The depth and richness of Japanese history and culture is sometimes difficult for Western visitors to comprehend. Japan’s historical places span well over 1,000 years of imperial, samurai and spiritual heritage, from feudal castles and villages to UNESCO-listed temples and shrines. Japan is justifiably proud of its history, and Princess cruise itineraries connect travelers directly with many of Japan’s most significant historic sites. In this guide, we’ll highlight some of the top historical places in Japan and go over the best ways to experience them while on a cruise.

Key Takeaways

 

Japan’s noted historical places include imperial capitals, samurai castles, sacred shrines and atomic-bomb memorials.

 

 

Ports such as Kobe, Osaka, Hiroshima and Nagasaki provide direct access to UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

 

Princess curated excursions help cruise guests experience Japan’s castles, temples and historic districts with a more personalized feel.

How visitors experience Japan’s historical sites on a cruise

Major Japanese ports sit close to feudal-era castles, ancient temples and former imperial cities. Cultural sites represent eras from the neolithic Jomon (14,000–300 BCE) and Heian (794–1185) periods through Edo (1603–1868), Meiji (1868–1912) and beyond. UNESCO World Heritage status protects many of Japan’s most significant historical places, which helps guard them from economic or political threats, as well as managing conservation and tourism practices. This may include timed-entry restrictions at historical locations and famous gardens, particularly during peak tourism seasons (mid-March to mid-May in the spring, and September through mid-November in the autumn).

While some historical sites are within walking distance from the cruise ports around Japan (Nagasaki in particular), for the most part you’ll want to plan on a taxi, shuttle, bus, or train ride to reach the more inland locations. Better yet, book a Princess excursion and expert local guides will handle the transportation, language translation and any necessary timed entries to top sites.

Respectful guests are welcomed at most historic locations, monuments, temples and landmarks, where Shinto and Buddhist traditions shape the design, etiquette and rituals. Note: in some places, particularly inside religious buildings or near shrines, photography is prohibited and shoes must be removed to enter.

The top historical places in Japan

These ten landmarks represent a wide variety of Japan’s history, culture and architecture and are accessible from Princess cruise ports. Cruise guests who enjoy planning and exploring on their own are welcome to do so, but we’ve also included links to appropriate curated Princess excursions to help you make the most of your time ashore and ensure you return to the port on time.

1. Tour Himeji Castle, Japan’s most iconic feudal fortress

Himeji’s original 17th-century castle keep has miraculously survived multiple wars and earthquakes intact. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Japanese National Treasure, this iconic structure is nicknamed the White Heron Castle due to its bright, white plaster exterior and soaring, graceful rooflines.

The adjacent Kokoen Garden (a short walk west of the castle’s main gate) showcases Edo-period landscape design across nine themed gardens and is strikingly beautiful, particularly during spring cherry blossom season or when autumn leaves turn colors.

The castle and grounds are located approximately 35 miles west of the cruise terminal at Kobe port, so you’ll want to either book an excursion or arrange transportation using the excellent local public rail system. It takes around 45–60 minutes each way via train.

The white multi-tiered towers of Himeji Castle rise above stone walls and manicured pine trees, with pink cherry blossoms in the foreground against a vivid blue sky.
Marvel at nearly 700 years of history at the magnificent Himeji Castle.

2. Walk through Kyoto’s imperial temples and shrines

Kyoto served as Japan’s imperial capital for more than 1,000 years, until around 1868 when the capital was moved to Edo (later renamed to Tokyo) during the Meiji Restoration. Kyoto’s famous Kinkaku-ji golden pavilion is a Buddhist temple whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. The building itself reflects 14th-century Muromachi-era Zen architecture, but has been burned and rebuilt several times since its original construction around 1398.

Another Kyoto highlight and UNESCO site is Nijo Castle, showcasing shogunate-era design and famous “nightingale floors,” which are specially designed, intentionally creaky floorboards that chirp like birds to warn shoguns of approaching assassins. The castle’s interior walls and sliding doors are covered in intricate gold-leaf paintings and masterful woodcarvings (note that photography inside the castle is prohibited to protect these artworks).

The Heian Shinto Shrine features one of Japan’s largest torii gates at 24.4 meters (80 feet) high, as well as expansive ceremonial grounds. Consider booking an excursion to simplify your visit to the Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle & Heian Shrine.

The ornately decorated wooden entrance gate and sweeping rooftops of Nijo Castle in Kyoto, adorned with intricate gold carvings and colorful painted details, with a manicured pine tree alongside under a bright blue sky.
Kyoto's Nijo Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site worth every step inside.

3. Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine and Sanjusangendo Temple

Fushimi Inari in Kyoto is famous for its “tunnels” made up of thousands of vermilion-painted torii gates, which wind up Mount Inari. Guests are encouraged to be respectful while at this and other historic and spiritual sites. It is customary to bow slightly before passing through a torii gate to enter sacred grounds, and visitors are encouraged to walk to the left or right sides under the gate, avoiding the exact middle.

The 13th-century Sanjusangendo Temple’s main hall houses 1,001 gold-leafed statues of Kannon (goddess of compassion, in her thousand-armed incarnation). Each face is different, and it is said that among the Kannon statues you will find one that resembles the person you long to meet. 

Both sites reflect deep Shinto-Buddhist traditions and centuries of artisan craftsmanship. The quiet zen rock gardens nearby provide a contrast to the busier shrine paths. The Fushimi-Inari Shrine, Sanjusangendo Temple & Zen Garden excursion is a favorite of many guests visiting Kyoto.

A seemingly endless tunnel of vivid orange-red torii gates inscribed with Japanese kanji lines a stone pathway through a lush green forest at Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan.
Walk the iconic torii gate tunnels of Fushimi Inari and lose yourself in Kyoto's magic.

4. Explore Nara’s UNESCO temples and Great Buddha

Nara was Japan’s first permanent capital, founded around the year 710, and is home to eight major historic temples, shrines and heritage sites. Todaiji Temple houses one of the world’s largest bronze Buddha statues, at around 15 meters (49 feet) tall. Nara’s Toshodaiji and Yakushiji temples preserve some of the country’s earliest surviving Buddhist architecture, and the free-roaming sika deer in Nara Park are considered sacred messengers of the kami (spirits or deities of Shinto).

Two colossal Buddhist statues inside Todai-ji Temple in Nara, Japan — a gleaming gold bodhisattva on the left and the massive dark bronze Great Buddha on the right, framed by ornate red wooden columns and a latticed ceiling.
Come face to face with Nara's Great Buddha, one of Japan's most sacred treasures.

5. Reflect at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome

The UNESCO-listed Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) marks the hypocenter of the Hiroshima atomic bomb blast on August 6, 1945. The building, originally used as the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, was partially destroyed but was left preserved as a ruin. The nearby Peace Memorial Museum traces the city’s history before, during and after the bombing. An arched stone cenotaph memorial protects a chest beneath, containing volumes of the Register of the A-Bomb Victims. The Children’s Peace Monument and the eternal flame of peace are nearby sculptures symbolizing both remembrance for the victims and a continued global call for peace. An excursion to the Peace Memorial Park is always poignant and memorable for visitors to Hiroshima.

The skeletal ruins of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, also known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, stand against a bright blue sky, framed by lush green trees and a manicured lawn in the foreground.
Pay tribute to history at Hiroshima's powerful Peace Memorial.

6. Step onto Miyajima Island and Itsukushima Shrine

Less than an hour outside the city of Hiroshima is the small island of Miyajima. The “floating” red torii gate on the outskirts of Itsukushima Shrine is one of Japan’s most photographed landmarks. The shrine dates to the 6th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 16.6 meter (roughly 54 feet) tall torii gate was built over the water on stilts to honor the sacred kami of the island, and at high tide, the gate appears to be floating in the ocean, but at low tide it is accessible on foot. A 5-minute walk from Itsukushima Shrine, you’ll find Daishoin Temple and the surrounding deer park.

The iconic vermilion torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine appears to float in the shallow tidal flats off Miyajima Island at dusk, its vivid orange reflection shimmering in the still water with mountain silhouettes and a pastel sky behind.
Miyajima Island's floating torii gate is every bit as breathtaking in person.

7. Climb Osaka Castle and visit Sumiyoshi Taisha

Osaka Castle played a pivotal role in Japan’s 16th-century unification, and is globally renowned for its monumental scale, dramatic architecture and central role in ending the Warring States period of Japanese history. Its iconic green-and-gold tiered roof rises above blossom-filled grounds in spring and is a spectacular sight any time of the year. An on-site museum features exhibits tracing the rise of feudal-era Osaka as a merchant powerhouse.

Another Osaka highlight is Sumiyoshi Taisha, one of Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines (founded in the 3rd century), predating Buddhist influence. The shrine’s most famous feature is a steep, arched red bridge spanning the pond nearby. Crossing it is said to purify you before you enter the sacred grounds to the shrine.

A striking red arched bridge reflects in the still green waters of a pond at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Osaka, flanked by lush trees, colorful flowers and traditional stone lanterns under a blue sky.
Cross into tranquility at Osaka's stunning Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine.

8. Cross Iwakuni’s Kintai Bridge and tour the hilltop castle

The five-arched, wooden Kintai-kyo Bridge dates to 1673 and is considered an architectural marvel, supported by massive stone pillars. The bridge has a straight-line total length of 193.3 meters (approx. 634 feet), but because of its distinctive five-arch shape, the actual length measured along the curved surface of the bridge is 210 meters (approx. 689 feet). The arched portions themselves are fairly steep so please note they may present difficulty for guests with mobility issues or health concerns.

A cable car connects the bridge area to the nearby hilltop fortress of Iwakuni Castle atop Mount Yokoyama. From there, guests can enjoy sweeping views of the Seto Inland Sea and the surrounding park, featuring cherry trees, stone lanterns and former samurai-era homes.

The five elegant wooden arches of Kintai Bridge span a river in Iwakuni, Japan, framed by soft pink cherry blossom branches in the foreground and a lush forested hillside behind.
Cherry blossom season makes Iwakuni's Kintai Bridge an absolute showstopper.

9. Discover Nagasaki’s Dejima Island and Glover Garden

The man-made bridge-island of Dejima in the bay of Nagasaki was Japan’s only window to the West for 220 years of national isolation during the Edo period, and during that time, was the only location foreigners could set foot. Today, reconstructed warehouses and offices highlight 17th-century Dutch trading life. 

A 20-minute walk takes you to nearby Glover Garden, preserving Western-style residences from the Meiji era above the harbor. A Best of Nagasaki excursion includes these highlights as well as Nagasaki’s Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum.

Close-up of a restored two-story traditional Japanese wooden building at Dejima Island in Nagasaki, featuring dark weathered timber walls, white plaster panels and a teal-painted balcony with latticed windows.
Dejima Island brings Nagasaki's fascinating trading post history to life.

10. Tour Shimabara Castle and its samurai village

The five-arched, wooden Kintai-kyo Bridge dates to 1673 and is considered an architectural marvel, supported by massive stone pillars. The bridge has a straight-line total length of 193.3 meters (approx. 634 feet), but because of its distinctive five-arch shape, the actual length measured along the curved surface of the bridge is 210 meters (approx. 689 feet). The arched portions themselves are fairly steep so please note they may present difficulty for guests with mobility issues or health concerns.

A cable car connects the bridge area to the nearby hilltop fortress of Iwakuni Castle atop Mount Yokoyama. From there, guests can enjoy sweeping views of the Seto Inland Sea and the surrounding park, featuring cherry trees, stone lanterns and former samurai-era homes.

The white multi-tiered towers of Shimabara Castle rise above stone walls and evergreen trees, with delicate pink cherry blossom branches filling the foreground against a vivid blue sky.
Shimabara Castle in full cherry blossom bloom is a sight you won't soon forget.

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Princess Cruises connects you to Japan’s most meaningful historical places, with curated excursions, regional dining and Japan-built ships. Whether your interests lean toward castles, shrines or memorials, every Princess itinerary brings the country’s heritage closer. Start exploring your perfect Japan cruise.

Helpful tips for planning your visit to historical places in Japan

  • Most temples and traditional buildings require shoes-off entry, so easy footwear is helpful. Wear socks (or bring some to wear when your footwear is off).
  • Photography may be restricted inside temples, museums and certain shrines.
  • Mornings tend to be quieter at major shrines, castles and UNESCO sites.
  • UNESCO sites and famous gardens often have timed-entry rules during peak seasons.
  • Princess excursions handle transportation between port and inland historical sites.
  • Spring and autumn feature cherry blossoms and fall foliage at many landmarks.

Historical places in Japan FAQs