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Best cities to visit in Japan


 

Japan is an archipelago on the eastern border of the Asian continent. There are 6,852 small islands, of 430 are not inhabited. 

The five main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa; Hoshu, the largest island is referred to as mainland Japan.   

The Japanese people have a deep appreciation for their beautiful landscape. The ancient Shinto religion believes that mountains, waterfalls and forests have a life of its own.

Japan is known for its Japanese macaque monkeys, there are other animals native  to Japan such as the sika deer, red crowned crane and the sea eagle.

Other than the animals and its beautiful landscape, Japan is famed for its traditional art, calligraphy and ikebana,  the art of flower arrangement.

Japan has 47 prefectures (districts) and more than 200 cities.

Read here for 20 facts about Tokyo city.

Let’s explore some of the best cities to visit in Japan.

1. Sendai

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This city is located in the Tohoku region northeast of Tokyo on Honshu island. It has a population of 11 million people.

It is home to the ruins of the 17th century  Sendai Castle that was built for Samurai lord Data Masamune.

There is a  museum with historic artifacts at ruins of the castle that overlooks the city. 

The Sendai city museum exhibits the history and culture of Japan’s Tokugawa period with displays of Masamune’s samurai armor. 

The star festival passed down from Masamune era, is an annual celebration celebrated not only in Sendai but the larger part of Japan.  

Sendai stands out from other Japanese cities for its culinary expertise and unique craftsmanship.

The streets of this city are lined with trees that change to a warm golden brown during autumn. 

The landscape of the city is made up of mountains, river Hirose and an old castle. 

Mt. Izumigatake is perfect for skiing during winter. The hot springs in Akiu and Sakunami offer a relaxing treat too.

2. Kyoto

Kyoto city was once the capital of Japan with a population of 1.4 million people. 

It has numerous Buddhist temples, beautifully manicured gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. 

Kyoto’s Gion district offers a memorable dining experience that borrows from its formal traditions like the kaiseki dining that has multiple courses and with entertainment from female Japanese entertainers known as geisha. 

The tofu from this city is one of the best along with the outstanding kaiseki cuisine and the Buddhist vegetarian menu. These delicacies are famous throughout Japan.

The main attractions to millions of tourists to the city of Kyoto are the temples and shrines and the bamboo groves. 

Kiyomizudera Temple was founded in 780 A.D while the Kinkakuji temple was opened in 1955.

One can enjoy Kyoto’s famous vegetables and green tea grown in the Uji region.

3. Osaka

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Osaka city is a few minutes ride from Tokyo and has its own distinct characteristics from the capital city.

The city has an array of activities that will excite any traveler; from its buzzing nightlife, delicious food and friendly locals.

It also has a good deal of shopping areas, modern architecture and historical sites that are breathtaking.

The Osaka castle has a beautiful garden for walks and is rich with Japanese history. The best time at the castle is during the cherry blossom season, perfect for photos. 

A visit to the Dotonbori district in Osaka will introduce you to its delicious foods such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki, it is known as the food district.

The city is also home to many famous Japanese comedians.

4. Hiroshima

Hiroshima is located on Honshu Island, mainland Japan. This city was largely destroyed by an atomic bomb during World War II.  

This modern city has the Hiroshima Memorial Park that celebrates the 1945 event. The ruins of Genbaku Dome is at the memorial site still stand near ground zero.

Other attractions to this city are the formal Japanese garden Shukkei-en, Hiroshima Castle that is surrounded by a moat and a park. This castle is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hiroshima bounced back to be one of the active manufacturing hubs in Japan with a population of more than 1 million people. The city is famed for its delicious oysters.

5. Nara

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Nara City is among the best cities to visit while in Japan. It is on the Nara Prefecture in south-central Honshu. It was once the country’s capital.

The city has a generous number of temples and artwork from the 8th century. It has the oldest wooden building in the world, the Horyuji Temple. 

The Kasuga Taisha, a Shinto shrine in Nara dates back to 768 A.D, it has more than 3000 lanterns.  

One can take a walk at the Nara Park where Deers roam freely, in Nara Park, visit the Tōdai-ji temple and Daibutsu, Tōdai-ji’s 15m-high bronze Buddha that sits in a large wooden hall.

The Hokkiji Temple’s magnificent three-storey pagoda is worth a visit too. This temple together with Horyuji temple is a world heritage site. 

6. Nagasaki Port City

It is located on Kyushu Island and is the capital of Nagasaki Prefecture.  

This city has played an important role in foreign trade between Japan and the rest of Asia especially during Japan’s isolation period.

It was the second city to be destroyed by the atomic bomb towards the end of World War II. 

The city also has some horrific religious persecution of Christian missionaries and followers that were oppressed and persecuted.

Some top attractions of the city are gunkanjima, Nagasaki peace park, Nagasaki kunchi, Urakami cathedral.

7. Kobe

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Kobe is on Osaka Bay in central Japan. It is the country’s sixth-largest city.

It is famous for its juicy and tasty beef, Japanese Kobe beef. The cows bred for the beef receive special treatment such as daily massages and eat sake and beer mash during summer. 

The city has one of Shinto’s oldest shrines in Japan, the Ikuta Shrine from the 3rd century. 

There are ancient cable cars that ride up to Mt. Rokko from Kobe for a beautiful view of the port.

Some sites at the city are; beautiful nunobiki waterfall, Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, oji zoo, the Rokko mountain among other attractions.

8. Hakone Town

This town is in the western part of Tokyo and is worth a visit. It is famous for its hot springs resorts and Mount Fuji.

The town is also home to the Shinto shrine with a red torii gate next to lake Ashi, one can tour the lake by boat. 

The other attraction is the sulfur springs at the Owakudani valley. It is definitely full of natural beauty.

9. Fukuoka

This port city in Japan’s Kyushu Island is famous for its food, shopping and beautiful nature. This city is the fastest-growing in Japan. 

It is known for its delicious and affordable food in Japan. The street food in this city attracts crowds from across Japan and Asia. 

Sushi, sashimi and saba are a must-try while in Fukuoka.

Places to visit while in Fukuoka are; Kokura castle, Retro Streets of Moji Port, Kawachi Wisteria Garden, Kyushu Railway History Museum. 

10.Kamakura

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This is another best city to visit in Japan. It is a seaside city in the south of Tokyo.

It used t be the political center in ancient Japan.

The city is now largely a resort town with a number of Buddhist Zen temples and Shinto shrines. 

The city’s main attraction is the kotoku-in Temple’s Great Buddha, a 12-metre-long bronze statue still standing after the 15th-century tsunami, it was built in 1252 another popular spot is Yuigahama Beach on Sagami Bay for surfing.

 

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