Tokyo is the biggest city in Japan. In this place, a lot of things seems unique and you may not find something in Tokyo like any other places in the world. Here is some list of must-see things in Tokyo.

Cat Café

Outside Tokyo a little, exactly at Chiba prefecture, you can find this café with cat all around the place. You can pet them, stroke them, give some treat, and the most fun is to play with fox tails toys, or any other cat toys. They have strict rules about not to chase them to cuddle, and let them approach near you. No sandals or shoes inside the café. The cats are not placed in a cage, but they are bounce everywhere at the café. Inside the basket, upon the cat-trees, on the table, and chair. If you live in an apartment and cannot have a pet, then you might want to visit this cafe sometimes. This café makes you forget about the outside world of Tokyo as the busiest city. It can make you relax and rest for a while.

Maid Café

Like the story of a manga or the Japanese comics, which the characters are often a cute girl use a short maid dresses colored in black with a white apron. This kind of dresses is very famous and recognizable between the manga reader around the world and the manga-ka (refer to the manga maker). Tokyo has brought this kind of maid-things into a maid in a realistic restaurant. Every guest is served as the master, and be greeted "Welcome home, Master". This might be the most desirable place for manga lovers all around the world.

Onsen

Onsen, or a natural hot spring, which is very famous and also the first thing to visit when you went to Japan. Not only for tourists, the local Tokyo people also loves to soak in an onsen and become one of their holiday destination too. There also a theme park onsen named Oedo Onsen Monogatari. Usually, they provide yukata or thin kind of kimono for the guests to be wear while in the onsen area.

Food

Japanese food is the most recognizable in the world, as much as French cuisine. Food is the most passionate culinary both for tourist and the local people. If you watch Japan TV, about half of it shows anything about food. There's why a lot of food model made from plastic displayed in front of the restaurant. Kappabashi-Dori is one of the places sold this kind of food models. You have to see the details and how much it resembles the real food. It's really are a fantastic art to enjoy.

The department store

You have to make a swift visit to the department store, although you didn't need anything to buy. You can see a melon with $100 price and other things which are rare and edibles. The fancy thing to buy, but it is worth it since it handled with care. They touch it only when they wear gloves. The taste? Is not something to be asked, the taste, the texture, the price just warrants it all. The Tokyo people shop at this department store, but this kind of fancy fruit is not something to but daily, but it will make a good gift.

Vending Machines

It heard nothing special about it, but in fact, this is very interesting to gawk at a vending machine at Tokyo. You can find vending machines in every corner of Tokyo. But something interesting about it, you must see what they sold inside there. They contain hot canned coffee, cold green tea in bottles, canned bread, beer, hot noodles, and even umbrellas. The technology is also unique and modern. The vending machines menu in a touch screen, and even the face recognition software.

The toilet

Curious about the toilet? Most of them are the usual toilet, but sometimes they have cool features like seat warmers, air dryers, adjusting water pressure, some are surprisingly interesting to raise and lower the seats.

Gundam statue

There's also something to see in Odaiba. Right here, stands a 35 meters tall and 35 tons weight the famous mobile suit Gundam, with the scale 1:1. The famous anime make the idea. They built it to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the anime in 2009.

Hey, have you heard about the "Hawaii of Japan"? Do you want to see the conical volcano? Plan a trip to Japan, which gives the pleasure for all by visiting the places like Hiroshima, Where the atom bomb explosion and Kagoshima, where there is an active volcano, which is known as the "Hawaii of Japan" Wow, nobody can expect such natural disasters are now tourist visiting places in Japan. There are many more sites are to be expected to be explored.

Kagoshima

The Kagoshima, nicknamed as "Naples of the Eastern World", the city which was known for its bay location was founded in the year 1889. This city is a worth seeing place In Kagoshima, where one can see a Stratovolcano, named "Sakurajima"(Stratovolcano is a conical volcano which has many layers of hardened lava and ash) Kagoshima is the place where one can see the live volcanoes. In the year 1914, when the eruption was caused, the lava flowed and connected with the former island Osumi Peninsula. From that day onwards even today the volcanic activity continues and recently, in the month of February of this year the eruption started, and the Japan Meteorological Agency identified that the volcano is active and instructed not to approach near to that place. Sakurajima, is a mountain which has three peaks namely, Kita, Naka and Minami- dake. Among the three the southern peak Minami-dake is active. In this volcano eruption happens regularly with a ground shake for a few seconds, one can see the plumes in the sky by the nearby areas of the foothills.

Kirishma

According to the Japanese mythology, the god "Ninigi no Mikoto, who is the grandson of Sun Goddess "Amaterasu" , who was sent to earth to rule the Japanese emperors. Even today we can see at the top of the mountain – "Mount Takachiho-no-mine", the spear sunk which was used by the Ninigi no Mikoto to descend to land on earth. Kirishma is a mountain range which is situated in the Miyazaki and Kagoshima Prefectures. The surroundings of the mountain range are filled with volcanic lakes, highlands and hot springs. The hot springs and the mountain surroundings offers an adventurous exploration for the visitors. Kirishma is one of the 18 young and small active volcanoes in the Kagoshima bay.

Yakushima island

Yakushima is a part of Kagoshima Prefecture. This is the island of the Japanese oldest cedar living trees. To your wonder you can see the trees about 7000 years old. The Japanese call the cedar trees which are of 1000 years old as "Yakusugi". Most of the tourists visit this place to see the old cedar trees. Some areas in this island ware declared as Natural World Heritage Site in the year 1993.

Izumi

Izumi is a place on the edge of the Kagoshima Prefecture towards the sea of Yatsushiro. This place is famous for migratory cranes. In every autumn season, thousands of Siberian Cranes migrate to this island and stay there until the spring season. Izumi Crane Park, Dome Theater and Crane Museum are very worth seeing places.

Kinko Bay

The Kinko Bay is filled with endless restaurants and shopping centers and the most important view from this place is to admire the Sakurajima's eruption along with the Kagoshima's cuisine. The Kinko Bay belongs to the Jomon-era and having the evidences of human habitation in Japan.

Ibusuki – Hot Sand Bath

Tourists who want to enjoy the hot sand baths can visit this place. Ibusuki is a place famous for sand baths. The bathers are literally buried in the heated sand and the Ibusuki's restaurants also offer Sand bath halls . Apart from the sand baths there are many other attractions in this area. Satsuma Denshokan Museum displays the pottery works of the Japanese people and the displays related to the history one can see in this museum. One can enjoy one more bathing experience at this place is having outdoor baths of Healthy land having a view onto the mountain Kaimondake and the ocean bay.

Plan a trip to the visit the Treasures of Kagoshima Islands.

Hanami is a popular term for a very long held custom that every single Japanese citizens are proud of, which is to enjoy the beautiful blossoming flowers all across the country. There is no shortage of good cherry blossom hot spots around Japan but the best as rated among the locals and international travellers would be at Yoshino. Cherry blossom season varies by geographical regions throughout Japan. In Okinawa, it could appear in early January. In Hokkaido, it will only appear in May annually. The general consensus is that throughout the whole country, the main regions usually have their flowers blossom around the March end period. Parties in groups of 5 can be organized during the blossom season and many people have picnics around the area. Families and couples are more than welcome to join in the fun.

Japan offers extreme natural beauties from its cherry trees. Many are amazed by the flower clouds formed during the blossoming season. It is a national event where live broadcast are being played to all corners of the country. News stations have dedicated mapping services that tracks every single progress from pre-bloom to full blossom. It is the only time where all Japanese unite and party away by having a good time without having any concern for monetary reserves. Picnic parties are common during Hanami. Parties start as early as the first buds begins to bloom right up till the final blooming trees. Parties stretch from daytime till the moonlight shines, and it is pretty standard party SOP. Parks will be flooded with massive crowds, all enjoying their cold beer and laughing away with good humor. As long as there is a blossoming cherry trees, there can be Hanami enjoyment. There are of course a few favourite spots among the locals.

Ueno-koen is the undisputed favorite among all favorite spots for the whole of Japan. It contains more than 1000 cherry trees flowering at the same moment and is seen as the holy spot for Hanami fever. In Tokyo, one can also move over to Shinjuku-gyoen, the largest park in Tokyo, and roam around looking for the bet picnic spots as the crowd there is lesser. If you are in Kyoto region, Maruyama-koen is the place to be to experience Hanami. It has an iconic weeping tree known for its humongous size. It is the landmark for the city, drawing hordes of travellers from all over the world. Its lighting is especially good at night. Every 2nd Sunday for the month of April, a once a year special procession will be held at Daigo Ji temple. The procession attempts to re-create cherry blossoming party organized in the 16th century. Travellers can relive the experience similar to people in the past. Another top spot worth mentioning is Yoshino, located in the hill top of Kansai town. Thousands of lively cherry trees were all lined up to form a carpet spiraling down the sides of the mountains. Many do not regret travelling for the awesome view. It could be packed with visitors during the peak season due to the narrow winding streets but still it is worth visiting at least once.

Top Hanami spots are usually booked well in advance for picnic enthusiasts. You will find tarpaulins scattered all across the greenery where people book their prized turf before the sun shines. In order to get a good view right in the middle of all the action of blossom parties, the only way is to be up early as well. One day trip is all you can get for cherry blossoms at the famous Yoshino unless you had booked you place of stay well in advance.

Do not forget about the local attractions over at Yoshino. There is a wooden building known as Kimpusen-Ji where you can safely reach after a short 500 meters walk from a cable car station. In the Ueno-koen, you will be able to locate the National Museum for Tokyo which has 90,000 items on display. It is known to house the world's biggest Japanese art collection. More info can be obtained from Japan's official Tourist website from the National Tourism Organization.

Summertime in Japan is filled with festivals. Float parades are held across towns and ladies don their yukata or cotton kimono to walk on the streets. Sake and beer flows amidst the food stalls with fireworks exploding at the background. Famous festivals include Gion Matsuri which is famous in Kyoto and spans the whole of July. Tenjin Matsuri festival runs at Osaka from 24 to 25 July. People from northern Honshu display their strengths by balancing lanterns on bamboo poles on their shoulders for annual Akita Kanto festival. Over at Miyajima there is Kangen sai on the 1st of August with music ceremony on boats. Kodo Drummers perform during Sadogashima on late August for earth celebration. July as well as August are months where fireworks rule the Japanese skies. There is the Sumida gawa festival for fireworks and Biwa Ko festival also for fireworks.

Mid-August is the period of O-bon, a ceremonial festival for showing appreciation to ancestors spiritually. Whole of Japan goes on holiday and one would be able to witness the Bon-Odori traditional dance. It is a simple repetitive dance with dancers using fan or towel as dance prop. An excellent place for admiring Bon-odori is Awaodori Matsuri at Tokushima. Dancers compete in teams for prizes. Gujo Hachiman, a small mountain town at northern Nagoya offers spectators 32 nights of continuous dancing, some stretch into the mornings. Spectators are welcome to join in the dance and fun.

Summertime dining dishes are unique in Japan. One specialty include cold noodle or somen noodles. It is refreshing to many. The noodles are chilled and served with tasty sauce and fresh vegetables and eggs. One can also experience catching your own noodles flowing from bamboo pipes by using chopsticks. It is called nagashi somen and is a local delicacy. Summer festivals are accompanied by stalls selling fried stuff and bite size snacks. Fried stuff or yaki dominate sales levels and you can find immense flavor for yakitori or tako-yaki. Kakigori, a refreshing dessert is a must try if you fancy shaved ice with syrup and fruit toppings under the hot summer. Different syrup flavors are available to the masses.

Beer garden officially opens from May to September. Students, party groups, working adults and families will all flock to the beer gardens to escape the heat by having a cold drink. Meals come in standard buffet packages complete with beer. The cost is affordable ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 yen. It is definely not fine dining standards. Department stores are places you can find beer gardens. Alternatively try looking at hotels and parks. Popular spots include Mori-no, located at Meiji Shrine. Others include Kyoto Tower rooftop at Kyoto. For those in Osaka, you can check out Hankyu Top. Ask around and you will be directed to the nearest beer garden.

Travel to the northern islands of Japan if you are tired from the summer heat.

Go north. It is the best time for hiking as cold weather restricts hiking activities around Japan's national parks. Try out popular hiking spots such as Yotei-zan or Shiretoko Park. Alpine flowers start to bloom during summer time and breathtaking Furano flower fields begin their life. Tomita Farm landscape will transform into different colour ranges from pink to purple. Sapporo Festival during summertime is a good hangout spot as well. It is organized around July to August with one large beer garden setting in the center. The seating capacity is 13,000 people. There are plenty of traditional dance performances, fireworks and firefly observation. You will definitely have a great time drinking away and listening to the loud cheers and lively spirits.