FORTY TOP-RATED SPOTS GUARANTEED TO PLEASE
MY FAVORITE PLACES are listed according to adjacent areas.
Ampersands (&) link sites which are closely related.
Asterisks (*) indicate attractions with no admission charge.
Imperial Palace Plaza Fountains* & East Garden* (The Ninomaru section is a MUST, but if you feel like walking, proceed to the upper level and continue on to see Yasukuni Shrine's Metal Torii* & Outdoor Noh Stage* & Flower Arrangements*)
The Ginza* (Start at 4-Chome Crossing, Harumi-dori/Chuo-dori, and walk to Kabukiza & Takashimaya & Nihombashi Bridge)
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building's twin towers* (Shinjuku)
Edo-Tokyo Museum (Ryogoku)
*Free for seniors
Japan Folk Crafts Museum (Komaba Meguro, via Shibuya Station)
SAKURA: (45 minutes east of Tokyo on JR Limited Express Train)
National Museum Of Japanese History & Three Samurai Houses
OMIYA: (20 minutes north of Tokyo on JR Bullet Train)
Omiya Goen village of bonsai gardeners* (Mansei-en a MUST)
NIKKO: (About two hours north of Tokyo, via JR Bullet Train to Utsunomiya Station, 50 minutes + JR Local, 45 minutes)
Shinkyo Bridge* & Five-Story Pagoda*
Sanbutsudo Hall & Toshogu Shrine & Daiyu-in Shrine
KYOTO: (2 hours + 40 minutes west of Tokyo on JR Bullet Train)
Toji (South Gate* & Two Main Halls & Pagoda)
Higashi Hongan-ji*
Imperial Palace* & Katsura Villa* & Shugaku-in Villa* (Permission to enter must be obtained in advance, in person)
Ryoan-ji Temple (Zen Rock Garden, then circle around the pond)
Kinkaku-ji Gold Pavilion Ginkaku-ji Silver Pavilion
Nijo Castle (Ninomaru Palace & Landscaped Compound)
Heian Shrine (Big Torii* & Courtyard* & Hall Of State* & Garden)
National Museum & Kawai Kanjiro's House
Nishikikoji 400-year-old shopping street* & Kamo River Promenade* Arashiyama area's Togetsukyo Bridge* & Okochi Sanso Villa
NARA: (40 minutes south of Kyoto on JR Rapid Train)
Nara Kan Information Center (4th Floor of Kintetsu Station)
Todai-ji Temple's Great South Gate* & Daibutsuden
Kofuku-ji Temple's Five-Story Pagoda*
Sarusawa Pond*
ISE: (Two hours southeast of Kyoto on Bullet + Express + Local)
Jingu Grand Shinto Shrines* (Geku & Naiku)
SHIGA: (East of Kyoto, via Ishiyama Station)
Miho Museum (13 minutes on JR Local + 50 minute scenic bus ride)
HIMEJI: (45 minutes west of Kyoto on JR Bullet Train)
White Heron Castle (Japan's only remaining original wood castle)
HIROSHIMA: (1:45 southwest of Kyoto on JR Bullet Train) Peace Memorial Park* & A-Bomb Museum & Shukkeien Garden
Miyajima Island's Big Torii* & Utsukushima "Floating" Shrine & Senjokaku "Hall Of A Thousand Mats" & Gojunoto Pagoda*
& Optional cable car ride or Nature Trail Hike* to the Mt. Misen viewpoint overlooking The Inland Sea