Hidden Gems Across Japan
1,610 spots
Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum
Sakamoto Ryoma (1836–1867) is one of the most celebrated figures in Japanese history — a low-ranking samurai from Tosa (…
Kochi Castle
Kochi Castle is one of only twelve surviving original castles in Japan — meaning its tenshu (main keep) dates to the Edo…
Makino Botanical Garden
The Makino Botanical Garden, perched on a hillside in western Kochi, is dedicated to Tomitaro Makino (1862–1957), the 'f…
Katsurahama Beach
Katsurahama is a crescent-shaped beach on Kochi's southeastern coast, famous for its black sand, pine-covered headlands,…
Ashizuri Cape
Ashizuri Cape is the southernmost point of Shikoku, a granite headland wrapped in subtropical vegetation and surrounded…
Ryuga Cave
Ryuga Cave (龍河洞) is one of Japan's three great limestone caves, a 4-kilometer underground system carved over 175 million…
Muroto Cape
Muroto Cape is the southeastern tip of Shikoku, a jagged promontory of uplifted rock that juts 15 kilometers into the Pa…
Niyodo River
The Niyodo River is often called 'Niyodo Blue' (仁淀ブルー) for the surreal, transparent turquoise color of its water — a col…
Shimanto River
The Shimanto River flows 196 kilometers from the mountains of western Kochi to the Pacific, and is famously called 'Niho…
Nichiyoichi Sunday Market
Every Sunday since 1690, the Nichiyoichi Sunday Market unfolds along a 1.3-kilometer stretch of Otesuji Street in centra…
Sawachi Ryori
Sawachi ryori is Kochi's unique banquet cuisine, served on massive ceramic platters (sawachi) up to 50cm in diameter. Ea…
Hirome Market
Hirome Market is not a market in the conventional sense — it is a 7,000-square-meter indoor drinking and eating hall whe…
Illustration — not a photographKatsuo no Tataki
Katsuo no tataki is the soul of Kochi cuisine — fresh skipjack tuna (bonito) seared over roaring straw flames for 20 sec…
Awa Japanese Beef
Awa Beef (阿波牛, Awa-gyu) is Tokushima Prefecture's premium wagyu brand, raised on feed incorporating local sudachi citrus…
Takegashima Hot Spring
Takegashima Onsen (竹ヶ島温泉) is a small hot spring resort on Tokushima's southern coast, featuring outdoor baths overlookin…
Udatsu Townscape
The Udatsu Townscape (うだつの町並み) in Mima City preserves an Edo-period merchant district where wealthy indigo traders built…
Peeing Boy Statue
The Shonben Kozo (小便小僧, 'Peeing Boy') statue stands on a narrow rock outcrop jutting over a 200-meter cliff drop on the…
Tokushima Central Wholesale Market
Tokushima Central Wholesale Market (徳島市中央卸売市場) is a functioning seafood and produce market where Tokushima's restaurants…
Iya Onsen Cliff Bath
The cable car drops you 170 meters down a cliff face in five minutes. Through the window, tree canopy gives way to rock…
Sudachi Citrus
Sudachi (酢橘) is a small green citrus fruit (3–4cm diameter) native to Tokushima Prefecture, similar to lime or yuzu but…
Bizan Ropeway
Mt. Bizan (眉山, 'Eyebrow Mountain,' 290m) rises behind central Tokushima City, named for its eyebrow-like ridge profile w…
Kazurabashi at Oku-Iya
Deeper in the Iya Valley, 45 minutes beyond the main tourist bridge, lie the Oku-Iya Double Kazurabashi (奥祖谷二重かずら橋) — tw…
Yakuoji Temple
Yakuoji (薬王寺) is Temple #23 of the 88 Temple Pilgrimage, dramatically positioned on a coastal mountain with Pacific Ocea…
Illustration — not a photographAwa Indigo Dyeing
Tokushima was historically Japan's leading producer of ai (藍, indigo dye), with Awa indigo (阿波藍) considered the highest…
Estimated from distance to the nearest airport or shinkansen station. Confirm actual journey times before you travel.