Japan is a country full of cool and unusual things to do. You might spend a lifetime there and still not discover it all, so you should arrive with a plan of what to see and what to skip. Here’s a list of 8 experiences that you can only do in Japan!
Robot Restaurant, Tokyo
Grab a sake and get ready to be impressed. The Robot Restaurant in Tokyo offers a cabaret-style show with singing, dancing, girls, robots, and a whole lot of things that you will only find in Japan.
There’s nothing understated about this place. Rumor has it that it cost a whopping 10 billion yen ($89.5 million USD) to build the Robot Restaurant. It has all of the bells and whistles along with more sights and sounds than you could ever take in.
As for the show itself, it is always changing, but expect lots of lights, dancing and, you guessed it, robots! Halfway through, you’ll get a light stick so that you can join in. It really is a one-of-a-kind experience and SO much fun!
Here’s my experience visiting the Robot Restaurant in Tokyo!
Snow Monkey Hot Springs, Nagano
Take a bus into the snow-covered wilderness of Nagano, to experience the wild Japanese monkey’s descending from the mountains, and bathing in a natural hot spring.
The bus from Nagano city takes an hour, followed by a 45-minute walk along a Snow-covered path. Although the walk is long, it is so beautiful, it is almost as exciting as the monkey’s themselves. Walking along the path, you feel like you are straight out of a Disney film!
When you arrive at the Monkey park you pay the entrance fee and step through into a gully. Don’t worry, there are no fences or cages, you wander around the snowy valley, with monkey’s running around in front of you, bathing on the hot springs or cleaning their young. It was an absolute highlight of my time in Japan, it would be tragic to miss out if visiting during the Winter.
Mario Kart, Tokyo
Mari Car is what would happen if you asked a 10-year-old what they wanted to create. Mari Car allows you to be able to drive a go-kart around Tokyo, on the road, next to real cars, getting up to 90lms per hour. Only in Japan!
It is casually known as Mario Kart in real life, however, due to some legal troubles, it makes it known that it is in no way affiliated with Nintendo in any way. In the past, you were able to wear a onesie of a Nintendo Character and drive around the city. However, due to these new requirements, you are no longer able to wear those characters.
Don’t let the new requirements turn you off, it is still 10-year-old activity and like nothing else, I’ve done before. You are able to let your inner child out and live their dream.
Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto
One of the most iconic images of Japan has to be the bright, vermillion coloured torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto. Many people come to Fushimi Inari Taisha not knowing the scope of it. They see the images online and think it’s just a few small alleyways – this is far from the whole picture. The main shrine sits at the base of the Inari mountains, but a path of thousands of torii gates behind the building leads visitors up 233 meters above sea level to visit 4 kilometres of sub-shrines finally ending at the magnificent mountain top shrine.
Many people wonder why the gates and temple are painted that very particular shade of
It is a photographers dream, there are so many different beautiful images you can take that are so uniquely Japanese. Although a very popular tourist attraction, the higher up the mountain, the fewer people there are. In order to fully appreciate the Shrine for all its beauty, arrive early and climb high
DisneySea, Tokyo
Tokyo DisneySea, in Japan, is, by many accounts, the greatest Disney theme park and possibly the greatest theme park in the world. Having visited all of the Disney parks, I rank it second, and the only reason it is not first is because of the language barrier!
DisneySea is no-where else in the world, it is a one-of-a-kind Disney park only found in Japan. DisneySea is made up of seven themed ports of call; Mediterranean Harbour, Mysterious Island, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast, Lost River Delta, Port Discovery and the American Waterfront. Various ports are based off historical locations throughout the world and others are complete fantasies.
DisneySea has many unique rides and shows. It really does have something for everyone! Its rides are slightly more thrilling than the traditional Disneyland, while still having plenty of shows including aerial acrobatics! Not forgetting the food. They have many different types of popcorn spread over the park and it is themed according to the land. My personal favourite was Curry flavour in the Arabian Coast!
Guest House Stay
A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn. When you are planning where to stay in Japan I highly recommend adding a ryokan to your itinerary. They are more expensive than standard hotel rooms but are worth trying at least once for a real Japanese experience.
You’ll sleep in a tatami mat room on a futon – a stack of thin mattresses that are put away during the day leaving a minimalist space. Usually the only furniture is a low table where you sit on cushions to drink green tea (served on arrival) and sometimes eat your meals.
The most traditional inns are made from wood with sliding paper doors and views of elegant gardens. A modern ryokan is more affordable and looks like a normal hotel from the outside but with tatami mat rooms. Modern ryokans are more likely to have ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning, and other modern conveniences.
A yukata (cotton kimono) is provided and you can change into this as soon as you arrive for maximum comfort and wear it around the inn. In onsen towns you can even wear them around town as you tour the different baths.
Capsule Hotel
Capsule Hotels were invented in Japan for the Japanese Salary Men working late into the night. But, now has become a tourist experience in their own right.
Capsule hotels are essentially a hostel, but much much nicer. Men and women are split, you get a locker and a bed with shared bathroom facilities. However, unlike a hostel, you are in your own space with a door, not sound proof though.
I stayed in Nine Hours Capsule in Shinjuku and was so impressed. They provide everything you need for a stay. They provide pyjamas, toothbrushes and slippers to walk around, along with all the bedding required. I only stayed for one night but now wished I had longer!
Read about my Experience in a Capsule hotel
Miyajima island
Miyajima is a small island outside of Hiroshima. It is a Unesco World Heritage Site, and one of Japan’s most visited tourist attractions. It is an easy day trip from Hiroshima, or you can stay overnight on the Island.
Miyajima’s number one attraction is the bright red shrine gate of Itsukushima-jinja which is standing out in the sea. It is often photographed, and you will see pictures and posters of it all over Japan. The scene of the “floating shrine gate” is ranked as one of the three best views in Japan. Another attraction that travel books don`t tell you about is all the tame deer!
If you have more time, you can also do the hike up to Miyajima`s highest Mountain
