The ultimate guide for millennials visiting Japan

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Given its beautiful sights and rich history, Japan is an ideal place to visit for adventurous millennials. There are certain highlights that every millennial must see, and no trip would be complete without any of the places listed below.

Harajuku, Tokyo
Harajuku is known worldwide as the centre of Japanese youth culture and fashion, with many of its streets lined with small, independent boutiques and cafés. You'll find yourself spoilt for choice as you browse the fashion boutiques, as well as Omotesando Hills – a large shopping centre home to over 100 shops. However, what makes Tokyo so incredible when it comes to shopping is its thrift-shopping culture. Despite being the land of technology, it's a mecca for hidden vintage outlets off the beaten tracks. In Harajuku, check out Kinji Used Clothing, a warehouse filled to the brim with incredible vintage items and categorised by both style and brand. If you're looking to become more sustainable, this is a great place to start.

Harajuku - Photo by Illiya Vjestica on Unsplash

Mount Fuji
The legendary Mount Fuji is the largest volcano in Japan, standing at 12,389 ft tall. Its spectacular core has made it a prominent feature in Japanese art and literature, and there are many ways for you to experience this magnificent sight – whether from a distance, or on the Fuji Visitor Center's observation deck. Travelling to the top can be an exciting adventure, with some trips around the mountain taking as long as 12 hours. It is quite cold at the top, so remember to pack layers. 

Mount Fuji - Photo by Yash Raut on Unsplash

Snow monkeys
The snow monkey – also known as the Japanese macaque – is a species native to Japan. They are famous for their red faces and their love for bathing in the hot springs. They are also noted as being an exceptionally intelligent species, quickly learning new skills such as eating and hunting. You'll need to venture out a bit to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in the Nagano Prefecture to see them, but it's well worth the visit. 

Snow monkeys - Photo by Fezbot2000 on Unsplash

Kyoto's temples
Kyoto is home to a large collection of temples. Popular temples include Ryoan-ji, where you can sit in the zen stone garden and achieve a tranquil mindset, which is perfect for anyone who has difficulty attaining peace of mind. Kinkaku-ji – the Golden Pavilion – is one of the most scenic temples you could visit, especially if viewed from across the lake. And there's also To-ji, which is immersed in nature and full of beautiful gardens and majestic trees. Japan's 1600 temples will simply leave you spoilt for choice.

Kinkaku-ji Temple - Photo by Kendall Henderson on Unsplash

Hokkaido’s flower fields
Whenever millennials go anywhere, they are generally on the lookout for scenic sights to fill their Instagram pages. Some of the finest imagery can be found on the island of Hokkaido, which offers several beautiful flower fields. It's like looking out over a rainbow scattered over the land.

Photo by Akshay Nanavati on Unsplash

Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo
Another area that any millennial tourist should visit is the famous Shibuya crossing intersection in Tokyo. There’s so much life here, with a huge crowd of the city’s residents and visitors all milling together at once, making it a fascinating spot for photography.

Photo by David Lundgren on Unsplash

Japan is an incredible country, with so much to explore. These scenic locations are almost guaranteed to offer you a transcendent experience, and will leave you yearning to come back to take in even more of this divine culture.

Responsible tourism
Don’t forget, though: it’s important to be a responsible tourist, and respect the locations you’re visiting – especially when they already receive huge numbers of visitors already. Part of the joy of travelling is finding hidden attractions off the beaten track (as well as the more obvious highlights like those above) so keep your eyes peeled for these hidden secrets on your travels. You never know what you might find out there.