Japan Travel—Places Worth Visiting

As long as there is a destination, there is no place that cannot be reached. Before going anywhere, it's essential to understand what kind of place it is. Some places might be visited only once in a lifetime, never to return. That makes it all the more important to do your homework in advance, making sure not to miss the highlights and experiences that are worth seeing, so the trip is not in vain. Below are some popular destinations in Japan that are worth visiting overall. Meiji Shrine Located in Yoyogi, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, the environment is serene and the air is fresh. It enshrines Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Within the shrine, there is a pair of married camphor trees, connected by a shimenawa rope, where many couples and spouses visit, hoping to have a good and deep relationship like Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Exiting the shrine, nearby is Harajuku, bustling with shops, various trendy brands, especially many outdoor sports stores. It's within walking distance to Shibuya. Senso-ji Temple Located in Taito Ward, Tokyo, it is the oldest temple in Tokyo. It was designated as the Tokugawa shogunate's pilgrimage site by Tokugawa Ieyasu. The area around is very lively and bustling, with the temple housing the Kaminarimon gate, a five-story pagoda, the main hall, and the traditional Nakamise shopping street with its Edo-style shops and snack bars. The temple complements its surroundings, offering fortune-telling, worship, shopping, photography, eating, drinking, and entertainment in one place. It is close to the subway station and is very popular with tourists. Daigo-ji Temple A World Heritage site, located in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, a bit far from the city center. The environment is tranquil, away from the mundane world. The temple has over 1,000 cherry trees that are more than a hundred years old, attracting crowds of visitors every spring cherry blossom season. It has been a famous cherry blossom viewing spot since the Heian period. In autumn, the maple leaves in the Unryu-in Garden are stunningly beautiful. The temple houses a large collection of precious cultural assets such as Buddhist sculptures, paintings, and esoteric Buddhist ritual implements. The temple's five-story pagoda is the oldest wooden structure in Kyoto. The Sanboin, designed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three great unifiers of Japan, is a Momoyama period shoin-style building, exquisite and gorgeous. Sanjusangendo Located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, on Shichijo, the main building is 120 meters long and is Japan's longest hall. It is called Sanjusangendo because the hall is divided into 33 bays by 34 pillars. In the center of the hall is enshrined a large wooden statue of the Thousand-Armed Kannon, about 3.3 meters tall, flanked by 500 golden Kannon statues, each about 1.7 meters tall. The 1,001st Kannon statue is located behind the giant Buddha in the center of the hall. In front of the Kannon statues are 28 wooden statues of guardian deities, including the gods of wind and thunder. Every year, the traditional Toshiya archery festival, also known as 'New Year's Archery,' is held at Sanjusangendo. Kiyomizu-dera A World Heritage site, located on Mount Otowa in Kyoto, it is the oldest temple in Kyoto. The temple enshrines the Eleven-Faced Thousand-Armed Kannon. Major buildings include the Nio-mon gate, a three-story pagoda, and the main hall. Inside the main hall is the Kiyomizu Stage, a National Treasure of Japan, supported by huge wooden pillars and standing about 12 meters above the ground, creating a very impressive visual effect. Below the temple is the shopping street Kiyomizu-zaka, with Sannen-zaka selling various Kyoto specialties such as Kiyomizu pottery and handicrafts. Especially at Kiyomizu-dera, many men and women in kimonos take pictures, which not only fits well but also enhances the charm of the ancient capital, just like Hanfu. The cherry blossom is Japan's national flower, and every spring when the cherry blossoms bloom, the news tracks and reports on the cherry blossom front. All of Japan is enveloped in the romance of cherry blossoms. Therefore, if you can only choose one time to travel to Japan, set off in spring. Every corner is beautiful, not to mention the perfect ancient temples. Life is but a journey, and seeing more beautiful sights is the way to make the most of this one-time life.