Discover Japan's Hidden Gems

Explore temples, shrines, castles, parks, and more

Kiyomizu-dera photo
Temple
Kyoto

Kiyomizu-dera

Pure Water Temple

A hillside temple where a vast wooden stage, supported by 139 pillars without a single nail, offe...

Kyoto, Japan
Fuji-Q Highland photo
Amusement Park
Yamanashi

Fuji-Q Highland

A thrilling amusement park at the base of Mt. Fuji known for record-breaking roller coasters and ...

Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan
Byodo-in photo
Temple
Kyoto

Byodo-in

Byodo-in Temple

A UNESCO World Heritage temple famous for its Phoenix Hall, depicted on the Japanese 10-yen coin.

Kyoto, Japan
Ise Grand Shrine photo
Shrine
Mie

Ise Grand Shrine

Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingu)

Japan's most sacred Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, rebuilt every 20 years ...

Ise, Mie, Japan
JR Fukuchiyama Line Disused Railway Trail photo
Trail
Hyogo

JR Fukuchiyama Line Disused Railway Trail

Walk an Abandoned Railway Through Gorge Tunnels and Spring Sakura

A flat 4.7 km hiking trail along the original Fukuchiyama Line route through the Mukogawa Gorge, ...

Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan
Nagoya TV Tower photo
Landmark
Aichi

Nagoya TV Tower

Japan's Oldest TV Tower, in Hisaya-odori Park

Completed in 1954, Japan's oldest TV tower stands 180m over Hisaya-odori Park in Sakae, with indo...

Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Kamakura Daibutsu (Kotoku-in) photo
Temple
Kanagawa

Kamakura Daibutsu (Kotoku-in)

The Great Buddha of Kamakura

The Great Buddha of Kamakura. 13.35 meters tall, 121 tons, cast in 1252. The original temple hall...

Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan
Ippudo Umeda photo
Restaurant
Osaka

Ippudo Umeda

World-Famous Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen

Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen chain with unlimited free spicy moyashi (bean sprouts) at every table.

Osaka, Japan
Yasaka Shrine photo
Shrine
Kyoto

Yasaka Shrine

Heart of Gion and Home of the Gion Matsuri

A Shinto shrine at the heart of Gion, center of the Gion Matsuri festival every July, one of Japa...

Kyoto, Japan
Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum photo
Museum
Fukui

Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

A dinosaur museum next to one of Japan's most productive fossil beds, with over 50 mounted skelet...

Katsuyama, Fukui, Japan
Engaku-ji photo
Temple
Kanagawa

Engaku-ji

A Grand Zen Temple with a National Treasure Reliquary

Ranked second of Kamakura's Five Great Zen Temples, founded in 1282 to honor soldiers from the Mo...

Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan
Expo '70 Commemorative Park photo
Park
Osaka

Expo '70 Commemorative Park

Expo '70 Park with Okamoto's Tower of the Sun

The legacy of Japan's first World's Fair lives on in this 260-hectare park, where Taro Okamoto's ...

Suita, Osaka, Japan
Matsumoto Castle photo
Castle
Nagano

Matsumoto Castle

Japan's Premier Black Castle

One of Japan's five National Treasure castles, famous for its striking black exterior and alpine ...

Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan
Tenryu-ji photo
Temple
Kyoto

Tenryu-ji

Arashiyama's World Heritage Zen Masterpiece

World Heritage Site, head temple of the Tenryu branch of Rinzai Zen. The Sogenchi garden uses the...

Kyoto, Japan
Amanohashidate photo
Landmark
Kyoto

Amanohashidate

One of Japan's three most scenic views, a pine-covered sandbar spanning Miyazu Bay on the Sea of ...

Kyoto, Japan