Activities in Japan for your itinerary

Filter by city, type of experience and price range to find what fits your trip.

From free temples and legendary neighbourhoods to food tours, viewpoints and day experiences. We bring together the things to see and do in the main cities of Japan — Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and more — with their city, type and indicative price, so you can build your trip without getting lost among a thousand tabs.

Kiyomizudera
Kiyomizudera
Kyoto · Temples & castles · World Heritage Buddhist temple famous for its great wooden terrace over the valley; admission ~500 ¥.
500 ¥
Kobe Animal Kingdom
Kobe Animal Kingdom
Kobe · Animals · Animal and flower theme park on Port Island where you pet and feed capybaras, red pandas and birds; admission around 2.200 ¥.
1.500 - 2.499 JPY
Kobe beef teppanyaki (Steak SAKURA)
Kobe beef teppanyaki (Steak SAKURA)
Kobe · Gastronomy · Book a menu of authentic Kobe beef cooked on the teppan griddle in front of you by specialist chefs, in the heart of Kobe; from around 8.000 ¥.
5.000 - 10.000 JPY
Kyoto Tower – viewpoint
Kyoto Tower – viewpoint
Kyoto · Viewpoints · White tower opposite Kyoto's central station with a viewpoint at 100 m height; admission ~900 ¥.
800 ¥
Lake Chuzenji (Nikko's volcanic lake at 1.270 metres)
Lake Chuzenji (Nikko's volcanic lake at 1.270 metres)
Nikko · Nature, Viewpoints · The highest lake in Japan reachable by bus, formed by lava from Mount Nantai, with forested shores and views of the summit; free access.
Free
Marine World Uminonakamichi (aquarium)
Marine World Uminonakamichi (aquarium)
Fukuoka · Animals · The largest aquarium in Kyushu, with a great shark tank, dolphins, sea lions and sea otters; admission around 2.500 ¥.
2.500 ¥
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Tokyo · Temples & castles · A Shinto shrine surrounded by forest next to Harajuku; free entry, you only pay for offerings.
Free
Omicho Market (fresh cuisine and seafood of Kanazawa)
Omicho Market (fresh cuisine and seafood of Kanazawa)
Kanazawa · Gastronomy, Shopping · Kanazawa's largest covered market with 170 stalls; seafood from the Sea of Japan and local produce; free entry.
Free
Meriken Park and Kobe Port Tower
Meriken Park and Kobe Port Tower
Kobe · Museums, Viewpoints · Harbour park with the Port Tower (110 m) and the Maritime Museum facing the bay; tower 1.000 ¥ with a 360° viewpoint.
1.200 ¥

How to choose your activities in Japan

Do not try to see everything. A typical two-week trip allows you to combine the essentials of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka with one or two day trips (Nara, Hakone, Miyajima). Mix registers: a morning of temples, an afternoon of neighbourhood and food, and leave gaps to improvise. Filter by city to see what fits each stop and by price if you want to balance free and paid.

Many of the best experiences — strolling Fushimi Inari at dawn, getting lost in Shinjuku at night, Nishiki market — cost nothing. Save the budget for what really deserves it: a teamLab, a food tour or a timed-entry ticket. Once you are clear on your favourites, put them into a route with real costs from the planner.

Ready to turn your list into a route? The planner distributes the nights by city and calculates the costs of your trip.
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Frequently asked questions

How much do activities in Japan cost?

There is everything. Many of the great must-dos are free: temples and shrines such as Fushimi Inari, parks, neighbourhoods such as Akihabara or the Arashiyama bamboo grove. Paid activities usually run between 500 and 3,000 ¥ (a museum, a viewpoint, a ticket), and premium experiences (teamLab, theme parks, guided tours) exceed 5,000 ¥. On each card you will see the price when we have it confirmed.

Do I need to book activities in advance?

Most do not: you enter temples, parks and neighbourhoods directly. It is worth booking days or weeks ahead for the ones with limited capacity — teamLab, the Ghibli Museum, some tours and workshops — especially in high season (sakura in spring and momiji in autumn). When an activity allows online booking, you will find the Book button on its card.

Do I need the JR Pass to reach the activities?

It depends on your route. The JR Pass is worth it if you are going to make several long journeys between cities (Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima); for getting around within a single city, almost never. You can check it with our JR Pass calculator or read the JR Pass guide.

Can I add these activities to an itinerary?

Yes. Our trip planner distributes the nights between cities according to your budget and pace, and suggests activities per day with their estimated costs. It is the fastest way to go from "I want to see this" to a complete route with real numbers.