8 Exciting Experiences to Level Up Your Next Japan Trip

Booked your flight to Japan yet? If not, this is the sign! Travel to Japan is finally back and we hope that you’re searching for fresh ideas to spice up your trip itinerary,  just like us! The endless number of things to do in Japan, whether you’re there for seven days or two weeks, makes the trip planning even more exciting. 

To fellow jet setters still trying to search for new Japan trip ideas (aside from the usual Dotonbori food trip or Tokyo Tower visit), we’ve created our list of things to try out in the various prefectures. We wouldn’t want you to miss out on the opportunity to see another side of the sights, the history, and the culture!

Food experiences surely won’t be missed out on when exploring the historical streets of Kyoto. The undeniably mouthwatering cuisine calls out to all travelers to make sure that they also have a foodie itinerary scheduled during their Japan trip. Tempura, sushi, udon, sake, and all your Japanese cuisine favorites are calling out to you to taste with stops at Nishiki Food Market or Pontocho. 

For matcha and tea lovers visiting Kyoto, you’ll be able to make your own matcha tea during your trip in an actual heritage tea shop! With a fun matcha tea session at the Mitsuboshien-Kanbayashisannyu Main Store, you can try grinding matcha and making tea with freshly powdered tea leaves on your own!

An hour away from Hiroshima sits the small island of Miyajima, which you may already know for its iconic scenery of the giant torii gate that looks as if it’s floating during high tide. The island is also famously known as “shrine island” because of its close proximity to the Itsukushima Shrine. However, that’s not all you can experience when in Miyajima – it’s also a foodie spot! 

As it is located by the sea, travelers can enjoy fresh oysters at the local oyster farm of the area. What’s fun about visiting the oyster farm is that not only will you be able to taste the fresh oysters, but you’ll also witness them being caught on board a fisherman’s boat. We can hear our stomachs grumbling with excitement already. That’s quite an experience you won’t get if you just stay within the city!

Charming, quaint, and beautiful are some of the words you can describe Hiroshima’s seaside old town of Tomonoura. This hidden gem is often overlooked when people head to the Fukayama, but it shouldn’t be missed out on! Film fans will enjoy seeing the real-life inspiration for the scenes from the well-loved Ghibli classic, “Ponyo”, and may spot a location or two featured in the film “Wolverine” during their visit. If you aren’t a film fan, there’s still so much more to do! The port town’s historical temples, scenic views of the sea, and cool fresh air are really worth the trip out of the city. 

Those that want to level up their visit to Tomonoura may want to check out a fun sea kayaking tour of the area. Instead of the usual walk around the streets, you’ll be able to paddle your own kayak with a guide and experience the town from a different perspective – from the water! We highly recommend it as you can pass by untouched natural landscapes nearby the town, like Sensuijima Island.

Drama, dance, and music all come together in the ancient art form of Noh Theatre. The official ceremonial art, dating as far back as Japan’s 14th century, depict stories drawn from legends, history, and literature that center on themes from the supernatural world. The performance is particularly known for performers being an all-male cast and the masks that its lead character, the shite, wears to signify what kind of character they’re portraying. 

Along with the ghosts, spirits, and demons of the stories, you’ll also get to take center stage! Head over to Morimoto Noh Stage for a chance to discover more about the 650-year-old theatrical art from Master Morimoto. He’ll discuss the art form and even demonstrate alongside the troupe’s artists. The best part of the visit? Wearing the Noh costumes and masks and learning the chants and movements on stage, of course! Our cultural day out in Fukuoka was definitely a win with this on our itinerary.

An itinerary to check out the rich and thriving contemporary Japanese art scene isn’t complete without a visit to one of teamLab’s awe-inducing and stunning museums! While the popular art collective’s teamLab Borderless closed last August, you can still see their colorful and interactive exhibits and creations come to life while in Fukuoka with teamLab Forest. 

We won’t spoil too much of the visit (since it’s way better to be there and experience the art rather than just reading it!), but their newest art space allows you to enter a beautiful forest of digital technology and use your body and senses to experience the feeling of creating the art around you. The museum is divided into two sections, the Catch and Collect Forest and Forest of Motion. If you’re like us, we’re pretty sure you should be booking your ticket to teamLab Forest and Fukuoka ASAP!

The off-beaten path of Yamaguchi is calling out to all adventurers excited to see its limestone caverns, hidden shrines, serene beaches, and more! The quiet and rural prefecture is the perfect escape if you’re seeking some distance from the noise of the city, but still looking for a good adventure. Visiting travelers usually set out for sights like the Motonosumi-jinja Shrine, the Beppu Benten Pond, and the famed Akiyoshidai, the largest karst plateau in Japan when in Yamaguchi. 

If you love cycling and the great outdoors, you should consider adding a road cycling adventure across the Akiyoshidai Karst Road to your Japan itinerary! The best way to experience the large grassland, the limestones, and the fresh countryside breeze is by traveling the karst road on a bike. The adventure adds a dash of challenge with the uphill and downhill paths, but the rewarding stops at Akiyodashi and Taishodo limestone caves and Beppu Benten Pond are definitely worth the trip!

Aso may not be the first place you think of heading to when traveling to the Land of the Rising Sun, but it should be a must-visit on your next Japan trip anyway – especially for the nature lovers out there! Considered to be Kumamoto’s most famed sightseeing spot, Aso is home to the largest inhabited caldera in the world and the living and active volcano, Mount Aso. Locals and tourists alike love traveling here to explore its unspoiled natural landscapes and thermal hot springs. 

For thrill-seekers looking for a different way to experience Aso, consider seeing it from up above with an unforgettable tandem paragliding experience! Flying 450 meters off the ground will undoubtedly treat you to a one-of-a-kind view of Aso’s fields and mountain scenery, with the sun bright in the sky to guide your way!

Calling all Harry Potter fans back to Japan's capital city of Tokyo! Finally, you'll be able to step into iconic sets such as the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, and the Hogwarts Express on Platform 9 ¾ at the new Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter! 

Discover behind-the-scenes secrets of the Wizarding World and enjoy lots of fun activities including becoming a Hogwarts portrait and stepping into the crowd of a Quidditch match. To complete the experience, visitors can stop for a refreshing Butterbeer in the world’s biggest Butterbeer bar or even enjoy a Professor Umbridge-inspired Afternoon Tea. Building on the success of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - the Making of Harry Potter, the new Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo will also feature exclusive sets only available in this location. This will be the largest indoor Harry Potter attraction in the world and you can expect to spend around four hours exploring the only Warner Bros. Studio Tour to open in Asia. 

Found the inspiration you needed for your Japan itinerary? If you’re still looking for more Japan trip ideas, check out our list of new things you can do in Tokyo or what else you can do in Setouchi and San’in to make the most of your travel to Japan!