Things to do
Deciding what to see in Japan is mostly about trade-offs: whether a sight is worth the journey, how long it needs, and whether you can reach it by train and bus or need to book ahead. The guides on this page answer those questions place by place, from Hokkaido to Okinawa.
In Chubu, things to do in Kanazawa lays out day plans on the loop bus, and the Takayama guide covers the old town and Shirakawa-go by bus. In Hiroshima Prefecture, is Miyajima worth it explains costs and the tide at the torii.
Further afield, Churaumi Aquarium without a car compares the buses from Naha, Hakodate in winter weighs the cold against the illuminations, and the Iya Valley guide looks at the vine bridges and Oboke Gorge by bus or rental car.
This page lists many more, including Tottori's dunes, Okunoshima, Hiraizumi, Takachiho, Matsue and Izumo, and Kinosaki Onsen.
30 articles
Is Ginzan Onsen Worth It? Day Trip, Last Bus 18:21 (2026)
Worth it for the lamp-lit street. A Tokyo day trip works on the 06:12 Tsubasa and the 18:21 bus back; in winter 2026–2027 you book a shuttle from ¥1,000.
Is Snow Monkey Park Worth It? Fees and ¥3,000 Bus (2026)
Worth it from December to March, when the monkeys bathe. Adults pay ¥800 until the December 1, 2026 fee change; the winter bus from Nagano is ¥3,000.
Gokayama vs Shirakawa-go (2026): Worth It, Museums from ¥300
Ainokura or Suganuma? Gokayama's museums cost ¥300–¥500, light-ups need no booking by car, and the World Heritage Bus links Shin-Takaoka and Shirakawa-go.
Is Shirakawa-go Worth Visiting? 2–3 Hours and Fees (2026)
Yes for most visitors: allow 2–3 hours, ¥400 per farmhouse, ¥800 for the open-air museum. Snow lies from late December to late February.
Is Yamanaka Onsen Worth Visiting? 15-Min Gorge Walk (2026)
Yes for an easy half day from Kanazawa: a 1.3km gorge path, the Kiku no Yu bath and a ¥470 bus from Kaga Onsen Station. The last bus back leaves at 18:35.
Churaumi Aquarium Without a Car: ¥2,000 Bus from Naha (2026)
Yanbaru Express runs from Naha Airport to Churaumi Aquarium for 2,000 yen; the last bus back leaves at 17:22. Bus 117, Airport Shuttle and tours compared.
Hakodate in Winter (2026–27): Is It Worth It? Sunset 16:08
Yes, if you dress for it: the lights run 17:00–22:00 from December 1 to late February, January averages -2.4 °C, and Mt. Hakodate is ropeway-only.
Kinosaki Onsen Worth It? Day or Night, ¥1,500 Pass (2026)
Kinosaki Onsen is worth it if you stay a night: 2h20 from Kyoto, a ¥1,500 day pass for the public baths, tattoos allowed, and which bath closes when.
Shinhotaka Ropeway from Takayama: Worth It? ¥3,800 (2026)
Worth it on a clear day: 100 minutes by bus from Takayama, a ¥3,800 round trip to 2,156 m, last bus back at 16:55, and Kamikochi the same day until Nov 15.
Tottori Sand Dunes Worth It? Free Entry, ¥380 Bus (2026)
Free, open 24 hours and 22 minutes by bus from Tottori Station (¥380). Time needed, the Sand Museum's dates, and day trips from Osaka or Matsue.
Is Okunoshima Worth It? Rabbit Island, ¥360 Ferry (2026)
Okunoshima: 15 minutes by boat from Tadanoumi, 20 minutes by JR from Mihara. Ferry ¥360 one way; last Omishima Ferry back 16:06, or 17:16 Feb–Oct.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Tickets (2026): ¥200 Entry
Adults pay ¥200. From 7:30 to 8:30 and in the evening slot only web tickets get you in; at other times buy at the door. Hours, closures, time to allow.
Is Miyajima Worth It? Time, Costs and the 100 cm Tide (2026)
Most visitors spend 2–3 hours on Miyajima. Shrine ¥300, ropeway ¥2,000 return, ¥100 visitor tax, and you can walk to the torii below 100 cm of tide.
Adachi Museum of Art from Matsue: Worth It, Time and Shuttle
Is the Adachi Museum of Art worth the trip? Hours and fee, how long to stay, and the JR train and free shuttle from Matsue or Yonago via Yasugi Station.
Hiraizumi and Geibikei Gorge in One Day Without a Car
Yes, by train from Ichinoseki: Geibikei's 8:30 boat first, Hiraizumi's temples after lunch. Ofunato Line times, boat hours by season and the trains back.
Iya Vine Bridge in Winter: Hours, the 2027 Rebuild and Buses
The Kazurabashi vine bridge is open in winter except during its 2027 rebuild; the Oku-Iya bridges and Kotohira shuttle stop. Hours, buses from Oboke, snow.
Kamiari-sai 2026 at Izumo Taisha: What Visitors Can See
Izumo Taisha's Kamiari-sai runs November 18–25, 2026. The rite times, the welcome rite at Inasa Beach, the last train to Matsue, and where to stay.
Kaga Onsen Guide: Yamanaka, Yamashiro, a Day from Kanazawa
Kaga's four hot-spring towns compared: what each is like, the public baths, the CANBUS loop and how to visit as a day trip from Kanazawa by Shinkansen.
How to See a Geisha Performance in Kanazawa (and Book It)
Kanazawa's scheduled geiko shows compared: the Saturday Geiko Experience, Geigi no Mai, MEET the GEIKO, Kanazawa Odori; dates, prices, language, booking.
Myoryuji Ninja Temple Reservation (2026): Phone Only, ¥1,200
Book by phone only, from one month ahead, yourself, not via your hotel; the 40-minute tour is in Japanese and preschoolers cannot enter. Fees and times.
Natadera Autumn Leaves: When to Go and How to Get There
When Natadera's maples usually peak, the temple's hours and fee, and how to reach it from Kanazawa by Shinkansen and the CANBUS loop bus without a car.
Noto Peninsula Guide: What's Open Now and How to Visit
Can you visit Noto after the 2024 earthquake? Which sights, onsen and roads are open (dated), how long to spend, and how to reach them from Kanazawa.
Shirakawa-go Day Trip from Kanazawa (2026): 8:40 Bus Plan
Yes, it works as a day trip: the 8:40 bus from Kanazawa Station West Exit and the 13:50 back give 3 h 45 min in the village. Every seat must be booked.
Hakodate Guide: Night View, Goryokaku and How Many Days
Is Hakodate worth a stop? What to see, Mt. Hakodate Ropeway and Goryokaku Tower hours, how many nights to stay, and how to get there from Tokyo or Sapporo.
Hiraizumi Guide: Chusonji, Motsuji and How Long to Stay
Is Hiraizumi worth a stop on the Tohoku Shinkansen? Chusonji and Motsuji hours and fees, the Runrun loop bus, and planning a half or full day from Sendai.
Iya Valley Guide: Vine Bridges, Oboke and Car vs Bus
Is the Iya Valley worth it? The vine bridges and Oboke Gorge, fees and hours, how to get there by JR and bus or rental car, and where to stay overnight.
Things to Do in Kanazawa (2026): Two-Day Plan, ¥220 Loop Bus
Kenroku-en (¥320), three chaya districts, the D.T. Suzuki and gold leaf museums and Omicho Market, with one- and two-day plans on the ¥220 Loop Bus.
Matsue and Izumo Guide: Castle, Izumo Taisha, How Many Days
Is San'in worth the trip? Matsue Castle hours and fee, visiting Izumo Taisha, how many days to plan, and how to get there and between them by train or bus.
Takachiho Gorge Guide: Boats, Night Kagura and the Bus
Is Takachiho worth the trip? What to see at the gorge, how to reserve the rental boats and night kagura, and how to get there from Kumamoto or Fukuoka.
Takayama Guide: Old Town, Jinya and Shirakawa-go by Bus
Is Takayama worth it? What to see in the old town, Takayama Jinya hours and fee, and how to add Shirakawa-go by Nohi Bus without a tour, with reservations.
