21. Enjoy a Top Restaurant
Japan has more 3-starred Michelin restaurants than any other country (29). A total of 296 Michelin stars have been awarded to restaurants in Japan. Fine dining in Japan is an experience to be relished (budget tip: most top restaurants in Japan are significantly cheaper at lunch).
22. Walk Through a Pachinko Parlor
Pachinko is a form of Japanese video gambling. There are pachinko parlors all over the country. Pachinko is big business in Japan — each year the industry pulls in revenue that's twice the GDP of New Zealand. Pachinko Parlors are interesting to take a look through. They're the loudest, smokiest places in the world.
23. Enjoy a Shiatsu Massage
Massage is popular in Japan — Japanese massage (Shiatsu) and Asian massage (such as Thai and Chinese) are most common. Massage is everywhere in Japan — hotels, department stores, shopping streets and entertainment districts.
24. Dine at a Temple
Some Japanese temples have restaurants that offer traditional Japanese Buddhist cuisine (Shojin Ryori). Shojin Ryori is vegetarian and austere (bland).
25. Take a Photo
Japan is a photographer's dream. These 10 spots are amongst the most photogenic in the world.
26. Go to a Concert
Japanese cities are filled with busy concert halls big and small. Japan is a popular country for the World's top artists and independent acts to tour. Japanese music (especially independent label stuff) is worth checking out.
27. Experience a Japanese Izakaya
Izakaya are Japanese pubs that offer food and drink in a social atmosphere. They range from posh to cheap, quiet to wild. Izakaya food is worth a try even if you don't drink. Izakaya are almost always lively.
28. Take a Shinkansen
Shinkansen (bullet trains) are the way to travel in Japan. They are stress free, inexpensive and fast compared with flying or driving. Japan's train system is the most efficient in the world. Shinkansen are rarely delayed. When they are late it's not by much — the average delay on the Tokaido Shinkansen line is 20 seconds. In many countries 20 seconds late is considered on time.Bullet trains have a 45-year history in Japan. Shinkansen have carried over 7 billion passengers without a single passenger fatality (due to derailments or collisions).
29. Visit Purikura
Purikura are Japanese photo booths that use computer algorithms to change your look. Purikura vendors target teenage girls in Japan. Most tourists enjoy it nonetheless.
30. Visit a Fish Market
Japanese fish markets such as Tsukiji Market in Tokyo and Nishiki Market in Kyoto are populate tourist attractions. These venues are also markets where real business happens (millions of dollars per day in the case of Tsukiji). It's important to give the vendors and customers a little space.
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