Cool places to visit in Japan and where to stay

Find inspiration for your next trip as we explore some of the coolest places to visit in Japan. From the buzzing streets of Tokyo to the neon-lit streets of Osaka’s Dotonbori district and onwards to the old world allure of Kyoto’s teahouses and geishas.

Discover the tropical paradise of Okinawa and the hidden gems of Chiba. Each region offers a unique glimpse into the Japanese way of life. We'll also recommend a Mercure hotel for you to stay at along the way, so you can get on with the planning without having to worry about where you're going to stay. 

Ancient temples are tucked in amongst futuristic skyscrapers, historic sites like the Imperial Palace, the century-old Meiji Jingu shrine, countless public gardens, and museums sit side-by-side with high tech vending machines, sumo wrestling stables, and communal baths.

Despite its megalopolis size and population, its neighbourhoods are cosy, safe, orderly, and clean. Harajuku in the Shibuya district offers street art, tattoo parlours and vintage clothing stores along Takeshita Street. On Omotesando Avenue, you'll find more expensive, fashionable boutiques. Small, trendy bars fill the surrounding lanes. The nearby Watari Museum of Contemporary Art hosts an ever changing line-up of exhibitions. Take a six-minut subway ride to Kagurazaka. It's a great neighbourhood for everything French. From French bakeries to wine and cheese shops.

The traditional Asakusa neighborhood, which is the complete opposite of modern Shibuya, is home to the Senso-ji Buddhist shrine. Wind your way through Asakusa's numerous alleyways to discover vintage curios,  ceramics, and lacquerware. The Bohemian old town of Yanaka is where you’ll find creative artisans tucked between butcher shops and green grocers. Here you can sign up for a craft workshop ranging from origami, indigo dyeing to kintsugi, the art of repairing broken ceramics with gold lacquer.

For a midscale hotel, with easy access to the metro, it's hard to top Mercure Tokyo Ginza where you can walk out the door and be right in the heart of the action. The hotel has modern rooms and a welcoming lounge. The friendly hotel team will offer insider tips on Tokyo’s coolest neighbourhoods. Ginza has a ritzy feel to it which is accentuated by its many Michelin star restaurants, global fashion flagships, and famed shopping street, Chuo-dori. For spectacular views of the capital city head to the JP Mori Tower or Tokyo Tower.

The sheer magnitude of Tokyo’s fresh, tasty, and thoughtfully presented food is astonishing and ranges from Kaiseki haute cuisine to street food, bento to ramen, and conveyor belt sushi to omakase chef selections. Plus, Tokyo also has one of the world’s best bar scenes including standing bars, listening bars, cocktail lounges, sake bars and karaoke bars that are dotted all over the city. 

The high octane energy of Osaka is completely different during the day and night. Daytime exploration should include a visit to Tennoji Park, the Municipal Museum of Fine Art and Osaka Castle with its beautiful, expansive Japanese gardens.  A short stroll northeast brings you to Shitenno-ji, the birthplace of Japanese Buddhism.

Families will enjoy spending time at Legoland Discovery Centre and Universal Studios Japan, which is located near the bay and features The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. Take a spin on the Ferris Wheel at the Tempozan Harbour Village, visit the Kaiyukan Aquarium, themed around the Pacific Ocean’s Ring of Fire, and enjoy a leisure harbour cruise.

For the full throttle, nighttime metropolis experience, head to the neon-lit streets of Dotonbori. Surrounded by LED billboards and giant video screens, the streets are packed with restaurants, karaoke bars and underground music clubs. Osaka is acknowledged as Japan’s best city for eating out. From its delicious street snacks to Fugu (pufferfish) restaurants, crab bars and ramen noodle shops, you are spoilt for choice. Indulge in local specialties like takoyaki, an octopus dumpling and okonomiyaki, a cabbage pancake-fritter.

For a stylish base close to the main streets of Midosuji boulevard and Dotonbori, stay at Mercure Osaka. The hotel is close to the Shinsaibashi shopping district. Amerika-mura (America Town) is also located nearby, a great destination for finding out more about Osaka's youth culture. Its streets are lined with thrift stores, sidewalk cafes, and burger joints.

Kyoto is how you’d imagine old Japan to be – traditional teahouses, spring cherry blossoms in full bloom, centuries-old shrines and zen gardens. It has a bustling energy that imbues the city. The Mercure Kyoto Station is an excellent choice for exploring the city. It is an easy walk from Kyoto Station and is located near Shosei-en, a camphor-treed garden featuring traditional villas, teahouses, and a large pond.

No visit to Kyoto would be complete without visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha with its tunnel of vermillion-red torii gates and the magnificent Kinkaku-Ji Golden Pavilion. This landmark, UNESCO World Heritage site appears to float along the shores of the serene lake.

The Nishiki Market is a Kyoto highlight, especially for foodies. As you stroll down the narrow alleyways you wander past stalls selling bags of tea, rice, soba flour, wasabi and seaweed. Enjoy freshly made sashimi skewers, Senbei rice crackers and matcha and sweet mochi. Eat at the standing only sushi bars.

Another food lover’s experience in Kyoto is the traditional kaiseki-style of cooking. Kaiseki (multi-course) restaurants, located all around the city, serve dishes representing seasonal tastes, textures and colours.

Another highlight is the Gion district, famous for its Geisha’s, teahouses, antique shops and 14th-century Ryosokuin temple. Immerse yourself in nature at the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove on the west side of the city.  Wander through the surrounding temples. The serene bamboo grove leaves a lasting impression of Kyoto.  

Naha, the capital city of Okinawa in the southernmost region of Japan, is far removed from Japan’s mainland. It is a blue zone region with many islanders reaching their 100th milestone birthday.

For a relaxing stay, the Mercure Okinawa Naha is centrally located with easy access to local hotspots. Kokusai-dori, the main street is the perfect place to shop, eat and drink. Enjoy the laidback atmosphere and sample the Okinawan delicacies and Awamori, local fire water. Shop for Tsuboya pottery, kijoka fabrics made from banana fibres and glass blown, tropical-coloured Ryukyu glassware.

The nearby Heiwa-dori arcade shops sell everything from Kariyushi floral island shirts to kitschy treasures. Walk south through the arcade until you reach the narrow cobbled streets of the four hundred year old Tsuboya Pottery District. The charming main street is lined with ceramic shops and dilapidated, original Okinawan wooden houses. Enjoy an hour-long pottery class practising the traditional Ryukyu moulding technique.

Shuri Castle, the birthplace of Karate, was built in the 14th century and served as the administrative centre and royal residence of the Ryūkyū kingdom until the 19th century. The observation terrace affords stunning views over Naha and the Kerama Islands. When you’re ready to leave Naha, hop on a highspeed ferry from Nana’s port to one of the nearby islands for diving excursions. Fringed by coral and white beaches, the small islands of Kerama are only thirty kilometres offshore from Naha and offer crystal-clear waters, perfect for snorkelling. Nearby Aka Island’s Nishiyama Beach with its one kilometre stretch of white sand is Instagram-perfect. 

 If you’re craving a little surf and looking to escape the city, Chiba offers a thriving beach scene. Locatedtwo-ours east of Tokyo, Chiba’s five hundred kilometre Pacific Ocean coastline features wide sandy beaches and high-quality waves. Bars and restaurants line the promenade and during the summer months of July and August, there are temporary beach huts, festivals, and fireworks. Head southeast for Onjuku Beach, a lovely crescent shaped, white sand beach with big breakers - perfect for surfers - you can rent surfboards, bodyboards, paddleboards and wetsuits.

One of Chiba’s hidden gems is JAL Agriport, a ten acre farm managed by Japan Airlines. The farm grows seasonal fruits and vegetables that the airline serves as inflight meals. You can harvest grapes in autumn, potatoes in the summer and pick strawberries in winter. Other attractions include the Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple complex with its Niomon entrance gate, 18th century Komyodo Hall and three-storied pagoda set within the landscaped grounds. The tranquil gardens are covered with walking paths, ancient trees and a serene lake provide a tranquil retreat. The road in front of the temple is lined with souvenir shops and restaurants.

If you are travelling as a family you will be thrilled by the Tokyo Disney Resort which includes both Tokyo DisneySea, which is unique to Japan, and Tokyo DisneyLand. Familiar attractions include Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion.

Japan offers a full range of cool places to visit, from subtropical beaches to the vastness of Tokyo, Osaka’s futuristic skyline to Kyoto’s ancient shrines. Prepare your trip with ease when booking your next holiday with Mercure hotels.