Source: Wikimedia Commons

Toshogu Shrine in 1910 Source: Wikimedia Commons

#1 Tokyo

• While neighborhoods like Ginza and Akihabara buzz with flashing shining lights, and larger-than-life shopping Meiji Shrine and the Tokyo Imperial Palace let you give a quick glance into Japan’s storied past. But Tokyo isn’t only about shining lights and anime themed stores, there are also many green places. The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a great place to escape from the overwhelming chaotic energy of Tokyo. What’s more, Tokyo is regularly regarded as a top foodie city! Tokyo has an abundant amount of Michelin-starred restaurants, practically the city with more Michelin-starred restaurants in the world!

#2 Kyoto

• This city may sound like Tokyo spelled backwards but the two are the complete opposite, because while Tokyo focuses more on modern things Kyoto is considered the cultural capital of Japan! If you ever travel to Japan and you are interested in learning more about Japan’s history and culture you should definitely visit Kyoto. When visiting you’ll find more than 1,000 Buddhist temples and 400-plus Shinto shrines, including a whopping 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites to visit there! You can also visit a traditional tea houses when you stroll through geisha districts like Gion and Miyagawacho, and later on check out more modern attractions, such as the Kyoto Aquarium

#3 Nikko

• Are you a fan of nature and architecture? Than Nikko is the perfect city for you to visit! At Nikko National Park, which is one of Japan’s oldest national parks, you can take a close look at traditional structures such as Toshogu Shrine, Futarasan Shrine and Rinnoji Temple. There you can also found mountains,lakes, waterfalls and hot springs and the park is especially beautiful in fall! Many magnificent shades of yellow, red and orange show the beauty of the park in fall.

#4 Osaka

• Osaka is the perfect place for foodies, as it serves the famous pancake-like okonomiyaki. It is not only tasty but it is also a great way to experience the “real japanese cuisine”. After you’ve gotten your fill of the delectable local cuisine, explore the flashy Dotonbori neighborhood, and check out the reconstructed 16th-century Osaka Castle or head to contemporary sights like Universal Studios Japan and the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan.

#5 Yokohama 

• Yokohama is very well known for being the most approachable and affordable alternative to Tokyo, and is the 2nd most populous city in Japan. Yokohama features unique culture fusions, including a sizable expat population, Western-style buildings in the Yamate area and the largest Chinatown in Japan! It is also one of the country’s first ports to open to international trade, as it has more business than residents! While visiting Yokohama, tourists can go to Minato Mirai 21, the city’s modern central district with many skyscrapers and shopping malls, and also visit the Cup Noodles Museum, and the Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum.

#6 Okinawa

• If you are a fan of diving than Okinawa is the perfect location for you. Okinawa is made up with more than 160 islands, and  the Japanese city is very close to an ocean full of multiple coral reefs teeming with fish, manta rays and hammerhead sharks that you can access from beautiful beaches like one found on Okinawa’s Kerama Islands. It is also a great place to see migrating whales between January and March. On the main island, visitors will find one of the world’s largest aquariums, multiple castle ruins and a museum that focuses on Okinawa’s unique history and culture. And on the less developed Islands,  travelers can hike to beatiful waterfalls.