Sep 16, 2025 (News On Japan) - For such a small country, Japan combines a variety of striking landscapes, from high and majestic mountains and hills to flat agricultural land and beautiful beaches with palm trees.
Combine all this with Edo-era buildings, serene shrines, and majestic temples, and the result is truly impressive.
We have researched and compiled a list of the top 10 most beautiful cities in Japan for you.
Hida-Takayama
The city of Hida-Takayama is also called “Little Kyoto” because of its large number of shrines, temples, and picturesque 18th-century buildings. Isolated from the outside world by the Hida Mountains, the city exudes old Japanese charm.
The mountains tower over the river markets, traditional shops, and Japanese-style taverns. Sanmachi Street is the heart of the historic district, dotted with old dark wood buildings with blue curtains made of traditional Japanese noren fabric.
The narrow streets border small canals with running water, which are still used for washing clothes and clearing snow, as they were in medieval times.
The city is known for its excellent sake and breweries with large cedar balls hanging over the entrance.
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Karuizawa
Karuizawa is a charming town hidden beneath the imposing Asama, one of Honshu's most active volcanoes.
Just an hour's drive from Tokyo by bullet train, it is a popular day trip destination for tourists, who are attracted by the mesmerizing views of yellowing leaves in autumn and cooler temperatures in summer. In 1957, Emperor Akihito met his future bride, Empress Michiko, in Karuizawa, giving the town a reputation as the perfect place for romance and couples' getaways. It is also an ideal place for hiking and visiting hot springs, and Yacho-no-mori, or Wild Bird Forest, is home to more than 60 different species of birds.
Otaru
When most of western Hokkaido Prefecture was colonized in the late 19th century, the small town of Otaru became an important fishing port. Later, the terminus (of course) of Hokkaido's first railway was built here. Old warehouses line the city's canals, and along with the rest of the prefecture, it is one of the most famous places in Japan for seafood lovers.
The canal area is always full of Japanese tourists, but you can find a quieter spot closer to the city center, where stately mansions stand tall. During the Snow Light Festival in February, the city is especially beautiful, decorated with glowing snow lanterns and lights.
Nara
The first permanent capital of Japan and home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Nara is one of the country's most culturally rich cities. Although Nara served as the capital of Japan for only about 70 years, it was during this time that the country's art, literature, and culture evolved into the traditions that are still associated with Japan today.
Located less than an hour's drive from Kyoto and Osaka, Nara is a surprisingly compact city, with most of its historical attractions located in the beautiful Nara Park. In addition to its temples, the park is known for its population of curious deer that roam freely throughout the grounds.
The most impressive feature is the Todai-ji Temple, a huge wooden building that houses one of Japan's largest bronze Buddha statues.
