Introduction
This list will include my top 10 bucket spots in Japan which includes everything from the countryside to the bustling mom and pop shops in Tokyo. This list is in no particular order, these are just some my favorite spots I enjoyed while strolling about.
The Samurai & Ninja Museum in Taito
Starting off my top 10 bucket spots in Japan is the Samurai & Ninja Museum in Taito. I found this museum to be particularly interesting as it lets you choose which traditional samurai armor you want to try on. It really immerses you as if you were back in the Sengoku era. The museum staff take plenty of pictures in your samurai attire free of charge. Next, you will learn to differentiate between a ninja and a samurai. They also speak on buddhism and Shintoism when shaping cultural foundations of Japan. They even talk about Yasuke the first Black samurai. There is even a SHURIKEN throwing workshop!
Pokemon Center(Hiroshima)
The next place on my bucket spots in Japan is The Pokemon Center in Hiroshima. I had gone to other Pokemon Centers like the one in Shibuya, but the Shiny Gyrados and Pikachu theme too the cake. Me seeing this display re-kettled even more nostalgia than I already had. I think bought at least 15 packs of Pokemon cards for no other reason than to feel how I did when I first opened them in 1997. It was people in there just as old as I was with no shame, so I felt like I had found my people.
Kanazawa Hashibacho Ryokuchi Park (Firelook out Tower)
one of the places I was on the fence about visiting was Kanazawa. Kanazawa ended up being one the best decisions of my whole itinerary. Everything from the train station statues to the food was a delight that only a true solo-traveler could enjoy. Take for instance, Hashibacho Ryokuchi Park, I don’t know why but me just seeing monuments such as these evokes a sense of the past. Almost as if Im standing in-between worlds or thoughts. Anywho, this is my bucket spot and I enjoyed the feeling I got just from being there.
Shinagawa Maxell Aquarium
This bucket spot in Japan takes me back to my childhood in Oklahoma City, as if you were millennial like me, then you would be familiar with the now defunct Dolphin Show at the OKC ZOO. If you are looking for something do as soon as you get to Japan but it is starting to get late, then I definitely would recommend this Aqua park to start off your evening before you go bar crawling or wanderlusting. Located in Shinagawa, a ward of Tokyo, this aquarium boasts of the typical marine life you would see in your average aquarium back home. However, for me, the draw was seeing the pseudo killer whales and dolphin show spectacle they have every other hour or so.
Fushima Inari Taisha
What can be said about this shrine that hasn’t already been said? This places instills a sense of a stairway to Heaven type of vibe where just being there alleviates stress(if you go at night). The 1000 Tori Gates are located near the Inari station right when you get off. The whole encampment is filled with not only the tori gates, but shrines and temples where you can give tribue. Whenever I was there, I felt so calm and unbothered that my anxiety was at the lowest it had ever been at in my life. This is not only an absolute on my bucket spots, but any bucket list period!
Umeda Sky Building
If you happen to be in Osaka then you must visit the Umeda Sky building. This happens to be one of the best, if not the best skyline you can see of Osaka. It usually closes by 10 PM so you need to be in the building by at least 9:30 p.m. This is a fantastic place to soak in some city vibes while chilling by yourself or your significant other. While there, there are small shops and stores in which you can buy souvenirs and food.
Unicorn Gundam
Toonami, late restless nights. Cartoon Network at its finest. To all of my millennials this is a must see if you are an anime fan. This Gundam statue is surreal and makes your anime life feel complete once you see it. This statue is located in Odaiba, seaport in Tokyo. So this makes for a nice day trip as the Odaiba mall is located directly behind it. There is plenty to do from shopping to dining out. Unfortunately, The Unicorn will discontinued after August 2026, so go see it while you can.
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
this is one those lowkey bucket spots that exude mysticism from the moment you first walk in. Go to this forest (when people aren’t around) if you want to bathe in earthy terpene scents while you let the forest strip you of your concrete jungle trivialities. THIS PLACE IS JUST AWESOME. On this day, I went early in the morning around 4-5 a.m. and beat the crowds. Anyway, I got very lucky this day because the rain scared everyone away so I got to take some of the best pictures without any interference or random people in my photos. Furthermore, the pictures I did take made me feel like I was the only person who knew I was there. I really got to embrace the forest as if it were my own.
Sanjusangendo Temple
I bet you can’t say that name 5 times fast. This temple if filled with 1000 buddhist statues in which I was apparently forbidden to take pictures of, but you know Americans don’t listen. I was like, “I came this far, I’m getting me a picture.” It was raining too, the rain fucked up a lot of things but I wasn’t allowing the rain to take my third eye from me.
Family Mart
If I’m being totally honest, then Family Mart is where I spent most of my time and actually enjoyed than the attractions themselves. When people leave Japan, what they really miss is the convenience. It is so hard to give up Japanese convenience once you leave, it almost sends you into post traumatic stress disorder.
