Things to do in Japan - Who doesn’t love Japan? As Japan plans to open its border for international travel, you must be impatient to make the best Japan itinerary and make a list of the new things to do in Japan for your next trip.

Who doesn’t love Japan? As Japan plans to open its border for international travel, you must be impatient to make the best Japan itinerary and make a list of the new things to do in Japan for your next trip.

Japan has a lot of great cities and we really suggest that you need to pick which cities you will spend the holiday in. Each city will have plenty of destinations, so it’s really not a problem if you only stay in one city during your holiday.

To make it easier to decide which things to do in Japan that will be on your itinerary, we have listed the best ones and include the city in it so you can narrow it down and suit it with your plan.

Are you ready? Here’s the recommended fun and amazing things to do in Japan for the holiday:

Location: Osaka

Price: ¥8,400 (for adults, 1 day studio pass)

Business Hours: 9.00 - 21.00 (schedule can change daily)

Of all destinations, people are mostly looking for a family-friendly place first. Or at least a place that has something for everyone. One of the things to do in Japan that goes with those criterias is Universal Studio Japan.

Just like in Singapore, Universal Studio Japan also has the same concept. The place has a variety of attractions, from the ones for children to the attractions that adults can enjoy too. Your children (or even you!) can meet your favorite cartoon characters like Sesame Street, Hello Kitty, Minions, and more. For Harry Potter big fans, be prepared to see some related attractions that will be exciting for you.

After checking out those attractions, from the children’s slide to thrilling rides, don’t forget to buy something to eat. If you want a fun place to eat, go check Mario Cafe & Store, where everything in it is related to Mario Bros!

You can suit your visit to Universal Studio Japan with their upcoming events too. Well, to make it short, it will be worth it to add Universal Studio Japan to your list of things to do in Japan for the holiday.

Location: Nagoya

Price: ¥5,100 (LEGOLAND + SEA LIFE Nagoya for adults)

Business Hours: 10.00 - 16.00 (17.00 on saturday and sunday)

Do not assume that LEGOLAND is only available in Malaysia. If you are going to Japan with your family (that include kids), you should write “visiting LEGOLAND Japan” on your notes of things to do in Japan during holiday.

The place is actually a resort called LEGOLAND Japan Resort, where you can find the LEGOLAND Japan Hotel, the LEGOLAND itself, restaurant, shop, and SEA LIFE Nagoya.

So, it is going to be one kids-friendly stop in Japan. Inside the LEGOLAND, you will find more than 20 rides for your kids, although some of those attractions require the kids to be accompanied by adults. In SEA LIFE Nagoya, you will be amazed with their collection of sea creatures. It will excite your kids so much as they will also learn something about the sea.

If you don’t mind, you can continue by staying in the LEGOLAND Japan Hotel. This plan would be perfect if you actually aim this holiday to be your kids holiday.

Location: Yamanashi

Price: ¥6,400

Business Hours: 9.00 - 18.00 (20.00 on saturday)

There’s another thing to do in Japan that is still related to the fun ride theme. It is Fuji-Q Highland, an amusement park in Japan that consists of attractions and rides, hotels, restaurants, and more.

If LEGOLAND is definitely for kids, Fuji-Q Highland is more of an amusement park for adults. It is full with fun yet thrilling rides, like the King of Coaster, one of the largest coasters with no overturns among 4 coasters in the world. For height lovers, try Tekkotsubanchou - Sky Tower Swinger, which is one of the largest swings in Japan with a height of almost 50m!

Love something scary? Fuji-Q Highland also has an option for horror lovers like you. Visit the longest horror house, Chow Shock Labyrinth - Jikyu General Hospital.

Although it is mostly thrilling rides inside, there are actually some rides that can be used by kids, like the Naruto x Boruto Ninja Voltage 3D Shooting Ride or Merry-Go-Round!

Price: starting from ¥29.650 (for 7 consecutive days using the ordinary type)

JR Pass, or short from Japan Rail Pass, is a mandatory thing to have while you spend the holiday in Japan. It is only available for foreigners that come to Japan, so buying the JR Pass is one of the most important things to do in Japan.

You might wonder why it is so important to have a JR Pass. Well, in a short explanation, JR Pass will allow you to travel anywhere you want in Japan during your holiday, whether it is far or near.

Before you purchase a JR Pass, you should know which type you want to have. There is the ordinary type and green type. Green type is for a more “luxurious” accommodation. It is usually a spacious first class car.

You can choose the length of JR Pass validity, starting from 7 days, 14 days, to 31 consecutive days. The JR Pass is valid for plenty of travel accommodations. You can use it on trains, ferries, monorails, and local buses.

With JR Pass, your travel inside the country will be easier, comfortable, and affordable!

Location: Tokyo

Price: ¥3,200 (for adults)

Business Hours: 9.00 - 21.00

Looking for an artsy thing to do in Japan? Look no further, as we are going to present teamLab Planets Tokyo to you. It is a place where there is no border. Experience yourself becoming one with the water, gardens, and flowers.

With their spectacular technology, you will be surrounded by the artworks and you will feel like you can walk through it. The place is divided into some themes. In an area, you will be surrounded by flowers. You will become a flower too! Other areas will show different artworks, in which you will feel that each sends a different message and ambience to you.

teamLab Planets Tokyo is also a place where you can take some artistic photography. But make sure you are following the rules and your activity don’t disturb the other visitors.

Location: Tokyo

Price: ¥1,000

Business Hours: 10.00 - 19.00

Art Aquarium will be the next thing to do in Japan that will amaze you. It is actually a place of exhibition. They will show artworks made by goldfish tanks. Also, the gold fishes will get you mesmerized, especially with the colorful lights and music that highlight the artworks.

Here, you will see so many installations. The exhibition itself will be divided into several themes. There is one that was inspired by the Edo period. Another one is the lines of the goldfish tanks called the Goldfish Shrines. And there’s still more!

This magical place also has a restaurant, in which you can also enjoy the painting of old pine trees.

Location: Shibuya

Price: ¥1,800 for adults, starting at ¥500 for children

Business Hours: 10.00 - 22.30

Another thing to do in Japan is enjoy its view from up above. Don’t worry, we have the solution for you. Visiting the Shibuya Sky will be a required thing to do in Japan so you can experience observing the area from the height of 229m.

Shibuya Sky is located inside Shibuya Scramble Square, a new building in the Shibuya area and also the tallest building. Other than Shibuya Sky, you can find a variety of food outlets and shops. So, you won’t only enjoy the Shibuya Sky as their observation deck, but you can go shopping for new clothes too!

Location: Fukuoka

Price: Free admission only for several areas

Business Hours: 10.00 - 21.00

Being one of the newest things to do in Japan, Gundam Park Fukuoka is ready to greet all Gundam fans from around the world! The place just opened in April 2022 and has already become people’s favorite.

The main attraction of Gundam Park Fukuoka is the life-sized statue of Gundam that will excite everyone that sees. But of course, it is not the only thing to enjoy.

The park is divided into three areas. The first one is the shopping area, where all the Gundam fans can go crazy shopping for the Gundam products. The next one is the Sports Entertainment Area, and the last one is The Amusement Area that has so many games from Bandai Namco.

Location: Tokyo

Price: ¥1200 for main deck, ¥2800 for top deck tour (both are admission price for adults)

Business Hours: 9.00 - 23.00

Another thing to do in Japan that should be on your list is Tokyo Tower Observatory Deck. FYI, do you know that Tokyo Tower is three meters higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris?

Tokyo Tower has been standing tall since 1958. If you go there, you will have two choices of decks: the main deck which is 150 meters and the top deck which is 250 meters. The top deck is way higher thus the view from up there will be larger and clearer. But, if you don’t like being that high, the main deck is fine too. Actually, both of them will let you enjoy the view of the city, the Tokyo Skytree, and if you are lucky and the day is clear, you can even see the magnificent Mount Fuji.

When you are done observing the city from above, you can come down and enjoy the shops and restaurants that are available on the lower floors.

Location: Okinawa

Price: ¥1,880 from 8.30 - 16.00, ¥1,310 from 16.00 until last admission (both admission prices are for adults)

Business Hours: 8.30 - 18.30

The next thing to do in Japan is visit the great Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. Calling all the lovers of sea creatures to enjoy this place while spending the holiday in Japan!

When you arrive in Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, you will be greeted by the big Whale Shark statue. Getting in, you will enjoy exploring all the things in Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.

Inside, you will have a complete experience with all the available sea creatures. You can try touching the starfishes, watch the Coral Sea, admire the gallery of the coral reef, get amazed by the display of The Kuroshio Sea, learn something at the Shark Research Lab, experience like you are in the middle of the ocean in Aqua Room, feel the deep sea experience, and more!

Well, visiting Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium will be one of the most satisfying things to do in Japan. It should be written on your Japan itinerary, especially when you go there with kids.

You might want to try wearing a Kimono when you visit Japan because it is the traditional costume of Japan and the trademark of the country. Well, we agree! Wearing a Kimono is one of the things to do in Japan for fun!

Lucky for you, the locals already know your wish, so they open some kimono rentals for you. The rentals are plenty, and they will rent you a kimono at a different price too. Some of them even offer to get you a hairdo too! You can wear the kimono you rent while strolling around the city. Take some good pictures with the costume so you can have memorable photographs to save.

To get a kimono rental, you just need to google it and find a kimono renting place nearby.

Location: Osaka

Price: ¥1,500

Business Hours: 9.00 - 22.00

The last thing to do in Japan is another observatory deck. It is Harukas 300 Observatory. Here, you can enjoy Osaka just like you watch a diorama.

Harukas 300 Observatory itself is 300m high and offers the best panoramic 360° views of Osaka. From up there, you can see Shitennoji Temple, Osaka Castle, Mount Yoshino, Mount Ikoma, Osaka Bay, Awaji Island, and more.

You can choose which view you want to enjoy: the day view of Osaka, the beauty of it during sunset, or how calm it is when the night comes.

Some other great facilities are available in Harukas 300 Observatory. The Lover’s Sanctuary is a romantic spot, worth visiting by couples. You can also take some pictures in Garden of The Sky, or pose on the glass floor!

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So, among these 12 things to do in Japan, which one would you want to try immediately? Anyway, Japan plans to reopen on October 11th and it is going to be visa-free and independent travel again just like before. Don’t forget to book all the accommodations on Traveloka, your lifestyle super app!