It might be surprising to know that among all of the top-rated tourist attractions in Japan, Tokyo is not among one of the choices many opt for. While Tokyo is, of course, one of the most popular cities in the world to visit, it's also not the only destination in Japan that holds historic and cultural significance. In fact, despite the small size of Japan as a country, there are many destinations just waiting to be discovered, each with its own story to tell and history to explore. Whether it's a visit for the stunning landscape or for the centuries of life that have come and gone on a location's grounds, these are the places that travelers have spent the most time at over the last year.
Imperial Tokyo
The most famous landmark in Tokyo is actually just outside the city: The Imperial Palace. The palace and its surrounding area date back to the 17th century and much of its history can still be observed in its architecture as well as the bridges and moats which surround it. While the palace is still used by the Imperial family, visitors can explore certain parts that are not off-limits.
Simply walking the grounds is an experience in itself, as it allows visitors to take in all of the natural landscape and skill that went into creating such a regal fortress. The double bridge, also known by its proper name of Nijubashi Bridge, is a popular attraction on the grounds, named appropriately due to its glass-like reflection in the water below it.
Mount Fiji
Of course, almost no trip to Japan would be complete without a trip to see Mount Fiji. Each year as part of a pilgrimage, millions of people line up to hike the mountain before sunrise, with the goal in mind of reaching the summit to watch the sunrise over Japan. It's the highest summit in the country and reaches a height of just over 12,388 feet, high enough to be seen all the way from Tokyo.
The mountain has been recognized by UNESCO due to its significance in both art inspiration as well as geographically, and it's also part of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. While some might say that hiking Mount Fiji is only for the brave, there is a halfway point at which hikers can reach the summit in a mere six hours or so. For those who choose to hike the entire way from its base, the journey takes a full two days, with extremely early starts in order to reach the summit by the sunrise of the following day.
Historic Kyoto
Kyoto is one of the most-visited cities in Japan which is saying quite a lot considering its neighbor of Tokyo, but it's easy to see why this is the case. Kyoto combines traditional life with a stunning landscape, and many people plan trips there just to experience it all as a whole. With a historical significance that's felt simply by walking down the street of any old part of Kyoto, it's easy to feel as though one has been transported back to another time and place entirely.
There are 30 temples that are still in use today in Kyoto, according to Planet Ware, and the city is perhaps the most artistically and culturally important part of Japan. The architecture in the city is influenced by Buddhist styles and some of it dates all the way back to the 14th century.
Osaka Castle
By far one of the most recognizable landscapes after Mount Fiji, Osaka Castle is the most popular landmark to be visited by tourists. This magnificent palace was built in 1586 but has been destroyed multiple times throughout Japan's history. The efforts to rebuild it are only a testament to Japan and the castle itself, as it sits today in all of its restored former glory.
The last time the castle was rebuilt was in 1931 and it has retained all of its historic accuracies, making the five-story castle quite a sight to behold. From the top floor, tourists can take in the surrounding views of Osaka, and Osaka Castle Park is also home to one of the most well-known shrines, Hokoko Shrine, as well as one of the oldest temples, Shitennō-ji, which was built in AD 59. Similar to visiting the Imperial Palace, just walking around on the grounds of Osaka Castle Park is an experience an allows visitors to take in all of the histories that occurred on the very same landscape they walk along.