Nagano Region
One of the three sub-shrines of Togakushi-jinja, intimate Chūsha, meaning 'middle shrine', is the most accessible, located prominently in the centre of…
Must-see attractions in Japan
Takayama Museum of History & Art
Takayama
Not to be confused with the Hida Takayama Museum of Art, this free museum is situated around pretty gardens and features 14 themed exhibition rooms…
Ōsumi Islands
At the southern border of the Akaogi Castle ruins, this preserved samurai house and garden contains a few cultural artefacts. A short informational video…
Kyūshū
South of the visitor centre is this observation point, where the 1914 lava flow engulfed a small island that had once been 500m offshore. There's now an…
Kamakura
This Rinzai Zen temple is popular for its small forest of towering mōsō bamboo, within which you can relax under a shelter with a cup of matcha and sweets…
Kyūshū
Founded AD 755, this scenic shrine sits near the centre of town and is fronted by an unusual white torii (gate). It sponsors the Karatsu Kunchi Matsuri,…
Kanazawa
In the grounds of Gyokusen Inmaru Garden, this handsome teahouse is the perfect setting in which to experience cha-dō (a tea ceremony), one of Japan's…
Kanazawa
An Important Cultural Asset, this well-known, traditional-style former geisha house dates from 1820 and has an impressive collection of elaborate combs,…
Around Tokyo
With a wealth of natural history info on the Takao-san region, this beautifully designed museum is arranged with younger visitors in mind – display cases…
Central Honshū
Originally established in 1532, riverside Honkō-ji is Hida's largest wooden temple. Its gate showcases the fine craftsmanship of Furukawa's carpenters…
Nikkō
In Tōshō-gū's initial courtyard are these 'Three Sacred Storehouses'; on the upper storey of the Kamijinko (upper storehouse) are relief carvings of …
Tokyo
Meaning 'northern drawbridge gate' this was the principal entrance to the north side of Edo-jō and now provides access to the Imperial Palace East Garden…
Kamakura National Treasure Museum
Kamakura
This museum displays an excellent collection of Kamakura religious art and statuary. Some are the typically peaceful Jizō (Buddhist patron of travellers,…
Kanazawa & the Hokuriku Coast
This factory has been producing traditional Takaoka bronzeware since the Meiji era and allows visitors a rare and fascinating glimpse of the casting…
Kii Peninsula
Part museum, part visitor centre, this contemporary multimedia complex has exhibits about Kumano's culture and natural environment, plus English-speaking…
Izu Peninsula
A small museum in the grounds of Shuzen-ji containing ancient carved buddhas, other religious works of art and documentation of the restoration of these…
Matsumoto
Home to Japan's largest pendulum clock (on the building's exterior) and over 300 other timepieces, including fascinating medieval Japanese creations, this…
Okinawa & the Southwest Islands
If you've got a car, we recommend a drive out to the southeastern tip of the island, a narrow finger of land that extends 2km into the Pacific Ocean…
Nagasaki
In the Dutch Slopes, this quiet museum showcases the area's history through historic photographs (note that most signage is in Japanese). The combined…
Ōsumi Islands
On the island's northwest coast, Nagata Inaka-hama is a beautiful beach for sunsets, and it's where sea turtles lay their eggs from May to July. It's…
Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History
Yokohama
Housed in the grand former Yokohama Specie Bank building (c1904) is this rather scholarly history museum charting the course of Kanagawa Prefecture from…
Nagano Region
Of the Sōtō Zen sect, Anraku-ji is the oldest Zen temple in Nagano. Dating from AD 824–34, it's a National Treasure, renowned for its octagonal pagoda…
Western Honshū
The lovingly restored Kumagai Residence was rebuilt in 1801 after an earthquake destroyed most of the town the previous year. The house belonged to a…
Western Honshū
The old residence of Mori Ōgai (1862–1922), a highly regarded novelist who served as a physician in the Imperial Japanese Army.
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
You can't miss the 252m-long red wooden bridge connecting Fuku-ura-jima to the mainland. The shady trails here, which wind around the island through…
Nagano Region
Takai Kōzan, woodblock artist Hokusai's friend and patron, was a businessman and an accomplished classical artist specialising in elegant Chinese-style…
Central Honshū
The showpiece of one of Japan's largest plumbing-equipment manufacturers, housing some 150 elaborately decorated Meiji- and Taisho-era toilets and Japan's…
Yamaguchi Prefectural Art Museum
Western Honshū
This interesting gallery focuses on the art of the region, with three rooms showing work from its varied permanent collection; leafy grounds featuring…
Kōbe
Kōbe's signature shrine is said to date from 201, though it's been rebuilt many a time – a symbol of resilience for the city. It's right in the middle of…
Kanazawa & the Hokuriku Coast
One for X-Files fans, this quirky space and science museum features ’60s and ’70s USSR space-mission relics and several UFO and alien exhibits (including…
Western Honshū
This 153m tower looks like a midget skyscraper topped by a futuristic billiard ball. Head to the observatory for 360-degree views across Shimonoseki and…
Okinawa & the Southwest Islands
As any local will tell you, this attractive beach is the best place on the island for watching the sunset over the East China Sea. Find it on the west…
Nikkō
This 'Sacred Stable' building in Tōshō-gū's outer courtyard is crowned with relief carvings of monkeys. The allegorical 'hear no evil, see no evil, speak…
Hokkaidō
At the top of the hill in the Ainu kotan, this small museum has changing exhibitions of contemporary Ainu artisan work, and sometimes thought-provoking…
Ishikawa Wajima Urushi Art Museum
Kanazawa & the Hokuriku Coast
This modern museum, about a 15-minute walk west of the former train station, has rotating exhibitions of its large lacquerware collection in galleries…
Nagasaki
The atomic blast knocked down half of the stone entrance arch to Sanno-jinja shrine, 800m southeast of the hypocentre, but the other pillar remains, a…
Roppongi, Akasaka & Around
The impressive main gate of the temple Zōjō-ji was built in 1605. Its three sections are designed to symbolise the three stages one must pass through to…
Okinawa & the Southwest Islands
An intriguing site for a stroll or dive is this pair of seawater pools on the west coast of Shimoji-jima, known by locals as 'dragon's eyes' – these are…
Fuji Five Lakes
There are good views of Mt Fuji from this lookout building, especially popular in autumn when the Aokigahara Forest is a sea of red. It's a 30-minute walk…
Western Honshū
The church here is a reminder of the town's Christian history. 'Hidden Christians' from Nagasaki were exiled here in the early Meiji period. It's…
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