Top 10 Places to Visit in Japan

Kamakura

Kamakura is a small Japanese town, which is about 50 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. It has a famous bronze statue of the Great Buddha dates from the thirteenth century, 13 m high and 93 tons heavy. Statue used to be housed in a building which was destroyed by a typhoon in the fifteenth century. Today a large number of tourists come to take the picture in front of the Great Buddha.The city has a long history and it is no accident that the period of Japanese history is named Kamakura period (1185-1333), which marked the beginning of the establishment of the shogunate in the city.

Credit: Kazuletokyoite

Okinawa

Okinawa is one of the islands in Japan probably best known for its interesting past, and we mean the Second World War, when the island was under US administration until June 17, 1972. This is an island in the Ryukyu Islands, which administratively belongs to Japan with its capital city, Naha.

Credit: Jonathan.Leung

Matsumoto castle

Construction began in 1504, and eventually the castle was called “Crow Castle” because of its resemblance to that bird with outstretched wings. It belongs to the three best and the most visited castle in Japan. What makes it unique is the channel filled with water, something the other two castles do not have. After the Meiji revolution, it was planned to destroy the castle, but the villagers managed to save it from destruction. Yet, the outer castle was demolished. The castle is considered a national treasure of Japan.

Credit: SLTc

Nara

Do not miss the oldest capital and the first city of Japan. Nara was founded in the 8th century, and its most famous monument is the Todai-ji, Eastern Great Temple, which is the largest wooden building in the world. Inside are the gigantic Daibutsu and other huge statues. There are other temples, such as Saidai-ji, Kofuku-ji, Kasuga and many more. Apart from temples and shrines, Nara also has other attractions that you will enjoy. Nara is known for stags that walk freely through the city, you can feed them or just enjoy in their company.

Credit: Coniferconifer

Nikko

Situated in the mountains,  Nikko has a number of famous temples that make it worthwhile to visit. With mountains in the background, beautiful forests and rocky valleys, the temples are perfectly placed in their natural environment. The city is essentially developed around the temples. Among the best known are the Toshogu Shrine, established in 1617, with an ornate gate and Three Wise Monkeys. The sanctuary is set among giant trees of cryptomerias.

Credit: Hardo.Müller