In a country so vast and varied as Japan, it can be difficult to know what to do during a short visit. Whether you’re a food enthusiast, culture seeker, outdoor adventurer, or just someone who likes to soak up the sights and enjoy a relaxing time, there are a few uniquely Japanese experiences you should try at least once. To help you plan your next visit and get the most out of your time, here are a few key activities to consider.
Stay in unique accommodation
Only in Japan can you stay in a contemporary five-star hotel one night and bed down in a Buddhist temple the next. Why not immerse yourself in Japan’s spiritual culture by taking the opportunity to enjoy the traditional hospitality and wholesome food of a temple lodging (shukubo). You can enjoy a monk-style bed and breakfast at Koyasan Temple Lodgings, with Koyasan home to more than 50 temples that offer overnight stays where you can partake in practices such as meditation and copying sutras (Buddhist scriptures).
For those seeking a unique outdoors escape, you might choose to stay at one of Japan’s many glamping sites. Fujino Kirameki sits on a gently sloping site with stunning views of Japan’s most famous mountain, Mt Fuji. Meanwhile, other unique accommodation experiences include Kurabito Stay, which invites guests to stay overnight in a 300-year-old sake brewery, the traditional boathouses of Funaya Accommodation, and Miyama FUTON&Breakfast – a Kyoto-style rural thatched cottage where you can learn about rural pastimes.
Winter sports that aren’t skiing
Winter sports enthusiasts are probably already familiar with Japan’s ski regions, but there is so much more to do in a country blessed with perfect snow conditions every winter. You can experience a guided snowshoeing experience around the coloured lakes of Goshikinuma Ponds in Fukushima Prefecture, and enjoy some of the most spectacular and scenic ice-climbing experiences in the world. Choji Falls in Nikko National Park boasts a 25-metre wall of ice adjacent to the waterfall with designated routes for beginners and intermediate-level climbers as well as guided excursions.
Other winter activities to try include drift ice walking on the Sea of Okhotsk from Utoro on the Shiretoko Peninsula, ice fishing on Hokkaido’s Lake Abashiri and Lake Akan or Nagano’s Lake Suwa, and fat bike snow cycling along some of Japan’s many mountain trails.
Experience the festivals and arts
Japan’s art and design scene offers everything from the traditional to avant-garde thanks to its rich culture and swathe of cutting-edge contemporary local artists and architects. Museums, galleries, and other artistic destinations in Japan can be dedicated to just about anything you can think of, from the film and animation of Studio Ghibli and teamLab’s artworks using digital technology, to the many scenic locations housing traditional art works. Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art blends Japanese, Western, contemporary and modern arts and architecture while Kyoto International Manga Museum offers a collection of some 300,000 comics and manga-related exhibits.
For a unique and scenic art experience in Japan’s outdoors, the ‘art islands’ of the Seto Inland Sea in Setouchi are littered with incredible modern art and sculptures, both indoors and in the open air, forming one of Japan’s most artistic regions. Home to the Benesse Art Site, and the Naoshima New Museum of Art opening in May 2025, Japan’s art island of Naoshima should be on the bucket list for just about every art enthusiast. The islands are also collectively home to the Setouchi Triennale – an artistic, architectural, and cultural festival that takes place every three years.
Matsuri – traditional street festivals typically featuring parades, dance displays, street food, and sometimes fireworks – are also popular in towns and cities around Japan, particularly in the summer months. The Gion Festival in Kyoto held in July, Tokushima’s Awa Odori Festival, and the Aomori Nebuta Festival held in August are three of the biggest events in the annual calendar.
Live Japan’s traditions and past times
Japan excels at striking the right balance between tradition and modernity, leading the way in technological advances while also respecting its history and preserving traditional culture. Staying in a ryokan during your trip to Japan – a traditional Japanese inn typically featuring hot spring baths, futon beds, and kaiseki cuisine – is a must to get a taste of Japan’s traditional way of life.
The tea ceremony tradition has also remained a cherished ritual for centuries, and it is respected for bringing people together in a calm environment to enjoy freshly made matcha tea and sometimes sweets. Set in beautiful surroundings just below Kakegawa Castle, Ninomaru Teahouse is a great place to experience this meticulous tradition. And if you’re curious about architecture, don’t miss the opportunity to explore some of Japan’s many temples, shrines and castles dotted all over the country with Ozu Castle in Ehime Prefecture a highlight among many.
Immerse yourself in the country’s food culture
Noodles are a staple of Japanese cuisine. Noodles have been served for hundreds of years in a variety of different ways. Why not head to the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum to find out more about this popular hearty noodle dish? Or if soba is more your thing, the ultimate farm-to-table foray into soba noodles can be found in Chino, Nagano Prefecture, where you can join a master noodle maker as he shares deep insight into the fundamentals of making delicious soba.
Meanwhile, no trip to Japan is complete without trying Japan’s beloved sake and experiencing local nightlife in an izakaya (Japanese pub). Izakaya are typically busy and social places, but that’s all part of the fun. The dishes served vary, but you can expect a selection of food ranging from niche regional specialities to all-time Japanese classics including barbecued meat skewers.
With sake brewed all over Japan and having its own distinct qualities and characteristics, you can also visit some of the many sake breweries to taste their produce and learn more about the ingredients and how it’s made. The prefectures of Aomori, Iwate, Akita, Miyagi, and Yamagata offer a selection of breweries you can visit on your travels around the country. To experience some of Japan’s best produce and the very essence of its culinary culture and diverse local cuisines, exploring the street food markets is also a must with Karato Market in Yamaguchi, Tokyo’s Tsukiji Outer Market, and Kanazawa’s Omicho Market popular highlights.
Explore Japan’s natural wonders
As a country with four distinct seasons and a landmass stretching from balmy southern tropics to an icy north, it’s no surprise Japan is home to a breadth of scenic wonders and diverse natural environments waiting to be enjoyed and explored. While the Japan Alps in Nagano boast Olympic-class snow-covered slopes for winter sports enthusiasts, the islands of Okinawa offer white sand beaches, clear turquoise waters teeming with tropical marine life, and delicious fresh seafood dishes for those who enjoy a slower pace of life on the coast. Meanwhile, you’ll find picturesque villages and onsen towns dotted all over the countryside for a glimpse of Japan’s rural way of life including Shirakawa-go and Gokayama in Gifu and Toyama Prefectures, and the mountain village of Miyama around 30 kilometres from central Kyoto.
