Japan's Best Attractions
The essentials: Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine (free, thousands of torii gates); Tokyo's Senso-ji temple and Shibuya Crossing; Meiji Shrine's forest calm; Kinkaku-ji's gold pavilion; and, weather permitting, a Mount Fuji viewpoint from the Fuji Five Lakes. Most cost nothing to a few dollars. Arrive at opening (7–8am) for the big-name sites — by mid-morning, tour groups fill every good camera angle.
Japan doesn't have a shortage of 'must-see' attractions — it has thousands of shrines and temples alone, which makes 'must-see' a genuinely useful filter rather than a marketing phrase. Here's the honest, curated list: what earns a spot on a short itinerary, when to show up, what it costs in 2026, and the etiquette that now carries a real financial penalty, not just disapproving looks.
Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto
Thousands of vermilion torii gates climbing a forested mountainside — one of the most photographed sites in Japan, and one of the few genuinely free to visit, 24 hours a day. Go before 8am; by midday the main gate tunnels near the entrance turn into a slow-moving queue for photos. The full loop to the summit and back takes 2–3 hours, but most visitors turn back after the first 30–40 minutes, which is honestly enough to get the experience.
Senso-ji, Tokyo
Tokyo's oldest temple, in the Asakusa district, fronted by the Nakamise shopping street selling traditional snacks and souvenirs. Free to enter. Arrive right at opening to see it without the crowds that build steadily through the day — by afternoon, Nakamise street becomes genuinely difficult to walk through shoulder-to-shoulder.
Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo
The world's busiest pedestrian crossing — up to 3,000 people cross at once when the lights change. Watch it from street level once for the experience, then head up to the Starbucks overlooking it or the paid Shibuya Sky observation deck for the photo everyone's phone is really there for.
Meiji Shrine, Tokyo
A genuinely peaceful forested shrine complex a short walk from Harajuku's youth-fashion chaos — the contrast between the two is almost the point. Free to enter, and a good early-morning counterbalance to a day of Tokyo's more overstimulating neighborhoods.
Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), Kyoto
A gold-leaf-covered pavilion reflected in a still pond — small (a single loop path, roughly 30–40 minutes) but genuinely striking, especially on a calm day when the reflection is clean. Entry runs around $4.
Mount Fuji viewpoints
The Fuji Five Lakes region (roughly 2 hours from Tokyo) is the classic viewing base — Lake Kawaguchiko in particular has postcard views on a clear day. Fuji is famously shy: clouds hide it more often than travel photos suggest, so build in flexibility rather than a single fixed day. Actually climbing it is a separate undertaking: as of 2026, all four trails require a mandatory online reservation and a ¥4,000 (~$27) fee, and the season runs roughly July to early September.
The etiquette rules that carry real fines now
Kyoto's Gion district fines tourists ¥10,000 for entering the private alleys off Hanamikoji Street, aimed at stopping unauthorized photos of geiko and maiko. Nara's deer are protected under animal-welfare law — feed them the vendor crackers, don't chase or corner them. Several Tokyo wards (Chiyoda, Shibuya) fine street smoking (~¥2,000) outside designated areas, and Shibuya bans street drinking near the station from 6pm to 5am year-round, not just during Halloween.
What to skip
- 'Guaranteed geisha sighting' walking tours sold near Gion — genuine geiko and maiko commute quickly between appointments and aren't performing for tour groups; treat any sighting as a lucky, respectful glimpse, not a photo op.
- Overpriced 'skip the line' add-ons for sites that don't actually have lines most of the year — check whether the specific site and season genuinely need it before paying extra.
- Cramming five temples into one Kyoto day — see our Kyoto destination guide for how to pace a trip without temple fatigue setting in.