The Most Beautiful Cities in Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka & More

There are many famous cities across the Japanese archipelago. Tokyo, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Osaka, Hiroshima… and many more besides! Each offers a different landscape and atmosphere. Poised between the modern and the traditional, Japan's cities inspire us in this way. We have picked out a few of them to give you a better overview.

• Location: in the middle of the main island of Honshu, on the Pacific side, in the Kanto region.

• Area: 2,188 km²

• Population: 9.273 million

Tokyo's avant-garde metropolis is the capital of Japan. It extends not over a single city but over a fascinating assembly of varied districts. It is the most densely populated urban area in the world. Amid skyscrapers, lanterns, temples, illuminated signs and traditional shrines, the host of the 2020 Olympic Games is a city of many faces.

Tokyo was originally a small fishing village called Edo. Today, in constant motion, it is a city that links the past with the present and plays with the future. It was reborn from its ashes after the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923 and the American bombing of 1945.

The unique cityscape is a blend of nature and technology. A visit to Tokyo is an intense experience, and every district has its own atmosphere. Shinjuku and Shibuya are touristy and dynamic, Ginza is rather chic, whereas Asakusa presents itself as popular and traditional. The residential areas of Nezu and Yanaka, by contrast, are more out of the way, but tell the story of everyday Tokyo in a world full of charm and vitality.

• Location: in the central-southern part of the main island of Honshu, in the Kansai region.

• Area: 827.8 km²

• Population: 1.475 million

Kyoto plays with the norms and blends tradition with the modern. The idea of perfection is reflected in Kyoto's art, spirituality and gastronomy. It is the birthplace of Japanese custom. Between Zen gardens, the geisha district, Buddhist temples and Shinto sanctuaries, you can feel the sense of history here.

Founded in 794, Kyoto became the seat of the imperial court, a political and religious centre. For more than a thousand years the city embodied the heart of the country, until Tokyo was named the capital in 1868. Even so, Kyoto remains the spiritual and artistic centre. What is more, unlike Tokyo, Kyoto did not have to suffer the bombing of the Second World War.

In the oldest districts you will find many temples and gardens. The more modern districts are ideal for shopping and going out. Here you can buy lots of pottery and local culinary specialities. The traders present typical ingredients of Kyoto cuisine at the stalls of Nishiki Market.

• Location: in the south of the Japanese archipelago on the island of Kyushu, on the Sea of Japan side.

• Area: 340 km²

• Population: 1.539 million

Sunny, vibrant and pleasant – that is Fukuoka, the economic and cultural centre of the island of Kyushu. Fukuoka has been shaped by centuries of trade with its Asian neighbours and holds a strategic position towards Korea and China at the edges of the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. The city thus became an important point of arrival for foreign influences, such as the Chinese writing system and the Buddhism imported in the 4th century.

The city of Fukuoka is divided by the River Naka. To the north lay the commercial and popular district of Hakata, and to the south the stately city of the Kuroda clan. Today Hakata is the traditional district of Fukuoka. On the other side of the Naka, the city is much livelier and busier. In Tenjin, where most of the business people are, there are shopping centres and other shops. Business and shopping make this area a real gateway to the future.

The famous ramen (Chinese noodles served in broth) were imported to Fukuoka early on.

By the way: the city is also a sporting centre. Fukuoka is one of four cities that host sumo tournaments. In the Momochihama area you will find the Fukuoka Dome stadium, home to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks baseball team. The Fukuoka Tower overlooks the city and its man-made but very beautiful beaches.

• Location: in the central-southern part of the main island of Honshu, on the Pacific side, in the Kansai region.

• Area: 223 km²

• Population: 2.691 million

Osaka, marked by its hospitality, energy and boldness, is a cosmopolitan city. Amid markets, bustling streets, friendly shops and delicious cuisine, Osaka is known as the "Nation's Kitchen". At the same time it is the economic capital of Kansai and thus an important hub for all new technologies.

From the 4th to the 20th century, Osaka's port was the third-largest of the Inland Sea, basing its trade on textile production, cotton in particular, as well as on its industrial innovation. Surrounded by canals, Osaka is, according to the Japanese, the marketplace of the country. It is the heart of the archipelago's pharmaceutical industry and the point of arrival for foreigners wanting to settle in Japan.

After the bombing of 1945, Osaka was rebuilt. The 1970 World Expo showcased its strength. In Osaka you will also find the Universal Studios amusement park, the Dotonbori entertainment district, the Kaiyukan Aquarium and Osaka Castle. A feeling of freedom generally drifts through the streets of Osaka.

• Location: in the south of the main island of Honshu, in the Chugoku region.

• Area: 906.5 km²

• Population: 1.194 million

Sadly, Hiroshima is known for the bombing of 6 August 1945, having been targeted in the course of the war. As the victim of the first atomic bomb attack in our history, the city today is a blend of the living memory of its nuclear past and the hope of a better future. Hiroshima is one of Japan's most important industrial and port centres.

The city was founded in 1589 and lies at the crossing of the River Ota and the Seto Inland Sea. During the Meiji era (1868–1912), Hiroshima expanded and, thanks to its significant industrialisation, became the logistics base of the Japanese army.

The city was quickly rebuilt and has cleared away the effects of the bombing. The ruins of the dome in the Peace Memorial Park are the only still-visible traces of the war. The monument was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1996. Hiroshima thus made a difficult but good-natured fresh start and looks positively to the future.

Which Japanese city would you like to travel to? With Japaventura you can discover all these cities on our tours through Japan. Unforgettable encounters and experiences await you, well off the usual tourist trail!