Map view
Blue Pond, Biei
- Blue Pond is a man-made pond feature in Biei, Hokkaido
- It is the result of works on the Biei River, carried out after the 1988 eruption of Mount Tokachi, to protect the town of Biei from volcanic mudflows
- The color is thought to result from the accidental presence of colloidal aluminium hydroxide in the water
Mount Fuji, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
- Mount Fuji is an active stratovolcano that is the highest mountain in Japan, and seventh-highest peak of an island on Earth
- Mount Fuji last erupted from 1707 to 1708
- The mountain is visible from the Japanese capital on clear days - Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone, which is covered in snow for about five months of the year, is commonly used as a cultural icon of Japan and is frequently depicted in art and photography, as well as visited by sightseers, hikers and mountain climbers
#7 in Best Attractions in the World
#15 in Best Landmarks in the World
Ōhori Park, Fukuoka
- Ōhori Park is a prominent park located in Chūō-ku, Fukuoka, that features a large pond at its center, surrounded by walking paths
- The park's pond, which was originally part of the moat for Fukuoka Castle, is divided into sections by walkways and includes several artificial islands
- Established between 1926 and 1929, the park was designed based on traditional Chinese landscape aesthetics
Hakuba
- Hakuba is a village located in the eastern foothills of the Hida Mountains in the northern part of the Japanese Alps and is a popular ski resort
- As the surrounding valley has an annual snow fall of over 11 meters, it is the central hub for 10 ski resorts with more than 200 runs
- The village was the main event venue for 1998 Winter Olympics
Himeji Castle
- Himeji Castle, also known as Shirasagi-jo, is the largest and most visited castle in Japan, located in the town of Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture
- The castle was constructed between 1581 and 1609 and is considered one of the finest examples of early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture, featuring a complex of 83 buildings with advanced defensive systems
Hitachi Seaside Park, Hitachinaka
- Hitachi Seaside Park is a public park in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, that features blooming flowers all year
- The park has become known for its baby blue-eyes flowers, with the blooming of 4.5 million of the translucent-petaled blue flowers in the spring
- In addition to the annual "Nemophila Harmony", the park features a million daffodils, 170 varieties of tulips, and many other flowers
- The park includes cycling trails and a small amusement park with a Ferris wheel
Kawachi Wisteria Garden, Kitakyushu
- Kawachi Wisteria Garden is a private garden located in Kitakyushu
- The garden contains over 22 kinds of wisterias
- It is particularly famous for its stunning 100-meter-long wisteria tunnels, blooming primarily from late April to early May, though exact timing can vary each year depending on weather conditions
Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- Kinkaku-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple and one of the most popular buildings in Kyoto
- The site of Kinkaku-ji was originally a villa called Kitayama-dai , belonging to a powerful statesman, Saionji Kintsune
- Kinkaku-ji's history dates to 1397, when the villa was purchased from the Saionji family by shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and transformed into the Kinkaku-ji complex
- The top two stories of the pavilion are covered with pure gold leaf
Fushimi Inari-taisha, Kyoto
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- Fushimi Inari-taisha is the head shrine of the kami Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto
- The shrine sits at the base of a mountain, also named Inari, and includes trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines which span 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) and take approximately 2 hours to walk up
- Inari was originally and remains primarily the kami of rice and agriculture, but merchants also worship Inari as the patron of business
- Each of Fushimi Inari-taisha's roughly 10,000 torii were donated by a Japanese business, and approximately 800 of these are set in a row to form the Senbon Torii, creating the impression of a tunnel
Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- Kiyomizu-dera is a Buddhist temple located in eastern Kyoto
- The temple was established in 778, during the late Nara period, by Enchin Shonin, who was a priest from Nara (the capital of Japan from 710 to 784)
- He is said to have received a vision telling him to construct the temple next to the Otowa spring
- The site is particularly popular during festivals, especially at New Year's and during obon in the summer, when additional booths fill the grounds selling traditional holiday foodstuffs and souvenirs
Mount Moiwa
- Mount Moiwa is a mountain located southwest of central Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Mount Moiwa offers panoramic views of Sapporo city, Ishikari Bay, and the surrounding mountain ranges
- The mountain is covered by the Moiwa Primeval Forest, which is home to around 400 species of trees, providing a lush natural setting for hiking
Gokayama, Nanto
- Gokayama is an area within the city of Nanto
- It has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its traditional gasshō-zukuri houses, alongside nearby Shirakawa-gō in Gifu Prefecture
- The survival of this traditional architectural style is attributed to the region's secluded location in the upper reaches of the Shōgawa river
- This is also the reason that Gokayama's lifestyle and culture remained very traditional for many years after the majority of the country had modernized
- Many of the houses surpass 300 years in age
Niseko
- Niseko is a resort area located in Hokkaido, that consists of three towns: Kutchan Town, Niseko Town, and Rankoshi Town at the foot of Niseko Annupuri
- Niseko is famous for its high-quality powder snowfall, and has recently been developed as an international ski resort area
- The 30-year economic stagnation in Japan has made Niseko one of the cheapest ski resorts in the world, and many skiers choose Niseko because of this affordability
Dōtonbori, Osaka
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- Dōtonbori is a vibrant district located in Osaka, that runs alongside the Dōtonbori Canal and is famous for its dazzling neon lights, extravagant signage, and a wide array of restaurants and entertainment options
- The area is filled with bars, clubs, and theaters, making an active spot for nightlife
- Dōtonbori is known for its local specialties, including street food like takoyaki (octopus balls) and okonomiyaki (savory pancakes)
- One of the area's most prominent features is an illuminated billboard for confectionery company Glico displaying the image of a runner crossing a finishing line, which is often seen as an icon of Osaka within Japan
Shirakawa-gō
- Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama are a cultural property that consists of three historic mountain villages in the remote Shogawa river valley
- The valley is in a mountain region with considerable snowfall, and these villages are well known for their clusters of farmhouses, constructed in the architectural style known as gasshō-zukuri, which are designed to easily shed snow from their steep roofs
- Mt Hakusan is the principal mountain in this area, and has been regarded as a sacred summit since ancient times
Sensō-ji, Tokyo
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- Sensō-ji is an ancient Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Tokyo
- It is Tokyo's oldest-established temple, and one of its most significant
- It is dedicated to Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion
- It is the most widely visited religious site in the world with over 30 million visitors annually
Asakusa, Tokyo
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- Asakusa is a district located in Taitō, Tokyo, renowned particularly as the home of Sensō-ji, Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, which is dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon
- Notable landmarks include the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), which serves as the entrance to Sensō-ji, and the Tokyo Skytree, one of the tallest structures in the world, offering panoramic views of the city
Shinjuku Gyo-en, Tokyo
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- Shinjuku Gyo-en is a large public garden in Shinjuku and Shibuya, Tokyo
- It was originally a residence of the Naitō family in the Edo period
- The garden blends three distinct styles: a French Formal and English Landscape in the north and a Japanese traditional garden in the south
- A traditional Japanese tea house is in the gardens
- The garden is a favorite hanami (cherry-blossom viewing) spot, and large crowds can be present during cherry blossom season
Meiji Shrine, Tokyo
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Shibuya, Tokyo, that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken
- After the emperor's death in 1912, the Japanese Diet passed a resolution to commemorate his role in the Meiji Restoration
- The original building from 1920 was destroyed during the Tokyo air raids of World War II
- The present iteration of the shrine was funded through a public fund raising effort and completed in 1958
TeamLab Planets TOKYO, Tokyo
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- TeamLab Planets TOKYO is an immersive art museum located in the Toyosu area of Tokyo
- Created by the art collective teamLab, it offers a unique experience where visitors walk through water and interact with large-scale digital artworks
- The museum features several multi-sensory installations that blend art, technology, and nature, allowing guests to engage with the artworks in a dynamic way that changes based on their presence
Tokyo Disney Resort, Urayasu
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- Tokyo Disneyland is a theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo
- It was the first Disney park to be built outside the United States and it opened in 1983
- The park has seven themed areas: the World Bazaar, Adventureland, Westernland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Critter Country and Toontown
- As of 2023, Tokyo Disneyland is the fourth-most visited theme park in the world and the second-most visited theme park in Asia
Tokyo DisneySea, Urayasu
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- Tokyo DisneySea is a theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, just next to Tokyo
- It is the seventh-most visited theme park in the world and the third-most visited in Japan
- The park has an overall nautical exploration motif, and originally opened with seven themed lands or "ports of call", although Disney characters and themed rides have since been added