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  Gokayama Gassho-style Village

  Posted in: Chubu, Toyama

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  Gokayama gassho-style village was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995. 23 gassho-style buildings currently remain in Ainokura gassho-style village, and 9 remain in Suganuma gassho-style village. Most of them are around one to two centuries old, and the oldest of them are said to have been built 400 years ago. The area’s mountain village culture is steeped in the tradition of gassho-style houses and its history is passed down to the present day.

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  Shiiba-son

  Posted in: Kyushu, Miyazaki

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  The village of Shiiba-son in Higashiusuki-gun, Miyazaki, is one of Japan’s three major hidden scenic spots. It has numerous sightseeing spots such as the Tsurutomi Yashiki residence and Shiiba Itsukushima Shrine. The warriors of the Heike Clan, who had fled to the area after their resounding defeat at the hands of the rival Genji Clan in the 12th century, sought refuge and lived in Shiiba-son.

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  Karasuyama's Yamaage-matsuri Festival

  Posted in: Kanto, Tochigi

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  The Yamaage-matsuri Festival consists of the Karasuyama Yamaage Festival and the mikoshi (portable shrine) of the Yagumo Shrine. The festival is held for three days around the fourth Saturday of July in Nasukarasuyama City, Tochigi Prefecture. The Yamaage Festival boasts a tradition dating back over 450 years and features an extravagant open-air kabuki play unmatched even in Japan. The main attractions are the beautiful dance and the stage setting with the perfectly coordinated movement of...

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  Ponshukan Sake Museum

  Posted in: Chubu, Niigata

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  The Ponshukan Sake Museum is inside Echigo-Yuzawa Station. Here, you can enjoy famous Niigata products such as sake and rice to your heart’s content at sake tasting sessions and the souvenir stands.

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  Sapporo

  Posted in: Hokkaido, Southern Hokkaido

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  Sapporo (札幌市) is a large city in northern Japan. Sapporo has the fifth largest population and third largest area in Japan. Many people know Sapporo as the host of the 1972 Winter Olympics. It is also the site of the yuki matsuri Snow Festival each winter, which usually attracts 2 million tourists from all over the world.

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  Yamadera Hojuzan Risshaku-ji Temple

  Posted in: Tohoku, Yamagata

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  Officially known as Hojuzan Risshaku-ji, Yamadera was founded in 860. At the base of the mountain sits the main Konpon Chudo Hall, a designated important cultural property of Japan, followed by the 1,015 stone steps that lead to the summit. It is a form of ascetic training that leaves your worldly desires behind as you ascend each step. The views of the mountains and surrounding villages from the mountaintop are truly captivating.

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  Tensha-en Garden

  Posted in: Shikoku, Ehime

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  Date Munetada, the seventh feudal lord of the Uwajima domain who went by the pseudonym "Shunzan," constructed this garden as a place of retirement. The name of the garden comes from a poem Date Masamune wrote after his retirement. The poem goes, “I spent my younger days on a horse for battles, now the world is peaceful and my hair has turned gray, my aging body exists here because God in heaven forgave me and let me live."

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  Himeji Castle

  Posted in: Hyogo, Kansai

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  The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage castle located in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, is also known as the White Heron Castle for its pristine white stature that stands out against the blue sky, resembling a white heron taking flight. Admire the dazzling castle tower and explore the many attractions including the various defenses against attack. In Koko-en garden founded on the grounds of the former West Residence, you can enjoy dining or tea while gazing at the majestic castle.

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  Nasu Onsen Shikanoyu

  Posted in: Kanto, Tochigi

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  The birthplace of the famed Nasu Onsen hot spring resort, Shikanoyu is the oldest hot spring in Tochigi Prefecture with around 1,390 years of history. The Shikanoyu public bathhouse is located near the Sessho-seki ("killing stone"), a tourist spot in Nasu. The sulfur spring water is characterized by its milky white color, and the surrounding distinctive fragrance helps to heighten the hot spring mood. The nostalgic building is reminiscent of its original appearance around a century ago,...

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  Guest House LAMP Nojiriko

  Posted in: Chubu, Nagano

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  Situated on Lake Nojiri in Nagano, Guest House LAMP Nojiriko is the perfect getaway to enjoy a range of outdoor activities for all seasons, from mountain vegetable picking in the spring to stand-up paddleboard, kayaking, and rafting in the summer; mushroom hunting in the fall; and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Be sure to also enjoy the delicious seasonal dishes and the Finnish sauna.

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  Ryusendo Cave

  Posted in: Tohoku, Iwate

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  Ryusendo Cave in Iwaizumi, Iwate Prefecture, is one of Japan's three greatest limestone caves and designated as a national natural monument. The underground lake created by pristine water welling out of the cave is one of the most transparent in the world, called "dragon blue." The spot has also been drawing attention in recent years as a "lover's sanctuary," a romantic setting often visited by couples.

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  Katsuren Castle Ruins

  Posted in: Okinawa

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  The city of Uruma is located at the center of the Okinawa main island, and the Katsuren Castle Ruins can be found atop a hill on the eastern coast of Uruma, on the Katsuren Peninsula jutting out onto the Pacific Ocean. Amawari, the lord of Katsuren Castle, attacked the royal palace of Shuri Castle in hopes to take over the kingdom, but suffered a major defeat and perished in 1458. Climb the steep steps of Katsuren Castle and you'll rewarded with a grand panoramic view of the ocean.

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