Theme guides
Japan by what you love
Castles, temples, gardens, museums and more, across all 47 prefectures. Pick a theme, then a region. Every place shows its Japanese name, so you can search it on a map or show it to a taxi driver.
- Castles95 places27 nationally protected sitesMost castles in Japan were rebuilt. Only 12 original keeps survive from the Edo period or earlier, and five of them are National Treasures.
- Shrines & temples835 places232 nationally protected sitesShrines are Shinto and have torii gates; temples are Buddhist. Both welcome visitors, and a few simple steps make a visit feel right.
- Museums492 places208 nationally protected sitesFrom national collections to small local museums, they make a good plan for rainy or very hot days. Many close one day a week, often Monday.
- Gardens & parks424 places96 nationally protected sitesJapanese gardens are made to be walked slowly, with a new view at every turn. The Three Great Gardens are a good place to start.
- History & heritage738 places593 nationally protected sitesJapan's past isn't only in Kyoto and Nara. Prehistoric villages, samurai towns and old mines are spread across every prefecture, including 27 World Heritage sites.
- Nature279 places79 nationally protected sitesFrom snowy Hokkaido in the north to subtropical Okinawa in the south, Japan's mountains, lakes, gorges and islands change a lot from region to region.