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Things to Do in Japan

Ancient temples and neon cities, bullet trains and mountain onsen. Japan is the fastest-growing destination for Australian travellers — and with a weak yen and a wave of new openings, 2026 is a golden time to go.

🗓 Best: Spring & Autumn 📍 East Asia 🛂 Visa-free 90 days
✍️ Curated by Cooee Tours
🗓 Updated March 2026
📋 12 things to do
Est. 1974 ✓
Destination Guide

Ancient and Ultra-Modern, Often on the Same Street

Japan balances tradition and technology like nowhere else — thousand-year-old shrines a subway stop from robot cafés, and a rail network so good it becomes part of the holiday. More than a million Australians now visit each year, and the weak yen has turned a once-premium destination into genuinely exceptional value.

For a first trip, build around the "Golden Route" — Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, linked by the Shinkansen in a couple of hours each — with day trips to Nara and Hiroshima. Add an onsen town or a temple stay to slow the pace. Below are the experiences that make Japan unforgettable, from a pre-dawn torii-gate walk to a bowl of ramen at a laneway counter.

🛂 Entry & fees — 2026

Australian passport holders can visit visa-free for short tourist stays (up to 90 days) — just make sure your passport is valid for the length of your trip. Japan is outstanding value right now thanks to the weak yen. Spring (cherry blossom) and autumn (foliage) are peak, so book accommodation and reserved Shinkansen seats four to six months ahead. New for 2026: PokéPark Kanto opened at Yomiuriland, a teamLab arrived in Kyoto, and Okinawa's restored Shuri Castle reopens. A few icons now manage crowds — Kyoto's Fushimi Inari has peak-hour barriers and parts of Gion enforce no-photography rules. Always confirm current entry rules on official sources before booking. General information only, not travel advice.

The Highlights

12 of the Best Things to Do in Japan

Temples, street food, bullet trains and blossoms — the experiences that define a great first trip to Japan.

1
🌆Tokyo
Crowds crossing the Shibuya Scramble at night, Tokyo
Tokyo

Cross Shibuya & Explore Tokyo

Start with the world's busiest pedestrian scramble, then take in the view from Shibuya Sky, the buzz of Shinjuku, and the youth-culture streets of Harajuku — Tokyo's electric heart.

Tip: Time the crossing at dusk when the neon fires up; the Shibuya Sky observation deck sells timed tickets — book ahead.
2
⛩️Tokyo
Senso-ji temple and Kaminarimon gate in Asakusa, Tokyo
Tokyo

Senso-ji Temple & Old Asakusa

Tokyo's oldest temple, approached through the Kaminarimon gate and the market lane of Nakamise. Old-town Asakusa is the counterweight to the city's neon — traditional, atmospheric and walkable.

Tip: Come early morning to beat the crowds, then draw an omikuji fortune before the lane fills up.
3
✨Tokyo
Immersive light installation at a teamLab digital art museum, Japan
Tokyo

teamLab Digital Art

Walk-through rooms of light, water and projection that respond to your movement — one of the most photographed experiences in the country, and newly expanded with a 2026 opening in Kyoto too.

Tip: Wear light colours to catch the projections, and book a timed entry slot well ahead — sessions sell out.
4
🦊Kyoto
Rows of vermilion torii gates at Fushimi Inari shrine, Kyoto
Kyoto

Fushimi Inari's Thousand Torii

Thousands of vermilion torii gates wind up the wooded hillside above Kyoto — a genuinely magical walk, and free to visit. The full loop to the summit takes two to three hours.

Tip: Go at sunrise or after dark to (mostly) beat the peak-hour crowd barriers now in place at busy times.
5
🎋Kyoto
Towering bamboo stalks in the Arashiyama grove, Kyoto
Kyoto

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Kyoto Temples

The soaring bamboo grove of Arashiyama, plus Kyoto's temple heavyweights — golden Kinkaku-ji, the Zen gardens, and the historic Higashiyama lanes. This is Japan's cultural capital.

Tip: Arashiyama is best just after dawn; pair it with a monkey park visit and a riverside lunch.
6
🍵Kyoto
Traditional wooden machiya houses in the Gion district, Kyoto
Kyoto

Gion, Geisha & a Tea Ceremony

Kyoto's historic geisha quarter of wooden teahouses and lantern-lit lanes. Book a tea ceremony or a kimono experience for a genuine window into the tradition rather than a rushed photo.

Tip: Respect the rules — several Gion side-streets now ban photography; stick to the main streets and public spaces.
7
🍜Osaka
Neon signs reflected in the Dotonbori canal at night, Osaka
Osaka

Osaka's Dotonbori & Street Food

Osaka is Japan's kitchen. The neon canal of Dotonbori and the stalls of Kuromon Market deliver takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu — the country's most joyfully food-obsessed city.

Tip: Go hungry and graze; the best okonomiyaki is often at tiny counters, not the flashiest storefronts.
8
🚄Nationwide
A Shinkansen bullet train at a Japanese station platform
Nationwide

Ride the Shinkansen

The bullet train is an experience in itself — spotless, punctual to the second, and hitting 300km/h between cities. On a clear day the Tokyo–Kyoto run serves up a Mount Fuji view.

Tip: Reserve a seat on the right (D/E) heading Tokyo → Kyoto for Mount Fuji; do the JR Pass maths before you buy.
9
🦌Nara
Free-roaming deer in front of Todai-ji temple, Nara
Nara

Nara's Deer & Great Buddha

An easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka: bow to the free-roaming (and famously polite) deer of Nara Park, then stand before the colossal bronze Great Buddha inside Todai-ji.

Tip: Buy the special deer crackers to feed them — and keep your maps and tickets tucked away from curious noses.
10
🕊️Hiroshima
The floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine at Miyajima, Hiroshima
Hiroshima

Hiroshima & Miyajima's Floating Torii

The moving Peace Memorial Park and museum, paired with a short ferry to Miyajima island, where the great torii of Itsukushima Shrine appears to float at high tide. A powerful, beautiful day.

Tip: Check the Miyajima tide times so you catch the torii both 'floating' and walkable if you can.
11
🌸Seasonal
Cherry blossoms in full bloom along a canal in Japan
Seasonal

Cherry Blossoms & Autumn Colour

For two to three weeks each spring the country turns pink with sakura; in autumn the temples of Kyoto and Nikko blaze red and gold. These are Japan's most spectacular — and busiest — seasons.

Tip: Blossom timing shifts up to two weeks year to year — build in flexibility and book accommodation very early.
12
♨️Hakone / Kinosaki
Outdoor onsen hot spring bath at a traditional ryokan, Japan
Hakone / Kinosaki

Soak in an Onsen & Stay in a Ryokan

A night in a ryokan with a kaiseki dinner and a soak in a hot spring is quintessential Japan. Hakone offers Mount Fuji views; Kinosaki is a postcard onsen town made for strolling in a yukata.

Tip: Learn the onsen etiquette (wash first, no swimwear); many towns have tattoo-friendly private baths if needed.

Beyond the Golden Route

Seen Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka? These reward a second trip — or a longer first one.

OkinawaSubtropical islands, coral reefs and Ryukyu culture — 2026's hottest region.
Takayama & Shirakawa-goEdo-era streets and thatched farmhouses in the Japan Alps.
KanazawaKenroku-en garden, samurai and geisha districts, superb seafood.
Koya-sanSacred mountain, temple lodging and vegetarian monk cuisine.
HokkaidoWorld-class powder snow in winter; cool, green escape in summer.
NikkoOrnate shrines and waterfalls in the mountains north of Tokyo.
Plan It Right

Practical Japan

🗓 When to go

Spring (late March–early April) for cherry blossom and autumn (mid-October–November) for foliage are the most beautiful — and busiest and priciest — seasons; book four to six months ahead. Summer is hot and humid but full of festivals; winter brings powder snow in Hokkaido and magical illuminations. May–early June and September are quieter sweet spots.

📅 How long

7–10 days covers the classic Golden Route — Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka with day trips to Nara and Hiroshima. Add 12–16 days to fold in Okinawa, the Japan Alps (Takayama, Kanazawa) or Hokkaido without rushing.

🏨 Where to base

Base in Tokyo for the east and Kyoto or Osaka for the Kansai region — the Shinkansen links them in about 2.5 hours. Slot in a night at an onsen town (Hakone, Kinosaki) or a temple stay on Koya-san for contrast.

🚗 Getting around

Japan's trains are superb. Get a Suica or ICOCA IC card for city transit, and do the JR Pass maths — it's great value for a multi-city Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka–Hiroshima circuit, but often not worth it for shorter trips. Reserve Shinkansen seats in peak season, and expect to walk a lot in the cities.

Good to Know

Japan — FAQ

Spring (late March to early April) for cherry blossom and autumn (mid-October to November) for foliage are the most spectacular seasons, though also the busiest and most expensive. Winter is excellent for powder snow and hot springs; May, early June and September are pleasant, quieter shoulder periods.
Seven to ten days covers the classic Golden Route — Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka with day trips to Nara and Hiroshima. Twelve to sixteen days lets you add Okinawa, the Japan Alps or Hokkaido at a comfortable pace.
Australian passport holders can enter visa-free for short tourist stays of up to 90 days; your passport should be valid for the duration of your visit. Always confirm current entry requirements on official sources before you book, as rules can change.
It depends on your route. The JR Pass is great value for a multi-city circuit such as Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka–Hiroshima, but often isn't worth it for short trips or a single region. Do the maths against individual fares, and reserve seats in peak season.
In Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka the peak is usually late March to early April, but it can shift by up to two weeks depending on the winter. Autumn foliage typically peaks from mid-October to late November. Both are peak travel seasons, so book accommodation very early.
Very — Japan is safe, clean and easy to get around thanks to its exceptional public transport. The Golden Route suits first-timers, and families are well catered for with theme parks like Universal Studios Japan, Tokyo Disney and the new PokéPark, plus deer parks and hands-on cultural experiences.
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