What to See and Do in Japan

There are so many attractions in Japan; it’s hard to pick the best ones. Everyone visits Japan for different reasons, so there are always personal preferences. Mount Fuji is usually on everyone’s list of things to see. It’s located about 60 miles north of Tokyo and it is the national symbol of Japan. Millions of tourist climb to the top to see a modern volcano while its sleeping. Nagasaki and Hiroshima has the distinction of being the only two cities in the world to experience an atomic bomb attack. Tourists come from all parts of the globe to visit the museums and memorials that have been built to honor those who died there over 60 years ago.

Taketomi shallow
Taketomi shallow - photo by maru0522

Surfers and sun worshippers flock to the beaches in Japan. The Miyazaki coastline of Kyushu is famous for the SeaGaia Ocean Dome, which is an indoor beach. Surfing and sunbathing indoors is a fantastic experience and a big tourist attraction. Kyoto is also known worldwide for its Buddhist temples and exotic gardens. There are countless national parks and shrines all over the country and local festivals are held in cities across Japan during the summer months. Let’s not forget Tokyo Disneyland; it is still the most popular theme park in Japan.

There are over 1000 beaches in Japan. Some of the most popular regions are Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki and Chugoku. Each region has numerous beaches to enjoy. In Hokkaido the Otaru Dream Beach and Zenibako Beach are filled with sunbathers as well as surfers in the summer. The main surfing areas are Otaru, Hakodate and Muroran. Other popular beach destinations are Sendai, which is known for its fantastic surf breaks and Fukushima which is a long beach line that faces the pacific ocean. The waves are constant all year, but the water is usually cold in the winter. Hitachi and Takahagi and Northern Ibaraki are great to visit at anytime during the year. The beaches and the reefs attract sun lovers, as well as surfers.