Japan has many many wonders and limiting it to just 7 is almost impossible. A little while back Gary asked me to assist him with coming up with a list and getting a vote to come up with the New Seven Wonders Of Japan and i accepted.
Now, this list differs from the original Seven Wonders of The World and has been adapted to Japan, a place where must see and must do activities vary greatly from person to person, but the question is asked and answered many times a day “What do you recommend i do while i’m in Japan for X Days?
With the help of Danny, Shane, Billy, Evan, Nick, Glenn, Hector and Marie i have a list of must-do things when i Japan, i’ve no doubt missed as many as i’ve added but if you do any or all of these while in Japan it’s a good start.
Multiple answers votes are allowed for each category and once a day you can cast a vote. Vote however you like, the things you’ve done, things you want to do, things you recommend or things you’ve heard are must do’s when in Japan.
The Poll will be open for about 2 weeks and Gary will write up the final Seven Wonders Of Japan. I also decided today that the final 7 will also provide me with an agenda for places to go and things to do in Japan over the next 12 months similar to the 29 Stops on the JR Yamanote Line.
Choose any 3
Temples and Shrines
- Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto (52%, 35 Votes)
- Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto (37%, 25 Votes)
- Todaji Temple, Nara (34%, 23 Votes)
- Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima (31%, 21 Votes)
- Meiji Jingu Shrine, Harajuku (31%, 21 Votes)
- Nanzenji Temple, Kyoto (21%, 14 Votes)
- Ise Shrine, Ise (19%, 13 Votes)
- Tenryu-ji Temple, Kyoto (13%, 9 Votes)
- Hyruji Temple, Hyruji (7%, 5 Votes)
- Jojakoji Temple, Arashiyama (7%, 5 Votes)
- Izumo Taisha, Taisha (-152%, 3 Votes)
Total Voters: 67
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Castles and Parks
- Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Kyoto (61%, 39 Votes)
- Himeji Castle, Himeji (56%, 36 Votes)
- Osaka Castle, Osaka (30%, 19 Votes)
- Yoyogi Koen, Yoyogi (30%, 19 Votes)
- Shiretoko National Park, Hokkaido (28%, 18 Votes)
- Ueno Koen, Ueno (20%, 13 Votes)
- Nara Koen, Nara (14%, 9 Votes)
- Inuyama Castle, Inuyama (9%, 6 Votes)
- Tokugawaen, Nagoya (-148%, 3 Votes)
Total Voters: 64
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Places to Visit
- Fuji-san (Mount Fuji) (53%, 39 Votes)
- Peace Park, Hiroshima (52%, 38 Votes)
- Akihabara, Shibuya and Harajuku Bridge (47%, 34 Votes)
- Asakusa, Tokyo (42%, 31 Votes)
- Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (27%, 20 Votes)
- Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Kobe (22%, 16 Votes)
- Roppongi, Kabukicho and Golden Gai (21%, 15 Votes)
- Shirakami-Sanchi, Honshu (-164%, 3 Votes)
Total Voters: 73
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Activities
- Ride the Shinkansen (57%, 45 Votes)
- A Day at an Onsen (48%, 38 Votes)
- Hanami Party During Cherry Blossom Season (43%, 34 Votes)
- Visit a Love Hotel (35%, 28 Votes)
- Watch a Sumo Tournament (34%, 27 Votes)
- Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo (30%, 24 Votes)
- Baseball Game between 2 Rival Teams (28%, 22 Votes)
- Ginza at Night (24%, 19 Votes)
- Join a Matsuri and Carry Mikoshi (24%, 19 Votes)
- View Mt. Fuji, not necessarily climb it (23%, 18 Votes)
- Visit a Maid Cafe in Akihabara (18%, 14 Votes)
- Go cycling around Arashiyama in Kyoto (14%, 11 Votes)
- Tokyo Tower (14%, 11 Votes)
- Join a Tea Ceremony Party (10%, 8 Votes)
- Ride all the rides at Fuji-Q Highlands (4%, 3 Votes)
- Itchiku Kubotas Kimono Museum close to Fujigoko (3%, 2 Votes)
- Go on a bus tour of the Noto Peninsula (-309%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 79
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Food
- Ramen in Fukuoka (51%, 35 Votes)
- Standing Sushi Bar, Shibuya (36%, 25 Votes)
- Yakitori Alley, Shinjuku (35%, 24 Votes)
- Sushizanmai Restaurant in Tsukiji (25%, 17 Votes)
- Soba Noodles, Fukushima (20%, 14 Votes)
- Gyoza Stadium in Namja Town, Ikebukuro (10%, 7 Votes)
- Hotate in Hokkaido (-77%, 7 Votes)
Total Voters: 69
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I enjoyed Nikko and Kamakura when I visited nearly two years ago. I hope to see a few other places when I visit again this winter.
Lots of stuff on this list I still need to see! Perhaps the final results will help the wife and I decide where to visit next
I think it will help me too Jason and am looking forward to seeing what comes out of it.
Good list! A lot of people live in Japan for years and never see or do half of what’s listed.
One good addition for Kyoto is a stroll along the Philosopher’s Walk (tetsugaku no michi) in Spring or Fall.
Thanks for your help with it Billy. Like you say, if you can get 1/2 the list knocked off you’ll be going alright! looking forward to seeing what 7 things i’ll be doing or places i’ll be going soon!
Hi Neil,
, such as Toshugu Shrine at Nikko, Sensoji Pagoda in asakusa (esp at night), Matsumoto Castle in Nagono, Towado Lake in Akita/Omori, ‘Daibutsu’ in Kamakura… the list goes on & on!!
A great idea and another great blog. Unfortunately, most of my favourites are missing
So I hope its ok I just voted in “things to do” where you’ve listed lots of my faves!!
Lynda
Very OK Lynda. I knew there’d be many missing …. guess that shows what a great place Japan is !
Absolutely, couldn’t agree more
Every single American should be required to go to Peace Park. It was far and away the most touching and remorseful experience I have ever had, deaths and similar events included. It had all the more impact because, as I was standing at the children’s memorial, a whole huge group of schoolkids came through. Awful, awful stuff. You’d have been heartless to not cry.
By the time I’ve left here I’ll have spent six days in Shibuya, and it’s pretty amazing here; the standing sushi joint is just a short jaunt from my hotel and it’s super good. Tsukiji definitely has fresh stuff, but there’s a lot to be said for eating while flanked by girls wearing kimono and the “super fashionable” dudes with hair straight out of an Anime and more piercings than you can shake a stick at. Super bizarre dichotomies like that all over here.
Also a couple quick thoughts: I voted the shinkansen ride just because of the necessity and convenience of it (especially if you get one of these). Also Harajuku is pretty cool, but Sundays just outside the station is when all the gothic lolita girls hang out, and that’s really something else!
Every American should visit Peace Park huh? Funny how the Japanese culture can convince itself that WWII didn’t begin until after the A bombs were dropped. Neat how they so completely justify their actions (atrocities) before that incident. Every American should visit Peace Park. I don’t think so. Every Japanese person should visit Peace Park (and probably a few more memorials over in China).
Who even mentioned anything about justifying atrocities? Andy simply stated that understood the gravity of the atomic bombings as a result of going there. Though Japan committed many atrocities as you remind us, the fact is that many people simply ceased to exist as a result of the bombings. That is a huge thing to take in. Just as the Japanese can’t take back the things they did in Nanking and elsewhere, neither can Americans take back the fact that we unleashed the horrors of nuclear war upon the world and in particular, Japan.
Everyone should visit Peace Park.
Just thinking about visiting a temple makes me nod off. If every bar and roller coaster in the country shut down, I might visit a temple on my way outta here. (to use the toilet).
How about Tsubaria (?) studios?? The guy who created Godzilla!! Now THAT’S a must see!!!
My idea of sightseeing has usually been watching the site in question from the closest bar ….. i’m getting a bit better these days, only a little bit though. As for the Temples and Shrines they don’t really differ much to me … the surrounding activities for the weekend in a new place make it all good though.
Your body used to be a temple Neil and by all accounts you spent plenty of time in that wretched thing. Now who’s shout?
Unfortunately it’s looking more like a Buddha these days.
I too am looking forward to seeing the results of the voting and can’t wait to follow your travels as you try to see all the winners.
Top three parks in Japan are Kenroku in Kanazawa, Korakuen in Okayama and also one in Mino. I think Kenroku is best.
Minoh on the outskirts of Osaka is also a great park, beautiful waterfall and wild monkeys.
You missed out on okonomiyaki in Hiroshima.
Takachiho Gorge in Miyazaki Ken is absolutely beautiful.
How about viewing the ice flows hitting the coast at Abashiri in Hokkaido.
You’re right though, impossible to fit everything in without writing a book.
Hi, close – the third park is kairakuen and its Mito, Ibaraki. And I used to live beside it! Beautiful in spring, but I’ve been to Kourakuen also and I prefer that one personally.
Nice idea. Im not going to vote though, as although ive been to Japan 4 times, ive mainly stayed in Tokyo. Furthest ive been outside the capital is Kyoto and Yokohama for day trips, so my votes would be biased towards Tokyo places.
Great lists! I’d also recommend Kamikochi near Matsumoto for some stunning alpine scenery and good climbs. Maybe also the Tokyo Bay Firework Festival?
And the list goes on …. i think there’ll be lots of great locations and things to do by the end if this poll.
wish i could vote. never been to or experienced any of these..at least not yet ^_^
Kirk, vote for the things you would like to do when you do get here.
I’m thinking “Otaku’s” would have an entirely different “7 wonders”
Too bad I’ve never been to Japan yet so I am not able to join the poll. However, the result will be a good guidance for me when I have te opportunity to visit Japan.
Vote for what you would like to do …. that’s just as valid.
Wow, nothing from Okinawa is listed??
I think there was something ….. i’m sure i saw it, will have to check though.
nicely done neil, I was even forced to choose one that I haven’t yet done (yakitori alley, shinjuku)!
It’s not bad Glenn, i get down there a bit, get there early though if you can … the better ones fill up quick.