1. Akihabara

Also known as Akiba. If you love having new gadgets, then Akihabara is your ultimate salvation for technology stores and shops. If you're a fan of animes and mangas, Akihabara is the next place you may want to consider visiting. Akihabara also has been a haven for otakus and manga enthusiasts that stores are popping out next to one another plus you may get a chance to see cosplayers roaming around the area. 

You could buy a gadget at stores for as low as 100 JPY. Prices are dropping as store competitions grow. I remember we were even able to score a Sandisk 32gb memory card for only 300 yen (that time it was 1-2 USD only). 

2. Arashiyama

Arashiyama is one of the most spectacular sightseeing areas within the Kyoto Prefecture of Japan. It offers incredible natural delights as well as a rich cultural influence which will take your breath away.

Sitting at the base of the Arashiyama Mountains, it is here that you will find the world-famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove whose incredible long stalks reach up into the heavens. Climb higher to visit the Iwatayama Monkey Park where humans go in the cage (rather than the monkeys) to feed them. Or perhaps, take a boat down the river to see the spectacular cherry blossoms in spring.

If you love temples, you are spoilt for choice with the likes of Tenryu-ji in this area. Or if you would prefer a little pampering, head to the incredible Tenzan-no-yu Onsen.

3. Fukuoka

Fukuoka is off the main tourist route of Japan, but it's still worthy of a visit, especially if you're obsessed with ramen. Fukuoka is the home of tonkotsu ramen, with its famous rich & delicious pork bone broth. No trip is complete without trying at least a few bowls of the best tonkotsu ramen in Fukuoka. In between bowls of ramen, the city has nice parks & several temples to explore, including Maizuru Park, which has the ruins of Fukuoka Castle. Baseball fans will love the experience of attending a Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks game at the Fukuoka Yahuoku! Dome. Yes, the stadium sells tonkotsu ramen!

Hokkaido isn’t the most visited island of Japan but it certainly is the most beautiful. Hokkaido is wild and
untamed, the scenery is stunning and the island is sparsely inhabited.

With its towering volcanos, blue lakes and endless forests Hokkaido was my favorite place in Japan!
While you won’t find big cities on Hokkaido (besides Sapporo), there are some great little villages and
the cutest village on the island is Furano. Nestled in the heart of Hokkaido, this pretty town has it all…
During winter you can go skiing on the snow-covered slopes of the nearby ski area, in spring you can see
the flowers wake up from their winter sleep and in summer the famous Furano lavender fields are in full
bloom. Autumn dresses the town in fiery yellows and red and so comes winter again, Furano really is a
year-round destination!

I only spent 2 days in Furano, but managed to cram in a lot of activities. First of all: you have to eat
Furano Maze Soba Tempura at Yuki to Hana (Furano Marche 2, +81 167-56- 7437), it’s the most delicious
dish I ever had!

Second, go to the luxurious spa at the New Furano Prince Hotel. Hokkaido can be very cold and nothing
beats stripping of your thermos layers and soaking in the blissful hot onsen while watching the snowy
trees in front of you…

Third, go for a drive around town and visit the cheese factory and the wine factory. If you have time,
drive to the mesmerizing Blue Pools and don’t forget to visit Farm Tomita, the most famous lavender
farm in Japan. Get the lavender ice-cream, weird but good! I could go on but you should really visit
Furano yourself to see all it has to offer!

5. Hiroshima

People were surprised when I said Hiroshima was one of my favorite cities in Japan, they look at me surprised and ask, why would you go there. I was adamant that we would visit Hiroshima when we were there. I learnt about Hiroshima at school and Sadako, the girl that folded 1000 paper cranes that now sit in the Children's Peace Memorial at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Sadako died from cancer that was related to the Hiroshima bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima in August 6,1945 during World War II.  The Peace Memorial Museum is a sober experience yet a great reminder why this can never happen again. The devastation is unfathomable. 

There is more to Hiroshima that the Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima Castle is beautiful and there is a traditional Japanese garden walking distance from the Castle. There is a free shuttle bus that transport tourists between all the major attractions, Hiroshima city is a bustling hub, it’s hard to believe that it was flattened to rubble only 80 years ago. If you are thinking about going, I can’t recommend it any more highly, I am just disappointed I didn’t have more than a day to explore. 

6. Kamakura

Kamakura is an outstanding destination for anybody interested in travel photography. Several Buddhist temples nestle into the hillsides around this coastal city, which lies about an hour’s train journey south of Tokyo.

Travellers interested in Japan’s heritage can view fascinating places of worship dating from the time when Kamakura was the country’s capital, from the 12^th to 14^th centuries. The Hase-dera temple features a vast statue of the god Kannon, the deity after whom the Canon brand takes its name.

The cross-legged Big Buddha statue is a must-see landmark. Over 11 metres tall, it survived a tsunami, more than 500 years ago, that destroyed the temple which once surrounded it.

7. Kyoto

A trip to Japan would not be complete without a stop in Kyoto.  If you’re looking for a taste of old worldJapan without completely abandoning modernity then Kyoto is an amazing city worth a visit.  Kyoto’s appeal is obvious from the moment you get past the ultra-modern Kyoto Station and begin exploring the city’s charms.  From Buddhist temples (over 1000!), Shinto shrines and Zen gardens to the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove this city has something for everyone.   Stroll along the Philosopher’s Path and admire the cherry tree lined canal.  Better yet, plan your visit during cherry blossom season and enjoy some hanami too.  Check out the Gion district to catch a glimpse of an elusive geisha.  Wander past traditional Japanese homes.  Pop into the numerous specialty shops.  With a grid pattern and simple transportation system, Kyoto and all its offerings are easy to explore.   

8. Matsumoto

The city of Matsumoto is located in the center of Japan and is surrounded by a magnificent landscape: in the west, the picturesque mountains of the Northern Alps are grouped together, and the Utsukushigahara High Plain lies to the east. The urban area of Matsumoto is characterized by its diverse nature, history and culture. It stretches from the city center (600m above sea level) to Okuhotakadake Mountain which is 3.190m high and attracts many tourists every year, also because of the central location to Kamikochi. In the city center one of the national symbols rises, the castle Matsumoto. But here comes a great travel advice: Matsumoto is particularly popular with tourists and the local population during cherry blossom when the park around the castle turns into a cherry blossom sea. Unique views included.​​​​

9. Mount Koya

Mount Koya is an amazing travel destination because it is the perfect combination of nature and culture.  Locals refer to it as “Koyasan” and its famous throughout Japan as the founding location of Japanese Buddhism (aka Shingon Buddhism).

Mount Koya is well off the beaten path but still accessible from Kyoto or Osaka.  This means that while it is a wonderful place to be it won’t be over crowded like most of the other Japanese destinations.  It is a UNESCO sacred site with temples that have been in use for over a millennium!

Walking around Mount Koya you’ll want to visit Sando, the 1200 year old cemetery with over 200,000 Buddhist graves!  The cemetery is built into the forest and some of the massive trees have been there just as long as the moss covered graves.  Take an hour or two and stroll through this magical landscape to find yourself standing in front of a mausoleum and temple devoted to Kobo Daishi, the founder of Koyasan.  Legend says that he is in a state of eternal meditation beneath the mountain.  Pilgrims and monks here often help tourists like you and me make an offering or say a prayer and regardless of your beliefs this will surely be a memorable experience for your trip to Japan. 

10. Nagano

A less well known destination in Japan is the city of Nagano.  What is great about Nagano is that it is the gateway to the ‘roof of the world’, being surrounded on all four sides by mountains of over 9800 ft / 3000 meters tall!  In 1998 Nagano hosted the Winter Olympics and that influence can still be seen around the city. 

A particular attraction within Nagano is the amazing Zenkoji Temple, which is one of the most important and popular temples within Japan and is only a short distance from Nagano Station.  A special experience when visiting Zenkoji Temple is to walk through their underground passage in complete darkness in search of the ‘key to paradise’ – I can confirm that this was definitely an amazing experience!  Nagano is also the home of ramen noodles so you can definitely slurp some great hand made noodles when you visit!

From Nagano you can access a huge number of skiing resorts, and close by is also the very famous Jigokudani Monkey Park, home of the wild Japanese snow monkeys.

11. Nara

Take an hour train south of Kyoto to find the enchanting town of Nara. Famous for its roaming deer, Nara was Japan's first permanent capital city! This means it is full of historical temples and some of which are Unesco World Heritage Sites. A compact town that allows you to explore all of its charms in a day. The main attracted is, of course, the tame deer that roam freely through the streets and temple grounds but Nara is also home to the Daibutsu (Great Buddha), Kasugayama Primeval Forest, Kofuku-ji Temple and the Tōdai-ji Temple, as well as the incredible Mount Wakakusayama that overlooks all over Nara and beyond!

12. Nikko

Nikko lies just a couple of hours north of Tokyo.  It’s full of ancient history and beautiful natural sights, and is definitely worth visiting for a couple of days.

The most famous sights to see in Nikko are without doubt its shrines.  A World Heritage Site, there are several complexes to visit. The best is the Toshugo shrine where Tokugawa Ieyasu, often credited as the founder of modern Japan, is buried.  Ornate, gilded carvings cover the buildings - you won’t see anything like it elsewhere in Japan. You should also stroll around nearby Shoyoen garden which is especially beautiful in autumn.

Other must-sees in the town centre include the Shinkyo bridge, botanical gardens and Tamozawa Imperial villa.

But Nikko isn’t just about ancient history - there are plenty of nature based things to do nearby.  Take a walk down by the river gorge and you’ll find a pathway lined with statues said to protect travellers and unborn children.  

In the area around the city you’ll find numerous hiking trails, lakes and waterfalls.  And when you’ve worn yourself out exploring, relax in one of the hot spring onsen in the area.  It’s the perfect way to end your visit to Nikko.