Hidden Gems Across Japan
1,610 spots
Gion Matsuri
On July 17, Kyoto shuts down. By 8:00 AM, half a million people line Shijo-dori waiting for the first float to appear. W…
Togetsukyo Bridge
Togetsukyo Bridge (渡月橋, 'Moon Crossing Bridge') spans the Katsura River in central Arashiyama, serving as the district's…
Nanzen-ji Temple
Nanzen-ji (南禅寺) ranks as the head temple of the Rinzai Zen sect's Nanzen-ji school, with a massive Sanmon gate (三門, 22 m…
Sagano Scenic Railway
The Sagano Scenic Railway (嵯峨野観光鉄道, Torokko Train) runs 7.3km along the Hozugawa River gorge between Arashiyama and Kame…
Byodo-in Phoenix Hall
Byodo-in Temple (平等院) features the Phoenix Hall (鳳凰堂, Hōōdō), a National Treasure depicted on Japan's 10-yen coin and 10…
Amanohashidate
Amanohashidate (天橋立, 'Bridge to Heaven') is a 3.6km pine-covered sandbar stretching across Miyazu Bay, ranked as one of…
Tea Ceremony Experience
You'll crouch through a door so low your forehead nearly scrapes the frame. This is intentional—samurai had to leave the…
Sanjusangen-do
Sanjusangen-do (三十三間堂, 'Hall with 33 Bays') is a 120-meter-long wooden hall containing 1,001 life-size golden statues of…
Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle (二条城) served as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa shoguns from 1603–1867, representing the military government…
Tenryu-ji Temple
Tenryu-ji (天龍寺, 'Heavenly Dragon Temple') is a UNESCO World Heritage Zen temple built in 1339, ranking first among Kyoto…
Ryoan-ji Rock Garden
Ryoan-ji Temple (龍安寺) houses Japan's most famous Zen rock garden (枯山水, karesansui 'dry landscape') — a rectangular plot…
Ginkaku-ji Silver Pavilion
Ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺, 'Temple of the Silver Pavilion') was built in 1482 by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa as a retirement villa,…
Fushimi Sake District
Fushimi (伏見) is one of Japan's three premier sake-brewing regions, blessed with underground springs of exceptionally sof…
Philosopher's Path
The Philosopher's Path (哲学の道, Tetsugaku no Michi) is a 2-kilometer stone walkway following a canal lined with hundreds o…
Nishiki Market
Nishiki Market (錦市場, Nishiki Ichiba) is a narrow covered arcade housing 100+ specialist food vendors selling Kyoto's sea…
Pontocho Alley
Pontocho (先斗町) is a narrow 500-meter alley running parallel to the Kamo River, lined with traditional wooden buildings h…
Kiyomizu-dera
Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺, 'Pure Water Temple') is a UNESCO World Heritage temple famous for its wooden stage (清水の舞台, Kiyomizu…
Illustration — not a photographUji Matcha
Uji (宇治) has produced Japan's finest green tea for over 800 years, and Uji matcha (抹茶) is considered the gold standard f…
Gion District
Gion (祇園) is Kyoto's most famous geisha district (hanamachi, 花街 'flower town'), where traditional wooden machiya townhou…
Kyoto Kaiseki
Walk into Kikunoi and the room falls silent except for water trickling in the courtyard garden. Your server places a lac…
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (嵯峨野の竹林) is a path through thousands of towering bamboo stalks that create a natural cathedr…
Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion
Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺, 'Temple of the Golden Pavilion') is a three-story Zen Buddhist temple covered in pure gold leaf, reflec…
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Fushimi Inari Taisha is Kyoto's most iconic shrine, famous for the Senbon Torii (千本鳥居, 'thousands of torii gates') — a t…
Okinawa City Koza
Koza exists because 30,000 American airmen need somewhere to spend Friday nights, and it's been serving that function si…
Estimated from distance to the nearest airport or shinkansen station. Confirm actual journey times before you travel.