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.
Maiko make-up and photo session (henshin)
Kyoto · Tradition, Workshops · Transform into a maiko with kimono, white make-up and traditional hairstyle, with a studio photo session; experience from around 3.000 ¥.
2,500–4,999 ¥ Book now View on Google Maps
Taiyuin Mausoleum (Iemitsu's forbidden shrine)
Nikko · Temples & castles, Viewpoints · The mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, darker and more mystical than the Toshogu, with five ceremonial gates climbing the hillside; entry 550 ¥.
550 ¥ View on Google Maps
Zen meditation (zazen) at a Kyoto temple
Kyoto · Tradition, Workshops · A zazen session guided by a monk at a private Kyoto temple, with an explanation of breathing and posture; from around 3.500 ¥.
2,500–4,999 ¥ Book now View on Google Maps
Meigetsuin (the temple of Kamakura's blue hydrangeas)
Kamakura · Nature, Temples & castles · Zen temple famous for its 2.500 blue hydrangeas that bloom in June; admission 500 ¥ (800 ¥ in hydrangea season).
500 ¥ View on Google Maps
Mentaiko of Fukuoka (the spicy roe that Japan adores)
Fukuoka · Gastronomy, Shopping · Fukuoka is the cradle of Japanese mentaiko; the shops at Hakata station sell the best selection in the country; from 800-2.000 ¥ a tub.
1–1,499 ¥ View on Google Maps
Takayama morning markets (Asaichi)
Takayama · Gastronomy, Shopping · Two open-air markets with local produce, vegetables and crafts; open from 6:00 to 12:00, free entry.
Free View on Google Maps
Nikko · Animals · A small park near Kinugawa with monkey shows and encounters, plus a themed area for younger children; entry around 1.700 ¥.
1,500–2,499 ¥ Book now View on Google Maps
D.T. Suzuki Museum (Zen philosophy and Buddhism)
Kanazawa · Museums · Museum dedicated to the most influential Buddhist philosopher of the 20th century, a Kanazawa native; admission 310 ¥, beautiful architecture.
310 ¥ View on Google Maps
Fukuoka Asian Art Museum (the only one of its kind in Japan)
Fukuoka · Museums · The only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to contemporary Asian art, with works from China, India, Indonesia and Korea; admission 200 ¥.
200 ¥ View on Google Maps
Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art (Hijiyama)
Hiroshima · Museums, Nature · Museum of modern Japanese and international art at the top of Hijiyama park; admission ~360 ¥ for the permanent collection.
350 ¥ View on Google Maps
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
