Shrines, museums, parks, and the spots in between, with the access details worked out.
This nonverbal stage experience blends traditional kabuki and taiko drumming to tell a mythological tale of rival ninja, opening in August 2024.
TokyoHead temple of the Tendai Jimon sect, Miidera was founded in the seventh century and has survived repeated destruction, earning the name Phoenix Temple.
Otsu · ShigaThis mountain castle in Kofu served as the Takeda clan's primary stronghold, reaching its height under the celebrated strategist Takeda Shingen from 1541.
Kofu · YamanashiDedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, this shrine was established in 974 and relocated to Sendai, rebuilt in 1667 with striking vermilion colors.
Sendai · MiyagiThis private art museum in Shibuya occupies a renovated 1989 building on Shibuya Kyoiku Gakuen grounds, the former site of the British School in Tokyo.
TokyoA Kagoshima museum chronicling the Meiji Restoration of 1868, when the Satsuma-Chōshū Alliance restored imperial rule and transformed Japan.
KagoshimaA historic silk mill built by the Japanese government in 1872 that transformed the country into the world's leading raw silk exporter.
Tomioka · GunmaA museum in Tokushima dedicated to insects, featuring live specimens, interactive displays, and educational programs for all ages.
GifuA 19th-century samurai residence in Fukushima that now functions as a museum displaying the lifestyle and culture of the Edo period.
Aizuwakamatsu · FukushimaA golden Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto built in the 14th century as a shogun's retirement villa and now one of Japan's most iconic landmarks.
KyotoA museum in Yamanashi showcasing over 400 music boxes, organs, and mechanical instruments from around the world with interactive workshops.
Fujikawaguchiko · YamanashiA hilltop fortress from 1591 that served as the Katakura clan seat for over 260 years and later became a regional government headquarters.
Shiroishi · MiyagiA flatland-mountain castle built in 1575 with restored tower and natural-stone foundations, closed seasonally during winter months.
Ono · FukuiA provincial Buddhist temple founded in 741 as part of an imperial initiative, now housing Edo-period structures and archaeological remains.
Sendai · MiyagiA major shrine with over 3,000 affiliated shrines nationwide, maintained through a tradition of structural renewal held every 20 years.
NaraA regional revitalization initiative in the hometown of Attack on Titan creator Hajime Isayama, featuring two museums dedicated to the manga series.
Hita · OitaA revered Kochi shrine with 10th-century origins, featuring a prefectural cultural property hall and an annual autumn festival.
Kami · KochiUNESCO-recognized villages showcasing gasshō-zukuri farmhouses with distinctive steep thatched roofs, maintained through collective community traditions.
Shirakawa · Gifu
