Shrines, museums, parks, and the spots in between, with the access details worked out.
Temple in Kaga traditionally attributed to Myokaku Shonin, credited with developing the Japanese syllabary, who is believed to be buried here.
Kaga · IshikawaThis shrine dedicated to fertility and agricultural prosperity enshrines deities rooted in Japan's ancient traditions of harvest blessing and family well-being.
Komaki · AichiSoto Zen temple founded in 1441, known for its guardian deity Inari, who blends Buddhist and Shinto traditions and is linked to fertility and trade.
Toyokawa · AichiA Japanese castle built in 1611 that remains the only surviving Edo-period castle keep in the entire Tohoku region, originally featuring a five-story tower.
Hirosaki · AomoriIconic castle with brilliant white exterior, designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure, fully restored to its original appearance in 2015.
Himeji · HyogoThe Seta Hills Production Sites are ancient iron-working facilities from the Nara period, designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1985.
Otsu · ShigaThe head Tendai temple founded in 850, significantly expanded in the 12th century and designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
Hiraizumi · IwateA preserved thatched-roof village in Kyoto with 39 original houses built during the Edo and Meiji periods, designated an Important Preservation District.
Nantan · KyotoJapan's first permanent museum dedicated to the Kinnikuman manga series, opened in 2024 in Numazu, featuring original art and life-size replicas.
Numazu · ShizuokaRural Tono shrine associated with love and connection, where visitors tie wishes on red cloth strips using only their non-dominant hand.
Tono · IwateShinto shrine enshrining two deities of abundance and protection, with a documented history spanning more than 1,500 years.
Moka · TochigiTakebe Shrine in Otsu enshrines Yamato Takeru and Onamuchi and served as the principal shrine of the ancient Omi Province.
Otsu · ShigaThis Nagano museum is dedicated to Katsushika Hokusai's late works created during his final years in Obuse, when he produced his most ambitious pieces.
Obuse · NaganoTakkoku no Iwaya Bishamon-do, established in 801 AD within a natural cave, merges geology with spiritual architecture, preserving 1,200 years of worship.
Hiraizumi · IwateThe Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine on Sado Island operated for nearly four centuries as a key pillar of the Tokugawa shogunate's finances.
Sado · NiigataKennin-ji, located in Kyoto's Gion district, is the oldest Zen temple in the city, founded in 1202 as the head temple of the Rinzai Zen Buddhism branch.
KyotoThis nonverbal stage experience blends traditional kabuki and taiko drumming to tell a mythological tale of rival ninja, opening in August 2024.
TokyoA museum preserving the tradition of Tango Futamata Paper, a handmade Japanese washi used in temple and shrine restoration.
Fukuchiyama · Kyoto
