Things to do in Japan 

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Ask any of your friends where they’re heading for their next holiday, and I’m sure you’ll hear at least one of them mention Japan. We don’t blame them though, not when there are attractions like Super Nintendo World, DisneySea, and teamLab exhibitions to stuff your itinerary with. But if you’ve “been there, done that”, here’s a new and updated list of things to check out in Japan to keep the experience fresh.

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What do I need to know before travelling to Japan?

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Best times to travel to Japan

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There are a couple of “tourist peaks” in Japan, and the determining factor is seasonal weather. Japan is well loved for its cherry blossoms in full bloom in April; colourful autumns from September to November; and heavy snowfall in December to February. The best times to visit Japan, however, are spring and autumn.

Temperatures hover around a cool 20°C, offering many a respite from Singapore’s eternal summer and suffocating humidity levels. It is also when the country is the most vibrant, and your body at its most comfortable temperature for endless sightseeing and outdoor adventures.

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Which airport to land at when visiting Japan?

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Unlike Singapore, Japan has a grand total of 11 major international airports in Japan. It’s also good practice to plan your itinerary before booking your flight ticket to ensure you’re landing at the closest airport.

Here’s a good rundown of which airport serves which cities:

Airport	IATA Code	Closest cities and attractions	Time Taken to Get to City Center
Narita International Airport	NRT	Tokyo, Yokohama, Chiba	Tokyo: 60-90 min by train
Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport)	HND	Tokyo, Yokohama, Kawasaki	Tokyo: 15-30 min by train
Kansai International Airport	KIX	Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe	Osaka: 45-60 min by train
Chubu Centrair International Airport	NGO	Nagoya, Gifu, Tsu	Nagoya: 30-40 min by train
New Chitose Airport	CTS	Sapporo, Chitose, Otaru	Sapporo: 40-50 min by train
Fukuoka Airport	FUK	Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Kurume	Fukuoka: 10 min by subway
Naha Airport	OKA	Naha, Okinawa City, Ginowan	Naha City: 10 min by monorail
Hiroshima Airport	HIJ	Hiroshima, Kure, Fukuyama	Hiroshima: 50-60 min by bus
Sendai Airport	SDJ	Sendai, Natori, Ishinomaki	Sendai: 25 min by train
Asahikawa Airport	AKJ	Asahikawa, Furano, Biei	Asahikawa: 35 min by bus

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What is a Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass)?

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Those who are planning on exploring multiple cities or regions in Japan should definitely consider buying a Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) in advance. A JR Pass is a special discounted rail pass designed for tourists that offers you unlimited access to most of Japan’s rail network, namely the shinkansen and the local and express trains.

Not only does it grant you unlimited access to the Japan Rail system for a set number of consecutive days—7, 14 or 21 days. Some passes even come with discounted admissions to tourist spots. For more info about the JR Pass, read our detailed JR Pass guide.

If you’re travelling on a budget or simply looking for bigger savings, check out our guide to the best budget flights to Japan. Air Japan is the most recent addition to this pool of budget options, with air fares starting from just $179!

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– Things to do in Tokyo –

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1. teamLab Borderless

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Interactive & IG worthy exhibitions

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Image credit: @teamlab_borderless via Instagram

Marvel at teamLab’s newest immersive exhibition, Borderless World. The concept is just like the name suggests – it embraces limitlessness. In a space with no fixed rooms and themes, art takes on a life of its own with a little help from technology to create breathtaking otherworldly floor-to-ceiling light projections, that will leave you mesmerised.

The Bubble Universe is where you can snap some shots for the ‘Gram. You’ll find yourself surrounded by bubble lights dangling from the ceiling, and the mirror flooring makes it seem like the lights are expanding infinitely.

Visit their En Tea House for an afternoon pick-me-up with a cup of tea or matcha gelato. Even this is made immersive, with flower projections following the movements of the cups, scattering petals or growing branches whenever the teacups move.

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2. Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo

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World’s largest indoor Harry Potter attraction 

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Image credit: ワーナー ブラザース スタジオツアー東京  via Facebook

At Warner Bros. Tokyo’s latest studio tour, The Making of Harry Potter, die-hard Potterheads are in for a magical ride. Step into the world of Hogwarts and experience the behind-the-scenes of the well-loved films from movie sets to costumes, turning fiction into reality.

Visitors get to see original props and costumes from the movies, including Professor Snape’s wand, as well as the Hogwarts uniform worn by Daniel Radcliffe.

Image credit: Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo

Step into real-life sets you’ve seen on the screens as a kid, like the iconic Great Hall where the battle of Hogwarts took place.

It’s not a Harry Potter tour without performing some magic of your own. The interactive SFX experience lets you ride a broomstick in front of a green screen. You’ll even get to take a couple of  pictures of you cruising through the sky like a true Hogwarts student as a souvenir.

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3. Toy Story Hotel 

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Themed rooms with Pizza Planet gift shop

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Image credit: Disney

Considering how the Toy Story franchise has entertained us across a good 2 decades, it’s no surprise that fans are often parent and child. And a Pixar-perfect family vacation sounds like a stay at the newly-minted Toy Story Hotel in Tokyo Disney Resort, near Disneyland and DisneySea.

The hotel is extremely loyal to its theme, with a game-board inspired ceiling at the foyer and guest rooms decorated to resemble Andy’s bedroom. There’s even a souvenir shop modelled after Pizza Planet, Andy’s favourite fast food joint from the films.

Image credit: Disney

Breakfast and dinner buffets are also served at the Lotso Garden Cafe, which is a direct reference to the Sunnyside Daycare centre and characters in Toy Story 3.

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4. DisneySea Fantasy Springs

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Disney sets coming to live

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Image credit: @disneyparks via Instagram

DisneySea’s newest expansion, Fantasy Springs, comprises 3 main areas that recreate the worlds from Frozen, Peter Pan, and Tangled.

Wander the streets of the kingdom of Arendelle, and hop on a boat ride to witness the touching story between sisters, Anna and Elsa, and sing along to some of Frozen’s iconic songs.

Over at Neverland, you’ll find Captain Hook’s pirate ship docked along the waters. Embark on Peter Pan’s Neverland adventure, a 3D immersive ride to defeat the pirates following Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and the Lost Boys.

Image credit: @disneyparks via Instagram

Go on a water ride in Rapunzel’s Forest and live out the lantern festival scene, one of Tangled’s most iconic and romantic moments. The slow river cruise also takes you through familiar sets like Rapunzel’s tower and the forest where she met Flynn Rider.

Each area also has its own themed restaurants taken from the movies for visitors to dine at.

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5. Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Cafe

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Themed menu & exclusive merchandise

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Image credit: Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Cafe

Our favourite animated cat hits the big five-oh this year, and she’s taking us along to her birthday parties. The Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Cafe is opening for only a limited time from 13th September – 27th October 2024, so schedule a lunch date if you’re going to be in Tokyo during this period.

KITTY & MIMMY Afternoon Tea, KITTY & MIMMY Drink
Image credit: Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Cafe

The cafe will be serving up Hello Kitty-inspired dishes that look almost too cute to consume. Check out the Apple Cream Rice (¥1,690), which is a creamy rice dish featuring a ruby red rice apple, and a lava egg.

From the drink menu, there’s the KITTY & MIMMY Drink (¥990)—a strawberry-lemon beverage inspired by the colours of Hello Kitty and her twin sister, Hello Mimmy. Fans can also purchase merchandise sold exclusively at the cafe. You can collect badges, stickers, and keychains in 6 different cute designs.

The cafe might get crowded, so we recommend making an online reservation for a ¥660 fee.

Address: Shibuya 109 Shibuya, 2nd basement floor, 2-29-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Opening hours: 10.15am-8.30pm, Daily
Contact: Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Tokyo Cafe website

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– Things to do in Osaka –

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6. New attractions at Universal Studios Japan

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VR roller coasters and mine cart rides

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Image credit: @rinkariri via Instagram 

Dive into the world of anime at Universal Studios Japan with their 2 new Demon Slayer rides that are only available from now till 5th January 2025. The Race to Swordsmith Village is a high-speed roller coaster made super realistic with VR glasses. With the village under attack by upper-ranking demons, help deliver Tanjiro’s blade so he can slay those demons.

Image credit: @rinkariri via Instagram 

The second anticipated Demon Slayer ride to make a beeline for is the Training Arc x Hollywood Dream Ride; a thrilling roller coaster that will train you to become a demon slayer yourself.

And if you’re a fan of the show, this is your last chance to ride Gravity Training. As its name implies, the ride takes you through a series of gravity-defying twists and turns—great for adrenaline junkies. It will close on 7th October 2024, but even if you do miss it, you can look forward to Whitewater Training that’s set to open on 8th October 2024 and will run till 5th January 2025. This water ride features a plunging waterfall and boulder crashes, so be prepared to get wet.

Image credit: Universal Studios Japan

USJ is killing the game this year with their new attractions. 2024 also sees the opening of a new addition to Super Nintendo Park, Donkey Kong Country. Venture through the jungle on thrilling rides like Mine Cart Madness, where the cart is said to leap over broken tracks just like Kong in video games.

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7. Kitte Osaka 

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New mall with arcade cafe & indoor horse-riding studio

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Image credit: Shibui.estate

Kitte Osaka is a 7-storey shopping mall that is a convenient 3-minute walk from Osaka Station. And while we’re no strangers to large malls, we’ve certainly never had the likes of a horse-riding facility in one! Which is why Horse Club Ginza is not one to miss—only thing is, that instead of real horses, you get simulator horses, but we’ll take it!

Image credit: Shibui.estate

There’s also Gigo Arcade Cafe where you can try your luck at the claw machines, or shop for clothes, accessories and household items at stores like Toyookakaban and Hills Avenue.

For a taste of authentic Japan, the basement, and levels 5 and 6 are where all the restaurants and cafes are at. There are also stores selling snacks and products from other areas of Japan, like Okinawa and Hokkaido.

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8. teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka

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Glow-in-the-dark forest

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Botanical Garden Osaka is yet another new rendition of teamLab attractions in Japan, flaunting an otherworldly nighttime installation at the expansive Nagai Park.

This glow-in-the-dark exhibit features a garden of egg-shaped lamps that light up when you touch them, and a lake filled with floating lamps that resonate in tones. Since many of their displays are seasonal, rest assured that there’s always something new and exciting along the horizon.

Plus, unlike its counterparts in Tokyo, the Botanical Gardens will be a permanent exhibit in Osaka. You are also encouraged to wear sneakers and long pants to beat the forested terrain and its mosquito inhabitants.

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– Things to do in Kyoto –

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9. Marufukuro Hotel  

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Former Nintendo office

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Image credit: @chir___wd via Instagram

History buffs and video game aficionados, here’s a rare opportunity to stay in the same building where the Nintendo legacy started. Nintendo’s old headquarters, which was deserted in 1959, has been recently updated into a modern, museum-like hotel now open for guests.

The Marufukuro Hotel consists of 4 buildings, 3 of which were once Nintendo’s main office, warehouse, and the Yamauchi family’s residence. The new annex also features natural lighting and classical Japanese furniture, leaving much of its original layout and structures untouched.

Image credit: Marufukuro Hotel

When booking your stay, there are several options of suites and rooms to choose from, and an in-house restaurant, spa, lounge, and gym to sweeten the deal. There’s even a library stocked with Nintendo paraphernalia and interactive artworks that expand on the history and identity of the brand.

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10. Shijo Kawaramachi Onsen Hotel

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Infinity onsen pool overlooking city

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Image credit: Soraniwa Onsen Terrace Kyoto

At Shijo Kawaramachi Onsen Hotel, you can dip into an infinity onsen pool as you take in a panoramic view of Higashiyama district. The hotel is split into 2 guest buildings: the elegant Japanese-style Soraniwa Onsen Terrace Kyoto, and the luxurious Bettei Kamogawa which comes with private open-air baths.

Image credit: Soraniwa Onsen Terrace Kyoto

Guests from either side are welcome to patronise the infinity hot spring bath, as well as the Soraniwa Terrace, which boasts a breathtaking view of Kamogawa and its surrounding mountains.

Up here, feel free to kick back with a foot bath and lounge around the sofas. Cozy bonfires will be lit during colder months like December.

Check availability at Shijo Kawaramachi Onsen Soraniwa Terrace Kyoto.

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11. Nintendo Museum Kyoto

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Learn about the history of Nintendo 

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Image credit: @livcruz_22 via Instagram

Nintendo has a long history, from playing cards to the video games we’re familiar with today. Longtime Nintendo fans are excited that the Nintendo Museum is finally opening its doors to the public on 2 October 2024.

Image credit: @gibbie80s via Instagram 

The museum is to celebrate the success of the company and its journey thus far. Built on a former factory site where workers repaired Nintendo products, the museum features displays of old video games, interactive themed games, and hands-on workshops.

Fans can geek out over artefacts like old video games, and even the OG Game Boy variations. There are also interactive exhibits with nostalgic childhood games such as Super Mario and Donkey Kong to round up the entire experience.

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– Other parts of Japan –

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12. Ghibli Park 

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Ghibli’s grand warehouse & Totoro forest

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Image credit: Ghibli Park

The Studio Ghibli Theme Park at Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park in Nagoya is a dream come true for Ghibli fans. Ghibli Park is slated to feature a ton of real-life references to popular studio films like My Neighbour Totoro, Whisper of the Heart, and The Cat Returns.

For the best experience, visit all 3 themed-spaces, namely Hill of Youth, Dondonki Forest, and Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse – the latter of which has on-site merch, restaurants, playgrounds and a 170-seater theatre.

Howl’s moving castle.
Image credit: Ghibli Park

Still to come, the ride-less theme park will feature the likes of Castle in the Sky, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and The Secret World of Arrietty with 2 brand new zones. You can look forward to wandering around Mononoke Village, or exploring the Valley of Witches in 2023.

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13. Gundam Park & Statue

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Theme park with 24.8m Gundam statue

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Image credit: @58kenji via Instagram

To the untrained eye, this newly-opened park seems like a mechanical mecca for robot giants. But these robots are in fact unique Japanese anime characters from Gundam, a famous local anime that has captured the hearts of fans from all over the world.

You’ll find Gundam Park Fukuoka in the shopping mall complex of LalaPort Fukuoka, with multiple activity and exhibit areas within. Visit Gundam Side-F to take pics with the Gundam universe and construct model figurines, or Variety Sports (VS) Park for some Gundam-based video game action.

Image credit: @moch_uw via Instagram

There will also be a slew of fun arcade games at the Namco hall, where you can try your hand at piloting a mecha.

And finally, standing tall and proud outside the shopping centre is a 24.8m-tall life size monument of the Nu Gundam mecha.

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Visit these tourist attractions in Japan today

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And there you have it. 11 fun and fresh things to do in the land of the rising sun for your Japan itinerary, from bullet trains to bamboo forests and to Demon Slayer IRL. Being able to enjoy cherry blossom season, authentic Japanese cuisine, local Japanese snacks and street food will surely make you go ‘Oiishi‘!

You can even check out our 8D7N Japan itinerary from Osaka to Tokyo if you need more travel inspo. Sayonara!

More must-see spots for your trip to Japan:

• Cities in Japan with direct flights from SG
• Aminal resort in Japan
• Best traditional Japanese souvenirs
• Bakeries in Kyoto

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Cover image adapted from: @teamlab_borderless & @livcruz_22  via Instagram, Soraniwa Onsen Terrace Kyoto, Ghibli Park
Last updated by Kelly Lai on 6th September 2024.