Major Cities and Regions of Japan

Japan's Key Destinations

Japan's geography—four main islands, 47 prefectures—creates distinct regional characters. Here are the primary urban and cultural centers travelers encounter.

Honshu (Main Island)

• Tokyo – Capital, 37M metro; Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa, Imperial Palace, teamLab Planets.
• Yokohama – Port city, Minato Mirai, Chinatown, Cup Noodles Museum.
• Kyoto – Former capital, 1,600 temples, Gion, Fushimi Inari, kaiseki cuisine.
• Osaka – Food capital (takoyaki, okonomiyaki), Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Universal Studios.
• Nara – First permanent capital, Todai-ji Daibutsu, deer park, Kasuga Taisha.
• Hiroshima – Peace Park, A-Bomb Dome, Miyajima Island (Itsukushima Shrine).
• Nagasaki – Atomic bomb site, Dejima, Glover Garden, unique Chinese/Dutch heritage.
• Sendai – Tohoku hub, Date clan history, Zuihoden, gyutan (beef tongue).

Hokkaido (North)

• Sapporo – Snow Festival, ramen, beer, Odori Park, day trips to Otaru/Furano.

Kyushu (Southwest)

• Fukuoka – Hakata ramen, yatai stalls, Dazaifu Tenmangu, gateway to Korea.

Okinawa (Ryukyu Islands)

• Naha – Shuri Castle, Kokusai-dori, Churaumi Aquarium, distinct Ryukyuan culture.

Each offers a different facet of Japan: hyper-modern, ancient, culinary, natural, or subtropical.