All About Japan

12 Great Hikes in Japan's National Parks

You can follow the trails through Japan's national parks to mountain peaks and coastal views—and sometimes both at the same time!

Top Photogenic Spots in Shikoku, Japan

One of Japan's four main islands, Shikoku is full of charm. Being a remote island, it has a lot of unique attractions that you simply cannot see anywhere else. Get ready with your camera and take shots of these picturesque spots!

Island Hopping: 4 Days on the Seto Inland Sea

This magical trip on the Seto Inland Sea is guaranteed to make you want to rent a boat and hit these gorgeous islands yourself!

Kagawa's Stunning Slowpoke Manhole Covers

Each species of Pokémon has its own set of stats and parameters, but Slowpoke hasn’t usually scored particularly high in the respect department.

Ritsurin: Shikoku's Finest Daimyo Garden

Ritsurin is a 400-year-old daimyo garden in Kagawa Prefecture's capital city, Takamatsu. It is a stunning landscape of idyllic ponds, wooden bridges and expansive greenery.

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.

12 of the Best Dishes in Shikoku!

Savor the freshest ingredients and culinary highlights from Shikoku, featuring the best from all of its four prefectures.

5 Cosmic Night Views in Japan's National Parks

Just because the sun goes down doesn't mean there's nothing left to enjoy in a national park. Whether on a lonely beach or a mountain plateau, reduced light pollution often offers a brilliant chance to glimpse a once-in-a-lifetime night view!

16 Splendid Shikoku Castles

The island of Shikoku may be small, but who would've guessed it once contained 16 amazing castles, all in various shapes and forms!

This Beach Is Like a Scene out of 'Your Name'

Chichibugahama Beach looks like a Makoto Shinkai anime come to life, and is well worth a detour off the beaten travel path.

Mandarin Oranges Fetch Record High Price

Mandarin oranges in western Japan fetch a record high 100,000 yen apiece in the fruit’s first auction of the season.

30 Stunning Flowers in Japan's National Parks

From June hydrangeas to September spider lilies, here are 30 reasons for flower fans to fall in love with Japan's 34 flower-filled national parks!

5 Most Expensive Fruits That Are Made in Japan

Fruits in Japan can be expensive when compared to other countries—in fact, five out of the six most expensive fruits in the world are from here! Let's took a look the these costly treats!

The Secret of the Square Watermelon

With only 200 grown per year, this video offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of square watermelon production—answering the questions of how they're made and why they're so expensive!

Red Kochia Are Attracting Visitors to Kagawa

Head to this national park in Kagawa Prefecture to enjoy red Kochia plants.

Riding Through the Heart of Shikoku

The charming sightseeing train known as Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari is a three-hour ride through two of Shikoku's beautiful prefectures.

The Ise-Shima G7 Summit Regions

10 cities around the country were selected to host ministerial meetings surrounding the 2016 G7 Summit in Ise-Shima. From education to IT and agriculture, each was selected for a very specific reason!

Top 3 Things to Experience in Takamatsu

From art islands to ancient gardens and intricate traditional lacquerware, there's plenty to enjoy in and around this Shikoku city.

Take Your Prefectural Pride on the Road

These stylish license plates feature iconic imagery from prefectures throughout Japan, so you can show off your prefectural pride every time you hit the road!

Incredible Cherry Blossoms in Kagawa

Learn about Shiudeyama, a beautiful cherry blossom spot in Kagawa Prefecture which was featured in the New York Times’ as one of Japan's must-visit destinations!

  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1
  • 2
know-before-you-go