Topping almost every list, Fushimi Inari is non-negotiable. Unlike many temples that close at 4 PM, this Shinto shrine is open 24/7. The hike through thousands of torii gates (donated by businesses) up Mount Inari takes about 2-3 hours.

Just 45 minutes from Osaka or Kyoto, Nara Park is home to over 1,200 wild sika deer. They bow (literally) for crackers. Inside the park, Todai-ji Temple houses a 15-meter-tall bronze Buddha.

For modern entertainment, Universal Studios Japan (USJ) ranks at the top of national theme parks. It draws millions of global visitors annually, specifically for its highly immersive Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. 7. Umeda Sky Building (Osaka)

Later, on a weekday with commuters and the smell of coffee, she would pass a shuttered station where pigeons nested in the eaves and, if she looked closely, see a single rivet threaded on twine caught in the slats. She would smile, and sometimes, when the city felt too loud, she would press the rivet and remember the way the platform smelled of rain and metal, of old coins and paper prayers.

Wander through the towering green stalks of one of Japan’s most photographed natural sites. Historic Wonders Buddhist temple ClosedNara, Japan

- Kansai-style ramen is known for its rich pork broth and springy noodles. Try it with a variety of toppings, from pork slices to boiled eggs.