HISTORICAL SITE

These castles may not have keeps, but many of them are much older than any of Japan's so-called "original construction" castles.

Now connected to Japan's main island by Shinkansen, Hakodate offers a scenic waterfront, historic buildings, a star-shaped fort—and one of the three greatest night views in Japan!

The castles dotting Japan's landscape no longer host battles and political upheavals, but they're not boring relics. Many were the backdrop to some pretty unbelievable stories!

Ninja and other assassins were a serious problem for high-ranking officials and royalty back in the day. Here we take a look at how they managed to thwart these silent killers.

Built to withstand and even take advantage of their environment, these singulse structures known as gassho-zukuri can only be found in two villages in Japan. So why not spend the night in a UNESCO-recognized farmhouse?

Japan is home to thousands of historic shrines and temples, and a good few of them are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A visit to just one can give insight into Japanese culture.

Check out one of the Three Famous Cherry Blossom Spots of Michinoku, including the centuries-old weeping cherry blossoms of Kakunodate's samurai district.

No trip to Japan is complete without celebrating its signature order of clandestine spies and assassins! These five spots will give you your ninja fix while exploring Tokyo and beyond!