100 Reasons to visit Japan

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Japanese people are so proud of their country they want it to look good for visitors. People just don't litter in japan either, despite the fact the trash cans are not placed on the streets for public use. Japanese people consider it to be rude to eat or drink while walking in public - even though vending machines are placed on every corner. Japanese are very used to cleaning things up for themselves. At school they learn not to make mess because they have to clean it up for themselves.

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Japanese chefs and designers are the undisputed masters of the cute food industry, but their brilliant work has inspired chefs around the world to create beautiful and adorable meals that are hard not to play with before eating.

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A capsule hotel is a type of hotel developed in Japan that features a large number of extremely small "rooms" intended to provide cheap, basic overnight accommodation for guests who do not require the services offered by more conventional hotels.

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Japanese railways are among the most punctual in the world. When trains are delayed for as little as five minutes, the conductor makes an announcement apologizing for the delay and the railway company may provide a "delay certificate", as no one would expect a train to be this late.

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Japan has a cute culture. Almost all major companies in Japan have a cute mascot that represents the company. Even the Japanese police force has a mascot!

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The Japan Rail Pass will pay for itself even if you only take a couple of journeys. Seat reservations are free with the pass too.

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Izakaya is a traditional Japanese pub. It usually has low lighting and traditional Japanese décor, along with a fantastic atmosphere.

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Japan is one of the most hygiene conscious nation on earth. If people have a cold, they wear a mask so as not to infect others. Hygienic hand-wipes are available in most places.

It’s called keigo. The Japanese language itself is set up in such a way that there is a specific way of speaking so as to convey as much respect as possible. You can never quite tell what a Japanese person is thinking and that has something to do with the fact that they are so polite.

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Japan has a dizzying array of candy products. The industry is highly competitive with new products often lasting only days on the shelves.

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The greatest athletes in the world today are neither the Olympic champions nor the stars of professional sports, but the "Marathon Monks" of Japan's sacred Mount Hiei. Over a seven year training period, these "running Buddha" figuratively circle the globe on foot. During one incredible 100-day stretch, they cover 52.5 miles daily - twice the length of an Olympic marathon. The prize they seek is not a pot of gold, but enlightenment in the here and now.

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Waitresses at Maid Cafes dress as Cosplay maids.

Japan is so safe you can party hard, get falling down drunk in central Tokyo and still have your wallet and mobile phone when you wake up. Tokyo was named as the safest city in the world by The Economist in early 2015, with Osaka coming in a respectable third. Aside from worrying about the occasional earthquake Japan has been an extremely safe place to be.

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Snow Monkeys inhabit here naturally through the ages. Since the establishment of Jigokudani Yaen-koen in 1964, it has been a worldwide popular place for watching the bathing monkeys in a hot spring and for ecological observation of researchers or photographers, and some of them who visited here have accomplished certain results in the area.

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Natural hot springs are numerous and highly popular across Japan. Every region of the country has its share of hot springs and resort towns, which come with them. There are many types of hot springs, distinguished by the minerals dissolved in the water.

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Karaoke is a Japanese abbreviated compound word: "kara" comes from "karappo" meaning empty, and "oke" is the abbreviation of "okesutura," or orchestra. It is now widely recognized that the use of karaoke started at a snack bar in Kobe City. It is said that when a strolling guitarist could not come to perform at the bar due to illness or other reasons, the owner of the bar prepared tapes of accompaniment recordings, and vocalists enjoyed singing to the tapes.

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Very entertaining to watch two enormous guys try to push each other out of a circle.

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Go to cafes toplay with puppies

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Japan has a large toy industry that produces hundreds of toy brands. Many find Japanese toy stores interesting.

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Japan has beautiful pine forests with scenic hiking trails.

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Hello Kitty is a Japanese bobtail cat with a red bow on her head. Her "Real" name is Kitty White and she lives in London, England with her parents and twin sister, Mimmy. She was born on November 1, 1974. Her crazy popularity has led to her face being plastered on all kinds of products imaginable! Mugs, chopsticks, perfumes, books, pens, pencils, notebooks, plushies, toys etc. There are also video games, movies, and TV shows of her!

Japanese beauty and nail salons are among the world's best.

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A steaming bowl of delicious Ramen noodles.

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Japanese seem to dig everything retro and 80s and then combine it with a mix of hipsterism.

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Japan is a world class ski and snowboard destination with abundant, high quality snow, beautiful scenery and relaxing hot springs. There are over 500 ski resorts across Japan.

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Japan’s unique cuisine is world famous, especially sushi. Some of my favourite Japanese’s foods (which are extremely difficult to find outside the country) are Okonomiyaki (often referred to as Japanese pizza), Hiyashi Chuka (a cold noodle dish that is great summer).

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Learn about the different varieties and purities of Sake

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Tokyo Metro operates nine lines and 184 stations including Shinjuku Station, the world's busiest rail station.

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The world's largest, busiest fish market has long been a favorite destination for jet-lagged tourists with predawn hours to fill.

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Sushi is the most famous Japanese dish outside of Japan, and one of the most popular dishes among the Japanese themselves.

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A bullet train ride away from Tokyo. Mount Fuji, with an elevation of more than 12,388 feet, is the highest and the most famous mountain in Japan. Mount Fuji is made up of three separate volcanoes: Komitake at the bottom, Kofuji at the middle and Fuji at the top.The volcano last erupted around 300 years ago, in 1707.

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Lake Ashi Hakone is a popular tourist destination, famous for the pirate ships and picturesque views of the surrounding mountains and the floating torii of Hakone Shrine.

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The Ogasawara Islands, also known in English as the Bonin Islands, are a chain of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean, about 1000 kilometers south and administratively part of Tokyo. The sole way to reach the islands is by a weekly 25.5 hour ferry ride from Tokyo. Only the two largest islands, Chichijima (Father Island) and Hahajima (Mother Island) are inhabited.

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How about taking a stroll here

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Himeji Castle, also called White Heron Castle due to its white outer walls, is the best preserved castle in all of Japan. It serves as a classic example of Japanese castle architecture, having been designated a national treasure in 1931. Incorporating both strategic design as well as a very conscious awareness of space, it functions as a military command, a center for political life, and as a monument to the glories of an earlier age.

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Sensoji is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. It is one of Tokyo's most colorful and popular temples.

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The Shinkansen, also known as the “bullet trains” is a network of high speed railway lines in Japan. According to the report in 2012, the Shinkansen’s average delay from schedule per train was 36 seconds, including delays due to uncontrollable causes, such as natural disasters. The maximum operating speed is 320 km/h (200 mph). When you are traveling on the Shinkansen around Shizuoka prefecture, you can enjoy viewing Mt. Fuji if the weather is good enough.

Toilets in Japan are generally more elaborate than toilets in other developed nations.

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Declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1995, they are famous for their traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old.

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The Imperial Palace, where their Majesties the Emperor and Empress reside, is situated in the center of Tokyo. The palace is surrounded by a water-filled moat and tree-covered grounds - a precious taste of nature within the bustling metropolitan city.

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The shrine was completed and dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the passing of the emperor and six years after the passing of the empress. The shrine was destroyed during the Second World War but was rebuilt shortly thereafter.

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The ultimate geek pilgrimage

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In 1924, Univerisity of Tokyo Professor Hidesaburo Ueno took in Hachiko as a pet. Each day, Ueno would let Hachiko out from the front door before commuting to work, and be greeted by the Akita at the end of the day at the Shibuya Railway Station. This routine continued for years until one day the Professor suffered a brain hemorrhage and died shortly after, never returning to the station. However his loyal companion Hachiko returned to the station every day, without fail, at the exact time his master train would be arriving - for the next nine years.

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Nightlife is too good

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Once you are lost, you don’t need to worry. Practically anyone will help you.

Yet another famous Japanese service and attention to detail

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This a Japanese art form that uses small trees in containers. Not only are the trees beautiful but it takes a lot of painstaking time and care to make them look that way.

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Located halfway up Otowa Mountain in the eastern part of Kyoto City, Kiyomizu-dera is a historic temple that was established in 778, even before Kyoto became the capital of Japan. Since its foundation, the temple has burned down many times. Most of the current buildings were rebuilt by the third Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu in the early Edo period (1631 to 1633).

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Japan’s old capital city is now home to around 1,200 deer and some of the most beautiful temples and scenery in the country.

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This is where people role play and dress up as their favorite anime and manga characters. There are plenty of conventions in Japan where people will dress up as their favorite characters.

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There are so many of these.

These are sticker photo booths that are incredibly popular in Japan. You basically get your picture taken and then have fun photoshopping yourself with pretty much whatever you want.

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These garments are so beautiful so graceful and carry a long tradition.

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A yukata is a casual summer kimono

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You will love the way it sounds.

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Japanese lunchbox. Each bento box usually contains an assortment of rice and fish, or meat, and some vegetables.

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Japan has the best service in the entire world. Customers are treated like God by waiters and waitresses pretty much any anywhere in Japan. Even in a local café in Tokyo, you will little get better service than you would in a five star restaurant in many countries.

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The many suspension bridges of Shizuoka Prefecture’s Sumatakyo Gorge will give you the Indiana Jones-ey feeling that you haven’t had since childhood.

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A wide variety of budget accommodation options, sightseeing discounts, and much more!

The Firefly Squid is a bioluminescent squid growing to a length of only three inches. The squid is equipped with special light-producing organs called photophores that emit a deep blue light

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Groundwater from Mashu Lake forms the clear-blue Kaminoko Pond. The pond is called child of the gods as the lake is formed by underflow water from Mashu Lake.

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Mt. Mifune in Takeo city is also known as Mt. Karafune (Chinese ship) due to its resemblance to one. Mifuneyama Rakuen is a park which sprawls out on the western foot of this mountain.

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Kawachi Fuji Gardens in Kitakyushu is where you will find this pastel-colored fairytale tunnel. The gardens are home to about 150 Wisteria flowering plants spanning 20 different species

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Some major cities do have reasonably priced ryokan, with some costing as little as $40 a night. However, ryokan are more typically located in scenic areas, such as in the mountains or by the sea.

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Tokyo has major auto events such as the Tokyo Motor Show and Tokyo Auto Salon that attract car lovers, automotive press and industry insiders.

Numerous martial arts events are held each year in Japan.

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Japan has several world class Cosplay, video game and anime events of interest to Otaku.

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Shiatsu is a physical therapy that supports and strengthens the body's natural ability to heal and balance itself.

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Japanese Tea Ceremony is a cultural activity that's rich in tradition and aesthetics. The tea and snacks are also excellent.

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Several types of Japanese restaurant involve cooking your own food at your table.

Some Japanese temples have restaurants that offer traditional Japanese Buddhist cuisine known as Shojin Ryori (Vegatarian).

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The Hida Great Limestone Cave is a fantastic cavern that opens up 800 meters below a beautiful waterfall. In all of Japan, this is the only place where one can see delicate finger-like helictite cave formations. Nearby, one can also see the Ohashi Museum’s regular display of about 1000 world-renowned works of art, handicrafts, and ornamentations.

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You can only see these icicles only from the middle of January till middle of February. They also look superb when lit up between 5:00pm and 9:00pm.

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This spectacular terrace-shaped scenery is actually not a tourist site, but rather a private crop field where farmers are growing rice. However, the picturesque landscape is famous for its beauty and is included in the list of the best 100 Japanese villages.