“I’ve been to the famous Kiyomizu-dera and Tenryūji, as well as Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji. Regardless of which temple I go to, I have a deep interest in its architecture.

"The grounds and gardens of each temple are different, and you can feel the unique elegance of Japan. There are many temples I want to go to, and as a two-day stay is far too little time, the next time I go, I would like to explore it thoroughly.” (American)

“I’ve gone from Arashiyama to Tenryūji. At Tenryūji, I tried the vegetarian cuisine prepared by the monks there, and it left me with many memories. Next time when I go to Kyoto, I want to go to the temples that I have not visited, and buy souvenirs along the streets.” (Italian)

“I like gardens, and as such I enjoy Kyoto very much, where you can visit many gardens. The gardens of Kōdaiji are particularly great. Next time, I would like to go in spring, and enjoy the cherry blossoms of Kyoto. As there are too many places in Kyoto I want to go to, two to three days is not enough. I want to try living there.” (Canadian)

Tokyo and Kyoto are popular sightseeing spots in Japan amongst foreign visitors. Kyoto is especially famous as a place where you can experience traditional Japan. Even then, Kyoto, for many people, probably has the image of temples and other architectural structures.

Despite this, you can also enjoy beautiful sceneries of the four seasons in Japan there, so when you do visit Kyoto, please do enjoy these sights.

“The traditional style of the gardens and streets of Kanazawa is amazing. In contrast, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art has many enjoyable and modern exhibitions. If I can go again, I would like to ride the new bullet train, and visit the art museum. There are many hotels that serve traditional Japanese cuisine, and you can feel the elegant atmosphere.” (American)

“The view of the streets was breathtaking, and I took many photos while sightseeing. The streets of the samurai and geisha are very much like Japan. Kanazawa Castle Park and Girokuen have many things to see, and I recommend it to my friends who are going to Japan.” (Italian)

“No matter how, I have nothing but good things to say about the garden, Girokuen. I still want to go again. I spent some time at Chayagai, and the kaisendon I ate at Ōmichō Market was delicious. I heard that the art museum is highly recommended, but I did not get to go, and I hope to go to the art museum next time. I want to go during the snow season in Japan.” (Canadian)

Kanazawa is well-known even now, for its streets steeped in samurai culture. From Kanazawa Castle to the numerous art museums and fresh seafood, there are many popular sightseeing spots there.

Compared to Tokyo and Kyoto, it can be said to be underrated. Still, there are many regular tourists to Japan who highly recommend Kanazawa as a must-see tourist destination.

Amongst foreign visitors who are enamored by the wonders of Kanazawa, there are people who have visited it more than three times, and it’s also recommended for those who want to take their time exploring the sightseeing spots of Japan.

“The reflection of Mt Fuji in Lake Kawaguchi was beautiful, and I took many pictures. I had actually taken a bus to reach the 5th station for climbing to the summit, but as I wasn’t feeling well, I had to stop. As such, the next time I go there, I’ll take good care of my body and climb it while enjoying the scenery.” (American)

“I’ve climbed Mt Fuji before. It was a very hard climb and I was exhausted, but I will never forget the feeling of exhilaration when I reached the summit, and the sight of being above the clouds. After descending the mountain, I stayed at a ryokan near Lake Kawaguchi, and I could see Mt Fuji while soaking in the open-air bath, it was a splendid vacation. I really want to climb it again.” (Italian)

“I’ve climbed mountains and gone skiing in Canada, but I really enjoyed how different Mt Fuji was from the mountains in Canada. Unlike walking in the snow and forests in Canada, you climb up a rocky trail, it’s almost like going on a journey to meet a god, and it felt very much like the essence of Japan. As there were shrines along the way too, it isn’t too much of an exaggeration to describe the climb like that. I would like to climb it again while I’m still fit enough to do so.” (Canadian)

Mt Fuji is the premier tourist destination of Japan. It’s not just popular amongst the Japanese, but amongst foreign visitors as well. The number of foreign visitors who wish to climb Mt Fuji increases year on year.

In a survey conducted by the Ministry of Environment about what people expect of Mt Fuji, the most popular answer is “to be able to see the great outdoors and nature.”

The sense of accomplishment from climbing Mt Fuji while simultaneously enjoying the breathtaking scenery will definitely leave you with many fond memories.

“From seeing waterfalls and Tōshō-gū, to other temples, shrines, and gardens, I made many fond memories. The colors of Tōshō-gū left a deep impression on me. If I could have stayed there a little longer, I would go to Lake Chūzenji, and it seems that you can go hiking at Senjogahara too. I think I would like to immerse myself in Japan’s nature.” (American)

“I went in autumn during Momiji season. While going to Tōshō-gū, I took many photos of the autumn foliage, as they were beautiful. Enroute to the shrines, I did some shopping and had delicious food, and I had a lot of fun going to all the temples and shrines. On the return trip I went to Kinugawa Onsen, and I think it’s great that you can soak in various hot springs as well.” (Italian)

“When I went by bus, we went to the lake and plateau, and went hiking. I got to enjoy nature and visit many temples and shrines too, and had a lot of fun. The second time I went, I saw Tōshō-gū, and headed towards Kinugawa as well. At Tobu World Square, I saw the diorama of the world, and I was moved by how the Japanese managed to make such small figures and structures. As there are many sightseeing spots, I want to go again.” (Canadian)

When asked about Nikko this time, as expected, the foreign visitors we interviewed answered with the famous Tōshō-gū and Kikugawa Onsen.

Tōshō-gū, has especially beautiful fittings, even amongst the shrines of Japan, and foreign visitors often express opinions such as “It seems almost impossible how they managed to make such intricate objects during that time period!” and “I want to go there in person at least once in my life!” about the shrine.

However, as it is a very well-known sightseeing spot, tourists from both within and outside Japan often visit, so it’s recommended to avoid visiting it on weekends and public holidays.

“I went to Hakodate by bullet train. The night view from the ropeway was lovely. I also ate lots of crab, and the food and beer was delicious. The view from Goryōkaku Tower was beautiful as well. As I went with a tour group last time, I could not explore on my own, but next time, I want to go to the Lavender Fields of Furano as well. In winter, I would like to try skiing too.” (American)

“I’ve been to the snow festival in Sapporo. Getting to touch the snow with your own hands is a special kind of joy. At night, I had some delicious food, and after that, I went for a stroll amongst the lit-up snow sculptures during the snow festival. Besides Sapporo, I’ve also been to the zoo in Asahikawa, and it was very fun. Next time, I want to go to areas when I can get close to nature.” (Italian)

“Hokkaido has a lot of nature that’s similar to Canada, and I really enjoyed it. I’ve gone skiing at Niseko before, and had a lot of fun. There are many foreign visitors in Hokkaido, as it’s a popular area. I would like to go there in summer next time for an extended period, and rent a car to go around the areas I have yet to visit in Hokkaido.” (Canadian)

Hokkaido has delicious food and skiing, and became a popular tourist attraction as foreign visitors continued to pursue the wonders of nature.

In our interview this time, the sentiments of our guest from Canada is echoed amongst other foreign visitors, which is that Niseko is “the most international resort in Japan.”

As many people there can speak conversational English, it’s a recommended spot for first-time visitors to Japan.

More than half of the visitors to Japan are from Asia, and with just a quarter of them hailing from Europe and America, it can be said that there are far fewer of them. From now on, we’ll continue to accurately spread the message of Japan’s sightseeing spots, so that more foreign visitors may come and visit.