Every Place in the Catalogue

Shinshu Apples

applesorchardsfruit picking+2

Nagano Prefecture is Japan's second-largest apple producer (after Aomori), with the Nagano Basin's climate and volcanic…

Obuse Chestnut Sweets

Obuse grows chestnuts the way Napa grows grapes — with obsessive attention to terroir, varietal selection, and centuries…

chestnutssweetsObuse+2

Hakuba Valley

ski resortOlympicspowder+2

Hakuba Valley (白馬) is a collection of 10 interconnected ski resorts in the Northern Japanese Alps, host of alpine skiing…

Illustration — not a photograph

Shibu Onsen

onsenpilgrimagehot springs+2

Shibu Onsen has operated for 1,300 years as a hot spring village, and walking its cobblestone alleys at night under gas…

Nozawa Onsen

onsenski resortpublic bathhouse+2

Nozawa Onsen (野沢温泉) is a 700-year-old hot spring village that doubles as one of Japan's premier ski resorts. The village…

Natadera Temple

Natadera Templecave grottoesmoss garden+2

Natadera Temple (那谷寺) is an ancient mountain temple founded in 717 AD, renowned for its dramatic natural setting among m…

Mitsukejima Rock

MitsukejimaBattleship Islandcoastal landmark+2

Mitsukejima (見付島, 'Found Island') is a rock island rising from the shallow waters off Suzu's eastern coast, connected to…

Chirihama Nagisa Driveway

Chirihamabeach drivingcoastal road+2

Chirihama Nagisa Driveway (千里浜なぎさドライブウェイ) is Japan's only beach where you can legally drive a car directly on the sand —…

Noto Peninsula Coastal Drive

Noto Peninsulacoastal drivefishing villages+2

The Noto Peninsula (能登半島) extends 100km into the Sea of Japan, offering dramatic coastal scenery, traditional fishing vi…

Wakura Onsen

Wakura Onsenluxury ryokanKagaya+2

Wakura Onsen (和倉温泉) is a luxury hot spring resort town on Nanao Bay's western shore, established over 1,200 years ago wh…

Notojima Aquarium

aquariumNotojimadolphin show+2

Notojima Aquarium (のとじま水族館) is located on Notojima Island in Nanao Bay, showcasing the marine life of the Sea of Japan a…

Kutani-yaki Ceramics

Kutani-yakiceramicspottery+2

Kutani-yaki (九谷焼) is Ishikawa's signature ceramic style known for bold overglaze enamel decoration in five colors: green…

Kaga Onsen

Kaga Onsenhot springsryokan+2

Kaga Onsen (加賀温泉郷) refers to four historic hot spring villages in southern Ishikawa: Yamanaka, Yamashiro, Katayamazu, an…

Wajima Morning Market

morning marketWajimaseafood+2

Wajima Morning Market (輪島朝市, Wajima Asaichi) is one of Japan's three great morning markets (alongside Takayama and Katsu…

Wajima Lacquerware

Wajima lacquerwareurushitraditional crafts+2

Wajima lacquerware (輪島塗, Wajima-nuri) is Japan's finest lacquerware tradition, practiced for over 1,000 years on the Not…

Kashikojima Island

KashikojimaAgo Baybay cruise+2

Kashikojima (賢島) is a small resort island in Ago Bay, connected to the mainland by bridge and serving as the gateway to…

Iga-Ueno Castle

Iga-Ueno Castlecastlestone walls+2

Iga-Ueno Castle (伊賀上野城) is a reconstructed castle (rebuilt in 1935) famous for having Japan's tallest stone walls — the…

Toba Marine Terminal

Toba Marine Terminalseafood marketfresh fish+2

Toba Marine Terminal (鳥羽マリンターミナル) is a waterfront complex combining a fresh seafood market, restaurants, ferry terminal,…

Matsusaka Castle Ruins & Former Merchant District

Matsusaka Castlecastle ruinsstone walls+2

Matsusaka Castle (松坂城跡) was built in 1588 by Gamo Ujisato, a samurai lord who also designed Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle. Thoug…

Toba Oyster (Toba Kaki)

Toba oysterskakigrilled oysters+2

Toba oysters (鳥羽牡蠣, Toba kaki) are cultivated in the nutrient-rich waters of Toba Bay and Matoya Bay, producing large, p…

Kuwana Clam (Hamaguri)

Kuwana clamshamagurigrilled shellfish+2

Kuwana hamaguri (桑名のはまぐり) are large clams harvested from the Ibi River estuary where freshwater meets Ise Bay, creating…

Mikimoto Pearl Island

Mikimotocultured pearlsama divers+2

Mikimoto Pearl Island (ミキモト真珠島) is a small island in Toba Bay where Mikimoto Kokichi successfully cultivated the world's…

Illustration — not a photograph

Ago Bay