Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All Japan

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Japan

521 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Japan

Updated May 29, 2023

Email

Cities

Top Cities
Tokyo
Kyoto
Space age accommodation!
Osaka
Painstaking, life-size recreation of a 1958 ramen boom town.
Yokohama
Anata No Warehouse
Kawasaki
Kamakura
All Cities
  1. Aomori
  2. Beppu
  3. Chichibu
  4. Hakone
  5. Hatsukaichi
  6. Himeji
  7. Hiroshima
  8. Ichihara
  9. Ine
  10. Ise
  11. Ishigaki
  12. Iwakuni
  13. Kamakura
  14. Kawasaki
  15. Kawazu
  16. Kesennuma
  17. Kobe
  18. Kumamoto
  19. Kumamoto
  20. Kure
  21. Kyonan
  22. Kyoto
  23. Minakami
  24. Mito
  25. Miyoshi
  26. Motobu
  27. Nagasaki
  28. Naoshima
  29. Nara
  30. Niigata
  31. Nikko
  32. Okinawa
  33. Onomichi
  34. Osaka
  35. Sado
  36. Sakaiminato
  37. Sapporo
  38. Sasebo
  39. Takasaki
  40. Takayama
  41. Tamura
  42. Tokyo
  43. Utsunomiya
  44. Yamanouchi
  45. Yokohama
  46. Yokosuka
  47. Yoshimi
Attractions
Food & Drink
Trips
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Lists

Unusual Attractions in Japan

Totoro stares out

Tokyo, Japan

Ghibli Museum

A magical place that lets you play in and explore the world of Studio Ghibli.
Sagano Bamboo Forest

Kyoto, Japan

Sagano Bamboo Forest

The sound of swaying stalks in this stunning grove has been named a governmentally recognized sound.

Kitakyushu, Japan

Wisteria Tunnel

An exquisite tunnel of cascading flowers.
Fierce little cat.

Ishinomaki, Japan

Cat Island

On Japan's Tashirojima Island, cats are king.
Monkeys lounging in the hot springs of the park

Yamanouchi, Japan

Jigokudani Monkey Park

Hot springs monkey spa in the middle of Hell's Valley.

Tokyo, Japan

Vampire Café

A taste of the macabre Tokyo's ritzy shopping district.
The clock is at the Nippon TV tower in Shiodome, Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan

The Giant Ghibli Clock

Tokyo’s only Vaudeville-cuckoo clock–steampunk-Victorian curio cabinet time piece.
Aokigahara Forest

Fujinomiya-shi, Japan

Aokigahara Forest

A beautiful, dense forest in the shadow of Mount Fuji, with a tragic reputation.
See All 521 Things To Do in Japan

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Japan

Tokyo, Japan

Vampire Café

A taste of the macabre Tokyo's ritzy shopping district.
Sashimi on a stick.

Kyoto, Japan

Nishiki Market

This 700-year-old street food market features baby octopus and soy donuts.
The Red Wine Spa.

Hakone, Japan

Yunessun Spa Resort

This spa theme park lets its guests take a dip in pools of coffee, wine, or ramen broth.
Painstaking, life-size recreation of a 1958 ramen boom town.

Yokohama, Japan

Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum

This historical theme park celebrates all things noodle.
See all 10 Places to Eat in Japan
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Trips

Artisans & Exiles: Exploring the Hidden Traditions of Japan’s Sado Island

Exploration through a history of exile, gold rush, and thriving cultural traditions.

Learn More

Explore Japan

History & Culture 78
Statues 49
Shrines 46
Temples 42
Buddhism 33
Architectural Oddities 30
Art 30
Sacred Spaces 30
Museums And Collections 29
Plants 26
Animals 25
Collections 24
Unique Restaurants & Bars 24
Places To Stay 11

Japan Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Avatar image for Fred Cherrygarden
    Fred Cherrygarden
    165
  2. Avatar image for ChiaraT
    ChiaraT
    17
  3. Avatar image for KoinuSensei
    KoinuSensei
    11
  4. Avatar image for caitlinfrunks
    caitlinfrunks
    10
  5. Avatar image for Hermit09
    Hermit09
    10

Places Edited

  1. Avatar image for Fred Cherrygarden
    Fred Cherrygarden
    223
  2. Avatar image for Rachel
    Rachel
    55
  3. Avatar image for Molly McBride Jacobson
    Molly McBride Jacobson
    33
  4. Avatar image for Hermit09
    Hermit09
    31
  5. M
    Martin
    27

Places Visited

  1. Avatar image for Fred Cherrygarden
    Fred Cherrygarden
    229
  2. B
    bjpatterson
    108
  3. A
    adambreck
    93
  4. C
    combsbrenton
    89
  5. M
    marcogliese
    88

Recent Japan Activity

  • S

    stephant

    has been to Odaiba Statue of Liberty

  • A

    allisonmalia

    wants to go to Takeshima Fantasy Museum

  • A

    allisonmalia

    wants to go to The Hydrangea Train

  • A

    allisonmalia

    wants to go to Atami Adult Museum

  • A

    allisonmalia

    wants to go to Dog's Roasted Sweet Potato Stand

Stories About Japan

All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: When Tetris Meets the Four-Color Theorem

by AO Puzzles
May 22, 2023
All Illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: A Different Way to Paint by Number

by AO Puzzles
April 24, 2023
All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: Pointing the Way

by AO Puzzles
March 27, 2023
All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: Golf, Only Slightly Abstracted

by AO Puzzles
February 27, 2023

Podcast: The Gankutsu Hotel

In Japan, a farmer's unfinished art project lies in ruins—but a dedicated duo are determined to keep his legacy alive.
by The Podcast Team
February 20, 2023
All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: Going Home

by AO Puzzles
January 30, 2023
All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: It's All Downhill

by AO Puzzles
December 19, 2022
All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: Breaking the Grid

by AO Puzzles
November 21, 2022

Lists Featuring Japan

Fierce little cat.
Elephants playing in the mud at Elephant Nature Park.
Oh, hello!
Little Spotted Kiwi

10 Ethical Animal Places to Visit in 2019

Unique experiences from Nairobi to Chiang Mai.

12

Including Cat Island, Elephant Nature Park , and India's Giant Technicolor Squirrels

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Puzzles
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Trips Blog
  • Art & Culture Trips
  • Food Trips
  • Hidden City Trips
  • History Trips
  • Wildlife & Nature Trips
  • FAQ
  • Experiences
  • Online Courses
  • Online Experience FAQ
  • Online Course FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2023 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.