Explore in Japan

Daisen-in Zen Garden

A small sub-temple of Daitoku-ji in Kyoto, Daisen-in shelters a dry rock garden whose composition reads like a life journey according to Zen philosophy.

Yunessun Onsen

A fun thermal complex in Hakone, Yunessun Onsen offers aromatized baths in wine, coffee, sake, green tea and chocolate, complemented by family-friendly facilities.

The Yamanote Circular Line

A 34.5 km railway loop operated by JR East, the Yamanote connects 29 major stations in Tokyo, from Shinjuku to Ueno via Shibuya.

Yamadera

Yamadera

A Buddhist temple founded in 860 on a mountainside near Yamagata, Yamadera rewards visitors with 1,000 steps leading to pavilions clinging to the cliff face.

Utsukushigahara Plateau

At 2,000 m altitude near Matsumoto, Utsukushigahara Plateau offers a 360° panorama over the Japanese Alps, flower-lined trails and an open-air art museum.

La Cathédrale D'Urakami

Urakami Cathedral

In Nagasaki, Urakami Cathedral tells the story of 250 years of Hidden Christians, the 1945 atomic bombing, and the reconstruction of a Japanese Catholic community.

Urakami

Urakami

North of Nagasaki, Urakami holds two distinct memories: that of persecuted hidden Christians from 1614 to 1873, and that of Ground Zero on August 9, 1945.

Umeda District

Umeda, Osaka's northern hub: panoramic observation deck, iconic red Ferris wheel, underground galleries, Tsuyuten Shrine and rail junction in the Kansai region.

Lake Toya

A caldera lake in southwestern Hokkaido, Lake Toya brings together active volcanoes, thermal springs, central islands and daily fireworks from spring through autumn.

Lake Towada

The largest caldera lake on Honshu, nestled between Aomori and Akita prefectures, Lake Towada combines volcanic landscapes, the Oirase Gorge, and contemporary art.

Musée Municipal De Tono

Tono Municipal Museum

Japan's first museum devoted to folklore, the Tono Municipal Museum explores the legends of Tono Monogatari, kappas, and rural life in the Tohoku region.

Les Quartiers De Tokyo

Tokyo's Neighborhoods

Guide to Tokyo's neighborhoods: Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa, Ginza, Akihabara, Yanaka, Harajuku. Addresses, atmospheres and tips for planning your itinerary.

Tōdai-ji Temple

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Tōdai-ji in Nara houses the Daibutsu-den, the world's largest wooden structure, and a monumental bronze statue of Buddha Vairocana.

Shuri Castle

The former seat of the Ryūkyū kingdom in Naha, Shuri Castle is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. History, visit and reconstruction after the 2019 fire.

The Shogunate or Bakufu

For nearly seven centuries, the shogunate or Bakufu governed Japan. History, sites to visit and tips for following in the footsteps of the shoguns.

Parc De Shiretoko

Shiretoko National Park

At the far eastern tip of Hokkaido, Shiretoko ("the end of the Earth" in Ainu) protects a wild coastline designated a UNESCO World Heritage site—the realm of brown bears.

The Shinsekai District

South of Osaka, Shinsekai brings together Tsutenkaku Tower, fried kushikatsu skewers, and the bustling atmosphere of the 1950s-60s.

Shimabara Castle

White keep standing 33 meters above the plain facing the Ariake Sea, Shimabara Castle traces the history of hidden Christians and the peasant rebellion of 1637.