If you have ever searched for the best views of Mount Fuji, chances are you have already seen Chureito Pagoda.

The iconic image of a bright red five-storied pagoda standing in front of Mount Fuji has become one of Japan's most photographed scenes. It appears on postcards, travel brochures, Instagram feeds and bucket lists across the world.

And that usually makes me nervous.

There is often a direct relationship between a place's popularity and the size of the crowds. Some famous attractions are undeniably beautiful, but spending the experience shoulder-to-shoulder with hundreds of people can drain away the magic.

So, is Chureito Pagoda worth visiting? Or is it simply another victim of its own success? On our trip to Japan, we had to find out, and here we share our honest experience.

I saw a photo years ago of an ethereal shrine in the sea that looked as if it were floating.

It was Itsukushima Shrine, home to Japan's famous floating torii gate and one of the country's most iconic views.

That image stayed with me for years, until one day I found myself standing in front of it, wondering how something so familiar could feel so unreal.

Located on Miyajima Island, just off the coast of Hiroshima, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Japan's most popular day trips. But when we were planning our Japan itinerary from Osaka, we decided not to do what most visitors do.

Deciding to stay overnight on Miyajima Island completely changed our experience.

We wanted more than a photograph. We wanted to immerse ourselves in the island and experience a side of Miyajima that many day-trippers never get to see. Spending the night at a traditional ryokan became one of the highlights of our entire Japan trip.

This guide covers everything you need to know about visiting Miyajima Island from Hiroshima, including Itsukushima Shrine, the famous floating torii gate, tide timings, and why staying overnight completely transforms the experience.

After Osaka, we were ready for our next Japan adventure. 

Himeji Castle is considered Japan’s most iconic and one of the best day trips from Osaka. Hiroshima stands as one of Japan’s most historically significant cities, known worldwide as the site of the 1945 atomic bombing.

Because both cities sit directly on Japan’s Tokaido-Sanyo bullet train line, we thought it would be easy to combine them into a single journey. We were right.

Our plan was simple: visit Himeji and Hiroshima from Osaka by shinkansen, continue to Miyajima, and stay overnight. However, if you are short on time, this route can also work as an ambitious (and very long) day trip.

From Japan’s most famous castle to one of its most thought-provoking cities, without further ado, Feet Do Travel share our journey through Himeji and Hiroshima by bullet train.

​Kyoto is famous for its historic temples, but sometimes the best travel memories come from simply following your stomach. That is exactly what happened at Nishiki Market, nicknamed “Kyoto’s Kitchen”; it is a vibrant covered food street packed with over 100 vendors.

We loved it so much, we ended up visiting twice.

If you enjoy grazing on street food, eating your way through Nishiki Market is one of the best culinary experiences in Kyoto. Think crisp, tempura-fried, fresh-on-the-spot, buttery wagyu skewers, and sweet, bean-filled taiyaki desserts around every corner.

If you are wondering whether Nishiki Market is worth visiting, what foods to try, where to sample local sake, or the best restaurants to hit nearby, this Feet Do Travel guide covers everything we discovered from exploring Kyoto's ultimate food market.

Like millions of adults and children around the world, Sy grew up with Nintendo.

Super Mario was (and still is) the undisputed favourite. Every console, from SNES through Wii to Switch, came with one non-negotiable: a Mario game.

If you grew up playing Nintendo, visiting Kyoto adds a completely different layer to your Japan trip. So when we found ourselves in Kyoto, adding a Nintendo Kyoto experience to our itinerary was not even a question.

We were going to the Nintendo Store.

What we did not expect was to walk straight into a slice of gaming history, one that explains why Kyoto is one of the best places in Japan for Nintendo fans, Super Mario lovers, and gaming travellers.

Because Kyoto is not just temples and geishas, it is the birthplace of Nintendo. And it is where Super Mario was imagined.

Planning a Japan trip? Save this guide for your Nintendo and Super Mario bucket list, and let Feet Do Travel show you how to channel your inner child with a visit to the Nintendo Store, Kyoto.

Osaka wasn’t quite what we expected.

Admittedly, we are country lovers at heart, but after an unexpectedly brilliant trip to Taipei a couple of years before, we thought our views on cities had changed.

Osaka is a sprawling metropolis and, to many, full of fun and packed with highlights. The food, the freedom of expression in clothing and appearance — Osakans appear to have an individuality that differs from anywhere else in Japan we visited. 

But for us, it was more complicated than that, and that’s OK.

What defined Osaka for us, every single day, was getting lost. Not occasionally. Daily.

Some of the best travel experiences happen when you simply wander. You take a left turn down an interesting-looking alleyway and discover a hidden bar that turns an average evening into a memorable adventure. That is exactly what happened to us in Osaka, though often tinged with a sense of “I have no idea where I am” frustration.

However, once we stopped trying to force Osaka into something neat and predictable, it provided some unforgettable moments.

We were looking for a calming, nature-focused day trip from Osaka, somewhere away from the crowds. Lake Biwa drew us in. 

It is a place many visitors to Japan miss, even though it is an easy day trip from Kyoto and Osaka and offers wonderful mountain views, ropeway rides, and lakeside nature.

Discovering that Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture is Japan’s largest freshwater lake, we knew we had to add it to our itinerary.

Calling it simply “a lake” feels a bit understated. At over four million years old, it is one of the world’s oldest lakes, a colossal body of water that has shaped life in this region for millennia.

The statistics are seriously impressive, and we wanted to see it for ourselves.

We chose to visit Biwako Valley, as we were drawn by the idea of fresh, cool air, misty clouds, and mountain views. Sitting atop Mount Uchimi at 1,108 metres, we felt it was the perfect introduction.

Feet Do Travel share our visit to Lake Biwa’s Biwako Valley, and why we think it is worth a day trip.

Nara is often visited as a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, which is exactly how we went.

Unfortunately, too many people try to rush through here, but we discovered that it’s worth slowing things down to truly appreciate what Japan’s ancient capital city has to offer.

We decided to explore Nara independently by bicycle. After days of walking around Japan, it felt like a welcome change; a rest for our weary feet, and a way to travel faster yet slower—something a little more relaxed, yet a little more fun. 

In this article, Feet Do Travel shares our day trip cycling around Nara, including the sacred deer and historic temples we visited along the way.

​We hope to show why Nara deserves a place on your Japan itinerary, but also why it is a destination best enjoyed slowly, with time to wander beyond the obvious sights.

If you’re planning your first trip to Japan, you're in for an unforgettable experience. More so than anywhere else, this incredible country combines ancient traditions with futuristic modernity, offering something for every kind of traveller. Stunning temples and castles, juxtaposed by bustling cityscapes make Japan a country like no other. Throw in the natural wonder of Japan’s iconic landscapes, and Japan is certainly a country you have to visit.

Japan is one of the best places to visit in Asia, and to help you make the most of your visit, Feet Do Travel provide a guide to Japan’s best tourist destinations so you don’t miss a thing when visiting the Land of the Rising Sun.

​You will never forget the sights, smells, and sounds of the fast-paced Tokyo Metropolis. Japan’s capital is one of the most populated Cities in the world with 14 million people dashing around it’s streets, and has the fastest high speed railway network in the world. A ride on the Shinkansen bullet train travels at 240–320 km/h (150–200 mph), and is a bucket list tick off for many.

Located in Tokyo Bay, it was originally a fishing village named Edo but in 1868 was renamed to Tokyo (meaning “eastern capital"), it now has the largest urban economy in the world. A City of skyscrapers, in March 2011 the Tokyo Skytree became the worlds’ tallest telecommunication and broadcasting tower at a neck-aching 634 meters (2,080 ft) high. 

There are many things to do in Tokyo during the day and the evening, and Feet Do Travel share 7 best nightlife destinations in Tokyo