Explore Japan's Destinations

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (広島平和記念碑, Hiroshima Heiwa Kinenhi), originally the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, and now commonly called the Genbaku Dome, Atomic Bomb Dome or A-Bomb Dome (原爆ドーム, Genbaku Dōmu), is part of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Mount Kōya (高野山, Kōya-san) is a large temple settlement in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan to the south of Osaka. In the strictest sense, Mount Kōya is the mountain name (sangō) of Kongōbu-ji Temple, the ecclesiastical headquarters of the Kōyasan sect of Shingon Buddhism.

佐渡島

Sado Island (佐渡島, Sado(ga)shima; Japanese pronunciation: [sa.do.ɡaꜜ.ɕi.ma, -do.ŋaꜜ-]) is an island located in the eastern part of the Sea of Japan, under the jurisdiction of Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, with a coastline of 262.7 kilometres (163.2 mi). In October 2017, Sado Island had a population of 55,212 people. Sado Island covers an area of 854.76 km2 (330.02 sq mi), and is the sixth largest island in Japan, excluding the disputed Southern Kurils. The shortest distance between Sado Island and Honshu is 32 km (20 mi). The highest peak on Sado Island is Mount Kinpoku, with an elevation of 1,172 m (3,845 ft).

円月島

Engetsu Island (円月島, Engetsu-tō) is the common name for Takashima (高嶋), a small uninhabited islet off the coast of Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. It is noted for having a natural arch created through the effects of erosion by wind and waves, and has been designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty. One of the symbols of the Shirahama area, the islet measures approximately 130 metres (430 ft) north-to-south and 35 metres (115 ft) east-to-west, and has a maximum elevation of 25 metres (82 ft). The circular moon-shaped hole (sea cave) in the center of the island has a diameter of nine meters and is the origin of the popular name "Engetsu" (full moon). During the spring and autumn equinoxes, the sunset can be seen through the hole in the center.

初島

island in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture

前島

Maeshima (Japanese: 前島, Hepburn: Mae-shima or Mae-jima; Okinawan: mekirama) is an uninhabited island in Okinawa's Kerama island group. It is controlled by the city of Tokashiki in Shimajiri District.

厳島

Itsukushima (厳島) is an island in the western part of the Inland Sea of Japan, located in the northwest of Hiroshima Bay. It is popularly known as Miyajima (宮島), which in Japanese means "Shrine Island". The island is one of Hayashi Gahō's Three Views of Japan specified in 1643. Itsukushima is part of the city of Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima Prefecture. The island was part of the former town of Miyajima before the 2005 merger with Hatsukaichi.

大三島

Ōmishima Island (大三島, Ōmishima) is the largest island in the Geiyo Islands chain, and the westernmost island on which Japan's Nishiseto Expressway, which links Honshu and Shikoku via a number of islands, runs. It is located in the Seto Inland Sea. The island's highest peak is Washigatozan (鷲ヶ頭山) at an altitude of 437 m (1,434 ft).

大島

Ōshima (大島) is an inhabited island in the Geiyo Islands in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan, lying between the larger islands of Honshū and Shikoku.

女木島

Megijima (女木島, めぎじま) is an island located in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan, north of the city of Takamatsu, and is part of Kagawa Prefecture. It has an area of 2.66 km2, a coastline of 8.9 km, and a population of about 200. Megijima is a popular destination in summer on account of its public beach and close proximity to Takamatsu City (approx. 4 km). Additionally, with over 2000 cherry blossom trees, Megijima also sees an influx of visitors during the springtime when people congregate for cherry blossom viewing.

姫路城

Himeji Castle (姫路城, Himeji-jō) is a hilltop Japanese castle complex situated in Himeji, a city in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.

小豆島

Shōdoshima or Shōdo Island (小豆島, Shōdoshima) is an island located in the Inland Sea of Japan. The name means "Island of Small Beans". There are two towns on the island: Tonoshō and Shōdoshima, composing the district of Shōzu. The island is famous as the setting for the novel Twenty-Four Eyes and its subsequent film adaptations and the manga Teasing Master Takagi-san and its adaptations. The island was the first area of Japan to successfully grow olives, and it is sometimes known as "Olive Island".

平城京

Heijō-kyō (平城京; also Heizei-kyō, sometimes Nara no miyako) was the Capital of Japan during most of the Nara period, from 710 to 740 and again from 745 to 784. The imperial palace is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site together with other places in the city of Nara (cf. Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara). Empress Genmei ordered the Imperial capital moved from Fujiwara-kyō to Heijō-kyō in 708, and the move to Heijō-kyō was complete in 710. Heijō-kyō was modeled after Chang'an, the capital of Tang-dynasty China, although Heijō-kyō lacked walls.

平城宮

Heijō Palace (平城宮, Heijō-kyū) was the imperial residence in the Japanese capital city Heijō-kyō (today's Nara), during most of the Nara period. The palace, which served as the imperial residence and the administrative centre for most of the Nara period from 710 to 794 AD, was located at the north-central location of the city in accordance with the Chinese models used for the design of the capital. The palace consisted of a daidairi (大内裏; also pronounced taidairi), a large rectangular walled enclosure which contained several ceremonial and administrative buildings, including the government ministries. Inside this enclosure was the separately walled residential compound of the emperor or the Inner Palace. In addition to the emperor's living quarters, the Inner Palace contained the residences of the imperial consorts as well as certain official and ceremonial buildings more closely linked to the person of the emperor.

東京タワー

Tokyo Tower (東京タワー, Tōkyō Tawā; pronounced [toːkʲoː taꜜɰᵝaː] ), also known by its official name Japan Radio Tower (日本電波塔, Nippon denpatō) is a communications and observation tower in the district of Shiba-koen in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, completed in 1958. At 332.9 metres (1,092 feet), it was the tallest tower in Japan until the construction of Tokyo Skytree in 2012. It is a lattice tower inspired by the Eiffel Tower, and is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations. The tower's main sources of income are antenna leasing and tourism, and its five-story base building FootTown houses a number of restaurants, gift shops, and other attractions. Departing from it, guests can visit two observation decks: the two-story Main Deck at 150 m (490 ft), and the smaller Top Deck at 249.6 m (819 ft).

江田島

Etajima (江田島), also called Nōmi-jima, Nomijima, Nomi Island, or Etajima-Nōmijima (江田島・能美島) is an island in Hiroshima Bay located in southwestern Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The mess with island name originates from the ancient (and possibly legendary) strait at now town Ōgaki-chō Hitonose (大柿町飛渡瀬).

淡路島

Awaji Island (淡路島, Awaji-shima) is an island in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, in the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea between the islands of Honshū and Shikoku. The island has an area of 592.17 square kilometres (228.64 square miles). It is the largest island of the Seto Inland Sea. Some scholars, such as Motoori Norinaga, have claimed that the name means "the road to Awa (阿波)", the historic province bordering the Shikoku side of the Naruto Strait (now part of Tokushima Prefecture), although this etymology is disputed. Others, including Tsugita Uruu, have interpreted the historical meaning of awa as 粟 "millet", due to a story where the kami Sukunabikona climbs a millet stalk on the island, as told in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki; in these books, the island is referred to as Awaji no Honosawake no Shima (淡道之穂之狭別嶋（あはぢのほのさわけのしま）) – referencing the Japanese creation myth, where it was the first island created in Japan – and Awaji-shima (淡路洲), respectively.

犬島

island in Seto Inland Sea, Japan

田代島

Tashirojima (Japanese: 田代島) is a small island in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. It lies in the Pacific Ocean off the Oshika Peninsula, to the north of Aji Island. The population was around 80 people in 2015, compared to around 1,000 in the 1950s. It has become known as "Cat Island" owing to its large stray cat population, which thrives due to the local belief that feeding cats brings wealth and good fortune. The cat population exceeds the human population on the island and pet dogs are not allowed.

男木島

Ogijima (男木島, おぎじま or おぎしま) is an island in the Seto Inland Sea, in southern Japan. It is next to Megijima (女木島), a few kilometers at sea north of Takamatsu, in Kagawa Prefecture. It is about two kilometers long and less than a kilometer wide. The island is largely mountainous and flat land is scarce. The population in 2010 was 202 people.

相島

Ainoshima (相島) (Aino-Island) is an island in Shingū, Fukuoka, Japan. Many feral cats and strays live on this island. Hence, it is known as "Cat Heaven Island".

粟島

Awashima (粟島) is an island in the Sea of Japan. The island is located approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of the city of Murakami in northern Niigata Prefecture. Awashima is administratively the village of Awashimaura under Iwafune District of Niigata Prefecture. As of 2020, the island's population is 353.

紀伊大島

Kii Ōshima (紀伊大島) is an inhabited island lying off the southern tip of the Kii Peninsula and the southernmost point of Honshū, Japan. It has an estimated population of around 2000, and is administratively part of the town of Kushimoto in Wakayama Prefecture. The island is approximately 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) in length from east-to-west by 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) north-to-south.

能登島

Notojima (能登島, Noto-jima) is a volcanic island in the Nanao Bay (七尾湾) portion of the Sea of Japan, less than 500 meters off the coast of the Ishikawa prefecture in Japan. Notojima Island is administered as part of Nanao city. The two bridges connecting Notojima to the mainland trisect Nanao Bay into Nanao-North, Nanao-West and Nanao-Nambu bays. The island's highest peak is Mount Yomurazuka at 196.8 m (646 ft). The island has both elementary and middle schools.

見附島

Mitsukejima (Japanese: 見附島) is an uninhabited island in Takadate-cho, Suzu, Ishikawa, Japan. Due to its shape, it is also known as Gunkanjima (軍艦島; Battleship Island), which is also the common name given to Hashima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture. According to folklore, the island was given the name "Mitsukejima" by the Buddhist monk, scholar, and artist Kūkai, who was the first to discover the island while travelling from Sado Island. Mitsukejima is approximately 150 metres long, 50 metres wide, and 30 metres above sea level. It is composed of Neogene-period diatomaceous earth, the raw materials commonly used for shichirin, a portable clay cooking stove which is a specialty product of Suzu.

豊島

island in Seto Inland Sea, Japan

金閣寺

Kinkaku-ji, or Temple of the Golden Pavilion, is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan, once burned down in 1950 when it was destroyed by arson after surviving World War II intact.