TripAdvisor have announced the top 30 best attractions across Japan in 2018 as voted by international travelers. The list features the regular line-up of famous spots like shrines, temples and castles to more niche locations that even Japanese people aren't familiar with. This marks the 10th time this ranking has taken place. Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine in Kyoto has clocked in at number one for the 5th year in a row. As of June 2018, the TripAdvisor page for the shrine has over 20,000 reviews, 70% of which are in languages other than Japanese. More than 25 languages have been recorded on the page, proving the shrine's popularity overseas as a representative spots in Japan. Moving from 3rd place to 2nd place this year is Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and in 3rd place is Miyajima (Itsukushima Shrine). There are several newcomers to the list this year, including Byodoin Temple which people may recognise as being printed on the back of 10 yen coins. Sanzen-in Temple has a gorgeous garden that is beautiful throughout all four seasons. Nezu Museum in Tokyo also made the list this year which is home to many national treasures and cultural assets. It first ranked last year for its entertainment facilities, but this year it's earned popularity amongst foreign tourists for its greenery and tranquillity.   7 places ranked in Kyoto, as well as 6 in Tokyo, and 2 each in Hiroshima, Nara and Kanagawa. 1 place ranked in each Ishikawa, Wakayama, Hyogo, Chiba, Kagoshima, Tochigi, Kagawa, Aichi, Gifu, Toyama, and Nagano.   Check the list for yourself, and why not use it for reference when you come to Japan?   Top 30 Attractions in Japan by International Travelers 2018 Numbers in brackets denote the location's ranking last year. Asterisks denote newcomers to the list. 1st Place (1) - Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine (Kyoto) 2nd Place (3) - Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (Hiroshima) 3rd Place (4) - Miyajima (Itsukushima Shrine) (Hiroshima) 4th Place (5) - Todai-ji Temple (Nara) 5th Place (7) - Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (Tokyo) 6th Place (14) - Kenrokuen Garden (Ishikawa) 7th Place (10) - Koyasan Okunoin (Wakayama) 8th Place (8) - Kinkakuji Temple (Kyoto) 9th Place (9) - The Hakone Open-Air Museum (Kanagawa) 10th Place (13) - Himeji Castle (Himeji) 11th Place (30) - Sanjusangendo Temple (Kyoto) 12th Place (11) - Nara Park (Nara) 13th Place (26) - Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple (Chiba) 14th Place (-) - Samurai Museum (Tokyo) 15th Place (-) - Shiratani Unsuikyo Valley (Kagoshima) 16th Place (-) - Senso-ji Temple (Tokyo) 17th Place (-) - Nikko Tosho-gu (Tochigi) 18th Place (-) - Ritsurin Garden (Kagawa) 19th Place (25) - Ryogoku Kokugikan (Tokyo) 20th Place (12) - Eikando Zenrinji Temple (Kyoto) 21st Place (16) - Hase-dera Temple (Kanagawa) 22nd Place (-) - Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings (Tokyo) 23rd Place (-) - Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology (Aichi) 24th Place (-) - The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go Gassho Style Houses (Gifu) 25th Place (29) - Kyoto Station Building (Kyoto) 26th Place (-) - Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route (Toyama) 27th Place (*) - Byodoin Temple (Kyoto) 28th Place (*) - Nezu Museum (Tokyo) 29th Place (-) - Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park (Nagano) 30th Place (*) - Sanzen-in Temple (Kyoto) *Taken from reviews, numbers of posts and unique algorithms on TripAdvisor between April 207-March 2018.    

When you're in Tokyo, the main method of transportation for getting around the city's 23 wards is via the subway - specifically, via JR, Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway. Each of these services offer their own affordable 1-day travel tickets that can be used across all lines, making them a useful tool to have. Let's take a look at some of the questions regarding 1-day passes.

 

5 Must-Haves For Tokyo Sightseeing!

To make the most of your Tokyo trip, we recommend one of the following five 1-day passes for efficient travelling. You and board and get off as many times as you like, so there's no need to worry about extra fees - you can tour all of the sightseeing spots at your own leisure.

• JR East Japan - Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass ("Tokunai Pass")

The "Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass" is a day ticket that allows unlimited rides on local and rapid JR East trains around the 23 special wards of Tokyo. You are free to sit in any seats excluding reserved seating, and can even board the shinkansen within the designated area. The Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass can be purchased inside JR East Japan stations, ticket windows, the Travel Service Center (View Plaza), and travel agencies. It's ￥750 for adults and ￥370 for children.

 

• Tokyo Metro 24-hour Ticket

This ticket enables unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro lines. Costing just ￥600 for adults and ￥300 for children, tickets can be bought in advance or on the day at ticket vendors located in all stations. Not only can you visit Tokyo's 23 special wards, but the ticket also covers the commuting distance of Saitama and Chiba too, making it convenient for amusement and business. With this in hand, you can travel to any of the major areas.

 

• Toei One-Day Pass ("Toei Marugoto Kippu")

A Toei One-Day Pass gives you unlimited access to the Toei Subway, Toei buses, Toei Streetcar (Toden), and Nippori-Toneri Liner. It's ￥700 for adult and ￥350 for children. An additional fee is required for night buses to make up the difference - ￥210 for adults (￥206 with IC Card) and ￥100 for children (￥103 with IC Card). Tickets can be bought in advance or on the day at a ticket vendor located inside all stations.

 

• Common One-Day Ticket for Toei Subway and Tokyo Metro

The Common One-Day Ticket allows unlimited use of the Toei Subway and Tokyo Metro Subway Lines for an entire day. It costs ￥900 for adults and ￥450 for children. Tickets are available to purchase from automatic ticket vending machines at all Toei Subway and Tokyo Metro Subway stations, as well as Narita Airport and Haneda Airport. This ticket allows free travel from Narita Airport and Haneda Airport to Tokyo's 23 special wards and the commuting distance of Saitama and Chiba. This one's a real bargain!

 

• Tokyo 1-Day Ticket

As well as the Toei Subway, Toei buses, Toei Streetcar (Toden), Nippori-Toneri Liner, and all Tokyo Metro lines, the Tokyo 1-Day Ticket can also be used on the JR Lines around Tokyo. You can ride and get off at all the major locations in Tokyo for one whole day. At just ￥1,590 for adults and ￥800 for children, this ticket is very affordable. Available at automatic ticket machines at all stations. We recommend this one for people looking to travel across a wide distance.

 

Tokyo Sightseeing With Private Railways? Take These 2 With You!

Private railway free passes are a super handy tool to have if you're heading somewhere JR and subway tickets don't cover. They're convenient for access from the inner city to the Shitamachi areas, and are pefect for exploring those hidden, tucked-away gems.

• Tokyo Exploratory Ticket (Tokyo Tansaku Kippu)

Not only does this ticket give discounts on round-trip ticket fares from Keio Line, Inokashira Line, Tobu Isesaki Line and Tsukuba Express to the inner city, it also offers unlimited rides with Toei all day. That includes Toei buses,  Toei Streetcars (Toden), Nippori-Toneri Liner, and of course the Toei Subway. If you hold a Tokyo Exploratory Ticket, you can also receive discounts and gifts from facilities along each Toei line. These services are located at all manned stations on all lines. Please be aware that prices and the system changes depending on which station you purchase the ticket from.

 

• Tokyo 1DAY Kippu

This ticket comes as a set: a round-trip ticket from all stations on the Keikyū Main Line to Shinagawa, and unlimited rides with Toei. If you hold a Tokyo 1DAY Kippu, prepare to receive discounts and gifts at popular facilities and spots around Tokyo. This ticket can be purchased at all stations on the Keikyū Main Line barring Sengakuji Station and costs ￥900 from Shinagawa, ￥1,130 from Yokohama, and ￥1,700 from Yokosuka-Chūō.

 

Was this article helpful? Be sure to get the most out of your Tokyo trip by getting the right ticket for you.

 

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TripAdvisor have compiled their 2017 list of the best free tourist spots to visit based on comments and ratings on the service's website over the past year. The list tallies 20 must-visit locations, all of which will have people baffled that they are actually free.

Coming in at number 1 this year is the "Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building." Comments pointed towards the building's observation deck being free as one of the highlights of the building. This has resulted in many tourists making their way to the building for a look themselves. A few years ago you would never see people lining up at the elevators, but now it's not uncommon to see rows of people close to 50 meters on weekdays at noon.

Some other remarkable locations that ranked on the list are facilities related to beer brewery, specifically in Hokkaido, Shizuoka, Aichi, Kyoto and Osaka. This includes the Asahi Beer factories in Hokkaido, Suita (Osaka), Nagoya (Aichi), as well as "Baird Brewery Garden Shuzenji" in Shizuoka and "Suntory Kyoto Beer Factory" in Kyoto, all of which can be toured for free. At three of the Asahi Beer factories and the Suntory Beer Factory you're allowed to sample up to three beers for free after the tours, so there's often a lot of people! "Baird Brewery Garden Shuzenji" underwent reconstruction in 2014. There are free tours available on weekends and national holidays. You have to pay to try the samples here, but there's a beer garden encased in the bliss of nature and you're free to take snacks!

The Nozawa Onsen Public Baths (soto-yu) made its first ever appearance on the list. The people of the village offer the hot spring town's 13 open air baths as community property. One comment said "You can enjoy 13 open air baths. There are many hot spring sources so I'm also thankful for that. Each of the baths have their own charm too you can enjoy each one of them individually. The water is pretty hot, but that's what hot springs are all about!" (translated from Japanese)

Another new entry to the ranking is the "TOTO MUSEUM" which exhibits the history of the toilet company. TOTO was established in 1917 making this year the company's 100th anniversary. To celebrate, the company opened the museum at its headquarters in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka in 2015. At the museum you can learn about the history of the business and the development of its products as well as how TOTO became architects of the plumbing industry.

With such a big list, there's plenty to be enjoying during your trip in Japan, whether it's the government building, TOTO MUSEUM, a beer factory and even the hot springs. Be sure to bookmark this list as reference during your travels.