Japan offers an incredible range of experiences, from thousand-year-old traditions to gleaming futuristic cities, all linked by the world's best train network. If it's your first trip, the experiences below capture what makes the country special — the things that belong on any first-timer's list, roughly in the order most travelers should prioritize them. Think of this as the master checklist; the city- and region-specific guides go deeper on each.
Ride the Shinkansen
The Shinkansen (bullet train) is an experience in itself, not just transport — gliding between cities at up to 300 km/h, punctual to the minute, smooth and quiet, with Mt Fuji sliding past the window on the classic Tokyo–Kyoto run. Buy an ekiben (station bento box) to enjoy onboard, settle into the generous seat, and watch the country unfold. It's a rite of passage and one of the quintessential things to do in Japan.
Explore Tokyo and Kyoto
Experience the contrast at the heart of Japan. Electric, futuristic Tokyo dazzles with neon, food, fashion, and energy — Senso-ji temple, the Shibuya scramble, teamLab's digital art, the serene Meiji Shrine, and the view from Tokyo Skytree. Serene, traditional Kyoto answers with temples, shrines, and preserved old streets — the golden Kinkaku-ji, the torii tunnels of Fushimi Inari, the hillside Kiyomizu-dera, the Arashiyama bamboo grove, and the lantern-lit Gion geisha district. Together they show the country's two faces and anchor nearly every first trip. Give each city two to three days.
Soak in an onsen
Bathing in a natural hot spring is deeply woven into Japanese culture and a blissful experience, especially outdoors in a scenic setting or at a traditional inn. The etiquette is simple once you learn it — wash thoroughly before entering, bathe nude, keep your towel out of the water — and baths are gender-separated. An onsen soak, particularly in a hot-spring town like Hakone or Kinosaki, is one of the trip's great pleasures. If you have tattoos, look for tattoo-friendly onsen or book a private bath, as some establishments still restrict visible ink.
Stay in a ryokan
Spend at least one night in a traditional ryokan — a Japanese inn with tatami-mat floors, futon bedding laid out by staff, a hot-spring bath, and often a multi-course kaiseki dinner and breakfast included. Wearing the provided yukata robe, soaking in the bath, and being served an artful seasonal meal turns a place to sleep into a memory. It's especially magical in an onsen town or in Kyoto, and one of the most authentic cultural experiences you can have.
Visit temples and shrines
Japan's temples and shrines are essential — spiritual, beautiful, and often free or inexpensive to enter. From Kyoto's golden Kinkaku-ji and the torii tunnels of Fushimi Inari to Tokyo's Senso-ji and the giant bronze Buddha at Nara, they range from grand and ornate to quietly contemplative. Learning a little etiquette deepens the experience: at Shinto shrines, purify your hands at the water pavilion and pray with two bows, two claps, and a final bow; at Buddhist temples, you pray without clapping. A short bow when passing through a torii gate is a graceful touch.
Eat your way across the country
Japanese food is a destination in itself. Slurp ramen (slurping is encouraged), savor sushi fresh from a counter or fun conveyor belt, graze street food in Osaka's Dotonbori, settle into an izakaya for small plates and drinks, and try a refined kaiseki meal. Don't overlook the convenience stores, which serve genuinely excellent cheap food. Eating well is one of the great joys of a Japan trip — and remember, there's no tipping, tap water is safe everywhere, and the legal drinking age is 20.
See Mt Fuji
Catch a glimpse of iconic Mt Fuji, Japan's most recognizable symbol, whether from the Shinkansen window, a Hakone viewpoint over Lake Ashi, or a lakeside town on a clear day. Fuji is famously shy and often hidden by clouds, so check the forecast and aim for a clear day — and when the perfect cone appears, it's a genuine thrill.
Take a day trip
Japan's rail network makes superb day trips easy:
- Hakone — hot springs and Mt Fuji views on a scenic loop of mountain railway, ropeway, and lake boat, near Tokyo.
- Nara — a giant bronze Buddha at Todai-ji and a park full of friendly free-roaming deer, near Kyoto/Osaka.
- Nikko — spectacular UNESCO shrines in cedar forest, north of Tokyo.
- Kamakura — a coastal town with an open-air Great Buddha, near Tokyo.
- Himeji — Japan's finest original castle, reachable by Shinkansen from Kyoto/Osaka.
Experience the seasons
Time your trip for cherry blossoms in spring (late March–April) or autumn foliage in fall (October–November), when Japan's landscapes and temples are at their most beautiful and the whole country celebrates the spectacle. These are the peak seasons for good reason — book flights and hotels early — but every season has its appeal, from summer festivals to winter snow and steaming onsen.
Only-in-Japan experiences
- Wander a neon nightlife district — Shinjuku's Golden Gai, Osaka's Dotonbori.
- Visit teamLab's immersive digital art in Tokyo.
- Browse a bustling food market like Nishiki (Kyoto) or Tsukiji (Tokyo).
- Try a tea ceremony or rent a kimono in Kyoto.
- Simply soak up the safety, cleanliness, punctuality, and quiet kindness that define daily life in Japan.
Bottom line
The best things to do in Japan blend the modern and the traditional — bullet trains and hot springs, neon cities and ancient temples, incredible food and natural beauty. Build your first trip around these experiences, group them sensibly by region, and you'll come away understanding exactly why travelers fall in love with Japan and start planning their return before they've even left.
