An 8-Day Journey Through the 'Rising Dragon'
Travel through the 'Rising Dragon' region of Japan, where you'll find ancient shrines, exquisite gold leaf, top-ranked gardens, incredible festivals, panoramic mountain views, plus markets, museums, kabuki and more!
Shoryudo — Rising Dragon of Japan
Have you ever made soy sauce by hand? Neither had Rachel! Follow her journey through the 'Rising Dragon' of Japan, a route that travels through Shizuoka, Aichi, Ishikawa, Gifu and Nagano Prefectures.
Two-Day Hiroshima & Kurashiki Tour from Osaka
Set out from Osaka on a tour around the hidden gems of Hiroshima, Miyajima and Kurashiki before returning to the bustling city center of Osaka.
Explore the Mysteries of Tohoku
If the heavy winter snow or rugged mountains didn’t keep you away, the stories of roaming bandits and forest monsters would! But nowadays people come to Tohoku to explore folklore, sacred rituals and natural wonders thousands of years in the making.
Masanori Aoyagi on Japan's World Heritage
World Heritage Temples & Shrines
When the sites of Japan’s Meiji industrial revolution were added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, Highlighting Japan spoke with then-Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Masanori Aoyagi about the significance of World Heritage Sites in Japan.
Aizuwakamatsu: Modern City, Samurai Spirit
Join our writer Nick as he travels to Aizuwakamatsu, in Fukushima Prefecture, to get a deeper look at the rich history and culture the city has to offer.
10 Beautiful Spots to Take Photos in Japan
Photography Japanese Countryside
It's hard to take a bad picture at these gorgeous locations!
The Coexistence of Old & New
One unique aspect of Japan is to respect traditional culture and let it grow alongside new customs in today’s society. And Kamakura is a great place to see both.
UNESCO Sites in the Tokyo Area
Tokyo is great for food, shopping and relaxation. But you should know there are also a handful of stellar World Heritage Sites right in the area!
Horyu-ji's Famous Buddhist Monuments
Travel to Horyu-ji, a historic Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples of Ancient Nara.
Kagoshima & Sakurajima's Best Sights By Bus
Get to know Kagoshima on this fun one-day tour. Take a ferry ride over to Sakurajima, stroll though the Senganen Garden and get a feel for the local history!
Discover the Beauty of Tohoku
Japan's northeastern Tohoku region offers the comforts of refreshing nature, beautiful scenery and time-tested traditions—concentrating the best of Japan into a single incredible area!
Japan's 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
World Heritage Temples & Shrines
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.
Find Treasure at Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine
Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu is filled with nature on the outside, with its tunnel of simply incredible cherry blossoms. But, there are also several important treasures within!
World Heritage Villages Among Deep Valleys
Travel to Gifu and Toyama to learn all about the charming and scenic historic villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, two of Japan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Tomioka Silk Mill
Historical Site World Heritage
Located in Gunma Prefecture, the Tomioka Silk Mill is a well-preserved symbol of modernization and international cooperation. It was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2014.
Take a Luxury Bus Tour of Sasebo!
Enjoy Sasebo’s historic buildings and symbolic landscapes from the window of the Umikaze, a luxury-cruiser-style sightseeing bus complete with multilingual audio guides!
Top Places to Visit in Each Prefecture (Pt. 1)
The folks over at RocketNews24 have compiled a bucket list for the top places to visit in each prefecture—and we have to say these pictures have us already packing our bags!
UNESCO's Historical Monuments of Ancient Nara
Once the capital of Japan, the historical monuments of Nara include temples, a shrine, a palace, a forest and lots of deer!
Shimane: Silver & The Sea
The Iwami Ginzan silver mine was designated a World Heritage Site in 2007. At its peak in the mid-16th to early 17th century, it was believed to be the source of one third of all the silver in circulation in the world.
