Japanese Odyssey

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Respectfully called Fuji-san by the locals, this volcano is a symbol of Japan and can often be viewed from miles away.

A theme park replicating a township from the Edo Period, featuring historic buildings, costumed actors, theaters, buskers, and more.

With a focus on contemporary art from the last 50 years, this excellent museum also features temporary exhibits from other eras.

Boasting a collection of "Lifestyle Art," visitors enjoy admiring the artwork and if they're lucky can even see a Japanese tea ceremony.

Perhaps Tokyo's best site to see the blooming of cherry blossoms, this great park offers walking trails and a lovely boat pier.

Dedicated to Studio Ghibli, whose Japanese animation has become renowned, this excellent museum offers many fun interactive exhibits.

Home to the iconic Mt. Fuji, this national park is uniquely dispersed among several natural attractions, lakes, hot springs, and islands.

Tough not a major tourist destination, this thriving city features ancient sites, lush parks, and modern Japanese architecture.

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

Take a boat along this crater lake, ringed with lush verdure and beautiful scenery, and you might glimpse Mt. Fuji in the distance.

Explore the streets of this popular tourist town, lined with quaint buildings and boasting a uniquely Japanese atmosphere.

Ride the aerial lift up Mt. Hakone, through the Owakudani valley, and towards the Ashi Lake, exploring the area's natural beauty.

Walk down the lantern-lined path to this Shinto shrine and explore its alcoves, ornaments, and scenic surroundings.

Respectfully called Fuji-san by the locals, this volcano is a symbol of Japan and can often be viewed from miles away.

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

Japan's first open-air museum offers a fun experience, exhibiting sculptures and installations by Japanese and European artists.

Housed in a modern glass-and-steel building, the museum hosts collections of Impressionist art, pottery, glasswork, and more.

One of Japan's leading onsens is a large hot springs park, featuring a shopping mall, spa amenities, unique pools, and much more.

Home to the iconic Mt. Fuji, this national park is uniquely dispersed among several natural attractions, lakes, hot springs, and islands.

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

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

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

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

Lined with shops and cafes, Nagoya's historic center offers an interesting insight into the vibrant local culture.

A museum housing over 12,000 items, including historic armor and weapons, traditional theater costumes, ceramics, art, and more.

A museum tracing Toyota's progress from its unexpected origins as a textile factory, towards its current developments in robotics.

This aquarium is home to dolphins, beluga whales, and orcas, and offers fun for all ages with its feeding and training shows.

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

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

Wander around the garden and visit the former factory, where a gallery exhibits traditional ceramics by a famed Japanese company.

A free daily tour from Toyota's Exhibition Hall through its welding and assembly lines. Be sure to book in advance.

Visit Japan's renowned Shinto shrine complex, walking through torii gates, taking in unique cultural elements, and enjoying the calm.

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

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

Enjoy the bustle of this energetic metropolis, taste the food sold by friendly street vendors, and discover a multitude of temples.

Housing an archaeological exhibit, as well as a collection of Namban art, this small museum is home to nearly 39,000 items.

A popular historic neighborhood full of 19C Western buildings housing exhibits depicting the lives of foreign settlers in Kobe.

A municipal gallery showcasing paintings, prints, sculptures, and contemporary artwork by Japanese and Western artists.

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

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

A shopping district full of boutiques and restaurants, boasting several historic buildings, a hot spring, and a romantic ambiance.

Famed for its panda Tan Tan, the zoo is home to over 150 animal species, from red pandas to koalas, tigers, bears, monkeys, and more.

Commemorating the 5,000 victims of the 1995 earthquake, this museum exhibits dioramas of the aftermath, documentaries, and more.

There is tons to see on this picturesque island, including pristine beaches, ancient burial mounds, hot springs, and an amusement park.

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

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

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

Known as the world's first city in history to be hit by a nuclear weapon, this city features memorial museums, shrines, and castles.

Exhibiting personal items, photos, and relics of the Japanese WWII victims, the museum traces the horrors of the nuclear bombings.

Discover a city center buzzing with energy and laden with somber memories, full of a unique modern charm.

A memorial featuring the Genbaku Dome, preserved in its ruined state to commemorate the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing.

Replicating the original 16C castle, this compound is a great example of the traditional Japanese flatland castle.

This island on the Inland Sea is famed for its eponymous Shinto shrine dating to the 6C, as well as the Buddhist Daiganji Temple.

Famed for its historic castle, this city boasts historic and cultural landmarks, as well as a great culinary scene.

A museum housing an impressive collection of Impressionist, Romanticist, and modern artworks by Western and Japanese artists.

Located in the Inland Sea, this small island is known for its lush nature and a picturesque lighthouse which features a small museum.

An isle on the Inland Sea, known for its beaches, cherry blossom trees that bloom in the spring, and hilltop caves with great views.

A major Japanese port city, Takamatsu is home to lovely gardens, a historic castle, and serves as a gateway to the islands of Shikoku.

With fine gardens, a historic castle, and easy access to islands in the Inland Sea, this city can be a nice stopover for a few days.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Erected over a waterfall, this fine 17C temple boasts superb architecture and a famed terrace that affords remarkable panoramic views.

Traditionally led by members of the imperial family, this temple boasts scenic gardens, Japanese architecture, tea-houses, and more.

The longest wooden structure in Japan is famed for the 33 pillars along its sides, and an impressive statue of a 1000-armed deity.

A 17C temple complex boasting architectural gems, historic artifacts, lovely gardens, and relics of cultural significance.

Visit Japan's renowned Shinto shrine complex, walking through torii gates, taking in unique cultural elements, and enjoying the calm.

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

An 18C temple, most notable for its cemetery that houses over 8,000 Buddha statues mourning those who died without families.

A 15C Zen temple renowned for its rock garden, where elaborately raked patterns in the gravel signify one's road to Enlightenment.

Dating to the 9C, this monastery boasts traditional Japanese architecture and offers great hiking opportunities in its vicinity.

A 9C Buddhist temple, Ninna-ji boasts 17C architecture from its reconstruction, splendid gardens, fine decor, and imperial patronage.

Originally a castle town, this city is home to historic landmarks including its iconic castle, temples, and a botanical garden.

There is tons to see on this picturesque island, including pristine beaches, ancient burial mounds, hot springs, and an amusement park.

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.

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

With a great variety of winter sports and summer activities, this village is a superb destination for lovers of active leisure.

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.

Known as "The God's Crossing," when the lake's surface freezes, the natural hot springs beneath the surface continue to bubble.

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.