Japan Things To Do

Now a fashionable, youthful city, Hiroshima is still best known for the devastating bomb dropped on it in August 1945. Visit the tranquil Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum and learn more about this world defining event.

Taking tea in Japan is more than just a means to caffeine. Discover all about this meditative art in Kyoto. Teahouses are scattered throughout the city, but for a demonstration in English let one of the instructors from the Women’s Association of Kyoto welcome you into her home and teach you about the ceremony.

Shoguns and samurai come alive at this eight-story castle, originally built in 1580, housing a museum. Ancient artifacts and modern holograms tell of the castle and its builder, Hideyoshi Toyotomi.

One of the world’s largest aquariums features a Pacific Rim theme that focuses on the interdependence of all life. High-tech presentations and a large variety of sea-life – from whale sharks to penguins – make it great for families.

Hollywood themed rides – from thrilling rollercoasters to the kid-friendly E.T. ride – bring the magic of movies to life at this amusement park.

Korean, Japanese, and Chinese ceramics displayed under computer-simulated natural lighting showcases top-notch glazes at their best. Three-hundred pieces are exhibited from a collection nearly ten times the size.

The Japanese love their bathhouses. Take the plunge at massive Spa World, with its multitude of theme pools and hot springs open 23 hours a day.

Unrivaled in both numbers and diversity, this people-watching mecca is chock-a-block with restaurants, shops, and clubs. Friends meet on Ebisu Bridge (bashi) or stroll narrow, river-bordering Dontonburi, lit by neon billboards.

Three mostly new must-see museums are within easy walking distance of each other: The Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills has edgy, contemporary works, the National Art Center Tokyo offers classics like Monet, and the Suntory Museum of Art typically exhibits traditional Japanese art.

Learn the fascinating history of one of the world’s most complex cities. One side of the cavernous hall shows the customs, crafts and architecture of Edo (as the city was called until 1868); the other side gives the history of Tokyo since 1868.