Exploring the Honshu Island

The capital of Imperial Japan for a whole millennium, the charming Kyoto is full of museums, cultural monuments, castles, and parks.

Wander through the quaint winding streets of the center, admiring traditional wooden houses, visiting shops, and sampling local food.

Walk through a long line of scarlet shrine gates on your visit to this 8C temple, and ask for good fortune from the local fox deity.

Dating to the 9C, this temple complex houses Kyoto's oldest building and features cultural monuments, murals, a garden, and more.

A veritable shrine to the Japanese tea ceremony, this museum houses ceramic works made by 15 generations of the renowned Raku family.

A bustling urban center, Osaka blends Japanese innovation with ancient traditions, and offers superb culinary experiences.

A district renowned for its pleasant nature, featuring a bamboo grove, diverse flora, architectural curios, and quaint villages.

A significant cultural landmark, this palatial complex boasts exquisite examples of traditional Japanese architecture and gardening.

A temple complex dating to the 14C, home to several national treasures, 22 sub-temples, renowned murals, and a tranquil garden.

This 13C historic palace fuses traditional architectures of zen and samurai styles, and boasts an incredible pure gold-leaf facade.

Exhibiting over 6,000 items, this museum boasts rich collections of fine art, traditional craftsmanship, and archaeological findings.

A small city with a rich maritime history, Kobe boasts a cosmopolitan charm, cultural landmarks, and several museums.

A 7C Buddhist temple with several remarkable architectural elements, including the Main Hall, the covered staircase, and the gate.

Known as the "Silver Pavilion" due to original plans to silver plate the building, this 15C villa is surrounded by a fine garden.

Famous for its picturesque moss garden, this incredible temple offers a unique meditative experience. Be sure to book in advance.

Surrounded by tranquil gardens, this 13C zen temple is home to a wealth of decorative elements and several exquisite works of art.

Full of atmospheric charm, this popular district was once known for its geishas, now features tea-houses, shops, and restaurants.

A thriving metropolis full of history, Nagoya is best known for its cultural wealth, including theaters, museums, and shrines.

Full of history, this modernized city offers easy access to nearby landmarks, as well as several temples, museums, and parks.

A culturally significant city, Nara is full of Japanese heritage, historic landmarks, as well as a wealth of shrines and temples.

Home to the largest bronze Buddha in the world, this 8C shrine features many statues, lovely gardens, ornate decorations, and more.

Visit one of the historic shrines, walk along the bustling streets, or spend the afternoon in the central park watching the deer.

Surrounded by a protected primeval forest, this 8C Buddhist temple boasts lovely stone and bronze lanterns lining its main walkway.

Located in a Classical building, the museum features a collection of Buddhist art, including paintings, sculptures, and religious items.

A bustling urban center, Osaka blends Japanese innovation with ancient traditions, and offers superb culinary experiences.

A district renowned for its pleasant nature, featuring a bamboo grove, diverse flora, architectural curios, and quaint villages.

With parts dating as far back as the 17C, this picturesque Japanese garden features lovely plants, tea-houses, and a museum.

A historically significant 7C temple, which features stately pagodas, halls, and a museum exhibiting fine Buddhist artwork.

One of the world's oldest wooden buildings dates to the 7C, boasting superb architecture and several exquisite decorative elements.

Known for its deer population, this large park is also home to the Nara National Museum, ancient wooden houses, and a Buddha statue.

A 7C Buddhist temple with several remarkable architectural elements, including the Main Hall, the covered staircase, and the gate.

A small city with a rich maritime history, Kobe boasts a cosmopolitan charm, cultural landmarks, and several museums.

A national park most popular during the cherry blossom season, but also featuring shores, mountains, forests, and native flora.

Home to the amazing Koya-san monastic complex (where visitors can spend the night), this tableland is surrounded by stunning forests and peaks.

Retaining ancient Japanese architecture, as well as traditional samurai and geisha districts, Kanazawa also boast a great art museum.

One of Japan's best gardens is famed for its beauty. It features a tea house, a temple, Japan's oldest fountain, and more.

Stroll through this delightful historic center, lined with traditional wooden houses, rich in historic charm.

A museum of contemporary art housed in an impressive circular complex, known for its experimental and interactive installations.

Displaying nearly 20 types of traditional Japanese crafts, this museum exhibits textile, woodwork, pottery, paintings, and more.

Located at the heart of the Japanese Alps, Takayama is a beautiful small town, home to elegant 17C architecture, galleries, and historic temples.

Travel back in time to this preserved village known for it gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some dating back over 250 years.

A 17C garden maintained by four consecutive generations of the same family, featuring waterfalls, various flowers, and a tea house.

A fine example of traditional Japanese dwelling, this villa features several remarkable architectural elements.

This 16C temple is famed for its many hidden staircases, secret chambers, and escape tunnels, and is often nicknamed the Ninja Temple.

This rugged national park is known for its valleys, gorges, and impressive Alps, some of whose peaks reach over 3,000 meters.

Named for the family that ruled the town from 1471-1573, these ancient ruins include temples, homes, craft shops, streets, and more.

Nestled among mountains, this valley offers an array of beautiful hiking trails. Be advised that the area is closed in the winter.

A lovely spa town home to magnificent nature and hot springs, where visitors enjoy the convalescent waters of the baths and pools.

A city favored by both travelers and locals for its stately historic castle, surrounding nature, fine galleries, and quaint streets.

A 16C castle colloquially called Crow Castle due to its black facade, this well-preserved fort retains its original wooden interior.

Be sure to taste the local soba noodles before you head off exploring the center's charming streets, bustling shops, and nice cafes.

With a special focus on the traditional woodblock prints, this museum offers an interesting insight into Japanese art.

Visit this modern museum to admire its wealth of contemporary art, including a collection by the renowned artist Yayoi Kusama.

Located at the heart of the Japanese Alps, Takayama is a beautiful small town, home to elegant 17C architecture, galleries, and historic temples.

Nestled among mountains, this valley offers an array of beautiful hiking trails. Be advised that the area is closed in the winter.

A lovely spa town home to magnificent nature and hot springs, where visitors enjoy the convalescent waters of the baths and pools.

Nestled amidst picturesque mountains, this town offers many historic landmarks, as well as easy access to nearby natural attractions.

Climb over 1,000 stone steps to reach this stunning temple, dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu who was known for bringing peace to Japan.

Made up of five unique shrines, this complex is located at the base of Mount Togakushi and is surrounded by 300 Cryptomeria trees

Brimming with undeniable energy, Japan's capital and largest city is a vast metropolis full of museums, parks, and cultural monuments.

Vibrant colors, tastes, smells, and sounds awaits you as you venture into the heart of Tokyo, where streets buzz with energy.

With interesting architecture and and abundance of bars, this Shinjuku district has become Tokyo's flourishing nightlife hub.

Honoring Emperor Meiji, this Shinto shrine is nestled within a tranquil forest, offering walking paths and amulets stalls.

Dating to the 17C, this ornate shrine boasts gold-leaf doors and pillars, fine sculptures and artwork, and ancient relics.

Though the largest city in Japan, Yokohama retains a laid back atmosphere, boasting jazz clubs, fine restaurants, and more.

With rides and attractions for all ages, both adults and children will love Japan's exciting Disney theme park.

One of the world's most upscale shopping districts, Ginza features many boutiques, department stores, cafes, and chic restaurants.

Japan's oldest national museum is the country's largest art museum and exhibits artwork and archaeology from all over Asia.

Tokyo's oldest temple dates to the 17C and is a favorite of foreign and local travelers, boasting gardens, eateries, and charm stalls.

A museum tracing the history of Tokyo throughout the Edo Period, featuring a replica of an iconic bridge, city models, and more.

Providing easy access to the national park surrounding Mt. Fuji, this charming town also offers museums and traditional hot springs.

Only an hour from Tokyo, Kamakura is saturated with history, boasting many fine temples and shrines, as well a lovely popular beach.

Dating to the 17C, this garden incorporates motifs of Chinese landscaping, featuring ponds, falls, bridges, and walking paths.

Tokyo's red-light district may never hosted a Kabuki theater, but it now offers bars, shops, clubs, restaurants, and movie theaters.

Encompassing a variety of styles, visitors enjoy strolling through various types of gardens ranging from Japanese to English and more.

Leading into Ueno Park, this district is home to some of Tokyo's most iconic cultural landmarks including museums, temples, and more.

Enjoy some of Japan's most breathtaking scenery at this park, mostly made up of forest-covered mountains and home to ancient shrines.

Favored by locals and travelers alike, the city offers an array of cultural monuments, shrines, hot springs, and many fun activities.

A museum of contemporary art, housing temporary and limited solo exhibitions by Asian and international artists.

Full of shrines and home to Shinto festivals, this popular district boasts historic buildings, shops, stalls, and geisha houses.

Offering a superb experience of the traditional Japanese hot spring bath, this theme park is perfect for a leisurely afternoon.

Fanning out from the world's busiest railway station, this district is famed for its shopping, eateries, and diverse entertainment.

Featuring historic buildings from the Edo Period, this open-air museum offers demonstrations and workshops of traditional crafts.

Based on the series Doraemon by Fujiko F. Fujio, this fun museum is great for children as well as adults familiar with the series.