The Top 5 Places You MUST Visit on Your Trip to Japan

Nestled in the hills about an hour's drive outside of Osaka, Kyoto is filled with ancient temples, cobblestone streets, and geishas.

What to See: A must see is Kinkaku-ji, which translates to Temple of the Golden Pavilion. This Buddhist temple is made out of gold leaf and sits on a tranquil lake, providing breathtaking views as well as great photo moments. Talk about temple goals!

What to Do: Nearby was the Kiyomizu-dera Temple that had an 800-year-old pagoda. It was evident that this temple was the more popular of the two, as it had a quaint street filled with tourist-friendly shops and restaurants. After eating a delicious (and affordable) bowl of ramen, we wandered into a store where I found an amazing kimono.

The day after Kyoto, we took the bullet train down to Hiroshima, where one of my friend's friends picked us up and drove us to Miyajima Island, though not to worry — if you don't have a car, there are multiple buses and taxi services that run from the main train station to the island as well.

What to Do: After arriving on Miyajima, we took a short ferry across the bay. Our generous guide had arranged rickshaws for us to ride in. We rode around the island enjoying the sights and scenery, including wild deer roaming around everywhere! Most of the local shops on the island carry food specific to the deer's diet to ensure that while tourists are having a fun experience hand-feeding them, the deer are healthily benefiting from it, too.

Travel Tip: Be careful feeding the deer, though — they are NOT shy, as I quickly learned when one jumped on me!

What to See: The main attraction of the island is a beautiful torii, otherwise known as a welcome gate. This ornate monument is situated in the shallows of the water, which provides a dramatic backdrop to the coastal town on the other side of the bay. Its official name is the Itsukushima Shrine, and it is actually considered a world heritage site. If that doesn't lure you in, the shrine was first built circa the 6th century, and the Japanese government has declared it a national treasure.

Travel Tip: It is a commitment to get to. It took a plane across the Pacific, a bullet train, a drive into the countryside, and finally a ferry boat to reach this beautiful and unique place.

We decided to explore Hiroshima after the island, as it is quite possible to see both places in one day.

What to Do: This part of the trip was unique in that we spent a decent amount of time exploring the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. The museum was a very humbling experience, as I was able to witness firsthand the effects the atomic bomb had on the people of Japan. Tickets to the museum are quite reasonable, and the tour takes you through what the people of that city experienced and endured. At the end of the tour, you arrive at the A-Dome, otherwise known as the only structure left standing from the actual attack. It was a somber realization that so many lives were lost in such a brutal fashion where I was standing.

If there is one place that you should go to while visiting this country, you MUST go to Tokyo. This city provides you with the quintessential Japanese experience. We took the bullet train up from Osaka, a quick and easy ride that covers a distance similar to that between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

What to Do: We only spent two days in the city but were able to pack a ton in. For instance, I hung out in a cat cafe, which is what it sounds like — a simple cafe filled with hoards of cats that you can pet and play with. If you're not a cat person, there's also an owl cafe!

What to Do: Another must-do activity is the Robot Restaurant show. This was like no show I had ever seen before, and I honestly felt like I was at a cross between a music festival and a light show. It consisted of three different acts, telling one overall story about a war between two robot races. Between the colorful array of lights, distinct sounds, and the fact that there were giant robots walking around, I felt as if I had been transported into another world. This show really represented Tokyo and the passion it has for out-of-the-box stories, entertainment, and fashion.

What to Do: This brings me to my next stop: Harajuku. While we were there, we walked down the famous Takeshita Street, which is known for its vibrant shops and colorful styles. I kept finding myself wandering into every shop as I repeatedly would see clothes I wanted to buy, but alas, my budget didn't allow for that. I may not have picked up a new wardrobe, but I did sneak a couple of reasonable things in thanks to the absence of sales tax and my "treat yourself" attitude.

Osaka is the second largest city in the country and served as the home base for my trip. It is pretty centrally located just south of Tokyo, north of Hiroshima, and about an hour away from Kyoto, so in other words, extremely convenient.

What to Do: After a couple of wrong turns thanks to Apple maps, I made it to my destination: the Hankyu Department Store, aka Japan's version of Barneys. Yes, I spent most of my time alone in Osaka in the department store shopping.

I also made my way over to the train station, which was conveniently located right across the street. The Osaka train station has 17 floors, the top containing all of the restaurants. I perused the different options and settled on a restaurant that served a native dish of Kobe beef with rice, miso soup, and a beer for lunch. This station is a must see if you are ever in this city!

Travel Tip: Before exploring Osaka on my own, I made sure I was prepared with a WiFi hotspot and the address of the apartment I was staying at in Japanese in case I got lost and needed help.