Until it was relocated to Tokyo around 410 years ago, the capital of Japan was situated in Kyoto. Because of this, there are a large number of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines within Kyoto city, and numerous national treasures and cultural assets remain today. There is an infinite number of places which could be called must-see sights, and the beauty of Kyoto will truly take your breath away, especially during autumn when the leaves of the trees become colorful. ...Further Details...

Widely known as the symbol of Japan, the graceful conical shape of Mt. Fuji is a single 3,776 meter high volcanic peak. The shape can also be said to be mystical, and because of this it became the object of mountain worship and was treasured as a sacred mountain amongst the Japanese people. In 2013, it was listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site. ...Further Details...

Miyajima (Itsukushima) is located about 1.5 hours from Hiroshima in the Chugoku region, and has for a long time been popular with Japanese people as one of the Three Great Sights of Japan. Itsukushima-jinja Shrine is known for its vermillion colored Otorii gate and its main building that both appear to float on the water. It is designated as both a national treasure and as a World Heritage Site, and along with Hiroshima is a popular sightseeing destination in this region. ...Further Details...

Tokyo is the capital of Japan, has a population of over 13 million, and is one of the world’s largest cities. Although many modern high rise buildings can be seen in central Tokyo, in east Tokyo there are places, known as Shitamachi, where old townscapes with a folksy atmosphere remain. Amongst these, Asakusa is an especially popular town. ...Further Details...

Sapporo is the biggest city in Hokkaido and is also the 4th largest city in Japan. In Sapporo city there is a busy entertainment district called Susukino where restaurants are crowded together. Seafood such as crab and sea urchins from Hokkaido are especially popular, with many people visiting with a purpose to try them. ...Further Details...

Osaka, the second biggest city in Japan, is also the economic center of western Japan. Since many flights fly in from overseas and because it is geographically close to Kyoto, Osaka is also becoming a gateway to Japan. Although Osaka is a modern city, if you leave the central area, you will find townscapes remaining that are filled with vitality. ...Further Details...

Nara can be reached in a little over 1 hour from Kyoto or Osaka and can’t be missed as a sightseeing destination in the Kinki region. The capital was situated in Nara before it was moved to Kyoto somewhat more than 1300 years ago. Numerous national treasures and cultural assets remain today, among them is the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple is particularly famous ...Further Details...

Hakone, which can be reached in about one and a half hours from Tokyo, is a scenic area that many overseas tourists also visit because they can enjoy the spectacular sight of Lake Ashi together with Mt. Fuji. There are many widely known hot springs in the Hakone area and it is also popular as a health and spa resort. ...Further Details...

Hiroshima faces the Seto Inland Sea in the Chugoku region and many people visit this city to learn about history relating to the atomic bomb through places such as the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima can be reached in about 1.5 hours by car from Hiroshima and many people visit this shrine along with Hiroshima. ...Further Details...

Kanazawa flourished as a castle town of the Maeda clan’s Kaga domain. The Maeda clan were the largest daimyo and ruled this area during the Edo period. There are districts where Edo period townscapes are preserved exactly as they were, including the Kenroku-en Garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Many tourists from both overseas and within Japan visit this area. ...Further Details...

Takayama is located in Gifu prefecture in the Chubu region, and has also been called the “little Kyoto of Hida” due to the fact that the view of the town resembles Kyoto (the old name for this district was the Hida district). Many tourists from both overseas and within Japan visit this area, which has areas that have been well preserved since the Edo period. ...Further Details...

Ise-Jingu Shrine, the most revered of the 85,000 shrines said to exist in Japan, is located in Ise. The vast grounds are separated into two shrines, Naiku and Geku. Held every 20 years since about 1300 years ago, the Shikinen Sengu (the periodic rebuilding of the shrine; also called the moving of the gods) was carried out in 2014. ...Further Details...

Shirakawa-go is in Gifu prefecture in the Chubu region and was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1995 along with Gokayama, also in the region. This is a sightseeing destination famous for the houses made in the unique to the region Gassho-zukuri architectural style, as well as for the settlement itself. There are also houses that operate as guest lodgings, so it is possible to stay in one of these Gassho-zukuri houses. ...Further Details...

Nikko is located in Tochigi prefecture, about a two hour drive northeast from Tokyo. It has been known for a long time as a picturesque place, as well as for Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine (the site of the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun of the Edo period), Lake Chuzen-ji, Nikko Yumoto Onsen, and the Kegon Falls that are also in the area. ...Further Details...

Fukuoka is the largest city in the Kyushu region. Ferries and aircraft arrive from outside Japan, so many overseas tourists visit this area. In particular, Hakata, in the center of Fukuoka, ｂｕｓｔｌｅｓ with many people shopping and walking around tasting the food. The food stalls (yatai) in Nakasu are also popular. ...Further Details...

The Shiretoko peninsula on the eastern tip of Hokkaido was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2005. Its abundant nature and the flora and fauna that inhabit the area draw in not only domestic tourists, but also those from overseas. In winter, a drift ice cruise that continues along breaking through the ice is also popular. ...Further Details...

Located in Wakayama prefecture in the Kinki region, Mt. Koya, along with Mt. Hiei, is a sacred place in Japanese Buddhism. There are 117 Buddhist temples interspersed at an altitude of about 1000 meters, and a solemn atmosphere drifts through the entire mountain. Temple lodgings called shukubo have been established at roughly half of these temples, so it is possible to stay in one. Mt. Koya was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2004. ...Further Details...

Nagano is mostly famous with Zenko-ji Temple, built 1500 years ago, with its main temple building having been designated as a National Treasure. However the Jigokudani Monkey Park is gathering popularity based on tourists visiting Japan from overseas. It is the only place in the world where monkeys can be seen bathing in a hot spring. ...Further Details...

Beppu is in the Kyushu region and it is widely known even overseas for the Beppu Onsen hot springs. It is an international tourism city. Beppu Onsen is also said to be Japan’s number one hot spring resort, due to the fact that the number of springs here reaches 2,300 and accounts for 1/10 of the total in Japan, as well as the fact that more than 130,000 kiloliters of water bubble up every day. ...Further Details...

Matsuyama is located in Ehime prefecture in the Shikoku region and has the largest population in Shikoku. With places such as Dogo Onsen and its 3000 years of history, as well as Matsuyama Castle, designated as an important cultural property and with 21 buildings including the castle tower still existing, it is becoming a sightseeing destination that can’t be left out of a trip through the Shikoku region. ...Further Details...