What Is Japan Famous For? 30 Reasons To Visit Japan

Japan is my favourite country for one simple reason: nowhere else on earth manages to honour centuries-old traditions whilst simultaneously racing towards the future. Where else can you spend the morning wandering through a 400-year-old temple garden, the afternoon soaking in a volcanic hot spring, and the evening belting out karaoke in a neon-lit tower?

After three trips to Japan, I’ve compiled the 20 things that make this island nation utterly unique. Some you’ll expect (yes, the sushi is that good), others might surprise you (those high-tech toilets deserve their own fan club).

Whether it’s your first trip to Japan or your fifth, there are some of the things Japan is famous for.

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IN THIS ARTICLE

• What Makes Japan Different from Other Asian Destinations?
• Culture and Tradition
• Iconic Sights
• Food and Drink
• Japanese Hospitality
• Modern Japan
• Thanks for reading my pick of the things Japan is famous for

What Makes Japan Different from Other Asian Destinations?

I’ve travelled extensively across Asia, and Japan occupies its own category. Here’s why:

Bottom line: Japan demands more planning, costs more money, and requires more cultural awareness than hopping around Southeast Asia. But the payoff is an experience that feels genuinely different from anywhere else you’ll visit.

If you want beaches and backpacker vibes, head to Thailand. If you want cutting-edge cities and ancient temples existing in perfect harmony, Japan is unmatched.

Culture and Tradition

1. Geisha in Gion

The ultimate Kyoto bucket list experience is to glimpse a Geisha scurrying along a dimly lit alleyway in Gion.

Contrary to popular misconception in the West, modern geisha are not brightly painted hookers. These custodians of Japanese culture are refined, respected and highly accomplished.

If you are lucky enough to spot a geisha – I was on my first visit to Kyoto – please treat her with respect. The many visitors who dress up as Geisha will usually happily pose for a photo for you.

SEEING GEISHA: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Best places: Gion and Pontocho districts in Kyoto. Your best chance is spotting them between 6pm-8pm as they head to appointments.

Real or costume? Real geisha move with purpose and won’t stop for photos. If someone’s posing happily, they’re tourists in rental costumes (which is fine, just don’t mistake them for the genuine article).

Formal geisha experience: Want to meet a geisha properly? Private tea ceremonies with geisha cost £200-400 per person through companies like Maikoya. Worth it if you’re fascinated by the culture, excessive if you just want a photo.

Photography etiquette: Discrete photos from a distance are acceptable. Running after them, blocking their path, or touching their kimono is not. Treat them like the working professionals they are.

2. Tea ceremonies in serene gardens

One of the geisha’s skills is conducting tea ceremonies. During this centuries-old ritual, powdered green tea – matcha – is prepared in a traditional tea room with a tatami floor.

As a visitor to Japan, you can join a tea ceremony (I did this on my first visit to Japan). Many organisations offer this experience but those in Kyoto are probably your best bet.

Many of these tea ceremonies take place in teahouses in traditional gardens.

The finest garden of them all is Kenroku-en in Kanazawa. This Edo-period strolling-style landscape garden takes its name from the six attributes associated with a famous Sung-dynasty garden in China: seclusion, spaciousness, antiquity, human ingenuity, abundant water and scenic views.

3. Beautiful kimonos

Starting life as an undergarment for the aristocracy, or everyday wear for commoners, from the 16th Century the kimono became the principal item of dress across classes and sexes. These simple, straight-seamed garments are worn wrapped left side over right and secured with a sash (obi).

The pattern of the kimono indicates social status, personal identity and cultural sensitivity

4. Sacred spaces

Japan is home to tens of thousands of Shinto shrines, which are dedicated to the kami, the Shinto gods. Most Shinto shrines will feature orange tori gates, a main and offering hall, ema (wooden plates on which to write wishes) and omikuji (fortune-telling paper slips).

The most famous Shinto shrine in Japan is the Fushimi Inari Shrine, which is one of the sights not to miss when you are in Kyoto. Hundreds of vermillion torii (Shinto shrine gates) line the 4km pathway winding its way to the summit of the sacred mountain from the main shrine.

Buddhist Temples are used to store and display sacred Buddhist objects, and some of these temples continue to function as monasteries. They will typically feature gates at the entrance to the temple’s grounds, a main hall, a cemetery, a pagoda and a bell.

Here are my five favourite Buddhist Temples in Japan include Sensoji in Tokyo, Kinkakuji in Kyoto and Todaiji in Nara

5. Samurai culture

Samurai played a pivotal role in the history of Japan. Serving feudal lords and enjoying special privileges, they usually belonged to the noble classes of Japanese society.

Lovely Kanazawa is one of the best places in Japan to feel like a samurai. Its Nagamachi district was home to samurai and their families and is brimming with historic atmosphere.

If you are able to visit Kagoshima in Southern Kyushu, Sengan-en is another fabulous place to dive into Japan’s samurai past. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to a traditional Japanese-style landscape garden and the former residence of the Shimadzu family, who ruled Kagoshima until the 19th century.

6. Spectacular festivals

If possible, try to time your visit with one of Japan’s famous festivals. The Japanese love a party and the country’s festivals are quite a spectacle.

On my first visit to Kyoto, I arrived on the day of the Aoi Matsuri Festival. It was quite a sight.

A procession of two oxcarts, four cows, 36 horses, and 600 people dressed in the traditional costumes of Heian nobles paraded behind the Imperial Messenger from the Imperial Palace to the Kamo shrines.

Unforgettable and a superb way to gain awareness of the culture of the region.

Major festivals to plan around

Spring: Takayama Festival (mid-April), my beloved Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto (15 May)

Summer: Gion Matsuri in Kyoto (throughout July, main procession 17 July), Nebuta Matsuri in Aomori (early August)

Autumn: Jidai Matsuri in Kyoto (22 October), Takayama Festival (mid-October)

Winter: Sapporo Snow Festival (early February)

Most festivals are free to watch, though you’ll need to arrive early to secure a good viewing spot.

Check local tourism websites before you travel. Even smaller cities host neighbourhood festivals with food stalls, traditional performances and locals in costume.

7. Sumo wrestling

Few things typify Japan more than sumo wrestling.

This full-contact wrestling originated in Japan as part of a Shinto ritual. To this day, Japan is the only country where it can be practised professionally.

Sumo is all about discipline and physical strength.

Sumo wrestlers usually live in communal training stables, and tradition dictates what they wear and eat. In a flurry of slapping and heaving, wrestlers use their physical strength to force their opponent out of the ring or to bring them to the floor.

To do this, the wrestlers will push, grapple, or shove their opponent down with sheer force.

There are only 6 official sumo tournaments each year, and three of these take place in Tokyo.

8. Cherry blossom (sakura)

Regarded as a symbol of renewal and vitality, sakura is a national obsession in Japan and draws visitors in their thousands.

Timing is everything with sakura. The blooms last barely a week before they scatter, so you’ll need to plan carefully.

When to see cherry blossom in Japan

Best time: Late March to early April is peak season for Tokyo and Kyoto, though this shifts earlier in southern Kyushu (mid-March) and later in northern Hokkaido (early May).

The Japan Meteorological Corporation releases forecasts from January onwards, which help you decide whether to book your flights for late March or early April.

Top tip: Cherry blossom season is Japan’s busiest tourist period. Hotels triple their prices and book out months in advance. If you’re flexible, consider visiting just before or after peak bloom. You’ll miss perfection but gain your sanity (and wallet will thank you).

9. Onsen

Japan has considerable geothermal activity to thank for its abundance of onsen, or hot springs.

Although onsen are traditionally located outdoors, there are also plenty of indoor ones throughout Japan. Good places for an onsen experience are Hakone, close to Mount Fuji, and the towns of Beppu and Yufuin in Kyushu province.

ONSEN ESSENTIALS FOR FIRST-TIMERS

The nakedness issue: Yes, you must be completely naked. No swimsuits, no towels in the water. The small washcloth provided is for modesty while walking around, not for covering up in the bath.

Tattoo restrictions: Many onsen still ban visible tattoos due to their association with yakuza gangs. Options if you’re inked: private onsen rooms, tattoo-friendly establishments (search “tattoo OK onsen” + your destination), or cover small tattoos with flesh-coloured plasters.

Basic etiquette:

• Shower thoroughly before entering the bath
• Keep your small towel out of the water (fold it on your head or beside the bath)
• Hair must be tied up
• No swimming, splashing or diving
• The water is HOT (typically 38-42°C) – ease in slowly

Typical cost: Public bathhouses (sento): £3-6. Hotel/ryokan onsen for guests: usually free. Day-visit onsen: £8-20.

Mixed bathing: Rare but exists in some traditional rural onsen. Usually clearly marked if mixed gender.

Iconic Sights

10. Majestic feudal castles

Japan is home to some of the most spectacular castles in the world.

In the 15th Century, the authority of Japan’s central government had weakened and the country had fallen into chaos. During this time, the country was made up of dozens of warring independent states who built castles for defensive purposes.

Sadly, many of these no longer survive, either destroyed as unwelcome reminders of the past or casualties of WWII. More still were unsympathetically reconstructed, using concrete instead of traditional building materials.

For my money, Japan’s best-preserved feudal castles are in Himeji and Matsumoto.

11. Hiroshima Peace Memorial

The city of Hiroshima is a powerful reminder of one of the darkest days in world history.

On the morning of August 6th, 1945 the American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped the world’s first atomic bomb over the city. An estimated 140,000 people were killed as a result of the explosion.

The Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museumare moving reminders of the events of this day and an essential part of any Japan itinerary.

12. Mount Fuji

Located in the Hakone region, and standing at 3,776 meters, Mount Fuji is one of Japan`s most famous sights. Together with Mount Tate and Mount Haku, it is one of the country’s three sacred mountains.

This volcano, which last erupted in 1707, is best known for its symmetrical cone. It is covered in snow for around five months of the year and is one of the best places to photograph cherry blossoms in Japan.

Food and Drink

13. Japanese cuisine

Ask a random selection of people what Japanese food means to them and chances are that they will say sushi and noodles.

Made of raw fish and seafood wrapped in specially prepared rice, sushi is Japan’s most famous culinary export. There are many different forms of sushi and they are a staple of bento boxes, Japanese lunch boxes that are superb for tucking into on train journeys.

Japanese noodles come in different thicknesses and colours, from thick udon to yellow ramen, with countless regional varieties. My favourite noodle dish is Hakata ramen, a speciality of the city of Fukuoka in Kyushu province.

But Japanese cuisine is so much more than ramen and sushi.

One of the most sublime dishes that I have tried on my travels was okonomiyaki, a type of savoury pancake with vegetables, meat, or seafood, topped with a thick, sweet sauce, mayonnaise, aonori seaweed, and dried bonito flakes. Visit Osaka for an authentic experience.

14. Sake culture

What’s better than Japanese food? Japanese food that is washed down with sake.

Sake, or rice wine, has been fermented in Japan since 450 BC at the latest.

You can try different varieties of sake in a bar – this is one of the best things to do in Himeji – or take a sake brewery tour. But one of the best Japanese experiences is to take a seat in an izakaya and feast on snacks and sake.

Japanese Hospitality

15. Courtesy and safety

Name another country where the train attendant bows when entering and leaving the carriage.

As a nation, the Japanese are famous for respect, politeness and punctuality. Unlike many European countries, people in Japan form an orderly queue to board trains. Don’t even think about queue jumping and surging onto the train when it arrives.

Reflecting the importance that the Japanese place on punctuality, it’s rare for trains in Japan to be delayed.

Safety as a solo traveller is a particular concern of women travelling alone. Japan is one of the safest solo travel destinations in Asia, if not the world.

16. Ryokan

Dating back to the 8th Century, ryokans are Japanese inns with a traditional character.

Ryokans are characterized by tatami mat flooring, futon bedding, low wooden tables and yukata robes. But what sets these accommodations apart is the hospitality (omotenashi) embedded in their DNA, multi-course kaiseki dinner and breakfast spread.

RYOKAN: COSTS AND WHAT TO EXPECT

Budget: £80-150 per person per night (basic ryokan, breakfast included)

Mid-range: £150-300 per person per night (private bathroom, kaiseki dinner and breakfast)

Luxury: £300-800+ per person per night (top-tier establishments like those in Hakone or Kyoto)

What’s included: Most ryokan rates include breakfast, many include both dinner and breakfast. This isn’t a “Continental breakfast” situation – expect elaborate multi-course meals.

Booking tips: Reserve at least 2-3 months ahead for popular areas during cherry blossom or autumn foliage season. Some traditional ryokan won’t accept bookings from solo travellers or may charge a single supplement.

First-timer advice: Start with a mid-range ryokan for one night. The tatami floors and futon beds aren’t for everyone (my back disagreed with me after three consecutive nights). If you love it, book something more luxurious for your next visit.

Best regions for ryokan: Hakone (near Mount Fuji), Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto’s outskirts, Yufuin or Beppu in Kyushu.

Modern Japan

17. Super-fast shinkansen

Travelling in Japan is a breeze, thanks to Japan Rail’s extensive network of trains that include the world-famous shinkansen, Japan’s super-fast bullet trains. Featuring a streamlined sleek design and a distinctive pointy nose, the shinkansen bullet trains carry passengers across the width and breadth of Japan at a top speed of 320 km/h.

It’s this unbeatable travel infrastructure that helps to make Japan one of the best solo destinations in the world.

18. Neon cityscapes

One of the classic images of Japan is that of an urban jungle of brightly coloured neon stretching high into the sky. If you’ve watched the 2003 movie Lost in Translation, you’ll know what I mean.

Shinjuku in Tokyo is one of the best places to walk amongst these neon-spangled skyscrapers. With its karaoke bars, cat cafes, izakaya and immense pachinko parlours, this is the Tokyo of the imagination brought vividly to life.

19. Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing

For another iconic Japanese experience, head to vibrant Shibuya in Tokyo.

This is home to the world´s busiest pedestrian crossing and one of Tokyo’s most famous sights. Against a neon backdrop, each time the light turns green hundreds of people come from all directions at once with graceful agility.

For a bird’s eye view, take a seat in the Starbucks café on the 2nd floor of the building across the street.

20. The best toilets in the world

Saving one of my favourite things in Japan until last.

Put to the back of your mind for a minute Japan’s samurai history, its serene Zen gardens and sublime sushi. One of my favourite things about Japan is that it has the most awesome toilets in the world.

A heated seat, adjustable spray wash, air dryer and deodoriser; what more could you wish for from a loo? Only music to relax the anal sphincter I guess.

And that’s the bottom line.

Thanks for reading my pick of the things Japan is famous for

If Japan is calling your name, you’re in for a treat!

Being an island nation, Japan was isolated from the rest of the world for centuries. This allowed it to cultivate unique customs and traditions, creating a cultural identity that feels truly one-of-a-kind. This is what makes it so special.

If I’ve missed any of your favourite Japanese things, please pop them in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.

Happy travels!

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About Bridget

Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.

Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.

To get in touch, email her at [email protected] or follow her on social media.

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