Japan is a breathtaking island country with vibrant culture, ancient traditions, delicious cuisine and some of the world’s top travel attractions! But with so many sights to see across so many seasons, deciding when to visit and see your bucket-list sights can be challenging.

That’s why Expat Explore has compiled this list of Japan’s top attractions, plus the best time of the year to see them. Read on for a journey through Japan’s most memorable sights and seasonal recommendations to make the most of your experience.

Related: Learn more about Japan’s seasonal attractions!

Top attractions in Japan and when to visit them:

Mount Fuji

Location: Honshū

Best time to visit: Autumn/Winter (November to February)

Located about 100km from Tokyo, Mount Fuji is an impressive active volcano that’s become a must-see attraction for travellers around the world. From skiing to summit hikes, Mount Fuji offers plenty of activities for visitors. As one of Japan’s three sacred mountains, it also offers a rich history to delve into.

Mount Fuji is not only a piece of Japanese heritage but a symbol of culture and spirituality too. It’s also the country’s tallest peak at 3,776 meters! Due to the volcanic activity, many caves and hot springs exist in the region, so travellers are spoilt for choice when it comes to recreation.

Related: Discover the world’s most impressive mountain ranges!

Cherry Blossoms

Location: All around Japan

Best time to visit: Spring (March to May)

Arguably one of Japan’s most well-known attractions is the annual display of cherry blossoms that bloom in springtime. These pretty and perfectly pink and white petals have become almost synonymous with Japan, especially in art and media depictions. While Japan boasts many other floral varieties, sakura (cherry blossoms) have become a signature largely due to their countrywide presence.

While a visit to Japan in springtime gives you hundreds of options for cherry blossom sightings, Kyoto and Nara offer truly spectacular sights to accompany the cherry blossom bloom, such as ancient hillside temples.

Osaka Castle

Location: Osaka

Best time to visit: Spring (March to May)

Osaka Castle is another one of Japan’s most famous cultural and historic landmarks. While its construction started in 1583, the current concrete reconstruction of the tower was only built in 1931. This gives the castle one of its unique features – the marriage of ancient and modern. The inside even features an elevator to make it more accessible for visitors.

While travellers can see and experience Osaka Castle any time of year, if you want the ultimate Japanese experience, we recommend timing your visit to the castle with the sakura season. As the western citadel is surrounded by Nishinomaru Garden, springtime accentuates the already stunning castle with over 600 cherry blossom trees in bloom.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Location: Kyoto

Best time to visit: Early mornings or late nights in autumn/spring

Another iconic image of Japan is the seemingly endless line of orange gates that make up the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine and the pathway to Mount Inari. Inari is the deity of professional success and good harvests, and Fushimi Inari is the head shrine in Japan.

Fushimi Inari Taisha, which is believed to have been founded in 711, comprises roughly 10,000 bright orange torii and several stone altars (otsuka) along the pathway to Mount Inari. Enjoy a two to three-hour hike with a shop for souvenirs, drinks and snacks halfway.

Related: Be sure to try Japan’s top famous foods when you visit!

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Location: Tokyo

Best time to visit: Autumn (September to November) or spring (March to May)

Take a break from the concrete cityscape of Tokyo and wander the serene Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Once a private garden for the imperial family, Shinjuku Gyoen’s 144 acres of plant life make it one of the best places to visit in Tokyo.

In actuality, Shinjuku Gyoen comprises three Western and Japanese-style gardens. If you choose to visit in autumn, look forward to breathtaking autumn colour schemes and the annual Chrysanthemum Exhibition. Alternatively, in spring, take in the majesty of the imperial gardens accentuated by the cherry blossom blooms.

Related: Uncover everything you need to know before visiting Japan!

Imperial Palace

Location: Tokyo

Best time to visit: 2 January or 23 February

While in Tokyo, you’d be remiss not to stop by the famous Imperial Palace, a large park area that serves as the main residence of Japan’s Imperial Family. Upon first glance, the castle’s surrounding moats and stone walls already make a lasting impression. The gardens on the castle grounds are also a sight to behold, with garden tours open to the public year-round.

For the best experience of the Imperial Palace, however, we recommend planning your visit around 2 January for the New Year’s Greeting or 23 February for the Emperor’s birthday. On both of these occasions, palace grounds are open to the public and the Imperial Family makes several balcony appearances to celebrate the festivities.

Related: Make the most of your visit by experiencing the top 6 Japanese festivals!

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Location: Kyoto

Best time to visit: Summer (June to August)

The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is a must-see attraction in Kyoto. From an array of temples and shrines to the world-renowned Bamboo Grove, this is a sightseeing experience you can’t miss out on!

There are plenty of fun activities to partake in all year, from walks and temple tours to delicious meals at local restaurants. For the perfect forest weather, plan your trip around summer. But be warned that, since this is an incredible time to visit, many other travellers will have the same idea.

Related: Explore more of the best things to do in Japan!

Now that you’ve discovered all of Japan’s must-see attractions and learned the best time of year to visit each of them, all that’s left to do is plan and book your trip.  The joys and pleasures of Japan await!

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If you’d like to discover all of the Highlights of Japan in one epic guided group tour, book a trip with Expat Explore! We look forward to welcoming you onto our coaches, and into the family. For affordable accommodation options before and after your tour, have a look at booking.com.