Every Place in the Catalogue
1,610 spots
Ponshukan Sake Museum
Little knownNiigata produces more sake breweries per capita than any other prefecture (88 active breweries for 2.2 million residents…
Toki Forest Park
Little knownThe Japanese crested ibis (toki, Nipponia nippon) was declared extinct in the wild in 1981 when the last five wild birds…
Kodo Taiko Drumming Village
Little knownKodo is the world's premier taiko drumming ensemble, based permanently on Sado Island since 1981. The group's training c…
Sado Gold Mine
Little knownThe Sado Kinzan gold and silver mine operated continuously from 1601 to 1989, producing 78 tons of gold and 2,330 tons o…
Gero Onsen Gassho Village
Little knownGero Onsen Gassho Village (合掌の里) combines two of Gifu's signatures — alkaline hot springs and UNESCO-style gassho-zukuri…
Illustration — not a photographSeki Knife Forging
Little knownSeki (関市) has been Japan's blade-forging center for 800 years, originally producing samurai swords and now crafting some…
Magome to Tsumago Hike
Little knownThe Magome-Tsumago hike follows a 7.8km preserved section of the Nakasendo (中山道) — the Edo-period mountain route connect…
Nagara River Cormorant Fishing (Ukai)
Little knownUkai (鵜飼, cormorant fishing) happens after dark on the Nagara River between May 11 and October 15. Fishermen in traditio…
Gifu Castle
Little knownGifu Castle (岐阜城) crowns Mt. Kinka (329m), a dramatic mountain rising from the Nagara River plain. The castle's current…
Gujo Hachiman Food Sample Workshops
Little knownGujo Hachiman produces 60% of Japan's sampuru (food samples) — the hyper-realistic plastic replicas displayed in restaur…
Gujo Hachiman
Little knownGujo Hachiman (郡上八幡) is a castle town built on spring water — over 100 natural springs flow through the streets in open…
Gero Onsen
Little knownGero Onsen (下呂温泉) is ranked among Japan's 'Three Great Hot Springs' (alongside Kusatsu and Arima) for its exceptionally…
Gamagori Laguna Ten Bosch
Little knownLaguna Ten Bosch (ラグーナテンボス) is a seaside resort complex in Gamagori combining a theme park (Lagunasia), hot spring facil…
Illustration — not a photographArimatsu Shibori
Little knownArimatsu (有松) is Japan's traditional center for shibori (絞り, tie-dye) textile production, where artisans have practiced…
Seto Ceramics
Little knownSeto (瀬戸) has produced ceramics for over 1,000 years, and the Japanese word for ceramics (setomono, 瀬戸物, literally 'Seto…
Illustration — not a photographToyota Automobile Museum
Little knownThe Toyota Automobile Museum (トヨタ博物館) in Toyota City houses 140 vehicles spanning automotive history from the 1890s to m…
Chubu Centrair Airport Island
Little knownChubu Centrair International Airport (中部国際空港) sits entirely on a man-made island 3.5km offshore in Ise Bay, accessible v…
Tokoname Pottery Town
Little knownTokoname (常滑) is one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns, producing ceramics continuously for over 1,000 years. The town's hill…
Hamamatsu Air Base Festival
Little knownHamamatsu Air Base (浜松基地) is Japan Air Self-Defense Force's (JASDF) largest air base, home to the Blue Impulse aerobatic…
Illustration — not a photographShizuoka Matcha Experience
Little knownShizuoka grows 40% of Japan's green tea, which means doing a matcha ceremony here is like learning to make cheese in Wis…
Lake Hamana Eel Farming
Little knownLake Hamana (浜名湖) is Japan's eel farming center, producing 40% of the nation's farmed unagi (freshwater eel) using tradi…
Izu Wasabi Farms
Little knownThe Amagi Mountains region of Izu is Japan's premium wasabi-growing area, producing 30% of the nation's fresh wasabi (本わ…
Illustration — not a photographNumazu Fish Market Morning Auction
Little knownNumazu Port Fish Market (沼津港魚市場) is one of Japan's major fishing ports, specializing in deep-sea fish from Suruga Bay's…
Izu Shaboten Zoo
Little knownIzu Shaboten Zoo (伊豆シャボテン動物公園) combines a 1,500-species cactus botanical garden with an animal park featuring capybaras,…
Estimated from distance to the nearest airport or shinkansen station. Confirm actual journey times before you travel.