Tokyo, Japan - Japan 12 days trip

Brimming with undeniable energy, Japan's capital and largest city is a vast metropolis full of museums, parks, and cultural monuments.

Vibrant colors, tastes, smells, and sounds awaits you as you venture into the heart of Tokyo, where streets buzz with energy.

Honoring Emperor Meiji, this Shinto shrine is nestled within a tranquil forest, offering walking paths and amulets stalls.

With interesting architecture and and abundance of bars, this Shinjuku district has become Tokyo's flourishing nightlife hub.

Dating to the 17C, this ornate shrine boasts gold-leaf doors and pillars, fine sculptures and artwork, and ancient relics.

With rides and attractions for all ages, both adults and children will love Japan's exciting Disney theme park.

Providing easy access to the national park surrounding Mt. Fuji, this charming town also offers museums and traditional hot springs.

Japan's oldest national museum is the country's largest art museum and exhibits artwork and archaeology from all over Asia.

Tokyo's oldest temple dates to the 17C and is a favorite of foreign and local travelers, boasting gardens, eateries, and charm stalls.

Dating to the 17C, this garden incorporates motifs of Chinese landscaping, featuring ponds, falls, bridges, and walking paths.

A museum tracing the history of Tokyo throughout the Edo Period, featuring a replica of an iconic bridge, city models, and more.

Enjoy some of Japan's most breathtaking scenery at this park, mostly made up of forest-covered mountains and home to ancient shrines.

Respectfully called Fuji-san by the locals, this volcano is a symbol of Japan and can often be viewed from miles away.

One of the world's most upscale shopping districts, Ginza features many boutiques, department stores, cafes, and chic restaurants.

Leading into Ueno Park, this district is home to some of Tokyo's most iconic cultural landmarks including museums, temples, and more.

Encompassing a variety of styles, visitors enjoy strolling through various types of gardens ranging from Japanese to English and more.

The oldest zoological establishment in Japan dates to the 19C, boasting a wealth of animals, playgrounds, and a theme park nearby.

Though the largest city in Japan, Yokohama retains a laid back atmosphere, boasting jazz clubs, fine restaurants, and more.

Only an hour from Tokyo, Kamakura is saturated with history, boasting many fine temples and shrines, as well a lovely popular beach.

Full of shrines and home to Shinto festivals, this popular district boasts historic buildings, shops, stalls, and geisha houses.

A museum of contemporary art, housing temporary and limited solo exhibitions by Asian and international artists.

Tokyo's red-light district may never hosted a Kabuki theater, but it now offers bars, shops, clubs, restaurants, and movie theaters.

Perhaps Tokyo's best site to see the blooming of cherry blossoms, this great park offers walking trails and a lovely boat pier.

While playing a military role throughout its history, the isle is now a marine park, offering camping, fishing, and diving opportunities.

Featuring historic buildings from the Edo Period, this open-air museum offers demonstrations and workshops of traditional crafts.

Offering a superb experience of the traditional Japanese hot spring bath, this theme park is perfect for a leisurely afternoon.

Travel into the past in this district, untouched by modern times - remaining frozen in time - for a glimpse of old-time Tokyo.

Fanning out from the world's busiest railway station, this district is famed for its shopping, eateries, and diverse entertainment.

With temporary and permanent exhibits of Japanese prints and Asian ceramics, this museum is perfect for art lovers.

Home to the iconic Mt. Fuji, this national park is uniquely dispersed among several natural attractions, lakes, hot springs, and islands.

The marvelous lake offers plenty of activities for lovers of native, from paragliding, to boating, to fishing, and camping on its banks.

Dedicated to Studio Ghibli, whose Japanese animation has become renowned, this excellent museum offers many fun interactive exhibits.

Get up early and visit the world's largest fish market, where fishermen go to sell their catch, varying from shell-fish to whale.

With a focus on contemporary art from the last 50 years, this excellent museum also features temporary exhibits from other eras.

Boasting a collection of "Lifestyle Art," visitors enjoy admiring the artwork and if they're lucky can even see a Japanese tea ceremony.

Based on the series Doraemon by Fujiko F. Fujio, this fun museum is great for children as well as adults familiar with the series.

The birthplace of the beckoning cat figure, famed throughout Japan as a good-luck charm, this temple is an idyllic spot.

The palace of the Emperor of Japan features a parkland strewn with cultural monuments, museums, architectural curios, and more.

Get to know Japan's historic warriors, their elaborate armors, and their skillfully-made weapons through exhibits dating to the 14C.

Located in the Yasukuni Shrine, this controversial war museum features exhibits dedicated to several of Japan's historic wars.

A pristine garden situated along the Tokyo Bay, featuring a tea-house, pond, a plum tree grove, and many walking paths.

With nearly a 100m drop against lush dramatic scenery, these waterfalls are recognized as one of Japan's most striking.

A favored waterfall resembling a dragon head, offering fantastic views in autumn when the surrounding trees change color.

Located at the heart of the Japanese Alps, Takayama is a beautiful small town, home to elegant 17C architecture, galleries, and historic temples.

Stroll through this lovely Japanese city, admiring the wealth of historic architecture, particularly the 17C wooden houses.

See how local people lived in the 17C-19C at this excellent open-air museum, home to over 30 preserved buildings.

A hall dedicated to the lavishly ornate traditional floats used in annual Takayama festivals, each a work of exquisite craftsmanship.

Dating to the 17C, this house was the seat of local government for over a century and now hosts a daily farmers' market.

Nestled among mountains, this valley offers an array of beautiful hiking trails. Be advised that the area is closed in the winter.

Retaining ancient Japanese architecture, as well as traditional samurai and geisha districts, Kanazawa also boast a great art museum.

The site of one of the town's main businesses for ten generations, it now features a museum dedicated to local culture and tradition.

The former residence of a candle maker, this old merchant's house exhibits artifacts dedicated to local life.

Home to a lovely collection of 19C-20C glass art, the museum features Art Nouveau and Art Deco pieces as well as an impressive fountain.

Travel back in time to this preserved village known for it gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some dating back over 250 years.

Known as "The God's Crossing," when the lake's surface freezes, the natural hot springs beneath the surface continue to bubble.

This rugged national park is known for its valleys, gorges, and impressive Alps, some of whose peaks reach over 3,000 meters.

A lovely spa town home to magnificent nature and hot springs, where visitors enjoy the convalescent waters of the baths and pools.

The capital of Imperial Japan for a whole millennium, the charming Kyoto is full of museums, cultural monuments, castles, and parks.

Wander through the quaint winding streets of the center, admiring traditional wooden houses, visiting shops, and sampling local food.

Dating to the 9C, this temple complex houses Kyoto's oldest building and features cultural monuments, murals, a garden, and more.

Walk through a long line of scarlet shrine gates on your visit to this 8C temple, and ask for good fortune from the local fox deity.

A temple complex dating to the 14C, home to several national treasures, 22 sub-temples, renowned murals, and a tranquil garden.

A culturally significant city, Nara is full of Japanese heritage, historic landmarks, as well as a wealth of shrines and temples.

A district renowned for its pleasant nature, featuring a bamboo grove, diverse flora, architectural curios, and quaint villages.

A significant cultural landmark, this palatial complex boasts exquisite examples of traditional Japanese architecture and gardening.

A veritable shrine to the Japanese tea ceremony, this museum houses ceramic works made by 15 generations of the renowned Raku family.

Established in the 14C, this vibrant market offers a wealth of culinary adventures for the visitors, from the common sushi to baby squids.

This 13C historic palace fuses traditional architectures of zen and samurai styles, and boasts an incredible pure gold-leaf facade.

A 7C Buddhist temple with several remarkable architectural elements, including the Main Hall, the covered staircase, and the gate.

While a blooming wonder April to September, the rest of the year sees the gardens covered in a multitude of colorful LED lights.

Famous for its picturesque moss garden, this incredible temple offers a unique meditative experience. Be sure to book in advance.

Known as the "Silver Pavilion" due to original plans to silver plate the building, this 15C villa is surrounded by a fine garden.

Exhibiting over 6,000 items, this museum boasts rich collections of fine art, traditional craftsmanship, and archaeological findings.

Surrounded by tranquil gardens, this 13C zen temple is home to a wealth of decorative elements and several exquisite works of art.

A small city with a rich maritime history, Kobe boasts a cosmopolitan charm, cultural landmarks, and several museums.

Visit Japan's renowned Shinto shrine complex, walking through torii gates, taking in unique cultural elements, and enjoying the calm.

Erected over a waterfall, this fine 17C temple boasts superb architecture and a famed terrace that affords remarkable panoramic views.

Traditionally led by members of the imperial family, this temple boasts scenic gardens, Japanese architecture, tea-houses, and more.

Full of atmospheric charm, this popular district was once known for its geishas, now features tea-houses, shops, and restaurants.

A 17C temple complex boasting architectural gems, historic artifacts, lovely gardens, and relics of cultural significance.

Saturated with folklore and history, the mount is the home to a famed Buddhist temple, as well as great hiking trails and lush nature.

A national park most popular during the cherry blossom season, but also featuring shores, mountains, forests, and native flora.