All About Japan

21 Top Spots Outside Japan's 'Golden Route'

Many tourists concentrate on the so-called 'Golden Route' connecting Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka. But what do you do if you want to get off the principal tourist highway and see the best of the rest? Here are Japan's 21 best off-the-Golden-Route spots!

Top 10 'Hanami' Spots in Japan

The transient nature of cherry blossoms is an essential part of their beauty, but no one wants to be left in the dark when it comes to finding the perfect spot to see them.

5 Instagram-Worthy Castles for Every Season

Winter, spring, summer or fall, you'll fall in love with these sites, and snap a photo as you do!

Top 20 Most Popular Castles of 2016

TripAdvisor has revealed its Top 20 best Japanese castles for 2016 based on commentary from domestic travelers—can you guess which castle is number one?

Regional Station Souvenirs You Can't Miss!

Don't let these yummy station souvenirs pass you by on your next Shinkansen ride!

List: Japan's 12 Original-Construction Castles

While Japan is home to over 300 castles, there are only 12 that still retain their original castle keep. These 12 so-called 'original construction' castles are the cream of the crop.

Japan's 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Every traveler to Japan should be sure to visit at least a few of the nation's stellar World Heritage Sites, ranging from 1,000-year-old temples and shrines to breathtaking natural biospheres.

Things to Do in Golden Week in Kansai

Looking for something exciting to do during your Golden Week vacation? Here are five great ways to spend your time off in Kansai.

4 Beautiful Castles Home to Terrible Ghosts

Ancient buildings almost always seem to come with a ghost story, and Japanese castles are no exception.

10 Best UNESCO World Heritage Sites In Japan

Ranging from historical to natural to cultural, these 10 incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan will make you want to travel there now!

Top 5 Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in Hyogo

When viewing the cherry blossoms in the Kansai region, it would be easy to get lost in the beauty of Kyoto and Osaka and forget Hyogo Prefecture. But these sites are well worth traveling to as well. Check out our Top 5 picks!

Himeji Castle Reborn

In March 2015, Himeji Castle completed its first major renovation in 50 years, leading it to be reborn in resplendent white befitting of the "White Heron Castle."

Check Out this Cute Hello Kitty Café in Himeji

Who would have known Hello Kitty would be nestled so nicely in this cute café, ready to greet you on your way to Himeji Castle!

11 Record-Setting Sites in Japan

Venture out and discover these 11 spots that break records in Japan, from the tallest building to the deepest lake. Or how about the city that eats the most ice cream?!

Photograph Japan With the Michelin Guide

The Michelin Guide is known widely as a rating system for restaurants, but that's not the only type of guidebook created by Michelin. They also produce tourism guidebooks for worldwide travel destinations—great for shutterbugs looking for a fresh angle!

Top 30 Spots Across Japan Ranked by Tourists

Travel website TripAdvisor has just listed this year's hot spots in Japan as selected by overseas visitors and we can't wait to see what's at number one!

Amazing Aerial Video of Western Japan

Discover Western Japan as you have never seen it before from a breathtaking birds-eye view!

The City of Himeji: More than Just a Castle

Himeji is a major destination for many visitors to Japan thanks to its spectacular castle, but there is far more to experience in this compact city, filled with history, regional foods, and friendly locals!

Folding Lego Samurai Not Included

This eye-popping Lego pop-up book is a pretty accurate representation of one of Japan's most beloved castles!

Build Your Very Own Evangelion Unit-01

Spice up your workspace with a model of Eva Unit-01 from the hit anime series 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'!

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