Shrines, museums, parks, and the spots in between, with the access details worked out.
Sada Shrine near Matsue: a rare sanctuary of three halls side by side, the gods gathering each November to remember Izanami, and the UNESCO-listed Sada Shinno dance.
Matsue · ShimaneMankusen Shrine in Izumo is said to be the last stop for the gods of Japan before they return home.
Izumo · ShimaneOne of three major Kumano shrines in Japan, Kumano Taisha was established in 806 and is known as the Ise Shrine of the North for its significance.
Nanyo · YamagataGuardian shrine of Aomori dedicated to the Three Goddesses of Munakata, featuring grounds with a sacred spring and historic remains including haiku stones by Matsuo Basho.
AomoriA Shinto shrine in Sapporo's Jozankei hot spring resort area, dedicated to the god of hot springs and healing, surrounded by nature and autumn foliage.
Sapporo · HokkaidoA three-floor aquarium inside a Sapporo shopping complex, open until ten at night, with rockhopper penguins, planted tanks, and immersive digital art.
Sapporo · HokkaidoKawasaki's largest green space, blending woodland and wetland with museums, a planetarium, indigo dyeing, and seasonal cherry blossom, irises, and autumn foliage.
Kawasaki · KanagawaA prominent Shingon Buddhist temple renowned for its spiritual power to dispel misfortune and grant various blessings to visitors.
Kawasaki · KanagawaThis museum celebrates Fujiko·F·Fujio, creator of Doraemon, displaying his original works, workspace, and interactive exhibits for manga fans.
Kawasaki · KanagawaThe Nara-Prefecture ruins where Japan's first centralised state took shape, newly inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2026.
Kashihara · NaraKumano Hongu Taisha, heart of the Kumano Sanzan, traces its origins to before Emperor Jinmu – where legend says three moons descended to found the shrine.
Tanabe · WakayamaIn Shingu, Wakayama, Kumano Hayatama Taisha stands as one of the three grand Kumano shrines – a "land of rebirth" where pilgrims have sought renewal for centuries.
Shingu · WakayamaA temple at the eastern edge of Kanto, founded around an image of Kannon that fishermen are said to have drawn from the sea one glowing night in 728.
Choshi · ChibaA hillside park in Chiba – despite the name, neither in Tokyo nor especially German – where flower fields, small rides and pick-your-own crops fill the slopes.
Sodegaura · ChibaYamagata's main administrative center offering public services, local event information, and a gallery featuring works by regional artists and photographers.
YamagataHirosaki Municipal Tourist Center offers information on local attractions and events in a traditional Japanese building with a garden, providing maps, bookings, and free Wi-Fi.
Hirosaki · AomoriOpened in 1983 as the first Disney park built outside the United States, Tokyo Disneyland spreads across seven themed lands on the bay east of Tokyo.
Urayasu · Chiba
