286 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Japan - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in Japan

Ghibli Museum

A magical place that lets you play in and explore the world of Studio Ghibli.

Kitakyushu, Japan

Wisteria Tunnel

An exquisite tunnel of cascading flowers.

Ishinomaki, Japan

Cat Island

On Japan's Tashirojima Island, cats are king.

Sagano Bamboo Forest

The sound of swaying stalks in this stunning grove has been named a governmentally recognized sound.

Kawasaki, Japan

Anata No Warehouse

This faux-seedy Japanese arcade is made up to look like a maze of alleys straight out of a cyberpunk dystopia.

Yamanouchi, Japan

Jigokudani Monkey Park

Hot springs monkey spa in the middle of Hell's Valley.

Fujinomiya-shi, Japan

Aokigahara Forest

A beautiful, dense forest in the shadow of Mount Fuji, with a tragic reputation.

Fantasy Dining Alice in a Labyrinth

Fine dining in the bizarre world of Lewis Carroll.

See All 286 Things to Do in Japan See All 286 Places

Unique
Food & Drink
in Japan

Raindrop Cake

The beautiful dessert evaporates in 20 minutes.

Honey Toast Box

Many spoons are needed to demolish one of these ice cream-stuffed bread loaves.

Maple Leaf Tempura

Why not fry a year-old leaf?

Coffee Gelatin

Leftover coffee plus Jello equals this vintage dessert.

See all 57 things to eat in Japan See all 57 things to eat in Japan

Community Forums / East Asia / Japan

Top Discussions in the Japan Travel Forum

Post	Replies	Views	Activity
The Queen Chateau Soapland	1 September 14, 2019	622	September 14, 2019
Chicken Sashimi	3 October 6, 2019	278	October 6, 2019
Seikan Tunnel	3 October 26, 2019	298	October 26, 2019
Unique Places to Eat in Japan	2 September 9, 2019	285	September 9, 2019
Unique Places to Stay in Japan	2 September 9, 2019	143	September 9, 2019

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Stories
About Japan

Kakigori, pictured here on the streets of New York City.

How American Gunboat Diplomacy Helped Democratize Japanese Shaved Ice

One show of force had a cooling effect on Japanese summers.

September 5, 2019

A wolf walking through snow at Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa, Hokkaido.

How Do You Convince 125 Million People to Embrace Wolves?

It would be good for Japan's forests and farms (less so the deer).

by Allan Richarz

August 26, 2019

Count 'em.

Sold: A Set of 54 Whisky Bottles, One for Every Playing Card

Only four such sets are known to exist.

by Matthew Taub

August 22, 2019

The women's bath at the Makiba-no-ie Ryokan in Yufuin, Ōita Prefecture.

Soak in These Photographs of Japanese Hot Spring Baths

For decades, Mark Edward Harris captured the calm and intimacy of onsens.

August 22, 2019

How does <i>Leocratides kimuraorum</i> do it?

Meet the Noisy, Head-Butting Marine Worms That Live Near Japan

Their "mouth-fighting" produces one of the loudest underwater sounds ever recorded.

by Matthew Taub

Gyotaku, the art that turns fishermen into artists.

How the Traditional Japanese Art of Fish Printing Inspired a Modern Art Form

Gyotaku was once a way to brag about the size of your catch.

by Sabrina Imbler

Seasonal, locally-sourced little bites of food that look like jewels.

The Exquisite Boxed Meals of Japan’s Train-Station Kiosks

Ekiben offers a taste of the country's regional delicacies.

by Rohini Chaki

The "5 pm chime" can include music, civic announcements, and more.

Every Day at 5:00, Japan Tests Its Disaster Warning System With Folk Tunes

The "5 pm chime" has taken on many meanings over the years.

by Allan Richarz

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