Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) The Former Hokkaido Government Office Building (commonly known as the Red Brick Building) is a representative historical building in Sapporo, built during the Meiji period. Its distinctive red brick construction and central dome-style tower convey the Western architectural style of the time. It once served as the administrative center of Hokkaido, and today...

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) The townscape of Sawara (Katori City, Chiba Prefecture) is an area that beautifully preserves the scenery of a town that prospered through water transportation and commerce since the Edo period. Old merchant houses, storehouses, and white plaster-walled buildings line the Ono River. The town is also known as "Water Town," and the river is used as a transportation hub for daily life and logistics...

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Oji Zoo is a municipal zoo located in Kobe's Chuo Ward. It is an urban green facility integrated with the surrounding Oji Park. Opened shortly after the war, it has been beloved by local residents and tourists for many years. While compact, the zoo is home to a diverse range of animal species...

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Mount Rishiri (1,721m above sea level) is a conical dormant volcano towering over Rishiri Island in Hokkaido. It is located in Rishirifuji Town on the island. Its beautiful conical shape has earned it the nickname "Rishiri Fuji." On clear days, the summit offers views of the Sea of Japan, Rebun Island, and distant...

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Hokkaido University Botanical Garden (located in Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido) is an urban botanical garden that preserves and exhibits Hokkaido's nature and plants, and is a popular place for education, research, and public relaxation. Established for academic purposes during the Meiji period, the garden displays Hokkaido's native plants and...

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Monet's Pond (often referred to officially as "Nameless Pond") is a small spring-fed pond in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture. The combination of the crystal clear spring water, the Nishikigoi carp swimming in it, and the colorful aquatic plants evokes the water lilies of French painter Claude Monet.

Mozu Kofun Group (Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture) Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) The Mozu Kofun Group is one of the large groups of ancient tombs built during the Kofun period (3rd to 7th centuries), when the Yamato government was established, and is concentrated around Sakai City. The Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group will be registered as a World Heritage Site in 2023, attracting attention from both within Japan and overseas...

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Nezame-no-Toko is a scenic valley on the Kiso River (Kiso Urushibara River) in Agematsu Town, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture. The granite has been flattened by river erosion, creating a unique landscape of large and small rock formations, giving it the appearance of a "natural bedrock floor," hence the name.

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Futarasan Shrine (Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture) is one of Nikko's most ancient shrines, deeply connected to mountain worship. According to legend, Shodo Shonin trained in Nikko in the 8th century and became a pilgrim to the god of Mount Nantai (also known as Mount Taro).

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Shosenkyo Gorge is a deep valley in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, known for its landscape of steep granite cliffs, oddly shaped rocks, and clear streams. Designated a national scenic spot, it has long been beloved by haiku poets and writers. It offers walking trails, observation decks, and a ropeway...