Hidden Gems Across Japan
1,610 spots
Illustration — not a photographSanuki Udon Master Class Experience
Kagawa has 600-700 udon shops for a population of 950,000—one shop per 1,400 people. People here eat udon three times a…
Oki Islands
Oki Islands (隠岐諸島) are a remote archipelago in the Sea of Japan, 40–80km north of mainland Shimane. The islands form a U…
Lafcadio Hearn Residence
Lafcadio Hearn (小泉八雲, Koizumi Yakumo, 1850–1904) was a Greek-Irish writer who moved to Japan in 1890, married a samurai'…
Tamatsukuri Onsen
Tamatsukuri Onsen (玉造温泉) is a 1,300-year-old hot spring resort famous for beautifying waters rich in sulfate and chlorid…
Hinomisaki Shrine & Lighthouse
Hinomisaki (日御碕) is a dramatic cape at Shimane's western tip featuring Hinomisaki Shrine (vermillion shrine buildings) a…
Yuushien Garden
Yuushien Garden (由志園) is a Japanese stroll garden on Daikonshima Island featuring 10,000+ peony flowers in a 40,000 m² l…
Tsuwano
Tsuwano (津和野) is a preserved castle town nicknamed 'Little Kyoto of San'in' for its traditional architecture, samurai di…
Matsue Wagashi Sweets
Matsue is ranked among Japan's top wagashi (和菓子, traditional Japanese sweets) cities, with per-capita wagashi consumptio…
Horikawa Moat Boat Ride
Horikawa Sightseeing Boat (堀川めぐり) navigates the 3.7km moat surrounding Matsue Castle, passing under 16 bridges (some ext…
Lake Shinji Sunset
Lake Shinji (宍道湖) is Japan's seventh-largest lake, famous for its spectacular sunsets ranked among the nation's top 100.…
Illustration — not a photographIzumo Soba
Izumo Soba (出雲そば) is Shimane's signature noodle dish, served in a unique warigo (割子) style: three small stacked lacquere…
Iwami Ginzan
Iwami Ginzan is the remains of Japan's biggest silver mine, which from 1526 to 1923 pulled enough silver out of these mo…
Adachi Museum of Art
Adachi Museum of Art has been ranked the #1 Japanese garden in Japan by the Journal of Japanese Gardening for over 20 co…
Matsue Castle
Matsue Castle (松江城) is one of Japan's 12 surviving original castles, built in 1611 and never destroyed by war or fire. T…
Izumo Taisha
Izumo Taisha is one of Japan's oldest shrines, maybe the oldest depending on who's counting. It's dedicated to Okuninush…
Tottori Karo Historical Samurai Residence
The Tottori Karo Residence (鳥取藩家老職武家屋敷) is a beautifully preserved samurai house from the Edo period, originally occupie…
Yonago Gaina Festival
The Yonago Gaina Festival, held every July, is western Japan's answer to the massive summer festivals of Tokyo and Osaka…
Daisen Milk & White Baracca
The Daisen mountain foothills are home to several dairy farms that produce some of Japan's finest milk, cream, and soft-…
Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Tart
The Tottori 20th Century Pear Tart (鳥取二十世紀梨タルト) is the prefecture's signature souvenir dessert — a buttery tart shell fi…
Misasa Onsen
Misasa Onsen, by bus from Kurayoshi, is one of Japan's most unique hot spring towns, famous for its radon-rich (radium)…
Matsuba Crab Auction
Sakaiminato Port is one of Japan's premier fishing harbors and the epicenter of Tottori's matsuba crab industry. Every m…
Tottori Shan-Shan Festival
Every August, central Tottori City transforms into a sea of color and sound for the Shan-Shan Matsuri, one of western Ja…
Tottori Folkloric Museum
The Tottori Folkloric Museum (Watanabe Museum) occupies a beautifully preserved Edo-period merchant house in downtown To…
Daisen-ji Temple
Daisen-ji Temple, established in 718 AD, served as the spiritual gateway to Mt. Daisen's sacred peak for over a millenni…
Estimated from distance to the nearest airport or shinkansen station. Confirm actual journey times before you travel.