10 Major Cities in Japan

If you’re planning on visiting Japan, chances are you’ll want to visit some of the major cities. These ten destinations are sure to leave an impression. 

Tokyo- The capital city with a population of 8 million people and more skyscrapers than any other city in the world. Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world, as well as one of the busiest! It’s also home to Tsukiji fish market, which opens every morning at 5 AM for fresh seafood caught and sold that day.  

Top 10 Major Cities in Japan

From Tokyo, Yokohama, Sapporo, Nagoya to the well-known city of Hiroshima, there are several cities in Japan you’ll want to visit.  

 

Tokyo 

Going to Tokyo is like a treasure hunt. As you walk the bustling streets, looking up at skyscrapers that are almost always covered in advertisements for new products coming out or otherworldly foods waiting to be bought from street vendors and traditional markets. It’s easy to get caught up in all of the activity happening around you. 

The locals who will stop everything they’re doing just talk with foreigners as if they know them well because “everyone speaks English here!” There are also temples on mountaintops near Japan’s most popular tourist spots, such as Shinjuku station. Times Square would have been having its architects opt instead for an Asian flair over New York City-style buildings!

Visitors to Tokyo can find a seemingly endless variety of things to do. They choose between shopping, entertainment, culture, and dining in different districts such as Asakusa or exploring museums that give insight into its history. 

The city also has many green spaces for visitors who want some peace during their stay. There are short train rides outside the center area where you might not enjoy yourself freely otherwise, given how crowded it is inside this central hub of activity called Tokyo City proper.

 

Yokohama

Yokohama, Japan’s first-ever harbor city and the birthplace of modern culture in our country. Yokohama has a long history dating back to when it was opened as the entrance for foreign countries into Japan. With its port open to trade with other nations came new cultures, including food that we had never seen before. Many people around the world now know it as ‘Hamakko’ or ‘Yokahamma.’ This name comes from combining two Japanese words meaning “the best,” which describes how welcoming this place can be!

Many people in Tokyo choose to stay near the west exit for a number of reasons. One reason is that these hotels and department stores are located there, which give you easy access to many different shops on all levels of the terminal. The area also has an international food court with restaurants from around the world!

The shopping district at one end of Shinjuku station’s east-west underground passage offers visitors plenty to see and do. That is when they’re not busy exploring other areas in Japan’s capital city or using it as their base camp while traveling through Asia by train.

Yokohama is a beautiful metropolis that has some of the most pleasant climates in Japan. Compared to its counterparts on the other side of Honshu, you’ll find Yokohama with low humidity and high temperatures during summer instead of being muggy like Osaka or cold as Sapporo. It also experiences less snow than areas such as Niigata due to its proximity near Tokyo Bay which contributes moisture every winter season!

 

Sapporo 

Discover the hidden gems of Sapporo, Japan’s largest city and Hokkaido island’s capital. The most famous landmark in Sapporo is undoubtedly its iconic clock tower designated as a National Important Cultural Property with 130 years of history to boot! Goryokaku is a historical fort located in a popular cherry blossom viewing spot that invites locals and tourists alike for picnics on weekends. Want more? Head over to Susukino, where you can find everything from a lively drinking district filled with local restaurants such as MOS Burger or 7-Eleven convenience stores – perfect if hunger strikes after all this walking around!

The summertime in Sapporo is a sight to behold. The cherry blossom festival and the Hokkai Bon Odori dance are just some traditional events that make this season special. You can also explore nature on a hiking trail, enjoy music during Jazz Weekend or Classical Weekends at various venues around town, swim at Ishikari Bay or Moerenuma Park—there’s no shortage of things to do!

 

Nagoya

The city of Nagoya, Japan’s fourth most populous with over two million people, is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and one of Honshu’s three large plains. The Nobi Plain has always been an important metropolitan area for Nagoya due to its location in central Japan and since it’s on major transportation routes between Tokyo and Osaka-Kobe, which made it possible at first industrialized center for textiles during this period.

Nagoya, home to more than 2 million residents making up part five out six Japanese citizens living outside Hokkaido Island; Located centrally in mainland Honshuu among other prefectures such as Yamanashi or Shizuoka that are also geographically close enough but different from each other.

 

Osaka 

This cultural hub contains some notable historic buildings such as Owari Castle that were destroyed during WWII but now stand reconstructed at their original site. Toyota Motor Corporation handles its headquarters just outside the city, which also houses many other industries related primarily to automotive manufacturing, including Denso, who manufactures engine parts exclusively for top-selling Japanese car brands like Honda or Nissan.

Osaka is a foodie’s paradise! Osaka hosts various delicious foods, such as the late-night delicacy “Kushiage,” or deep-fried meats and vegetables on skewers. From high-end izakaya to no-frills tachinomiya (Japanese-style pubs), there are plenty of options for night owls who want to eat until they drop in this city by the sea.

Osaka is an exciting city with many attractions. Whether you enjoy shopping, fine dining, or famous sights like the Osaka Castle and Dotonbori Canal Area – there’s something for everyone in this bustling Japanese metropolis!

A visit to Japan is incomplete without taking a trip to one of its most lively cities: Osaka. There are a good number of things that make this area special, including its modern skyline full of skyscrapers as well as historical sites such as the iconic Tsutenkaku Tower, and traditional architecture found throughout the Namba district just outside Umeda Station Center, which also includes shops selling all sorts from clothing boutiques through extravagant restaurants where locals go after work for dinner dates on Valentine Day (February 14th).

 

Kyoto

Kyoto has some of the world’s most fascinating temples and shrines. It was once a capital in ancient Japan but is now overshadowed by Tokyo, which has replaced it as the largest center for politics and economy. Visitors can enjoy walking through Kyoto to explore its beautiful townscape with amazing historical sites such as Arashiyama, famous for being home to one of Japan’s stunning bamboo groves. Kiyomizudera Temple designated UNESCO World Heritage Site 1994 due to its rich history, is also worth admiring while visiting this wonderful place!

Kyōto is a city full of tradition and culture. With no large factories or businesses, the inner city looks quite different from other cities in Japan with its shops, workshops, residences, and offices all standing side by side—all restricted to heights under three stories due to strict building codes. This not only helps preserve Kyōto’s historical look but also preserves our old-fashioned ways as well!

Kyoto has few big industries that reflect on its traditional architecture. You can find small family-owned stores next door to residential buildings that house families living within them until today. Stringent height restrictions for construction are set so there will never be any tall skyscrapers nearby because this would ruin Kyoto’s unique feel – an ancient town.

 

Kobe 

Situated between the sea and Rokko mountain range, Kobe is considered one of Japan’s most attractive cities. The city port opened to foreign trade in 1859, which coincided with it being an important trading center for centuries. In 1995, a massive earthquake hit, causing over five thousand deaths and nearly destroying much of the city–making reconstruction difficult but not impossible! Today you can visit this bustling metropolis without fear that anything will happen because of its completely rebuilt infrastructure from top-to-bottom.

It’s also been the site of shipbuilding since its early days. The Akashi Kaikyō Bridge connects Kōbe to Ōsaka Bay and another road that goes into Nagoya. It has many ways for people from all around Japan to get there because of its accessibility through trains like Shinkansen bullet train or Express highways coming up out of Kyôto, taking you right to your destination!

 

Hiroshima

Hiroshima is a city of contrasts. It has been rebuilt, and the people are stronger than ever, yet it’s also recognized as one of the most important cities in world history due to its historic atomic bombing that happened on August 6th, 1945. Explore Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park – Japan’s equivalent to Central Park- with modernized layout paths for walking or biking tours where you can visit many monuments honoring those lost in WWII, including statues depicting children reading books who died during bombings; explore Shukkei-en Garden – an ancient Japanese garden which was designed by renowned architect Solomon Nakamura (Japan)

Visiting Hiroshima is like taking a step back in time. It’s home to great museums, galleries, gardens, and important cultural events such as the Hiroshima Flower Festival, which occurs every May since 1977. This event attracts one million visitors annually who come from all over Japan for its beauty, history, and significance.

Visiting this city means you’re stepping into an exciting world of culture that few tourists get to experience firsthand!

 

Okinawa

Okinawa is the perfect embodiment of a tropical island destination in Japan. The beautiful landscape, picturesque ocean view, and great activities make Okinawa your best choice for an escapade, especially if you want to stay active during your visit!

Okinawa offers many more attractions than just its breathtaking scenery. It has so much variety for such a small area that will keep even the most discerning traveler busy with options such as exploring Shuri Castle or taking some time out at Yaeyama Islands, which are known for their wonderful snorkeling opportunities. If hiking or biking through natural beauty sounds like something you would enjoy, then don’t miss Ishiga Island, where nature awaits on every turn around this large hillside region overlooking one of Okinawa’s scenic bays.

 

Fukuoka

Fukuoka It is the largest city in Kyushu and the 10th most populated in Japan. Fukuoka’s location near Korea has been important for centuries. Still, because of its closer proximity to Seoul than Tokyo, it was chosen by Mongol invasion forces as their landing point back in the 13th century. Today we have a product that emerged from two cities merging into one in 1889—a time when Hakata remains the name of the central district where the main railway station stands today while former castle town became known simply as “Fukuoka.”

In 1878-89 merger created what we now know called modern-day Fukuoka with close ties to both history and present interests through names like Hakata – which retains designation first established during the 710 AD settlement period.

 

Final Thoughts

Japan is a small country with a rich culture and history, but it also offers fantastic modern amenities. If you’re planning on visiting there soon, we’ve provided ten major cities that are sure to impress! We hope this list of destinations has given you some ideas for your upcoming trip. 

Make sure to pack accordingly by looking at the weather forecast in each city before packing – temperatures can range from as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 C) in Sapporo to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 C) in Nagasaki. 

And don’t forget about travel insurance if you plan on staying away longer than three months! Which one of these cities would be your next destination? Let us know what makes each place so special and why you’d want to visit them.