Discover Japan's Hidden Gems

Explore temples, shrines, castles, parks, and more

Temple
Nara

Hasedera

Mountain Temple Famous for Peonies

The head temple of the Shingon Buzan school, set on a hillside in Sakurai and known for its cover...

Sakurai, Nara, Japan
Attraction
Chiba

Mother Farm

Mother Farm spreads across the hilltops of Chiba's Boso Peninsula, offering families a chance to ...

Chiba, Japan
Attraction
Ehime

Mount Ishizuchi

Western Japan's Highest Peak and Sacred Mountain

The highest peak in western Japan at 1,982 meters and one of Japan's seven holy mountains, popula...

Saijo, Ehime, Japan
Onsen
Hokkaido

Noboribetsu Onsen

Hokkaido's Premier Hot Spring Resort

A volcanic hot spring town with nine different types of natural thermal water and a dramatic Hell...

Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, Japan
Castle
Saga

Saga Castle

Restored Honmaru Palace of the Nabeshima Clan

Beautifully reconstructed Honmaru Palace of the former Nabeshima lords, one of the largest wooden...

Saga, Japan
Museum
Aichi

Toyota Commemorative Museum

From Looms to Cars, The Toyota Story in a Historic Factory

Housed in Toyota's original factory building, this museum traces the evolution from textile looms...

Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Castle
Fukushima

Tsuruga Castle

Tsuruga Castle (Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle)

Castle with a distinctive red-tiled roof, Tsuruga Castle is the symbol of Aizu's samurai spirit a...

Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima, Japan
Attraction
Tokushima

Uzunomichi Walkway

Walkway Beneath the Onaruto Bridge Over the Whirlpools

A 450-metre walkway built inside the girder of the Onaruto Bridge, with glass floor panels for vi...

Naruto, Tokushima, Japan
Garden
Hyogo

Awaji Yumebutai

Tadao Ando Concrete Complex with a Terraced Garden

An architectural complex on Awaji Island designed by Tadao Ando, with the terraced Hyakudanen gar...

Awaji, Hyogo, Japan
Shrine
Shizuoka

Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha

Head Shrine of Japan's Sengen Shrines and Mount Fuji Worship

The head shrine of roughly 1,300 Sengen (Asama) shrines nationwide, dedicated to the deity of Mou...

Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, Japan
Onsen
Yamagata

Ginzan Onsen

Gaslit Hot Spring Village

A fairytale-like hot spring town with Taisho-era wooden ryokan lining a river gorge, magical when...

Obanazawa, Yamagata, Japan
Landmark
Wakayama

Hashigui-iwa

Mysterious Row of Rock Pillars Stretching Into the Sea

A striking natural monument of roughly 40 rock pillars stretching 850 meters into the sea near Ku...

Kushimoto, Wakayama, Japan
Museum
Mie

Iga-ryu Ninja Museum

Ninja Museum with a Trick House and Demonstrations

A museum in Iga devoted to the ninja tradition, featuring a trick residence, tool exhibits, and d...

Iga, Mie, Japan
Park
Kumamoto

Kikuchi Gorge

Forested Valley of Clear Streams and Small Falls

A forested valley on the northwestern outer rim of Mount Aso, with clear streams, rapids, deep po...

Kikuchi, Kumamoto, Japan
Market
Kochi

Kochi Sunday Market

Long-Running Sunday Street Market on Otesuji

A street market held every Sunday along Otesuji in central Kochi, running for more than 300 years...

Kochi, Japan