Japanese Cities You Need To See Before You Die

Japan may look small on a map, but it’s home to countless world-class cities, breathtaking sites and plenty of natural wonders. To help you find your perfect destination, here’s a rundown of the Japanese cities you need to see.

Many of the cities in this list feature on our carefully curated 12-day tour of Japan – taking you straight to the best places for full-on cultural immersion, with the hassle of planning removed.

1. Nagasaki

Natural Feature, Building, Museum, Memorial

Nagasaki lies on the southwest island of Kyushu. This coastal city was once Japan’s only official trading port with the outside world and was strongly influenced by its trading partners, particularly the Dutch and Portuguese. It’s home to many historic churches, and it was once the capital of Catholicism in Japan. To honour the victims of the atomic bomb attacks during World War II, the Nagasaki Peace Park, Atomic Bomb Museum, and Peace Memorial Hall were built here and attract thousands of visitors each year.

2. Naha

Building, Natural Feature

Okinawa, Japan at historic Shuri Castle.

Naha is the capital of Okinawa Prefecture. It was also the historic capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom, an independent sovereign state that ruled the Okinawan islands for hundreds of years. Today, the city is home to many historic sites, including Shuri Castle, the former seat of the Ryukyu royals. With a warm, tropical climate, Naha is a great place to go for sun worshippers. Naminoue Beach lies at the south end of the city, while buses connect visitors to a number of larger beaches, including Mibaru and Manza.

4. Nagoya

Building, Museum

Nagoya is the third most populated city in Japan. It’s an extremely successful centre of modern industry and production, but it has also established itself as one of the cultural capitals of Japan. Nagoya is home to several important museums, including Tokugawa Art Museum, which houses 10 National Treasures. Architecture lovers will want to check out the Cultural Path, a protected area of historical buildings and structures between Nagoya Castle and the Tokugawa Art Museum.

5. Nara

Forest, Natural Feature, Park, Shrine

Nara, in the Kansai region, is best known for having a friendly population of native sika deer, also known as the spotted deer, which are concentrated in Nara Park but can occasionally be spotted in other areas of town. A visit to Nara isn’t complete without making your rounds through Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, declared a Unesco World Heritage Site. These historic sites include the beautiful Kasugayama Primeval Forest, Heijo Palace, and Kasuga Shrine.

6. Sapporo

Architectural Landmark

Monumental Ice Sculpture Sapporo Snow Festival Hokkaido Japan

Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido. It’s best known for the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, which fills the city with snow and impressive ice sculptures. With a cold winter and ample snowfall, it’s also a favourite winter sports destination. But Sapporo is a new, modern and metropolitan city, complete with tree-lined streets and boulevards attractive in any season.

7. Aomori

Natural Feature, Building

Giant illuminated lantern Nebuta lantern float in Nebuta Warasse, Aomori, Japan

Aomori is host to one of the most popular festivals in Japan, the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri (Float Festival). This enormous summer fest includes a parade of illuminated floats and dancers chanting and inviting passers-by to watch. The city is the capital of the Tohoku region, and it played a pivotal role in recovery efforts for the 2011 earthquake, from which the area is still recovering. Aomori is a great place for visitors to base themselves before exploring other areas of the region.

8. Hiroshima

Memorial, Park, Stadium

Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park draws in crowds from all over the globe. The site commemorates the victims of the 1945 bombings, when it became the first city to be attacked with atomic weapons. Today, Hiroshima is a lively, vibrant city, home to a number of historical sites, gardens and parks. It is a great city for live sports and home to several national teams, including the Sanfrecce Hiroshima (football) and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp (baseball). The main stadiums are the Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima (yes, really) and the Hiroshima Big Arch.

9. Kyoto

Building, Natural Feature

Two young geisha are walking on the way to Kiyomizu-Dera temple in Kyoto. Kyoto is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture located in the Kansai region

The unofficial cultural capital of Japan, Kyoto, was also the official capital for more than 1,000 years. The city is home to a number of important cultural sites, including more than 2,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Kyoto is the place to go to see geisha (or geiko, as they are known in Kansai) culture; the annual geisha dances held each spring are one of the city highlights. Kyoto is also known for kaiseki (elevated Japanese cuisine), ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) and historic architecture.

10. Osaka

Architectural Landmark

Osaka is known for having laid-back locals, delicious cuisine, and charming Kansai dialect. The city is best enjoyed in the evening when it comes alive with neon lights and late-night eateries. The expression kuidaore, or eat ’til you drop, was coined here, and thousands of tourists flock to the Osaka restaurants each year. Dotonbori is the heart of Osaka and one of its most popular attractions. The area is brimming with restaurants, shops and bright neon boards, including the Glico Running Man.

11. Tokyo

Architectural Landmark

Crowds pass below colorful signs in Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan.

Tokyo is the capital of Japan and by far the most visited city in the country. There’s something for everyone in Tokyo, from ancient temples and shrines, historic gardens and estates to world-class shopping, nightlife and cuisine. Its kabuki and sumo cultures are unrivalled, and it’s here you’ll find some of the best athletic teams in the country. But Tokyo is most famous for its shopping districts and modern architecture, which are some of the best the world has to offer.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.