TripAdvisor Japan, a travel website with helpful reviews, made a ranking of the top 30 "tourist destinations in Japan in 2014". This list was created using TripAdvisor Japan’s unique algorism to analyze the reviews written in languages other than Japanese, from April 2013 'til March 2014.
In 1st place was Fushimi Inari-taisha in Kyoto, last year's 2nd place. In 2nd place was the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima, which was last year's 1st place. In 3rd place was Itsukushima Shirine also in Hiroshima, which was in 4th place last year. In 4th place was last year's 5th, the Kinkaku-ji Temple in Kyoto. An in 5th place, down from last year's 3rd place, was Todai-ji Temple in Nara. As you can see, the top destinations are almost all in Kyoto and Hiroshima.
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Japan’s Top 30 Most Popular Tourist Destinations 2014
1. Fushimi Inari-taisha / Kyoto City, Kyoto
A shirne in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City. The head of the approx. 30,000 “inari shrines” nationwide.
http://inari.jp/ (Japanese)
I've been to Kyoto several times but this was my first time to Fushimi Inari Shrine. It was absolutely gorgeous. The red Toriis all the way to the top were a fantastic sight. We took so many pictures. the walk is fairly easy at first, and gets a little more rigorous. I'm not in great shape but was able to do this one! Very worth the effort. (Kim B, USA)
2. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum / Hiroshima City, Hiroshima
A museum in Naka-ku, Hiroshima City. A museum built with the purpose of conveying the destruction brought by the atomic bomb that fell on Hiroshima. Many documents and articles left by the deceased are on display
http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/index_e2.html (English)
Really gets one thinking about the horrors of war. Respectful way to remember the victims of tragedies. (CC, Mexico)
3. Itsukushima Shrine / Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima
The shrine is situated on Itsukushima or “miyajima”. It is known for its unique Heian period architectural beauty, using the ocean as part of the premises of the shrine. It is registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.
http://www.miyajima-wch.jp/index.html (Eng, Chi, Kor, Fre, Ger, Jpn)
The red gate is one of the icons of Japan and a must-see! Not only is there so much history here, but there surroundings are breath-taking, with the lake, mountains and wildlife. I suggest hanging around to late afternoon (explore other parts of the island in your free time), when the colours blend together and the red gate becomes even more beautiful. I cannot recommend this place enough, definitely one of the places that I wouldn't hesitate to go back! (elle_g11, Australia)
4. Kinkaku-ji Temple / Kyoto City, Kyoto
A temple situated in Kyoto. It’s formal name is Rokuon-ji, but since it is famous for it’s golden reliquary hall, it is more commonly known as Kinkaku-ji or the “golden temple”
www.shokoku-ji.jp/k_about.html
There is no ambiguity in the name. The temple is definitely gold, strikingly so. The sound of it made me wary that the site would be overly garish, but it wasn't at all. It was beautiful. We got some of our best pictures with the temple and its reflection in the water. (Mike A, Hong Kong)
5. Todai-ji / Nara City, Nara
A temple in Nara, famous for its Great Buddha
http://www.todaiji.or.jp/
The biggest Buda in the world is here. So it's a must ! I did love Nara a lot. İn Nara this temple and the budist temple with the 1000 lanterns are fascinating.We thought half a day is enough for Nara, but it was so beautiful we nearly spent a hole day there. (thedeer, Turcky )
6. Koyasan Okunoin / Koya town, Wakayama
A sacred place, and the center of the Koyasan faith. On the 2km temple road, surrounded by cedar trees are stone monuments and tombstones from the Sengoku period
https://www.koyasan.or.jp/tazuneru/sights/okunoin.html
7. Kiyomizu-dera / Kyoto City, Kyoto
A temple in the Kiyomizu district of Kyoto, famous for its main hall called “Kiyomizu-no-butai”
www.kiyomizudera.or.jp (Eng, Chi, Kor, Jpn)
more information
8. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden / Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
A Japanese garden park under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment, spreading from Shinjuku-ku to Shibuya-ku
http://www.fng.or.jp/shinjuku/shinjuku-index.html
9. THE HAKONE OPEN-AIR MUSEUM / Hakone Town, Ahigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa
Japan’s first museum to feature statues set outside, situated in Hakone
http://www.hakone-oam.or.jp/ (Eng, Chi, Kor, Jpn)
10. Naritasan Shinsho-ji / Narita City, Chiba
A Buddhist temple in Narita City, Chiba Pref. Its principal object of worship is the Fudo-Myo-ou, and it’s more commonly known as Narita Fudo or as Naritasan
http://www.naritasan.or.jp/
11. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium / Motobu Town, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa
An aquarium near the Motobu peninsula in the northwest part of the Okinawa mainland. It’s one of the biggest aquariums in the world
http://oki-churaumi.jp/ (Eng, Chi, Kor, Jpn)
12. Matsumoto Castle / Matsumoto City, Nagano
A castle in Matsumoto City, Nagano Pref. It’s a national treasure, and the oldest surviving five-story pagoda in Japan
https://www.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp/ (Multilingual)
13. Sanjusangendo / Kyoto City, Kyoto
A Buddhist temple in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto City
sanjusangendo.jp/
14. Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama / Kyoto City, Kyoto
A Monkey Park in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto. There are approx.. 130 monkeys living inside the park, and they all have their own name.
http://www.kmpi.co.jp/ (Eng, Jpn)
15. Kenrokuen / Kanazawa City, Ishikawa
A Japanese garden in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Pref. It’s one of the three most famous Japanese gardens in Japan
http://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/siro-niwa/kenrokuen/ (Eng, Chi, Kor, Jpn)
16. Robot Restaurant / Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
An entertainment restaurant in Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku. It has a huge moving robot that’s worth 1 billion yen
http://www.shinjuku-robot.com/pc/ (Eng, Jpn)
17. Nijo Castle / Kyoto City, Kyoto
A castle from the Edo period in Nakagyou-ku, Kyoto City
http://www.city.kyoto.jp/bunshi/nijojo/ (Eng, Jpn)
18. Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum / Nagasaki City, Nagasaki
A museum in Nagasaki that displays material concerning the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki
http://www.city.nagasaki.lg.jp/peace/ (Eng, Chi, Kor, Jpn)
19. Mori Art Museum / Minato-ku, Tokyo
A museum in Roppongi Hills that displays mostly modern art
http://www.mori.art.museum/jp/ (Eng, Chi, Kor, Jpn)
20. Meiji Jingu / Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
A shrine in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/ (Eng, Jpn)
Watch this 360º VR Video of Meiji Jingu Shrine and feel like you are walking there yourself.
21. Jigokudani Yaen-koen / Shimotakai-gun, Nagano
A monkey park in Jigokudani Hot Springs, Nagano Pref. that preserves and observes Japanese monkeys. It’s an internationally famous tourist spot because of the monkeys who bathe in the hot springs in winter
http://www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/ (Eng, Jpn)
22. Nara Park / Nara City, Nara
A park in Nara City, Nara Pref. The approx. 1200 deer which are considered as national treasures roam free throughout the park.
http://nara-park.com/
23. Dotonbori / Osaka City, Osaka
The downtown area in Chuo-ku, Osaka. There are many restaurants and shops gathered there.
http://www.dotonbori.or.jp/
24. Shibuya Center Street / Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
A shopping arcade in Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. There are many different stores there, and it’s very popular with the younger generation
http://center-gai.jp/
25. Sensoji / Taito-ku, Tokyo
The oldest temple in Tokyo, situated in Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
http://www.senso-ji.jp/ (Eng, Chi, Kor, Jpn)
26. Kaiyukan / Osaka City, Osaka
One of the biggest aquariums in the world, situated in Tenhouzan, Minato-ku, Osaka City
http://www.kaiyukan.com/
27. Video Game Bar Space Station / Osaka City, Osaka
A video game bar in Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, where many gamers from abroad gather.
https://www.facebook.com/SpaceStationOsaka
28. TOYOTA Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology / Nagoya City, Aichi
A participatory type museum operated by Toyota in Nishi-ku, Nagoya City, which people of all ages can enjoy.
http://www.tcmit.org/ (Eng, Chi, Kor, Thai, Jpn)
29. Kyoto Nishiki Market / Kyoto City, Kyoto
A shopping arcade in Chukyo-ku, Kyoto City. A market place where stores selling fresh foods, dry foods, pickled foods, famous in Kyoto have stood for decades.
http://www.kyoto-nishiki.or.jp/
30. Shinsaibashi / Osaka City, Osaka
A downtown area in Chuo-ku, Osaka City. There’s also a long fashionable shopping arcade
http://www.shinsaibashi.or.jp/ (Eng, Chi, Kor, Jpn)
source: http://www.tripadvisor.jp/pages/InboundAttraction_2014.html