Are you planning a trip to Japan and looking for something unique and offbeat to do? Well, you’re in for a treat because Japan is full of weird and wonderful experiences that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Join us as we explore some of the most unusual and exciting Japan tourist spots.
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1. Take Ramen Baths
Some hot springs in Japan offer ramen noodle baths because, apparently, there’s a market for it. So yes, you can soak in a tub filled with ramen broth and noodle. Why? Duh, because it’s soooo good for your skin.
2. Visit Maid Cafes
These are cafes where the waitresses dress in French maid costumes and serve customers but they do it as if they’re your servants. It’s a form of cosplay and is popular among anime and manga fans.
3. Fake food displays
Many restaurants in Japan have realistic-looking plastic food displays in their windows to entice customers. Called “shokuhin sampuru “, they are a predecessor to the menus we use today.
4. Capsule hotels
You’ve probably seen these already: tiny hotels where guests sleep in individual capsules stacked on top of each other. They’re popular among budget travelers and people who missed the last train home. But not an option for the claustrophobic crowd.
5. Enjoy Black Eggs
If you find yourself in Hakone you can try the ultra popular black eggs. These are regular eggs that are boiled in hot springs water, the sulfur naturally found in the water making the shell tar black. Local folklore claims they can add seven years to your life.
6. Cat cafes
The name says it all: these are cafes where customers can relax and interact with cats. It’s a popular way for people who can’t have pets to get their cat fix.
7. Vending Machines for Everything
Japan is known for its vending machines, which sell everything from hot dogs and bug snacks to fresh bananas, umbrellas and live lobsters.
8. Pachinko Parlors
These are noisy and colorful gambling halls that are popular among Japanese locals. It’s like a cross between a slot machine and a pinball game. Gambling is illegal in Japan but Pachinko gets a pass being considered more of a fun way to pass your time.
9. Attend a Naked Festival
In Okayama there’s a festival where men strip down to plain loincloths and compete to catch sacred lucky Shingi sticks. It’s a rowdy and unconventional way to bring fortune and prosperity upon yourself.
10. Experience the Kawaii Culture
This is one of the most known unique things Japan has to offer. Kawaii means “cute” in Japanese and it’s a cultural phenomenon that includes everything from Hello Kitty merchandise to cutesy food decorations. It’s a way of life for some people and they go at it full throttle.
11. Visit a Toilet Museum
In the city of Kitakyushu, there’s the TOTO Museum, a museum dedicated to toilets and the history of sanitation. It’s a unique way to learn about a necessary part of life.
12. Eat a Square Watermelon
In Japan, watermelons are often grown in square shapes to make them easier to ship and store. As expected, they’re a tad more expensive than your usual ‘boring’ watermelons but make for a fun conversation starter.
13. Eat at a Robot restaurant
In Kabuki-cho, Tokyo you will find a restaurant where giant robots battle it out while you enjoy your meal. It’s a loud, flashy, and fun experience, an insane show not to be missed.
14. Go for the Real Life Mario Kart Experience
It’s called “MariCar” (short for Mario Kart), and it’s a popular tourist activity in Tokyo and some other cities in Japan. People dress up in costumes of their favorite Mario characters, hop into go-karts, and then drive around the city streets, following a guide in another go-kart. It’s a unique and fun way to explore the city and feel like you’re in a real-life Mario Kart game!
15. See the Giant Gundam Robot Statue
In Tokyo there’s a 60-foot-tall statue of a Gundam robot that lights up at night, putting one hell of a show. It’s a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of Japanese pop culture.
16. Go for All the Weird Ice Cream Flavors
Japan is known for its unusual ice cream flavors, including seaweed, wasabi, and squid ink. It’s a way to challenge your taste buds and test your limits and believe us, you will be tested!
17. Visit an Owl Cafe
In addition to cat cafes, Japan also has owl cafes where you can sip coffee and hang out with these majestic and chill birds. It’s a surreal and memorable experience.
18. Cuddle Cafes
If you’re feeling lonely, you can check a cuddle cafe aka “co-sleeping specialty shop” in Tokyo. You pay to snuggle and sleep with a woman for a set amount of time. In a bed. Fully clothed. It’s a strange but surprisingly popular service.
19. See The Naki Sumo Crying Baby Festival
There’s a festival where sumo wrestlers compete to make babies cry. It’s believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits because hey, why not… It’s weird and slightly disturbing, emphasis on the word ‘slightly’.
20. Book a Snail Facial
In some spas in Japan you can get a facial treatment that involves snails crawling on your face. It’s believed the slime they produce has anti-aging properties. It’s definitely not for everyone, that’s for sure.
21. Say Cheese in the Purikura Photo Booth
Launched back in 1995, they are a hit among Japanese teenagers. You can take photos with fun backgrounds, add cartoonish decorations, make your eyes look bigger, the whole shebang. Instead of regular photos you get a sheet with stickers, it’s a strange and hyper-cute phenomenon.
22. Human vending machines
Taking Japan’s innate passion for vending machines to a whole new stage! Some stores in Japan have employees who dress up as vending machines and dispense snacks and drinks to customers. It’s a quirky way to attract attention, we’ll give them that.
There you have it, fellow weirdos! Japan truly is a wonderland of eccentricities and oddities just waiting to be explored. From creepy snail spas to wacky theme cafes, there’s something for every type of adventurer out there.
So go forth and embrace the weirdness! Whether you’re dressing up as a maid in Akihabara or sipping coffee with some fluffy feline friends, these Japan tourist spots are sure to provide an unforgettable experience.
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Watch The Weird But So Fun: 22 Must Visit Japan Tourist Spots Video
FAQ
What is the least visited region of Japan?
That would have to be Fukui Prefecture. It is close to other very popular prefectures like Kyoto or Osaka but doesn’t have nearly as much pull with the tourists.
What is the ghost city in Japan?
Nichitsu Ghost Town (or Nichitsu) is generally visited by paranormal hunters, being known for this kind of thing.
What is Japan most peaceful city?
Kyoto is among the safest cities in Japan and it is also very beautiful. It has a crime rate of just 1.45%.
Are the Japanese friendly to tourists?
The Japanese people are very friendly to tourists and you will probably feel very welcomed when visiting.
