Ueno Zoo (Taito Ward, Tokyo) Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Ueno Zoo, located within Ueno Park, is Japan's oldest zoo, having opened in 1882. Over its long history, it has exhibited many animals and engaged in conservation and educational activities, making it a popular attraction for both locals and tourists.

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Matsumae Castle is a castle in Matsumae Town, Hokkaido, known as the headquarters of the Matsumae Domain during the Edo period. It is one of the few castles in Hokkaido (Ezo), and its location near the southernmost tip of the island gives it historical value as a "northern castle."

Overview (History, Features, and Appeal) Kawazu cherry blossoms are a general term for cherry trees that bloom in early spring, mainly in Kawazu Town, Kamo District, Shizuoka Prefecture. Discovered in the town in the 1950s, they were planted for ornamental purposes and became widespread. They are characterized by their deep pink petals and early blooming. They bloom later than the common Somei-Yoshino...

Hakodate Morning Market (Hakodate, Hokkaido) Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Located right in front of JR Hakodate Station, Hakodate Morning Market is one of Hokkaido's leading tourist markets, lined with seafood, produce, souvenir shops, and restaurants. Hakodate has long flourished as a port city, so the market has a long history, selling the catch unloaded at the port.

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Lake Ashi is a caldera lake located in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, formed by the activity of the Hakone volcano. Hakone has long been a key location on the Tokaido road, serving as a base for transportation, military affairs, and religious activities. The area around Lake Ashi is home to many historical and cultural assets, including the remains of the Hakone Checkpoint and Hakone Shrine.

Hiruzen Plateau (Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture) Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) The Hiruzen Plateau is a highland region stretching across Maniwa City in northern Okayama Prefecture. It is a popular tourist destination, known for its abundant nature and idyllic scenery. Originally a region for livestock farming, the area was known for its dairy products (milk and yogurt) made with Jersey cows.

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Lake Hamana is a brackish lake (a lake where freshwater and seawater mix) in western Shizuoka Prefecture, centered around Hamamatsu City. Its eastern side is connected to the Enshu Nada Sea (Pacific Ocean) by a narrow mouth. Since ancient times, it has developed as a fishing and aquaculture ground, benefiting from the bounty of the sea and rivers, and is particularly famous for its eels (Lake Hamana U...

Hachioji Castle Ruins (Hachioji City, Tokyo) Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) The ruins of Hachioji Castle are the remains of a mountain castle built by vassals of the Hojo clan during the Sengoku period. It is known for having fallen during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Odawara Campaign. Currently, the castle remains include the remains of the castle's moats, earthworks, moats, stonework, and wells...

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Shimonoseki Kaikyokan is a large aquarium facing the Kanmon Strait in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It showcases the diverse marine life that inhabits the Kanmon Strait, the Seto Inland Sea, and the Sea of Japan, and has been developed as a place to deepen understanding of the region's marine resources and environmental conservation.

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Atsuta Shrine is an ancient shrine located in Atsuta Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. It has long been revered as the shrine that enshrines the Kusanagi Sword, one of the Three Sacred Treasures. Its founding is said to date back to ancient times, and historically it has been revered by the Imperial family and the Owari Province...