Discover Japan's Hidden Gems

Explore temples, shrines, castles, parks, and more

City
Tochigi

Mashiko

A Charming Pottery Town with Hundreds of Kilns

One of Japan's most famous pottery towns, home to over 300 kilns producing the rustic Mashiko-yak...

Mashiko, Tochigi, Japan
Temple
Yamaguchi

Rurikoji Temple

Rurikoji Temple Five-Story Pagoda

Rising above a tranquil pond garden, the five-story pagoda of Rurikoji Temple has been counted am...

Yamaguchi, Japan
Neighborhood
Kanagawa

Yokohama Chinatown

Japan's largest and most vibrant Chinatown, home to over 500 restaurants and shops in colorful st...

Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Attraction
Kumamoto

Amakusa Islands

Hidden Christian Heritage Islands in the Amakusa Sea

Scenic archipelago with Hidden Christian heritage, dolphin watching, pristine coastline, and fres...

Amakusa, Kumamoto, Japan
Neighborhood
Tokyo

Ginza

Tokyo's Premier Luxury Shopping & Dining District

Tokyo's most prestigious address dazzles with flagship department stores, haute couture boutiques...

Tokyo, Japan
Historic Site
Toyama

Gokayama

UNESCO Thatched-Roof Mountain Village

Secluded UNESCO World Heritage village with traditional gassho-zukuri thatched-roof farmhouses, a...

Nanto, Toyama, Japan
Shrine
Kyoto

Heian Shrine

Meiji-Era Shrine with Large Torii and Strolling Garden

A striking Meiji-era shrine featuring one of Japan's largest vermilion torii gates and a celebrat...

Kyoto, Japan
Park
Nara

Nara Park

Historic park home to over 1,000 freely roaming sacred deer and several UNESCO World Heritage tem...

Nara, Japan
Temple
Kyoto

Otagi Nenbutsu-ji

1,200 Whimsical Stone Buddhas Hidden in the Arashiyama Hills

At the far end of Arashiyama's tourist trail, this temple surprises visitors with over 1,200 whim...

Kyoto, Japan
Market
Yamaguchi

Shimonoseki Karato Market

Karato Market

At this bustling waterfront market in the fugu capital of Japan, visitors can savor the notorious...

Yamaguchi, Japan
Shrine
Fukuoka

Dazaifu Tenmangu

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

Revered shrine dedicated to the deity of learning, attracting millions of students seeking academ...

Dazaifu, Fukuoka, Japan
Landmark
Wakayama

Engetsuto

Small Island with a Hole the Sunset Shines Through

A small island in Shirahama Bay with a wave-carved hole through its center. During equinoxes, the...

Shirahama, Wakayama, Japan
Attraction
Toyama

Kurobe Gorge

Japan's Deepest V-Shaped Gorge

Japan's deepest V-shaped gorge traversed by a scenic trolley train through sweeping mountain scen...

Kurobe, Toyama, Japan
Neighborhood
Tokyo

Shimokitazawa

Tokyo's bohemian hub of vintage shops, live music venues, and independent theaters.

Tokyo, Japan
Shrine
Osaka

Sumiyoshi Taisha

Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine

One of Japan's oldest shrines, dating to the 3rd century. The Sumiyoshi-zukuri buildings predate ...

Osaka, Japan