Stretching from the tropical island of Okinawa in the south to the snowy island of Hokkaido in the north, Japan encompasses thousands of islands in a sweeping archipelago slightly smaller than the state of California.

It’s here, at the eastern edge of the Asian continent that visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the unique cities and unforgettable sights that make Japan one of the world’s most iconic travel destinations.

Where to Go and What to See in Japan

Tokyo

The capital of Japan captures the imagination and the spirit with its stunning skyline towering over a bustling city offering travelers everything from museum visits brimming with art and history to high-energy sumo wrestling.

With a stay at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu, embrace wellness at the spa, which offers detox treatments, a salt bath, and a low-temperature mist sauna, or explore traditional artwork, like calligraphy and Ikebana flower arrangements, throughout the hotel.

Or opt for a visit to Hotel New Otani Tokyo, "EXECUTIVE HOUSE ZEN," where luxury meets pleasure with a tennis court, driving range, fitness center, and 10-acre garden with bridges, waterfalls, and stone lanterns. Guests can also enjoy a dressing service in the summer featuring a Yukata kimono.

Additional cultural experiences can be found throughout Tokyo. Explore ancient Asian art at the Nezu Museum, a spectacular modernist space housing an impressive collection of pre-modern Japanese and East Asian art, carved stone Buddhas, calligraphy, ceramics and paintings arts, and more.

With a history spanning more than 1,500 years, sumo wrestling is a deeply rooted part of Japanese culture past and present. Experience it first-hand by watching an early-morning practice with a guide trained in the proper protocol of this storied athletic world. After practice, you’ll be invited to join the wrestlers for a fortifying hotpot they make themselves.

This vibrant city is also known for its diverse cuisine as well as the fashion-forward Harajuku district, where creative streetwear reigns supreme. Other travelers may venture to Tokyo to visit Akihabara, a neighborhood filled with themed cafes, video game stores, toy shops, and colorful, anime-focused attractions that remind many of their childhood.

Kyoto

Brimming with sacred temples, imperial palaces, and traditional wooden homes, this cultural center invites visitors to step into Japan’s storied past while exploring its natural beauty.

At The Thousand Kyoto, wander the garden or relax at a spa that features a unique bedrock bath. Guests can also enjoy the many unique cultural experiences that the hotel offers, such as kimono rentals, temple visits, pottery painting, and a chance to paint your own parasol. Another tranquil place to unwind in Japan’s ancient imperial capital is Kyoto Tokyu Hotel, where travelers can enjoy a fitness center, garden with water features, and both floating and rooftop bars. Both hotels also offer modern versions of the Japanese tea ceremonies, which first started in Kyoto.

Venture out to explore more of the area’s vibrant culture. There are several temples to visit near Kyoto, including Kiyomizudera Temple, which offers sprawling views of the city as well as landscaping that changes with the seasons, from autumn leaves in fall and greenery in summer to pastel cherry blossoms in the spring. Another spot with panoramic views is Kenninji Temple, an oasis of art, design, and tranquility with two karesansui, or dry landscape gardens.

Kanazawa

Kanazawa is easily accessible from Tokyo by Shinkansen but can feel like a world away. Off the typical tourist trail, this region is home to some of the country’s best Geisha performers, which entertain visitors with traditional tea house culture featuring traditional song and dance that simultaneously conveys emotion and tells a story.

A Japanese jewel, Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel is adorned with artwork from local artisans and also offers a fitness center exclusively for hotel guests, a club lounge, traditional tea sets in the guestrooms, and comfortable Japanese nightwear to help you embrace the culture of Kanazawa.

Other local cultural activities include Japanese archery classes, samurai falconry, cooking and lessons and more in addition to a unique fabric dying technique found nowhere else. Kaga Yuzen is an ornate dyeing method created in the 17th-century and popular by feudal lords who loved its lavish patterns and bold colors. Today, these intricate designs, which often feature plant and flower motifs, typically adorn local kimono.

Try your hand at creating your own Kaga Yuzen masterpiece or, if you're less artistically inclined, take back one from a local store as a striking souvenir.

Matsue

Offering stunning natural beauty, historic Edo-period homes and castles, and one of Japan’s most-visited museums and garden complexes, the state of Shimane challenges the everyday traveler to go beyond the big cities and into this rugged-yet-refined, seaside region.

Within Matsue, you’ll find the luxurious Matsue Excel Hotel Tokyu, where traditional lunch buffet and afternoon tea ceremonies offer Japanese a taste of Japanese culture in a setting that is relaxed yet refined.

One of only 12 original castles remaining in Japan, Matsue Castle is found on the shores of Lake Shinji. Travelers can take a tour of the keep, explore the grounds, or take a boat cruise around the moat. Former samurai mansions, including Matsue Buke Yashiki, are also located close to the castle.

Nearby, the Adachi Museum of Art in Yasugi is one of the most-visited museums in Japan, despite its distance from any major city. This location is the hometown of Zendo Adachi, a wealthy self-made man who loved art and loved gardening and wanted to combine his two passions in the place he grew up.

Wanting to showcase his love of Japanese painting, ceramics, and sculpture in an environment that paid homage to natural beauty, Adachi created a 165-hectare garden to surround the main museum building, providing an anchoring context for the world-class collection within.

Yokohama

Located just south of Tokyo, the port city of Yokohama is at the forefront of modernity in Japan, exporting traditional goods like tea and silk. A vibrant urban area on the water, it serves as a trendsetter of sorts while also embracing other cultures with its vast Chinatown neighborhood.

Admire the historic design of the Hotel New Grand, a hotel located near the waterfront offering a massage salon and boutique shops to explore as well as a rich history. The Yokohama Hotel originally opened on this site in 1860 and was believed to be the first hotel in Japan. Though it has changed names many times since then, it has been the Hotel New Grand for nearly a century now. Or head out into the city to soak up more distinctly Japanese customs.

Visit the Cup Noodles Museum for a unique experience revolving around the popular ramen snack, or head to Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse for views of the port and a chance to peruse the shops within. Motomachi Shopping Street is another spot offering stores and cafes to explore. Some other notable places nearby include Sankeien Garden, deemed a National Place of Scenic Beauty, and the state-of-the-art Yokohama Air Cabin.

Ready to plan your trip to Japan?

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For more activities and experiences to enjoy on your journey to Japan, visit the Japan National Tourism Organization.