Japan has hundreds of large cities and thousands of small towns. The vast majority of attractions in Japan are found in highly urbanized areas. In this article, we will look at a list of the main Cities of Japan.
In these large cities of Japan, you will find castles, temples, shrines, gardens, and other tranquil places. In this list, we will see 20 large cities that attract tourists from the country and around the world every year.
Table of Contents
Tokyo [東京] – The capital of Japan
Tokyo is one of the largest cities in the world. It is a financial, political, and cultural capital that is vast, dense, and interesting. You could spend your entire life exploring Tokyo and still not know everything this city has to offer.
Kyoto [京都市] – The ancient capital
Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years. The city was shaped by this period and is filled with hundreds of temples, shrines, castles and historical sites.
The years as a capital also gave Kyoto a certain sophistication that became its defining characteristic. Food, fashion, arts, and cultural practices like the tea ceremony help make Kyoto one of the top destinations in the world.
Sapporo [札幌] – The north of Japan
Sapporo is one of the largest cities in Japan and the capital of the northern region, Hokkaido. The city has over 2 million inhabitants and is located in the cold part of the country where the annual snowfall reaches 6 meters or 19 feet.
A very popular destination for snowboarding, food, events, and entertainment. For over 20 years, flights from Tokyo to Sapporo have been the busiest route in the world, with 7.5 million people flying each year.
Osaka [大阪府] – The great rival of Tokyo
Osaka is the second largest city in Japan. It is a historical and commercial city, and this has shaped a unique personality in the city. While Tokyo’s population is shy and reserved, the people of Osaka are outgoing and straightforward.
The city is filled with shops and is home to many of Japan’s largest companies. It is also a vibrant city known for its cuisine and nightlife. I personally prefer Osaka to Tokyo.
Yokohama [横浜] – The neighboring city of Tokyo
Yokohama is a city located south of Tokyo and has 3.6 million inhabitants. The city has an attractive area filled with museums, parks, restaurants, shops, and interesting architecture.
A seaside city with a historical area filled with old Western-style buildings. Here you will find the famous Minato Mirai and other highlights that need to be on your travel itinerary.
Nara [奈良] – The city of deer
Nara is a city near Kyoto and was the capital of Japan from the year 710 to 784. In many ways, the city is still frozen in the 8th century, with a huge number of temples and historical sites dating from that time.
The temples of Nara are large and impressive. They are worthy of an ancient capital and represent the sophistication and beginnings of Japanese culture. One of the things that stands out in Nara is the huge number of tame deer living in the streets and attracting tourists.
Naha [那覇] – Capital of Okinawa
The Okinawa islands located in the south of the country have a unique and rich culture. Naha, the capital of Okinawa, has a tropical environment to enjoy the beaches and the sea. The city is full of interesting small restaurants, bars, and attractions.
Okinawa, like Hokkaido, is one of the main tourist spots in the country. Those who want to enjoy the warmth and crystal-clear beaches should go to Okinawa.
Hiroshima [広島] – The rebuilt city
Hiroshima has a dark history as the first city attacked with a nuclear weapon, an event that cost the lives of 90,000-166,000 people and plunged the world into the nuclear age.
Hiroshima is currently a lively city with over a million inhabitants. The city is also close to the Itsukushima Shrine, one of Japan’s main attractions.
The nuclear bombing is remembered in an excellent Peace Memorial Park. The anniversary of the bombing is marked each year with a nagashi toro ceremony. In Hiroshima, you will also find the famous city castle.
Fukuoka [福岡] – The largest city in Kyushu
Fukuoka is the largest city in Kyushu, one of the large islands that make up Japan. The city has over one and a half million inhabitants with a lot of tourism to offer in the region. An essential city for visitors to Kyushu.
Fukuoka was selected as one of the 10 “Most Dynamic Cities” in the July 2016 edition of Newsweek. Fukuoka receives over 2 million foreign visitors annually, with a large portion coming from its neighboring countries.
Kobe [神戸] – The cosmopolitan city
Kobe is a cosmopolitan city of 1.5 million inhabitants with a high quality of life near Kyoto and Osaka. The three cities together represent a metropolitan area of 18 million people known as the Keihanshin region.
Kobe is considered an important economic center of the country and has one of the largest ports in Japan and the world. The city is also well known for its thriving urban environment, where its landscape is enhanced by Mount Rokko.
Kagoshima [鹿児島] – The city of the volcano
A city of 600,000 inhabitants near the southernmost tip of Japan’s main islands. Kagoshima has an active volcano in its bay known as Sakurajima, which regularly erupts.
Besides the volcano, you can visit Sengan-en park, Amu Plaza, Tenmonkan, Shiroyama Observatory, and more. At the end of the day, you can relax at Sakurajima Nagisa Foot Spa Park.
Himeji [姫路] – The famous castle
A large industrial city located in Kansai known for its famous Himeji Castle, widely considered the best castle in Japan. A large original castle of 83 buildings that has a quite interesting history.
As with any good castle, it is surrounded by myths and ghost stories. The city has about 400,000 inhabitants and is close to the Kobe and Osaka regions.
Kanazawa [金沢] – Survivor city
Kanazawa was one of the few large Japanese cities that escaped destruction in World War II. The city is filled with historical attractions such as temples, castles, geisha districts, and old houses of original samurai.
It is also home to Kenrokuen, considered one of the best gardens in Japan. The modern train station of the city, Kanazawa Station, has a distinctive architecture that fits well with the city.
Nagasaki [長崎] – The second bomb
Nagasaki is a city with about 450,000 inhabitants on the island of Kyushu that is relatively close to the Asian continent. The city has a long history of trade and international exchanges, even at times when Japan was isolated from the world.
Portuguese, Dutch, and Chinese influences can be seen in the architecture, festivals, food, and daily life. The atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, cost the lives of up to 80,000 people and resulted in the destruction of much of the city. Like Hiroshima, the city has a world peace park and a museum.
Nagoya [名古屋] – One of the largest in Japan
Nagoya is a gigantic industrial powerhouse that has been working hard to become a cultural center. Its restaurant options, entertainment, and nightlife are strong. The city has done a lot to improve its quality of life and its industrial roots.
Nagoya is among the largest cities in Japan and has a good number of Brazilians. In this beautiful city, you will find the famous Nagoya Castle and many prominent tourist spots that are close to Tokyo and Osaka.
Hakodate [函館] – A highlight of Hokkaido
The third largest city in Hokkaido with an interesting history. Hakodate was one of the first ports opened to the west in 1859. As a result, the city is filled with old Western-style houses, churches, and warehouses.
It is a city frozen in time that resembles America in the 1800s. Hakodate has several popular attractions, such as the famous Goryokaku, a fortress with a star-shaped moat.
Kurashiki [倉敷] – The beautiful canal
A city of half a million people known for its 17th-century warehouses located next to a pleasant canal. Both the old and new parts of Kurashiki are attractive.
The city is one of the starting points of the great Seto Bridge that connects Japan’s main island with the island of Shikoku. The city has nearly half a million inhabitants and is part of Okayama Prefecture.
Nagano [長野] – The city of mountains
Nagano is a city surrounded by mountains with geographical features that make it a natural fortress. This resulted in a long history of battles in the area. During World War II, a huge underground bunker was built in Nagano but was never used.
The city of Nagano hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics and is surrounded by excellent ski slopes. It is a pleasant city with several famous historical sites, such as Zenkoji, a seventh-century temple.
The mountains surrounding Nagano Prefecture are famous and known as the Japanese Alps. Those who enjoy adventure should visit this region and explore its mountains for a long time.
Okayama [岡山] – The city of Momotaro
Okayama is a southern city with over 700,000 inhabitants, known for its black castle and Korakuen, considered one of the best gardens in Japan. The city is close to the Kibi Plain, an area filled with temples that is usually explored by bicycle.
Okayama is the fictional home of Momotaro, one of Japan’s most famous legends about a boy born from a peach who goes to fight demons on an island with the help of a dog, monkey, and a pheasant.
Matsumoto [松本] – A castle in Nagano
Matsumoto is a city in Nagano known for Matsumoto Castle, a picturesque castle. I think the photo below explains everything. And like the other cities, it is filled with attractions, cultural and local cuisine.
I hope you enjoyed this article about the main and best cities in Japan. If you liked it, don’t forget to share and leave your comments. Thank you and see you next time!
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