Top 20 must-see places to visit in Asia2026 ranking

I really like TeamLab, it is always a slightly magical sensory experience, it is gorgeous and extremely well done. BUT... It is a total highway, there are crowds everywhere all the time and a lot of waiting in line to get the most instagrammable photos possible. So the experience is a bit mixed on my end, it is a super place but you have to expect it to be packed. On the flip side, the experience is really great for kids, with activities specially dedicated to them where they can have an absolute blast!

As a huge fan of natural history museums, I can totally recommend it! For the record, at first I only visited one building, which hosts the temporary exhibits (crocodiles at the time, it was incredible), without realizing there was a HUGE multi-story one right next door. And I was already thrilled!! And then I discovered the whole dinosaur skeleton section, and let me tell you, it is just bonkers. It is an absolute feast for the eyes if you love dinos and fossils. A must-do for adults and kids alike, you will have a blast!

Definitely touristy, but a must-see in my opinion. The wooden stage and the view of the city are gorgeous, and I really liked the vibe of the surrounding neighborhood. The site isn't huge, but the details of the temples are truly stunning. Only downside: it was super crowded even in the rain, which makes the experience a little less enjoyable. Despite that, I definitely recommend checking it out.

You have definitely seen this place on Instagram. Orange gates lined up one after another that just keep going endlessly. Once you are there, massive crowds, clearly one of the most touristy spots in Kyoto, and in the end there is not much more to see than this endless succession of torii gates. It is still a cool photo to take, but the experience kind of stops there.

Impossible to visit Japan without going to Hiroshima... The famous Dome that survived the explosion and has stayed just like that ever since, as a witness to the tragic events. The museum right next door traces the history of the atomic bomb, a visit that is bound to be emotionally heavy but not to be missed.

I only saw Osaka Castle from the outside, but honestly, it is well worth the trip. It is really impressive with its massive stone walls, gold-accented roofs, and the moats all around it. The surrounding park with its cherry blossoms is especially nice for a stroll and taking photos. A pretty straightforward visit that does not necessarily take a lot of time, but one I recommend if you are passing through Osaka.

You can't come to Nara without visiting the Todai-ji Temple. For 600 yen (less than €4), you can visit its huge wooden building housing the Great Buddha statue, which is impressive at 15 metres tall. The hall that houses it is itself one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, which gives you an idea of the scale of the place. Unlike the main park, the interior of the temple remains a high point despite the crowds.

It is not the most aesthetic or impressive tower in Japan, but it is still a nice experience to get a pretty 360-degree view of the city. The view is lovely at night! You can spot a few landmark locations from above. The price is 900 Yen, and it is true that if it is crowded, it quickly feels a bit cramped and the metal structures block the view somewhat for taking nice photos. On the other hand, there is a super little food hall in the basement of the tower where you can really treat yourself! Lots of great spots in a very cool vibe.

Featured in every guidebook, it is hard not to visit when you are in Tokyo. The spot is spectacular, right in the heart of the city, but going there in the middle of the day is a nightmare (at least for people like me who avoid crowds as much as possible). There are so many people that it gets oppressive. If you can manage to go early in the morning or later in the evening, you will definitely enjoy the atmosphere of this shrine much more. There is a nice, free viewpoint to look at it from above on the 8th floor of the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center: fewer people, nice and warm, and with coffee! Edit: gorgeous little view from the rooftop of the Kanzachi Tokyo Asakusa hotel

Located in Ueno Park, this is a huge museum that costs 1000 Yen to enter, featuring several buildings with different themed exhibits, plus a very pretty garden in the back to walk through. Some pavilions were closed when we went, but we already spent a good half day exploring two buildings: Honkan, the Japanese gallery, and Toyokan, a broader Asian exhibition.