Top 7 Must-See Attractions in Japan

Abeno Harukas currently holds the top spot as Japan's tallest building. Completed in 2014 in the Abeno district of Osaka, the complex spans an impressive 212,000m2 and houses offices, shopping areas, dining options, luxury apartments, and a hotel. Its design showcases a modern, dynamic architectural style.

The building features the Kintetsu Hyakkaten shopping mall from the basement to the 14th floor, divided into two sections: Tower-kan (basement to 14th floor) and Wing-kan (basement to 9th floor). The Wing-kan area offers a special section called "Solaha" for young women, located on part of the basement and floors 2 and 4. The Kintetsu Hyakkaten mall offers high-end shops with clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, gourmet food, and household goods, along with a variety of restaurants serving both Japanese and Western cuisine.

On the 16th floor is the Abeno Harukas Art Museum, which hosts a variety of Western art exhibitions as well as modern artistic works. The exhibitions rotate, showcasing national treasures, important cultural heritage, and special exhibitions focusing on the cultural legacy of the Kinki Nippon Railway Ensen.

From the 58th to the 60th floors, you’ll find the "Harukas 300" observation deck, the highlight of Abeno Harukas. This area includes a Sky Garden and a Café Restaurant where visitors can enjoy light meals with an outdoor seating structure. On clear days, the view from 300 meters offers a spectacular panoramic view of Osaka. Tickets for the observation deck can be purchased at the 2nd-floor ticket counter of Abeno Harukas. Ticket prices are ¥1500 for adults, ¥1200 for middle and high school students, ¥900 for elementary school students, and ¥600 for children.

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in Japan, completed on April 5, 1998. With a total length of 3,910 meters and a construction cost of $4.3 billion USD, it stands as an engineering marvel. In terms of height, the bridge is only 23 meters shorter than Paris's Eiffel Tower and 36 meters shorter than Tokyo Tower.

To cross the bridge, a toll fee is required: motorcycles and cars pay $20, vehicles under 8 tons pay $24, and larger vehicles pay $33. Spanning approximately 4 kilometers, the bridge connects the city of Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture to Awaji Island. It is easily recognizable by its two towering main pylons and is often called the "Pearl Bridge" due to its shimmering lights at night, which resemble a string of pearls.

The bridge has three main spans. The central span is 1,991 meters long, and the two side spans are 960 meters each. The total length of the bridge is 3,911 meters. Initially, the main span was 1,990 meters, but it was extended by one meter after the 1995 Kobe earthquake. The bridge is designed with two stiffened girder systems, allowing it to withstand winds up to 286 km/h (178 mph), earthquakes of magnitude 8.5 on the Richter scale, and water impact. It also incorporates a pendulum-style system to balance vibrations caused by external forces. The bridge's two main towers stand 298 meters above sea level.

Asakusa Kannon Temple, also known as Sensoji, is the oldest and most historic temple in Tokyo. Sensoji, the alternative name for Asakusa, means 'temple' in Japanese. This ancient temple, originally completed in 645, is the center of several major festivals in Tokyo, such as:

• Sanja Matsuri: Held in May, one of Tokyo's top three festivals.
• Hozuki-ichi (Hozuki Market): Held in July.
• Asakusa Samba Carnival: Held in August.
• Tokyo Jidai Matsuri: Held in November, celebrating Tokyo's history and Edo-era culture.
• Hagoita-ichi (Hagoita Market): Held in December, celebrating the traditional Hanetsuki game, similar to badminton.

Asakusa Temple is the spiritual heart of Tokyo, dedicated to the Bodhisattva Kannon. Established in 645, it attracts many visitors, especially during New Year’s Eve and the first days of the new year. The temple is connected to the Nakamise shopping street, where you can find unique souvenirs and taste traditional local snacks sold by street vendors.

Todaiji Temple is one of the most famous landmarks in Nara. Originally constructed in 743, it was the center of Buddhism in Japan at the time and was one of the most grandiose and massive structures, second only to the pyramids of Egypt in height. However, when it was rebuilt in 1709, only 30% of its original size remained.

Despite this, Todaiji remains the world’s largest wooden building. It houses the giant bronze Buddha statue known as Daibutsu, which stands 15 meters tall. Todaiji is a complex of Buddhist temples that has existed for nearly 1500 years, located in the eastern part of Nara, which at the time was the heart of Japan’s Buddhist influence and state religion.

Today, the Todaiji complex includes the Great Buddha Hall, two seven-story pagodas, a lecture hall, and a meditation hall. The Shoro Hall (Royal Treasure House) also holds many artifacts from Emperor Shomu's reign, along with other historic structures.

Lake Biwa spans 673 km², covering one-sixth of Shiga Prefecture, making it the largest lake in Japan. Visitors to Japan often find themselves drawn to Lake Biwa’s vastness, which brings a sense of peace and tranquility, offering an ideal escape from stress. Surrounded by fresh air, scenic views, and a serene atmosphere, it’s no wonder that the lake attracts millions of tourists each year who come to relax and enjoy nature’s beauty.

The lake is fed by small rivers flowing from surrounding mountains, with the Seta River as its main outlet, which later becomes the Uji River, merging with the Katsura and Kizu Rivers to form the Yodo River, eventually reaching the Seto Inland Sea at Osaka Bay. Serving as a reservoir for Kyoto and Ōtsu, it’s also a vital resource for local textile industries. It provides drinking water for about 15 million people in the Kansai region. The lake is a spawning ground for freshwater fish, including trout, and a prime location for pearl farming.

The Biwa Canal, constructed in the late 1890s and expanded during the Taishō period, played a significant role in Kyoto’s industrial life after the capital moved to Tokyo. The lake’s northwestern shore is dotted with famous beaches, such as Shiga and Omi-Maiko. The Mizunomori Aquatic Botanical Garden and the Biwa Lake Museum in Kusatsu are also must-see attractions. Additionally, the Biwa Lake Marathon, held annually in Otsu since 1962, is a popular event.

Mount Fuji, also known as Fuji-san, is located on Honshu Island. It is the second tallest mountain on an island in Asia and the seventh tallest in the world. An active stratovolcano, Fuji last erupted in 1707-1708. The mountain is situated about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, visible from the capital on clear days.

Mount Fuji’s symmetrical, conical shape is often capped with snow for about five months each year. It is a national symbol and a frequent subject in art, attracting tourists from all over the globe. At 3,776 meters, Mount Fuji is often referred to as the “roof of Japan.” Its snow-covered peak is iconic, stretching across the Shizuoka and Yamanashi Prefectures.

Little known to some, Mount Fuji is an ancient volcano with a crater measuring about 800 meters wide and 200 meters deep. It has erupted 17 times, the most recent in 1707. Revered for its majestic beauty and spiritual significance, Fuji-san is often celebrated in poetry and art as a source of national pride. The Japanese people regard it as a sacred mountain, believed to be protected by deities that bring prosperity to the nation.

Mount Fuji is part of the “Three Sacred Mountains” of Japan, alongside Mount Haku and Mount Tate. It holds cultural and historical significance, having been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on June 22, 2013. UNESCO notes that the mountain has inspired artists and poets for centuries and continues to be a destination for pilgrimage. The heritage site includes 25 locations, including the sacred mountain area and the Shinto shrine Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha.

Shinano River (Japanese: 信濃川 | Shinano-gawa) is the longest river in Japan, stretching 367 kilometers. It begins in Nagano Prefecture, flows through Niigata, and empties into the Sea of Japan in the city of Niigata.

The Shinano has a basin area of 11,900 square kilometers, making it the third largest in Japan. The river is also known by the name Chikuma (Chikuma-gawa). Its primary source is the Kuboshi Mountains, located at the intersection of Saitama, Yamanashi, and Nagano Prefectures. The river flows northwest before merging with the Sai River from Kumamoto, then shifts to the northeast. A historic battle, the Battle of Kawanakajima, took place at the confluence of the Shinano and Sai Rivers in Nagano.

Shinano River has contributed to the fertility of the Niigata Plain, supporting rice farming in the region. Like Mount Fuji, the Shinano River is a source of pride for the Japanese people, frequently appearing in Japanese literature, poetry, and novels.