Things to do in Japan.

Osaka's most iconic canal-side strip, famous for takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and crab restaurants like Koraku. Multiple creators name it as the first stop for first-time visitors and the heart of Osaka's street food culture.

A retro working-class neighborhood that Sunny in Japan describes as a step back in time, with narrow alleyways named after Hozenji Temple and a statue of Fudo, plus restaurants and izakayas along the strip.

Osaka's bohemian café-and-boutique neighborhood where old traditional houses have been converted into coffee shops. Mei Time and Sunny in Japan both recommend it as one of the best spots in Osaka for a relaxed coffee and people-watching.

One of Japan's most recognizable landmarks, surrounded by grounds that are free to enter and spectacular during cherry blossom season. Sunny in Japan notes a museum and elevator inside the castle, with the Nishinomaru Garden nearby for a small fee.

The site of the 1970 World's Fair featuring Taro Okamoto's famous Tower of the Sun statue, a shopping center, and grounds that shine during cherry blossom season. Sunny in Japan recommends it as an underrated Osaka day out.

What remains of the world's former biggest fish market, still one of Tokyo's largest street food hubs. Abroad in Japan investigates the pricing controversy, finding uni bowls up to 22,000 yen but noting good-value tamagoyaki and eel-sauce grills amid the crowds.

Tokyo's most visited temple, covered by multiple creators as an iconic must-see. Abroad in Japan visits as part of a tourist-trap reality check while Passenger Paramvir spots it on his very first day in the city.

One of Tokyo's most distinctive neighborhoods, featured by Abroad in Japan as part of a tourist-trap reality check covering the area's famously quirky fashion and street culture.

Tokyo's famous electronics and anime district, visited by Abroad in Japan during a 30-station Tokyo day trip as one of central Tokyo's essential stops.

A major Tokyo hub explored by Abroad in Japan during a 30-station city day trip, covering the area's cultural offerings and street-level energy.

Tokyo's iconic broadcasting tower and viewpoint, noted by Passenger Paramvir as one of the first things he spotted on arrival in Sumida City on his first day in Japan.

A snowy hot spring village deep in the mountains of north Japan that Abroad in Japan says may have inspired scenes in Spirited Away. Japan Animal Travels also covers it as part of a winter onsen-and-fox-village trip, praising its magical atmosphere.

A one-of-a-kind animal park in Zao, Miyagi Prefecture, housing around 100 foxes whose fur turns especially fluffy in winter. Japan Animal Travels calls it the fluffiest place on earth and pairs it with a fox-themed hotel room.

A unique animal park in Hokkaido where foxes and raccoon dogs live together, discovered by Japan Animal Travels as a second fox-meeting option beyond Zao, with entry at just ¥500.

A scenic volcanic caldera lake in Hokkaido ringed by resort hotels and surrounded by the dramatic story of the 1943 Showa Shinzan lava dome growth. Abroad in Japan films the unique volcanic barrier walls and the Toyoko Kindergarten ruins left as a monument.

The largest caldera lake in Japan and the biggest freshwater lake in the country that completely freezes over in winter. Tokyo Creative canoes on it and calls the panoramic views unlike anything seen before.

Hokkaido's world-famous winter festival in Sapporo covered by Sol Life as a centerpiece of a 10-day Hokkaido winter itinerary, alongside Otaru's glass and music box shops.

A charming port town near Sapporo known for its glass shops and music box stores, covered by both Sol Life and Riri Travels as an essential Hokkaido day trip with snow-covered streets.

An interactive zoo in Nagasaki where visitors can feed giraffes and watch hippos eat watermelons — a highlight Japan Animal Travels calls a must-see, with entry at ¥2,300.

A small island in Hiroshima Prefecture overrun with around 600 wild but people-friendly rabbits. Japan Animal Travels takes the ferry (¥720) and stays at the island hotel with a hot spring buffet.

A small Kagawa island full of wild but friendly cats, accessible from Takamatsu by train and ferry for around ¥2,000 total. Japan Animal Travels explains the cats are so sociable because islanders treat them like family.

A ninja training dojo in the classic hot-spring town of Arima Onsen where visitors can sign up for hands-on ninja training sessions. Dale Philip stumbled across it and gave it a full-length video.

Arima Onsen's signature local snack — carbonated hot-spring senbei crackers made fresh to order using the town's natural tansan spring water. Dale Philip recommends eating them within 5 seconds of leaving the iron for peak chewiness.

Kyoto's famous narrow covered food market, visited by Abroad in Japan as part of a multi-city tourist-trap investigation to check whether prices and crowds live up to the hype.

A mountain temple tucked in the quiet village of Ohara, just outside Kyoto, praised by Sol Life for its serene rainy-day atmosphere and moss-covered garden walk.

A famous Kyoto temple visited by Mei Time on a rainy day city tour, appearing in their full Kyoto itinerary alongside the Keage Incline and Tenjuan Temple.

A former railway incline in Kyoto, covered by Mei Time as a picturesque walk and one of the opening stops on their rainy-day Kyoto itinerary.

A beautifully preserved thatched-roof farmhouse village in rural Kyoto, visited by Unique Japan Travel in autumn as part of a countryside trip covering areas most tourists miss.

A working film studio and theme park in Kyoto where Yokai (Japanese folk monsters) are said to dwell, covered by Unique Japan Travel as an unusual addition to a Kyoto countryside day.

A seaside hillside temple in Kamakura visited by Unique Japan Travel as part of a Ghibli-like one-day Enoden train trip from Shinjuku, praised for its scenic setting above the sea.

A cluster of natural spring ponds near Mount Fuji visited by Unique Japan Travel on a winter day trip from Tokyo, offering clear spring water fed by Fuji snowmelt and local food stalls nearby.

Takayama's beloved open-air morning market along the Miyagawa River, visited by Mei Time on Day 2 of a snowy winter Takayama trip as the go-to breakfast stop before exploring the historic old town.

A major Shinto shrine in Takayama's historic district, visited by Mei Time on a snowy winter morning as part of a two-day Gifu mountain town itinerary.

A hidden rural 'Water Town' in Gifu Prefecture nicknamed 'Little Kyoto', explored by Unique Japan Travel on a one-night, two-day local train trip from the main line.

Japan's most active volcano — once a true island, now permanently joined to the Osumi Peninsula after a catastrophic 1914 eruption. Abroad in Japan travels 1,300 km to document life beside a volcano that erupts almost daily.

The symbol of the Ryukyu Kingdom in Naha, visited by Torry Travel on Day 5 of an 8-day Okinawa solo trip and listed as the headline Day 5 stop with souvenir shopping nearby.

One of Japan's largest aquariums, visited by Torry Travel on Day 7 of an 8-day Okinawa trip alongside the nearby Fukugi Tree Road, making it a full northern Okinawa day.

A ferry-accessible island off Naha known for its clear-water beaches, visited by Torry Travel on Day 2 of an 8-day Okinawa solo trip as the standout beach day of the trip.

Naha's main shopping and food street, used by Suitcase Monkey as the starting point for a 4-day Okinawa itinerary covering local food, pottery at Tsuboya District, and day trips to Zamami Island.

Japan's last remaining overnight sleeper trains, running from Tokyo to Izumo (Sunrise Izumo) and Takamatsu (Sunrise Seto). Solo Solo Travel covers both routes and both room classes — Solo Lower and Solo Upper — priced from ¥9,280 to ¥29,290, calling the overnight journey a unique way to see Japan's scenery.

A scenic local railway through Shizuoka's emerald-green mountains serving the 'unexplored region' station of Okuoi Kojo, covered by Unique Japan Travel in fresh-greenery season alongside popular spots in Hamamatsu.