1. Sensō-ji Temple (Asakusa – Tokyo)

Sensō-ji Temple is a stunning ancient Buddhist Temple (the oldest in Tokyo) located in the Asakusa District and surrounded by shopping, restaurants, and beautiful photo ops. There is so much history here and you could truly spend an entire day wandering around and looking at the architecture. I’d recommend doing a walking tour like this one of the temple and the rest of the Asakusa district. It’s a great way to start your trip in Japan!

2. Robot Restaurant (Shibuya – Tokyo)

I mean. You can’t go to Japan without visiting the famous Robot Restaurant. You can catch a glimpse of the crazy action in my YouTube video here! Make sure to stop by the Cat Cafe in Shibuya before the show too. 🙂

3. Shibuya Scramble (Shibuya – Tokyo)

You’ve probably heard of the “Shibuya Scramble” or the Shibuya Crossing, a popular pedestrian intersection where you can watch thousands of people “scrambling” through Shibuya. I’d recommend watching from above at the Shibuya Skydeck. Shibuya is sort of like the Times Square of Tokyo, with bright lights, endless restaurants, and lots of people visiting from all over the world.

4. Harajuku District (Tokyo)

No visit to Tokyo is complete without visiting the Harajuku district. This is where you will witness the incredible fashion, shopping, food, and younger culture of Japan. It’s bright, energetic, and busy. There is so much to see and do in this part of town so make sure to set aside time to wander and shop!

5. Fushimi Inari Shrine (Kyoto)

The Fushimi Inari Shrine is probably one of the most memorable spots from our trip. It is a Shinto shrine filled with hundreds of bright red gates. You can wander the paths for hours, or you can take the steep 2.5 mile hike to the top. We only made it about halfway to a viewpoint of the city of Kyoto, which is where most people decide to stop and turn around. But go for it if you want to say you climbed to the top! I definitely recommend going on an early morning tour like this one to avoid crowds!

You can check out my YouTube video about our visit to the Inari shrine here!

6. Gion District (Kyoto)

The Gion district, or “geisha district”, is an extremely old and historical part of Kyoto. It’s filled with wooden structures, izakayas, and teahouses. You’ll find travelers and locals alike wearing traditional kimono. It was an incredibly beautiful and magical part of our trip. We stayed in the Kyoto Inn Gion The Second hotel and absolutely loved it.

7. Chion-in Temple (Kyoto)

This temple actually wasn’t originally on our list to visit, but it was close to our first hotel we stayed in, the The Kyoto Hana Hotel, and we couldn’t take our eyes off of it. There is a LOT to see here and so many places you can sit and meditate, photograph, or admire. This walking tour includes the Chion-in Temple, as well as a few other famous landmarks in Kyoto, so it might be best to be pushed along a little so that you can use your time wisely. 🙂

You can check out our visit to the Chion-in Temple in my YouTube video here!

8. Kyoto Gyoen National Garden (Kyoto)

This was another place we stumbled upon while wandering through Kyoto. We were on our way to Honke Owariya, the oldest restaurant in Kyoto, Japan, established in 1465! They are known for their handmade soba noodles. On our way there, I looked at the map and saw a giant park called Kyoto Gyoen National Garden. There were so many beautiful plants, flowers, buildings, and gardens here. The Kyoto Imperial Palace was especially stunning! This morning walking tour of Kyoto will take you through this park if you’re interested!

9. Owakudani Mountain (Hakone)

Owakudani Mountain is a truly magical place. It’s known for it’s “black eggs” that are boiled right there in the hot natural spring water. It’s known to bring you 7 years of good luck if you eat one! There is a cute visitors center at the top of the mountain and a gorgeous view of Mount Fuji if you’re lucky enough to have a clear day. As a photographer, I loved seeing the volcanic steam rising from the mountain. The black eggs weren’t too bad, actually, but the curry bun we got at the visitor’s center was delish! If you take this tour of Hakone, you get to take the cable car up the mountain to Owakudani.

Watch my YouTube video about our day at Owakudani Mountain here!

10. Hakone Open-Air Museum (Hakone)

The Hakone Open-Air Museum really sticks out in my mind because it was such a peaceful and inspiring place. We went on a rainy day so it was super quiet and meditative. There is a foot bath with natural running spring water that we rested our weary feet in for at least an hour. It was so nice and much needed. This tour includes the Open-Air Museum, as well as Owakudani Mountain mentioned above. We also stayed in a gorgeous guesthouse called Irori Guesthouse Tenmaku, which was incredibly memorable and unique, in the best way.

11. Onshi Hakone Park (Hakone)

If you’re in Hakone, you absolutely need to catch a glimpse of Lake Ashi at some point. I’d recommend a tour like this one so you can take a ride on the epic pirate ship that coasts around the lake. As a photographer, I loved wandering around Onshi-Hakone park and taking photos of all of the beautiful plants, flowers, and views.

12. Nara Deer Park (Nara)

If you google Nara, Japan, the first thing you’ll see is wild deer everywhere. It’s so fun to feed them and it is super memorable. I’d plan to walk through Nara Park on your way to Tōdai-ji Temple, mentioned below. Or, take a walking tour or bike tour of Nara to make sure you don’t miss anything!

You can watch my YouTube video about our day in Nara here!

13. Tōdai-ji Temple (Nara)

Tōdai-ji Temple is gorgeous, and a must-see if you’re in Nara. There is also a lovely view of the city from the area around the temple. The temple also houses the largest bronze Buddha statue in the country! My husband was amazed by the building because it’s also the largest wooden structure in Japan! The walking tour or bike tour will bring you to the Tōdai-ji Temple too. 🙂

You can watch my YouTube video about our day in Nara here!

14. Kōtoku-in Buddhist Temple

The Kōtoku-in Buddhist Temple is located in the quiet and peaceful town of Kamakura. I loved this temple because you can actually walk around INSIDE the giant Buddha. I had a very memorable moment while visiting this statue and I’ll never forget it. This half-day walking tour will bring you to Kōtoku-in, as well as a few other key stops in Kamakura.

Make sure to watch my YouTube video about our day in Kamakura here!

15. Kamakura Zaimokuza Beach

I couldn’t visit Japan without visiting a beach. Kamakura Zaimokuza Beach was beautiful and it was a perfect way to end our trip. The half day walking tour I mentioned above will also bring you to this beach. We stayed at the Kamakura Prince Hotel, which had a stunning view of the ocean. I’d also recommend Moana Makai if you’re looking for a restaurant!

Make sure to watch my YouTube video about our day in Kamakura here!

I hope these travel tips give you some insight into the magic of Japan and everything it has to offer. I’m hoping to visit again next year! Feel free to leave any thoughts, comments, questions. I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned in my travels. 🙂

You can read a more detailed post about these landmarks on my photography blog here. Or check out my YouTube channel to see all of our travels!

❤ Myles Katherine