8 incredible experiences that should be on your Japan bucket list

Japan has always held a great fascination for Australians, and these bucketlist experience prove why.

For a relatively small country in terms of land mass, all Japan bucket list experiences certainly punch well above their weight when it comes to what’s on offer for visitors.

From transformative cultural experiences to foodie meccas that will delight the senses, indulgent relaxation for the wellness-inclined to getting up-close-and-personal with wildlife, these are the adventures across the country you need to tick off on your next trip.

torii gates of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto — Natural and man-made beauty abounds, like the torii gates of the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto.

1. Soak in a Beppu onsen

One of Japan’s most famous onsen resorts, Beppu is blessed with eight different natural springs – each with public baths and facilities so you can enjoy the soothing mineral benefits of the thermal waters, which can help ease aching muscles.

Aside from onsens, you’ll find other forms of bathing across Beppu such as sand baths (soaking in heated sand) and mud baths. Even the hotels have their own onsens for guest use.

Sea Hell Beppu onsen, Japan bucket list — Choose from eight different natural springs in Beppu.

2. Take the bullet train around Japan

As the most famous mode of transport in Japan (if not the world), travelling by bullet train is one of the easiest, quickest and most scenic ways to hop from city to city.

The speedy rail system traverses Japan’s islands and major cities, hurtling you along at speeds of 300 kilometres an hour.

bullet train, Japan bucket list — Jump on the most famous mode of transport in Japan.

3. Visit Osaka and Kyoto

These two wildly different cities are worth visiting to experience the rich cultural history of Japan.

Kyoto once served as Japan’s capital and also housed the Emperor’s residence for over 1,000 years. Filled with ancient temples and shrines, it’s where you’ll find the beautiful orange torii gates of the Fushimi Inari Shrine. In contrast, Osaka is a bustling, thrumming city which foodies will delight in – the street food and casual dining scene here is top-tier.

Maikos walking in Kyoto — See apprentice geishas walking around in Kyoto.

4. Watch the Sumo wrestling

Sumo is something most of us have little understanding of, aside from what we’ve been shown in movies. See the real deal in Japan, where the form of wrestling originated back in the Antiquity period. Japan remains the only country where it is practised professionally, and six tournaments are held across the year.

Sumo wrestling, Japan bucket list — Witness an exciting Sumo wrestling match. (Image: Bob Fisher)

5. Spend Time With Snow Monkeys

Accustomed to humans and therefore able to be observed at close range, the snow monkeys (officially known as Japanese macaques) of the Japanese Alps – not far from Yudanaka city – are incredible to witness, and also extremely cute. Known for being docile and relaxed,

Snow monkey Japan — Get up close with Japan’s famous bathing snow monkeys.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

6. Partake in a Japanese tea ceremony

A Japanese tea ceremony (known in Japan as ‘The Way Of Tea’) is not to be missed on a trip to the country. Rooted in Zen Buddhism, the practice is steeped in history, with origins dating as far back as the 12th century. You’ll find them around the country, but Kyoto is an especially popular to experience one.

7. See Mount Fuji in cherry blossom season

A visual representation of Japan, Mount Fuji during cherry blossom season is likely to top your bucket list. Occurring during spring, April is the best time to witness the event. Head to Shizuoka or Yamanashi for those Instagram-worthy photos of cherry blossoms in the foreground against the spectacular Mount Fuji in the background, or cruise the Fuji Five Lakes area for stunning vantage points of the mountain.

Mount Fuji Cherry Blossoms — Head to Shizuoka or Yamanashi for perfect shots of Mount Fiji.

8. Enjoy the best food in Tokyo

Japan’s capital and the country’s most popular tourist city is also the birthplace of modern sushi and absolutely the best place to eat it. Nigiri is the most popular form of sushi here, where rice is moulded by hand and raw fish is added on top, with tuna being the most popular variation.

There are so many ways to try sushi in Tokyo, but one you should definitely add to the list is a conveyor belt restaurant. While we have plenty of these in Australia, this style of sushi restaurant originated in Japan and remains the most popular sushi restaurant to this day.

Tokyo suchi — Find a sushi train to taste Nigiri.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.