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Sanmachi-suji, the historic old town of Takayama
Takayama · Tradition, Viewpoints · Three streets of Edo-period machiya with sake breweries, shops and canals; strolling and viewing the exteriors is free.
Free View on Google Maps
Activities in Japan for your itinerary
Filter by city, type of experience and price range to find what fits your trip.
From free temples and legendary neighbourhoods to food tours, viewpoints and day experiences. We bring together the things to see and do in the main cities of Japan — Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and more — with their city, type and indicative price, so you can build your trip without getting lost among a thousand tabs.
Tokyo · Theme parks · An indoor Hello Kitty and Sanrio-characters theme park in Tama; adult admission around 3.600-4.900 ¥.
2,500–4,999 ¥ Book now View on Google Maps
Itsukushima Shrine and the Miyajima torii
Hiroshima · Nature, Temples & castles, Viewpoints · Sacred island with the floating torii, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; ferry 380 ¥ each way (JR Pass valid) plus 300 ¥ shrine admission.
300 ¥ View on Google Maps
Hakone Shrine (floating torii on Lake Ashi)
Hakone · Nature, Temples & castles · Shinto shrine with the wooden torii rising from the lake, framed by the park's cedar forest; free access.
Free View on Google Maps
Osaka · Temples & castles · A small shrine with a stage in the shape of a giant lion's head, perfect for curious photos.
Osaka · Temples & castles · A Shinto shrine with an arched bridge and traditional architecture, very popular at New Year.
Toshogu Shrine (Japan's most ornate mausoleum)
Nikko · Temples & castles, Viewpoints · The shrine-mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the most spectacular gold-leaf buildings of feudal Japan; entry 1.300 ¥.
1,300 ¥ Book now View on Google Maps
Kyoto · Temples & castles · Buddhist temple in the village of Ohara surrounded by moss and momiji; a quiet excursion on the outskirts of Kyoto; admission ~700 ¥.
700 ¥ View on Google Maps
Tokyo · Temples & castles · Tokyo's most famous Buddhist temple with the Kaminarimon gate and the Nakamise shopping street; free access.
Free View on Google Maps
Tokyo · Shopping · A pedestrian shopping street in Shibuya full of shops, fast food and youth fashion.
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How to choose your activities in Japan
Do not try to see everything. A typical two-week trip allows you to combine the essentials of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka with one or two day trips (Nara, Hakone, Miyajima). Mix registers: a morning of temples, an afternoon of neighbourhood and food, and leave gaps to improvise. Filter by city to see what fits each stop and by price if you want to balance free and paid.
Many of the best experiences — strolling Fushimi Inari at dawn, getting lost in Shinjuku at night, Nishiki market — cost nothing. Save the budget for what really deserves it: a teamLab, a food tour or a timed-entry ticket. Once you are clear on your favourites, put them into a route with real costs from the planner.
Ready to turn your list into a route?
The planner distributes the nights by city and calculates the costs of your trip.
Frequently asked questions
How much do activities in Japan cost?
There is everything. Many of the great must-dos are free: temples and shrines such as Fushimi Inari, parks, neighbourhoods such as Akihabara or the Arashiyama bamboo grove. Paid activities usually run between 500 and 3,000 ¥ (a museum, a viewpoint, a ticket), and premium experiences (teamLab, theme parks, guided tours) exceed 5,000 ¥. On each card you will see the price when we have it confirmed.
Do I need to book activities in advance?
Most do not: you enter temples, parks and neighbourhoods directly. It is worth booking days or weeks ahead for the ones with limited capacity — teamLab, the Ghibli Museum, some tours and workshops — especially in high season (sakura in spring and momiji in autumn). When an activity allows online booking, you will find the Book button on its card.
Do I need the JR Pass to reach the activities?
It depends on your route. The JR Pass is worth it if you are going to make several long journeys between cities (Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima); for getting around within a single city, almost never. You can check it with our JR Pass calculator or read the JR Pass guide.
Can I add these activities to an itinerary?
Yes. Our trip planner distributes the nights between cities according to your budget and pace, and suggests activities per day with their estimated costs. It is the fastest way to go from "I want to see this" to a complete route with real numbers.