A trip to Japan hadn’t been on our radar for a long time. This country was far too far away from us, both geographically and in our minds. We’ve only had Japan on our radar for about a year, and we can easily imagine traveling there on our own. The more we read about the country, the more appealing the idea of a trip became.

This year, the Japanese National Tourism Organization even invited us to a “Japan Night” at the Japanese Embassy in Berlin. Of course, we couldn’t miss the opportunity, as we wanted to learn more about the Land of the Rising Sun. After that evening, we knew one thing for sure: We wanted to go to Japan, and ideally tomorrow.

We’re passionate about this country and can hardly wait to finally set foot on Japanese soil. It probably won’t happen until next year at the earliest, but we’re already brimming with anticipation. The Japan Tourism Board asked us what we find so exciting about Japan, why we want to travel to this country and what we would like to see and experience there. Below is our bucket list for Japan, which was partly created with your help. Thanks for all the great tips and information.

• 1. People & culture & traditions
• 2. The mountains & the highlands
• 3. 6852 islands and many beaches
• 4. Superlative cities
• 5. National parks & hiking
• 6. The hot springs – Onsen
• 7. Action and adrenaline
• 8. Marvel at temples and shrines
• 9. Discover Japanese cuisine
• 10. Modernity, infrastructure and curiosities

1. People & culture & Traditions

Japan is special, different, and sometimes quite bizarre and crazy. What fascinates us already are the people, the culture, and the traditions, which still hold a high status in society. In Japan, we can expect enormous temple complexes, beautiful gardens, traditionally dressed geisha, all sorts of customs, Japanese martial arts, tea ceremonies, and a consistently colorful and multifaceted Japanese way of life.

We love immersing ourselves in completely different worlds. Japan is just such a world, a country between tradition and modernity. We are incredibly excited about an exciting, contrasting program and can hardly wait to see everything that we have only ever seen in films, magazines, books, blogs, and the news.

• Experience a traditional tea ceremony
• Visit temples and shrines
• Meet a geisha
• Sing karaoke with locals

• Couch surfing with locals
• Take a samurai course
• Marvel at a traditional dance
• Wear a Japanese kimono

2. The Mountains & the highlands

Japan has incredible natural beauty. What we’ve seen so far in videos and photos has truly amazed us. The country is roughly the size of Germany, yet almost three-quarters of it is hilly and mountainous. The famous Mount Fuji is an incredible 3,776 meters high, and besides it, there are many other 3,000-meter, 2,000-meter, and 1,000-meter peaks.

In our dreams, we’re already hiking through the Japanese Alps and enjoying the beautiful scenic scenery in the heart of Honshu. And of course, we’d also love to climb Mount Fuji and take excursions to various national parks. Not to forget the 40 active volcanoes out of a total of around 240 in this country.

What we would like to experience/see locally:

• Climb Mount Fuji
• Canoe trip on Lake Kawaguchi
• Hiking in the Japanese Alps

• Explore the Senjojiki high valley
• Snowboard in the Hakuba region
• Explore the Kamikochi mountain landscape

3. 6,852 Islands and Many Beaches

But Japan has a lot more to offer, namely plenty of beaches and islands. Japan consists of 6,852 islands, of which only 425 are inhabited. Around 98% of the population lives on the four main islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku). However, we are particularly impressed by the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, which consists of over 150 islands.

Here, between Taiwan and mainland Japan, a breathtaking underwater world, white sandy beaches, and colorful coral reefs await you and us. You can also go hiking, kayaking, diving, snorkeling, and even whale-watching in the national parks. A paradise for nature lovers! And as if that wasn’t cool enough, you can also surf very well in Japan. A popular spot for this is Chiba, which is only about 45 minutes away from Tokyo. Sounds somehow tempting…

What we would like to experience/see while we’re there:

• Explore the Kerama Islands
• Explore the Miyako Islands
• Diving and snorkeling
• Surfing in Japan
• Whale watching tour

• Yonahamaehama sandy beach
• Explore Kujukushima Islands
• Discover Yakushima
• Nagahamacho Aoshima cat island
• Hiking on Rebun Island

4. Metropolises of Superlatives

Japan is definitely a land of superlatives, of modernity, and of the future. We are so incredibly excited about Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kobe, and the many other cities and towns. At this point, we are, of course, fully aware that we definitely won’t be able to see everything on just one trip to Japan. There’s so much to see in Tokyo alone; we’d probably have to stay in the city for a whole year to see almost everything.

We would love to admire the city from above the famous Tokyo Skytree (the world’s second tallest building), stroll through the various parks, visit curious cafés and restaurants (e.g., a cat café, a prison restaurant), explore the famous shopping and nightlife district of Shibuya, and simply let ourselves go. Do you have any ultimate Japan tips for us? Then post it in the comments.

What we would like to experience/see while we’re there:

• Experience the famous Shibuya Crossing
• Admire Tokyo from above
• Visit Osaka Castle
• Stroll through Shinjuku Gyoen Park

• Experience curiosities
• Go to a “Pachinko”
• Take a photo in a photo booth
• Explore the busy Takeshita Street

5. National Parks & Hiking

Japan has 30 national parks spread throughout the country. Whether in the north of Hokkaido or on the southernmost islands of Okinawa, adventures lurk everywhere! Where should we even begin? Well, we don’t really know yet. After some research, we definitely want to explore the Fuji Hakone Izu National Park around Mount Fuji. The Yakushima National Park on the island of the same name, Yakushima, has also piqued our interest because of its mysterious and magical appearance.

Akan National Park is home to a cluster of volcanoes and three large lakes. Among the famous lakes here is the beautiful Lake Mashū. Every year, many thousands of visitors flock to the Towada Hachimantai National Park, as it boasts not only lakes and mountains, but also the famous hot springs (onsen). We are absolute nature lovers and love being outdoors, so we are all the more excited about our hopefully upcoming trip to Japan.

What we would like to experience/see while we are there:

• Fuji Hakone Izu National Park
• Yakushima National Park
• Visit Akan National Park
• Towada Hachimantai National Park

• Hike in Nikkō National Park
• Discover the islands of Saikai National Park
• Marvel at the sand dunes of Sanin Kaigan National Park

6. The Hot Springs – Onsen

Due to the geological conditions, hot springs (so-called onsen) can be found all over the country, where people enjoy bathing. At around 40°C, you can really indulge and relax. Some pictures show the open-air baths amidst beautiful rocky landscapes; it must be simply wonderful!

When we embark on our first trip to Japan, a bath in one of the countless hot springs is definitely at the top of our itinerary. But be careful: Unfortunately, it is usually forbidden to visit an onsen bath with tattoos. According to information from JNTO, there are a few that allow smaller tattoos to be covered up. We will definitely report back.

What we would like to experience/see when we get there:

• Learn more about the bathing culture
• Kusatsu Onsen
• Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsen
• Beppu Onsen

• Yufuin Onsen
• Noboribetsu Onsen
• Take a sand bath – Ibusuki Onsen
• Hottarakashi Onsen

7. Action and Adrenaline

But Japan has so much more to offer! How about a trip to the Fuji-Q Highland amusement park, for example? Japan’s wildest roller coaster awaits you here, as well as an accompanying theme park that will transport you to the world of the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. We love action and roller coasters; this would certainly be worth a trip for us. What about you?

We can also imagine river rafting, diving, canyoning, kayaking, or surfing during our trip to Japan. Incidentally, Japan is also a mecca for skiers and snowboarders! There are plenty of wild slopes waiting for you, especially in the winter sports centers of Niseko and Hakuba.

What we would like to experience/see while we’re there:

• Fuji-Q Highland Leisure Park
• Surfing a wave
• Kayaking in Yambaru
• Canyoning in Hakuba
• Paragliding

• Drifting ice hiking
• Helicopter sightseeing flight
• Skiing on Mount Zao
• Whitewater rafting
• Bungee jumping (for Marco)

8. Marvel at temples and shrines

We’ve already seen many temples (e.g., in Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia…), but we’re particularly looking forward to the temples in Japan, as we find Japanese temple architecture incredibly fascinating. The roofs are often striking and form an essential element of temples. The same applies to the columns and capitals, the pagodas, and gates.

Here in the land of a thousand gods, it’s also common for different faiths to coexist peacefully. A Japanese proverb says that one is “born Shinto and die Buddhist.” We also find it very interesting that you can even spend the night in traditional Koyasan temples. You can learn more about life in the monastery and the lives of the monks. That sounds like an adventure, doesn’t it?

What we would like to experience/see while we’re there:

• The Golden Temple (Kyoto)
• Shrine in Miyajima
• Kiyomizu-dera (Kyoto)
• Fushimi Inari-Taisha (Kyoto)
• Sensō-ji Temple (Tokyo)

• Tōdai-ji (Nara)
• Meiji Shrine (Tokyo)
• Kasuga Taisha (Nara)
• Kinkaku-ji (Kyoto)
• Night in a Koyasan Temple

9. Discover Japanese cuisine

During our world trip a few years ago, we got to know and love the many different cuisines of each country. Many rave about Japanese cuisine, as it is said to be the healthiest and lightest cuisine of all. In general, Japanese cooking is relatively low in fat, and the Japanese also use fewer spices, preferring to rely on their own flavors.

“You absolutely have to try ramen, you’ll love it!” A phrase we’ve heard a few times. It’s a Japanese noodle soup that supposedly comes in countless variations. We look forward to rice balls, dumplings, sushi, curry, tempura, and all the various rice dishes with meat, chicken, vegetables, and other ingredients. Our motto is: “Everything that’s served is also tried.”

What we would like to try on site:

• Try ramen (soup)
• Eat sushi
• Tempura dishes
• Kaiseki in the afternoon
• Unagi fish specialty
• Nabemono (stew)

• Soba noodles
• Okonmiyaki (like egg pancakes)
• Tonkatsu (pork fillet)
• Yakitori (chicken skewers)
• Gyoza (like dumplings)
• Onigiri (rice dumplings)

10. Modernity, Infrastructure, and Curiosities

No matter who told us about Japan, everyone raved about the toilets. Yes, you heard right! The high-tech toilets await you with countless buttons and functions, such as a heated seat, music, a built-in air dryer, or special self-cleaning technology. There are also special toilet shoes that you have to put on beforehand. In the Japanese embassy, we experienced a Japanese toilet for the first time. Another curiosity are vending machines. Did you know that there are approximately 5.5 million vending machines for food, drinks, and all sorts of curiosities in Japan? We definitely won’t miss this on our first trip to Japan.

We’re really looking forward to the Shinkansen high-speed train. The rail network is very extensive, and we’ll get to our destination in no time. What’s special is the speed: you travel from one place to the next at up to 320 km/h. The trains are not only fast but also incredibly punctual. Here in Japan, people apologize if the train arrives a few seconds early. Isn’t that crazy? We are excited about modern Japan, futuristic robots, high-tech, and all sorts of bizarre things.

What we would like to experience/see while we are there:

• Ride the Shinkansen
• Use a Japanese toilet
• Go to an arcade
• Discover a robot

• Virtual Reality (e.g., First Airlines)
• Digital Art Museum Tokyo
• VR Zone Shinjuku
• ….

Now You can certainly understand why we’re so excited about our trip to Japan. We don’t yet know exactly when we’ll be traveling to Japan. But we’re aiming for the trip next year (2021). Until then, we’ll continue to diligently research, watch videos, and read travel reports to further prepare for this trip. Have we inspired you yet, or have you perhaps already been to Japan? Do you have any tips or recommendations for us? Feel free to share them in the comments.