Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Nanzenji Temple, located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, is the head temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism and a historic Zen temple with roots dating back to the Kamakura period. It once had deep ties with the Imperial family and the shogunate, and its expansive grounds are dotted with historical buildings and gardens. Its particularly tall Sanmon gate...

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) The Kumano Kodo is a collective term for ancient pilgrimage routes that wind through the mountains of the Kii Peninsula. The Nakahechi and Ohechi routes remain in the area around Tanabe City in Wakayama Prefecture. Since the Heian period, many members of the Imperial Court, aristocrats, and commoners have visited the Kumano Sanzan (Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayabusa Shrine, and...

Tsuruga Castle (Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture) — Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Tsuruga Castle (Aizuwakamatsu Castle) is a castle located in the center of Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. Its beautiful castle landscape is surrounded by moats and stone walls. Originally built during the Muromachi period, it served as the seat of government for the Aizu Domain from the Sengoku to Edo periods...

Enoshima (Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture) Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Enoshima is a small island jutting out into Sagami Bay and a representative tourist destination in the Shonan area. It has long flourished as a place of worship dedicated to Benzaiten (Benten-sama), and since the Edo period, it has been popular among the common people as a leisure and summer resort. The island...

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Mitsumine Shrine is an ancient shrine dedicated to mountain worship in Chichibu City (Chichibu County), Saitama Prefecture. It is located in a place surrounded by the deep forests and spiritual aura of Okuchichibu. Old legends remain about its founding, and it has long been a center of worship for mountain gods and nature spirits.

Lake Mashu (Teshikaga, Hokkaido) — Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Lake Mashu is a caldera lake located in Akan-Mashu National Park in eastern Hokkaido. Formed in a deep crater created by volcanic activity thousands of years ago, the lake's water is exceptionally clear and known for its beautiful "Mashu Blue" color. Early mornings and...

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Iya Kazura Bridge is a traditional suspension bridge made of woven vines in Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture. Its origins are said to date back to when people living in the deep mountainous Iya region built it as a practical bridge to cross to villages on the opposite bank or to reach mountain paths.

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) - Amanohashidate is a 3.6km-long sandbar (a narrow strip of land formed by the accumulation of sand) located in Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture. It is a scenic spot that is counted as one of Japan's Three Most Viewed Places. It appears in ancient texts such as the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, and is deeply connected to mythology and classical literature.

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse (Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture) Address: 1-1 Shinko, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture 231-0001 (Please use this as a guide to the area) Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse is a multi-purpose cultural facility utilizing a historic building that dates back to the opening of Yokohama Port. The brick...

Overview (History, Features, and Attractions) Tojinbo is a scenic cliffside spot facing the Sea of Japan in Mikuni Town, Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture. Its unique landscape, characterized by a series of columnar joints (rocks split into columns), creates a majestic view of the Sea of Japan, with the contrast between the rough waves and the sheer rock face...