it! 20 amazing experiences and things to do in Japan. I hope this list will inspire you when it comes to planning your trip. These are just my personal favourites, but if you feel like there is something missing let me know in the comments below!

またね！