Discover Japan's Hidden Gems

Explore temples, shrines, castles, parks, and more

Shrine
Osaka

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine

Shrine to the God of Learning and Host of the Tenjin Matsuri

A shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of learning, and the site of the Tenjin Ma...

Osaka, Japan
Attraction
Niigata

Ponshukan

A Sake Tasting Museum Inside a Train Station

A unique sake tasting facility inside Echigo-Yuzawa Station offering samples from all of Niigata'...

Yuzawa, Niigata, Japan
Attraction
Toyama

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

A spectacular mountain transit route through the Northern Japan Alps with towering snow walls and...

Tateyama, Toyama, Japan
Market
Ishikawa
Temporarily closed

Wajima Morning Market

One of Japan's three great morning markets with over 1,000 years of history, where local vendors ...

Wajima, Ishikawa, Japan
Shrine
Miyazaki

Ama no Iwato Shrine

Cave Where the Sun Goddess Hid

Sacred shrine marking the cave where the sun goddess Amaterasu hid, plunging the world into darkn...

Takachiho, Miyazaki, Japan
Museum
Ishikawa

D.T. Suzuki Museum

Contemplative Museum for a Zen Philosopher

A quiet museum in Kanazawa devoted to the Buddhist philosopher Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki, built arou...

Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
Park
Hokkaido

Daisetsuzan National Park

Japan's Largest National Park

Japan's largest national park spanning over 2,200 square kilometers of dramatic volcanic peaks, a...

Hokkaido, Japan
Temple
Kanagawa

Hase-dera

Hase-dera Temple

A hillside temple in Kamakura celebrated for its towering gilded Kannon statue, lush hydrangea ga...

Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan
Shrine
Ishikawa

Oyama Shrine

Shrine with a Three-Style Shinmon Gate

A Kanazawa shrine dedicated to Maeda Toshiie, known for a front gate blending Japanese, Chinese a...

Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
City
Shiga

Shigaraki

Shigaraki Pottery Town

Playful tanuki statues with their oversized bellies and sake flasks greet visitors throughout thi...

Shiga, Japan
Park
Tokyo

Shinjuku Gyoen

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Expansive national garden in central Tokyo blending Japanese, French, and English landscape styles.

Tokyo, Japan
Temple
Nara

Tsubosakadera

Temple of Large Stone Buddhas Linked to Eye Ailments

A Shingon temple in Takatori, the sixth stop of the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage, known for a Kannon...

Takatori, Nara, Japan
Historic Site
Kumamoto

Tsujun Bridge

Japan's Largest Stone Aqueduct Bridge

National Important Cultural Property and Japan's largest stone aqueduct bridge, famous for its sp...

Yamato, Kumamoto, Japan
Shrine
Ibaraki

Tsukuba-san Shrine

Tsukuba-san Shrine sits at the base of Mount Tsukuba, one of Japan's most famous mountains, where...

Ibaraki, Japan
Attraction
Yamaguchi

Akiyoshido Cave

Akiyoshido Cave - Japan's Largest Limestone Cave

Japan's largest and longest limestone cave, stretching over 10 kilometers underground with approx...

Mine, Yamaguchi, Japan