All About Japan

Masanori Aoyagi on Japan's World Heritage

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

10 Beautiful Spots to Take Photos in Japan

It's hard to take a bad picture at these gorgeous locations!

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!

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.

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.

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.

The Tomioka Silk Mill

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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