Shrines, museums, parks, and the spots in between, with the access details worked out.
A natural park in Nagano where wild Japanese macaques bathe in hot springs, accessible via a 1.6-kilometer forest trail, most popular in winter.
Yamanochi · NaganoJapan's first permanent museum dedicated to the Kinnikuman manga series, opened in 2024 in Numazu, featuring original art and life-size replicas.
Numazu · ShizuokaAn art museum established in 1986 that houses a Rodin Wing featuring works by French sculptor Auguste Rodin, including The Gates of Hell.
ShizuokaRegional museum in Fukui preserving Wakasa history and folklore, established in 1982 to commemorate the prefecture's 100th anniversary.
Obama · FukuiShinto shrine in Shizuoka City dedicated to Mount Fuji's guardian deity, revered as one of the region's most important sanctuaries.
ShizuokaCastle ruins in Tokoname designated a historic site and preserved as Shiroyama Park with a shrine honoring the Saji clan and scenic bay views.
Tokoname · AichiOkutsuhime Shrine on remote Hegurajima island was founded by traditional female divers and preserves centuries of maritime worship traditions.
Wajima · IshikawaThe Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine on Sado Island operated for nearly four centuries as a key pillar of the Tokugawa shogunate's finances.
Sado · NiigataThis museum in a historic red-brick textile factory traces Toyota's evolution from textile company to global automobile manufacturer.
Nagoya · AichiKanazawa City Hall blends traditional Japanese craftsmanship with modern design across two buildings serving this UNESCO Creative City of 460,000 residents.
Kanazawa · IshikawaHakuba Happo-One is a 220-hectare ski resort with 1,070 meters of vertical drop, diverse terrain, and 14 runs ranging up to 8 kilometers.
Hakuba · NaganoA former town in Toyama now part of the city's expanded boundaries since 2005, known for steep terrain and rice terraces ranked among Japan's top 100 scenic destinations.
ToyamaA temple traditionally attributed to Myokaku Shonin, credited with developing the Japanese syllabary system, with the priest believed to be buried at this sacred site.
Kaga · IshikawaA Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple founded in 1441, renowned for its syncretic guardian deity blending Buddhist and Shinto traditions as a symbol of fertility and commercial success.
Toyokawa · AichiA Pure Land Buddhist temple in Yatsuo founded in 1290, belonging to the True Pure Land School and preserving centuries of Nembutsu practice within the Honganji tradition.
ToyamaThis Kaga shrine traces its origins to 585 when an imperial kami was transferred to the site, rising to prominence as one of the region's most historically significant sanctuaries.
Kaga · IshikawaThis free-admission zoo in a scenic park houses red pandas, macaques, and penguins alongside playgrounds and seasonal festivities.
NaganoCastle originally built in 1543 with a 1954 replica keep housing the Local History Museum and Sato Memorial Art Museum.
Toyama
