Tokyo is Japan’s capital and the world’s most populous metropolis. Especially in the center area, streets are busy and you will see people everywhere. However, you may be surprised to hear that Tokyo is often considered to be the safest capital city in the world. One of the biggest attractions of Tokyo might be that you can find almost anything here, from modern Japanese culture such as Anime to traditionals such as Noh or Kabuki. Also, thanks to the efficient traffic transportation system, you can easily go around and visit many places even outside of Tokyo. If you wish to experience many things while you are in Japan, Tokyo could be the best place to make it come true.

Osaka is the third largest metropolitan area that represents the Kansai region. Even though it is only a short shinkansen ride from Tokyo Station, Osaka has a different atmosphere in many ways. Sometimes, Osaka is called “the city of comedy” as there are plenty of manzai, entertaining and comical people. Manzai is one of the famous traditional Japanese cultures that has been loved by Japanese as well as tourists for many years. Lots of popular Japanese foods originate from Osaka including Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki and Kushikatsu. If your wish is to be in a big city with a strong connection to Japanese culture, Osaka will be a perfect place.

Kyoto is often recognized as the cultural and historical heartland and also the most beautiful city in Japan. It is next to Nara prefecture and is only about 2.5 hours by fastest shinkansen from Tokyo. Because Kyoto served as Japan’s capital and the emperor’s residence a long time ago, you will see countless temples, shrines and traditional gardens that still remain. Strict regulations are made for the city to maintain its historical scenery: for example, roof tiles are to be silver-colored, and heights of buildings are to be shorter than 45 meters. Kyoto allows you to be surrounded by beautiful architecture and experience all that historical Japanese culture.

Although Yokohama is in Kanagawa prefecture, it is the second most populous city in the country with a population of over 3 million. “Yokohama” means “horizontal beach” as it is along the coastline of Japan’s Pacific Ocean. Yokohama is only about 32 km from southwest Tokyo and is known for a blend of Japanese tradition with that of China and the West so you will get the connection to other cultures as well as Japanese. If you are visiting Japan, you may find Yokohama like a home as it is a gaijin-friendly city with a beautiful ocean view.

Kobe is the seventh-largest city in the Kansai region. This city is becoming popular among people who reside in urban areas looking for quieter places. It is often said that the attractions of this city are the proximity of the sea and mountains, and rich tourist resources such as hot springs. Kobe is also known for having one of Japan’s three largest Chinatowns, Nankinmachi. This area used to be a center of merchandise exports from China to Japan a long time ago so you will see various Chinese restaurants on the street.

Fukuoka, the gateway to Kyushu island which is famous for its hot springs. Fukuoka is Japan’s 5th largest city and is nestled on the northern coast of Kyushu. Fukuoka has many opportunities for cultural adventure and the best known is for its unique food such as tonkotsu ramen, motsunabe, mizutaki, yakitori and also fresh seafood. One of the biggest events, Dontaku festival, is held annually in Fukuoka which has more than 840 years of history. Great access to Fukuoka is also a big attraction. It takes only 1.5 hours from Tokyo, and almost the same time from Taiwan. Moreover, it takes only 10 minutes from the airport to the main city. You can easily go around by bus. People find it a comfortable place to live in and one of the reasons is that living expenses such as accommodations are comparatively lower than Tokyo. Fukuoka will be perfect if you are a fan of Japanese foods and looking for a middle sized city with great access to many places.

Nagoya is Japan’s fourth most populated city, located in the center of Japan and is the capital of Aichi prefecture. Tokyo and Nagoya are connected with each other by shinkansen, the fastest ride being about 100 minutes. This city is known for “monozukuri” or “making things” as it has various attractions including art, design, architecture universities and industrial companies that operate on a global scale such as Toyota. While Nagoya Castle can be taken as the most iconic landmark and famous attraction in Nagoya, the comfortness of living is also a big part of its fascination. Nagoya is known as the birthplace of the popular Japanese “morning” breakfast culture, serving up a solid breakfast for roughly the price of a cup of coffee. You get to experience various Japanese cultures in this creative, historic and livable city.

Hokkaido is the second largest, and most northernmost of Japan’s four main islands even though it is located on similar latitudes to major American and European cities. However it is necessary to cross the strait to get to Tokyo. Many people come to Hokkaido captivated by unique aspects of Hokkaido including nature, foods and tranquility. Since it is an isolated island, you can enjoy delicious and fresh seafood while being surrounded by nature. Hokkaido’s Shiretoko peninsula, known as a “waterfall kingdom” was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Once you are taken in by its irreplaceable beauty, you won’t find any other places like Hokkaido.

Nagano is located near the center of Japan and is known as the host of the 1998 Winter Olympics. Since Nagano is surrounded by 8 prefectures, it is crowded with tourists especially in winter for skiing and snowboarding. Although Nagano can be taken as a small populated area, you can easily be connected to other prefectures around including the local prefecture. Nagano is a perfect place for people who like winter sports and are looking for a place with no destruction.

Okinawa is Japan’s southernmost prefecture that consists of about 160 islands. It is sometimes called “Hawaii of Japan” as Okinawa is one of the Japan’ warmest regions throughout the year. In summer, beaches are crowded with tourists there to feel the abundant nature. Although it is part of Japan, Okinawa has a distinct history and has been strongly affected by overseas influences in a way unlike anywhere else in Japan. The islands used to be an independent nation called Ryukyu Kingdom. Okinawa’s culture was influenced by China, Japan, Korea and other Southeast Asian countries, cultivating a unique culture of its own. Although you need to use an airplane to get to Japan’s mainland regions, including Tokyo, if you like to be in warm weather and see beautiful oceans, Okinawa is the place.

Although Japan’s area can be taken as small, there are various other regions and cities that have their own characteristics. You will find it easy to get around Japan since there are developed public transportation systems such as buses, trains, Shinkansen, ferries, airplanes and so on. It will be a great choice to be in a local place that is unpopular among tourists as you may find different lesser-known Japanese cultures while having connections to the more popular places.