Destinations (21)

Nagoya

Designated city in Chūbu, Japan

35.18333333136.9

Mount Fuji

mountain in Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures, Japan

35.360628138.727365

Tottori

city in Japan

35.5134.2333

Shiretoko National Park

unspoiled wilderness at Hokkaido's northeasternmost tip

44.1145.1833

Tokyo

special municipality that builds up the center of Tokyo. occupying the site of historical Edo and the former city of Tokyo. For each ward, see Q5327704

35.689506139.6917

Yaeyama Islands

island group

24.363056123.746389

Kyoto

city in Japan

35.011667135.768333

Yakushima

island in Kagoshima, Japan

30.358611130.528611

Nara

city in Japan

34.6833135.8

Wakkanai

Wakkanai is the northernmost city in Japan. It has a population of about 37,000, and is in the subdistrict of Soya in northern Hokkaido. It is Japan's gateway to Russia's Sakhalin Island.

45.44141.82

Sapporo

city on Hokkaido, Japan

43.06136141.35439

Miyajima

island in Hiroshima, Japan

34.27555556132.30777778

Matsuyama

city in Japan

33.8333132.7667

Takamatsu

city in Japan

34.35134.05

Ōkunoshima

island

34.308611132.993056

Kanazawa

capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

36.566136.65

Hiroshima

city in Japan

34.385278132.455278

Sendai

city in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan

38.26833333140.8694444

Osaka

city in Japan

34.693889135.502222

Nagasaki

capital of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan

32.7833129.8667

Sado Island

city in Niigata Prefecture, Japan

38.01666667138.36666667
Sights (125)

Fukuoka

capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

33.58333333130.4

Okayama

city in Japan

34.65133.91666667

Kamakura

city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

35.31666667139.55

Hokkaido

one of the main islands of Japan

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Ōtsu

city in Japan

35.01666667135.85

Hokkaido University

43.074722222222141.34083333333

Mazda

automotive brand manufacturer

34.3770577132.5008222

Matsue

city in Japan

35.46666667133.05

Shinjuku

one of 23 special wards of Tokyo

35.70138889139.70972222

Kyushu

third largest island of Japan

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Uji

city in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

34.88444444135.79972222

Shibuya

special ward of Tokyo

35.65944444139.70055556

Shikoku

smallest of the four main islands of Japan

33.75133.5

Numazu

city in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

35.09558333138.86344444

Sado, Niigata

city in Niigata Prefecture, Japan

38.01666667138.36666667

Tama, Tokyo

city in Tokyo, Japan

35.63694444139.44627778

Funabashi

City in Chiba Prefecture, Japan

35.69455556139.98255556

Hakone

town of Japan

35.18333333139.03333333

Niseko, Hokkaido

town in Hokkaidō, Japan

42.8140.68333333

Tokyo Tower

observation tower

35.65861111139.74555556

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

This heart-wrenching museum documents the atomic bomb and its aftermath, from scale models of the city "before" and "after" to melted tricycles and other displays and artifacts related to the blast. Some are extremely graphic, evocative, and quite disturbing. The rest of the museum describes the post-war struggles of the hibakusha and an appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons in the world today. Be warned: a visit here, while absolutely worthwhile, will ruin your day. Allow plenty of time afterward to decompress.

34.39166667132.45194444

Himeji Castle

Japanese castle complex

34.83944444134.69388889

Kamigamo Shrine

Shinto shrines in Kyoto, Japan

35.06027778135.75277778

Mount Aso

mountain in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

32.88444444131.10388889

Meiji Shrine

Shinto shrine in Tokyo, Japan

35.67611111139.69916667

Mori Art Museum

35.66050556139.72906667

Kongōbu-ji

Buddhist temple in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

34.214081135.584092

Nagoya Castle

Japanese castle located in Nagoya, central Japan

35.18555556136.89861111

Taketomi Island

island in Okinawa, Japan

24.33333333124.08333333

Tōshōdai-ji

Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan

34.67558611135.78483333

Tokyo Disney Resort

Disney resort in Tokyo

35.62972222139.88277778

Shimogamo Shrine

Shinto shrines in Kyoto, Japan

35.03888889135.7725

Hiroshima Peace Memorial

Its skeletal remains of the are the most recognizable symbol of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima. In another lifetime, the building was one of the city's best-known sights for an entirely different reason; designed by Czech architect Jan Letzel in 1915, the Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial Exhibition Hall (and its fanciful green dome) had a bold European style in a grimy, crowded city with few modern flourishes. Because the explosion took place almost directly above the building, the walls remained largely intact, even as the dome shattered and the people inside were killed by the heat of the blast. Initially, as the city rebuilt, it was left alone simply because it was more difficult to demolish than other remains in the area; gradually, the A-Bomb Dome became the symbol it is today. The "Hiroshima Peace Memorial" was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996 amid some controversy — the United States and China both voted against the nomination for reasons related to the war. Today, the benches around the Dome are a favorite spot for Hiroshima natives to read, eat lunch, or simply relax.

34.39555556132.45361111

Shari, Hokkaido

43.911388888889144.67083333333

Umeda Sky Building

Skyscraper in Osaka

34.70527778135.48972222

Basilica of the Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs of Japan (Nagasaki)

Built soon after the end of the Japanese government's Seclusion Policy in 1853. It was built in honor of the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan, nine European priests and seventeen Japanese Christians who were crucified in 1597 by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

32.734106129.870236

Matsue Castle

castle

35.474977133.050556

Tokyo Disneyland

theme park in Japan, owned by The Oriental Land Company

35.63277778139.88055556

Yonaguni

island in Yaeyama Islands, Okinawa, Japan

24.45555556122.98888889

Katsura Imperial Villa

building in Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

34.983889135.709444

Hatoma

island

24.47222222123.82

Ginza

district of Chūō-ku, Tokyo

35.671217139.765007

National Bunraku Theatre

theater

34.6675135.50861111

Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum

Entry ¥250 (more when special exhibitions are held). 09:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30). Housed in three long brick buildings, restored armouries from the time when the area was used by the Imperial Japanese Army, it features a chronological display of local history in a modern and well-laid-out setting. There is also an area for hands-on history, where you can try on various outfits, including samurai armour. As with most tourist sites in Kanazawa, an English-language pamphlet is available.

36.55861111136.66277778

Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park

45.1939141.258

Inuyama Castle

one of the 12 Japanese castles still in existence which were built before the Edo period

35.38833333136.93916667

Odaiba

town located in Minato-ku, Tokyo

35.63139.775

Mount Hiei

mountain in Shiga Prefecture, Japan

35.06666667135.83833333

Osaka Museum of History

34.682628135.520803

Hiroshima Castle

The original Carp Castle (Rijō) was built in the 1590s by Hideyoshi's warlord Terumoto Mōri, predating the city itself. It was destroyed by the atomic bomb, by which time it was serving as a military headquarters, and reconstructed in 1958. Some of the original stone foundations can still be seen. Today, the castle grounds are a nice place for a walk, and definitely Hiroshima's favorite place for hanami (cherry blossom parties), with more than 350 sakura trees. The five-story castle museum is an attractive reconstruction of the 16th century donjon, with interesting relics and armor to see (and try on), as well as some informative displays about the history of the castle and the city. The view from the top is worth the entrance fee all by itself. No elevators are available - visitors will be walking the five stories by stairs.

34.40277778132.45916667

Hikone Castle

castle

35.27638889136.25166667

Sapporo JR Tower

The newly redeveloped building near JR Sapporo Station marks the center of the city. It is higher than the TV tower observatory is. Affording panoramic views. As a bonus for men, the observation level has a men's room with a view!

43.06813141.352528

Tokyo DisneySea

theme park in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan

35.62666667139.88805556

Tsūtenkaku

observation tower

34.65222222135.50611111

Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine

Located on the castle grounds, this concrete shrine has great significance to locals, having been rebuilt after the atomic blast and now the center for most annual Shinto traditions in the city. But other than a historical marker, there's not much to see for travelers, other than festivals (especially New Year's Eve).

34.40116667132.45875

Japan Alps

series of high snow-topped mountains in the center of Honshu

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Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Nagasaki

Rebuilt after its destruction in the atomic bombing, Urakami Cathedral was once the largest church in Asia.

32.77619444129.86838889

Asakusa

town located in Taitō-ku, Tokyo

35.71444444139.79666667

Mount Koya

mountains in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

34.2125135.58638889

Kenroku-en

The most famous sight in Kanazawa, the Garden of Six Attributes is considered one of Japan's Top 3 gardens. Once the outer pleasure gardens of the Maeda Lords, it gradually expanded to take over the entire block. While not completed in its final form until the waning years of the Edo Shogunate, it still represents one of the peaks of Japanese strolling garden design. The way in which water is piped from many kilometres upstream to fill its streams and ponds before going on to fill the castle moats is one of the great engineering feats of the Edo period. In part of the grounds, and with a steep separate ¥700 entrance fee, is the Seisonkaku Villa, built by a Maeda lord for his mother. Only part of it remains today, but is a rare example of existing daimyo palace architecture. The upper floor, with its bright blues and reds, is in distinct contrast to the muted earth tones of Kyoto style. During cherry blossom season, entry to the park is free and it's open and lit up until 21:00. There will be many guides yelling from their electronically amplified megaphones: "These gardens are particularly famed for their tranquility, appreciate the peace and stillness"!

36.561944136.6625

Akihabara

town located in Chiyoda, Tokyo

35.69836139.77313

Sumida River

Japanese river which flows through Tokyo

35.71861111139.80722222

Matsumoto Castle

building in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan

36.23888889137.96916667

Fuji Five Lakes

lake

35.41583333138.87111111

Kanazawa Castle

At the center of Kanazawa is the former site of Kanazawa Castle. It has been vacated by the national university, which took over the site once used by the Ninth Division of the Imperial Army, the castle is public space now for the first time in its 400-plus years of history. The imposing Ishikawa Gate (石川門), so named as it faced the Ishikawa district, was once a side entrance to the castle grounds, but after several fires and man-made destruction, it is one of the few original buildings left on the site, the other being the Sanjikken Nagaya (三十間長屋) storehouse near the top. However the long Gojikken Nagaya (五十間長屋) that once guarded the castle palace has been rebuilt according to traditional methods, and is open to the public for ¥300.

36.564317136.659228

Tokyo Racecourse

horse racing venue

35.663139.485

Nakanoshima

Sandbank in Osaka, Japan

34.691722135.491021

Osaka Science Museum

science museum

34.69124135.49152

Tokyo Metropolitan Government

35.6895139.6918

Shizutani School

34.797946134.219477

Roppongi

neighborhood in Minato-ku, Tokyo

35.66139.73

Marugame Castle

park

34.286191133.800194

Gion

neighborhood in Kyoto city, Japan

35.003496135.775051

Izu Peninsula

peninsula

34.9138.95

Nara Park

park

34.685135.85

Inokashira Park

park

35.70083333139.57416667

Uwajima Castle

building in Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture, Japan

33.21947778132.56523611

Ueno

town located in Taitō-ku, Tokyo

35.71547139.77402

Bunkyo Civic Center

building in Tokyo, Japan

35.707872139.752424

Mount Hōei

mountain in Japan

35.343138.752

Children's Peace Monument

Lerennially draped in thousands of origami paper cranes folded by schoolchildren across Japan in the memory of the young bomb victim Sadako Sasaki (see Literature).

34.39414132.45277

Sanrio Puroland

amusement park

35.62444444139.42916667

Mount Misen

mountain in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

34.2825132.31555556

Harajuku

District in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

35.670162139.70269

Shukkei-en

While it's not one of Japan's Top 3, this compact and beautifully landscaped Japanese garden is well worth a visit, and an ideal place to decompress from the atomic bomb sites. Despite more and more high-rises peeping over the trees recently, Shukkeien can feel like an entirely different world, with little paths crossing ponds on bridges and winding their way around graceful teahouses and waterfalls. Visitors can feed the fish and turtles occasionally swimming near the paths. It's directly behind the Prefectural Art Museum, and combined admission tickets are available.

34.399423132.467241

Dōgo Onsen

hot spring in the city of Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, Japan

33.85194444132.78638889

Fuji Rock Festival

in Niigata Prefecture, Japan

36.799138.78359167

Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining

World Heritage Site in Japan

34.43055556131.41222222

Fukusai-ji

Buddhist temple in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

32.75353129.87465

Oyama Shrine (Ishikawa)

Built in the early Meiji period to honor the founding father of the Kaga Domain, Maeda Toshiie. It is notable for a unique gate with stained-glass windows that is a fusion of Japanese and Western architecture. The back gate to the shrine is also one of the few remaining parts of the original castle: a gate from the palace compound that escaped destruction when it was moved to the shrine. "Oyama" was the original name for the hill on which Kanazawa Castle was built.

36.56638889136.65527778

Cape Sōya

45.5225141.93666666667

Aioi Bridge

bridge in Hiroshima, Japan

34.3964132.4526

Zuihōden

Shinto shrines in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan

38.25080556140.86569444

Kanamara Matsuri

annual festival in Kawasaki, Japan

35.53454167139.72463056

Ritsurin Garden

park

34.329591134.043968

Maruoka Castle

castle

36.152347136.272097

Namba

human settlement in Japan

34.66722222135.50027778

Watanabe Art Museum

museum in Tottori, Japan

35.520658134.227377

Hanshin Racecourse

34.78022222135.3625

Iya Valley

33.87527778133.83527778

Nakayama Racecourse

horse racing venue

35.72555556139.9625

Wakkanai Park

45.419722222222141.66694444444

Arashiyama

human settlement in Japan

35.015096135.670667

Ube shrine

Shinto shrine in Tottori Prefecture, Japan

35.4808134.269

Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum

Of the more than 400 students and teachers who were in the school when the bomb exploded, only one student and one teacher survived. After a new school was built, this section of the original structure was kept as a museum, housing a small collection of photos and artifacts.

34.395885132.450606

Sentō Imperial Palace

garden

35.02330278135.76329167

Myōryū-ji

The tour guides insist there is no connection between the 'Ninja Temple' and actual ninja assassins. But with 23 rooms and 29 staircases, an impressive array of trapdoors and hidden rooms, and a sepukku (ritual suicide) chamber, it is easy to see why people would make that assumption. Visitors cannot enter the temple except through the tours, so call ahead to book a tour. The tour is conducted in Japanese, but they give travellers a folder with English translations. Local lore has it that there was an underground tunnel from the castle to the temple, to allow the Maeda lords an escape route in case of attack. However, no documentary proof of this has been found, and, like the ninjas, it merely adds to the myths of the place. Unfortunately, the staff have a well-deserved reputation (amongst Japanese and foreigners) for being rude and unhelpful. ¥1,000 for adults and ¥700 for primary school pupils, and you're supposed to make a reservation in advance, although they can usually squeeze you in if there's space and you don't mind waiting for your tour to begin. The hour-long tour is well worth the price.

36.55536111136.64902778

Fukuromachi Elementary School Peace Museum

Like Honkawa, part of the original school building that remained standing after the atomic bomb has been converted into a museum. In the days after the explosion, survivors used the school's chalk to leave messages for lost friends and family members on its blackened walls.

34.39176132.458706

Ōkunoshima poison gases museum

Manufacturing poison gases in Hiroshima Prefecture from 1929 to 1944/1945 by the Imperial Japanese Army

34.305944132.994111

Kyoto Racecourse

34.90704167135.724625

Yoshiki-en

Really nice garden that is worth a visit because it is free. Can be coupled with the Isui-en Garden as the entrances are right beside each other.

34.685455135.836368

Utoro Fishing Port

44.071111111111144.98833333333

Kamuiwakka Falls

44.153916666667145.12911111111

Shikano Castle

castle ruins in Tottori, Japan

35.4586806134.0638722

Toyosu Market

fish market in Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan

35.644167139.783611

Shinsekai

34.65222222135.50611111

Shiretokogoko

lake in Shari, Japan

44.125556145.081111

Iōjima, Nagasaki

human settlement in Japan

32.70305556129.77916667

Noshappu Cold Water Aquarium

building in Wakkanai, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan

45.449333333333141.64491666667

Shiretoko Pass

44.05472222145.105

Shunkō-in

35.024045135.719475

Motoe Hiraku Centennial Memorial Tower, Northern Memorial Hall

45.416917141.663333

Momijidani Park

34.294191132.324057

Suzakumon

South and Main Gate of palaces, at the northern end of the main streets of a few ancient capitals of Japan

35.01361111135.74222222

Yanesen

35.727846139.764789

we will see

Japan

Get to know Japan and make your own plans for someday by reading our blogs.

Japan

Japan, known as Nihon or Nippon (日本) in Japanese, is an island nation in East Asia. Its insular character has allowed it to develop a unique and very intricate culture, while its closeness to other ancient Far Eastern cultures, in particular China, has left lasting influence. Despite belonging to a forever warring nation, both internally and overseas, Japan's people had historically always placed emphasis on inner balance, tranquility and natural beauty. These traditional values have become increasingly important now that Japan has grown to be one of the world's most densely-populated countries, and its legendary work ethic makes life in its cities quite hectic.

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Our travel journal

A layover in Tokyo could change your lives (and eyes) forever

If you have more than 8 hours in Tokyo, it is totally worth getting out of the airport! Haneda Airport is closer to the city but sometimes, flights arrive at Narita Airport and passengers have to make their connection to Haneda (with their suitcases) even though it is under the same airline! First thing first,

Tokyo: Get electrocuted to cure jet lag and a birthday hangover

Every birthday I try to celebrate in a new location and in 2008, it was Tokyo. The nice lady at the check-in desk of Virgin Atlantic noticed my birthday was during the flight and with a wink wink nudge nudge let me go with the exciting advice to “mention there is a note on the

My then-boyfriend was #Japanese #bunny king

Back in 2015, Jon had an average of a mere 5-Likes per post. On a random November day, 88 more of his friends took a second glance at this picture and liked it. In his mum's words, he had “gone viral”. We were in a long-distance relationship at that time – he was based in

My husband was king of the bunnies

Back in 2015, Jon had an average of a mere 5-Likes per post. On a random November day, eighty-eight more friends took a second glance at this picture and liked it. In his mum's words, he had “gone viral”. We were in a long-distance relationship at that time – he was based in San Francisco

Nearby countries

Russia

Russia (Russian: Россия, Rossiya) is by far the largest country in the world, covering more than one-eighth of the Earth's inhabited land area, spanning Eastern Europe and northern Asia, sharing land borders with Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland (by administering the Kaliningrad Oblast exclave on the Baltic coast), Belarus, and Ukraine to the west, Georgia (including the disputed regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia) and Azerbaijan to the southwest, and Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, and North Korea to the east and much of the south. While geographically mostly in Asia, the bulk of Russia's population is concentrated in the European part and, culturally, Russia is unmistakably European. Much of the Asian part, however, has more in common with Kazakhstan, Mongolia or Northeast China than with Eastern Europe. It boasts a rich history and culture.

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South Korea

South Korea (Korean: 한국, 韓國 Hanguk), officially the Republic of Korea (대한민국, 大韓民國 Daehan Minguk) is a country in East Asia. South Korea occupies the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea to the north, China across the sea to the west and Japan a short ferry ride to the southeast.

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Taiwan

Taiwan (Traditional Chinese: 台灣 or 臺灣, Tái wān) is an island nation of about 36,000 km² off the coast of southeastern mainland China, southwest of Japan's Okinawa and north of the Philippines. The island is officially known as and governed by the Republic of China (中華民國 Zhōnghuá Mínguó) or ROC. Shaped roughly like a sweet potato, the nation is home to more than 23 million people and is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Besides its crowded cities, Taiwan is also known for steep mountains and lush forests. In addition to the island of Taiwan, the Republic of China governs the tiny Pescadores (Penghu), Quemoy (Kinmen/Jinmen), and Matsu.

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