My bucket list for first time visitors to Japan!
If you’re visiting Japan for the first time, I’ve put together a recommended ‘bucket list’ for you… a list of must-do experiences and must-try foods to check off as you go.
This isn’t a strict itinerary or schedule (Japan should be all about discovery – and I think you risk that a little if you’re too strict with your timeline and itinerary!). So think of this bucket list as a guideline.
Something you can dip in and out of depending on where you are, what your budget looks like, and how much time you have. I honestly believe that if you tick off most of these, you’ll leave Japan feeling like you’ve experienced something really special and seen some really beautiful things.
First-time trips to Japan look very different for everyone.
The truth is, I can’t really predict your situation, because people’s first-time visits to Japan look so different!
Maybe you’re just hitting Tokyo and Kyoto, or maybe you’re squeezing in Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and even Hokkaido.
Maybe this is your once-in-a-lifetime splurge with a £10k budget, or maybe you’re travelling light and keeping it affordable. You might have just 7 days or a luxurious 3 weeks.
That’s why I’ve broken my bucket list into key categories – Food, Culture & Experiences, Nature & Sights, and Shopping & Souvenirs.
There’s a top 5 in each and some bonus ideas to make it your own. But these are things I believe you can fit in, regardless of budget or time constraints.
These aren’t really sightseeing bucket list items, but more discovery and memory bucket list items!
Let’s start with the Food
Japan is one of the best food destinations in the world (no exaggeration) so don’t waste the opportunity to try as much as you can, as often as you can.
And PLEASE don’t waste your time queuing up for tiktok famous places. There are SO MANY food places in every Japanese city (or town, or village) you don’t need to be queuing for hours just to tick off some random tiktok trend.
Eat an authentic bowl of ramen – Head to a tiny ramen bar with ticket machines and minimal English menus. Avoid the touristy chains and find a spot full of locals. If I can offer one piece of advice here – please avoid tourist traps. The best ramen I had was in the tiny, backstreet places, so those are the places you should look for.
Get involved in matcha culture – Start your day with a hot or iced matcha, and experiment with all the variations. Matcha strawberry latte? Matcha parfait? Yes, please. I had my best matcha experiences in Kyoto (so that’s a great place to try and check this one off your list!).
Try a lesser-known dish – Okonomiyaki (savoury pancake), takoyaki (octopus balls), katsudon (pork cutlet rice bowl), or black ramen. You’ll discover a whole new side of Japanese cooking by straying away from the dishes you’ve already heard of.
Grab a bento box for the Shinkansen – The ekiben (station bento boxes) are half the fun of bullet train travel. You don’t get these kind of things anywhere else, so don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy them!
Always do dessert – Some of my favourite desserts (of my entire life!) were eaten in Japan. Seek out dessert – there are so many different flavours and textures on offer in Japan, and I was obsessed with trying every single one. My favourite discovery was a shaved ice dish called Kakigori.
Bonus ideas: Just a few bonus ideas (if you’ve got time to spare!)… Splurge on kaiseki (traditional multi-course dinner), go to a department store food hall (depachika) and just graze, or try the cult-food Jiro Ramen (my new obsession).
Culture & Experiences
Stay in a ryokan or traditional inn – Sleep on tatami mats, wear a yukata, and have a Japanese breakfast. Even if you only do it for one night of your stay!
Visit a temple or shrine – Whether it’s Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari, Tokyo’s Senso-ji, or a tiny neighbourhood shrine (there are so many stunning ones to choose from) take time to wander and soak up the peaceful atmosphere. Honestly, i enjoyed the smaller shrines more than the touristy ones – but that’s personal choice. Oh, and one thing I did before my visit, was to research the correct behaviour and traditions for shrines – and I believe I got so much more out of my trip because of it.
Experience an onsen (hot spring) – Public bathing might sound intimidating, but it’s an unforgettable cultural experience. Just mindful about tattoos (and covering them if necessary) although this can sometimes be avoided if you book a private experience.
Ride the Shinkansen – It’s not just transport, it’s an experience. Fast, smooth, and perfectly on time. It’s just one of those ‘must-do’ things, it’s a day filled with excitement and anticipation and fun.
Try a Gachapon (or Gashapon) – These are those are coin-operated capsule toy vending machines that you will see everywhere! Listen, I restrained myself from them for like 7 days, and then finally caved. And they’re so fun and addictive. Suddenly I understood why they were literally everywhere and why people are so obsesed with them! They basically dispense small toys and collectibles in a plastic capsule and it’s just such a small and affordable moment of joy!
Bonus ideas: Visit a baseball game (the energy is amazing), watch a sumo tournament (if it’s tournament season), or try a tea ceremony.
Nature & Sights
See Mount Fuji (if you can) – From Tokyo on a clear day or from Hakone/Kawaguchiko for the classic views. I didn’t get lucky, so sadly have no photo to share! But that’s the nature of Fuji – you have to shoot your shot!
Explore a Japanese garden – These are incredible year-round and offer a quiet break from busy cities. My favuorite one I visited was in Fukuoka – I got there upon opening, and I had the whole place to myself for about 2 hours, it was beyond magical.
Catch a seasonal highlight – In June you might see hydrangeas in full bloom, in spring it’s cherry blossoms, in autumn the fiery red leaves. If your trip overlaps any of these key seasonal highlights, make the most of it!
Stroll a historic district – Many of the cities have beautiful preserved historical centres. Gion in Kyoto, Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka, or Kurashiki’s canal district. You’ll be struck how different these areas are to the urban centres, and it’s so beautiful to take in the contrast the country has. Bonus points if you go around these areas either very early, or very late – because they will be so much quieter!
Visit a coastal town or beach – Japan has gorgeous beaches, especially in Kyushu or Okinawa — but even Kamakura and Enoshima make for great day trips. Myself, I went to Fukuoka and enjoyed the beaches there – and was so in awe of how stunning they were!
Bonus ideas: Take a ferry to Miyajima, see deer in Nara, or visit the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove early in the morning to avoid crowds.
Shopping & Souvenirs
Stock up at Don Quijote (Donki) – Snacks, souvenirs, quirky gifts — this discount chain has it all. Yes, it’s all over Tiktok, but it is a lot of fun and crazily overwhelming and overstimulating. I’d save it for your last day in the country – and just GO WILD.
Explore a depachika (department store basement) – It’s a food wonderland – and if you’re a bit of a foodie like me, then this is something you have to do at least once. I actually stumbled on a good hack on my last day in Japan, when I went into a Tokyo depachika 30 minutes before closing, and found EVERYTHING to be reduced! The cheapest sushi of my trip – amazing!
Buy a Japanese kitchen knife or chopsticks – Practical, beautiful souvenirs and they potentially last for a lifetime. I bought my husband some stunning Hakata Knives from Fukuoka, and I got to explore the workman’s workspace, and see about all the history and craftsmanship behind it. It was one of my favourite experiences of the whole trip.
Pick up a piece of local pottery or a professionally designed fan – Each region has its own style of pottery – and each city will have it’s own specialised fan makers. I found the most stunning fan shop in Kyoto, and fell in love with each and every intricate design. Just wow. This is such a precious gift, but also such a handy portable one too!
Visit a character store (if you love cute things) – Pokémon Center, Ghibli Store, or Sanrio shops are heaven for fans. There are so many throughout Japan, but if you’re in Tokyo, I recommend visit ‘Character Street’ inside Tokyo station! I’m still thinking about these adorable hats I found there (literally, how cute!?).
Bonus ideas: Buy matcha to bring home, get a Japanese skincare haul from a drugstore, or top up your stationery collection at one of Japan’s MANY incredible stationery shops.
Final Thoughts
Your first trip to Japan will probably be a whirlwind, but that’s part of the magic. Don’t stress about cramming everything in. You can always just buy an extra case.
Pick a few must-do items from each category, leave space for wandering and getting lost, and let Japan surprise you.
Trust me, even if you only manage half this list, you’ll still come home with amazing memories, a full camera roll, and probably a suitcase full of snacks.
