Every Place in the Catalogue
1,610 spots
Sanjusangen-do Archery
Locally knownEvery January (second Sunday), Sanjusangen-do Temple hosts Toshiya (通し矢) — a coming-of-age archery ceremony where 20-yea…
Kyoto Ramen
Locally knownKyoto ramen (京都ラーメン) blends tonkotsu (pork bone) and shoyu (soy sauce) into a rich, dark broth that's less heavy than Ha…
Kyoto Zen Meditation
Locally knownYou sit on a round cushion facing a white wall six inches from your nose. Legs folded, back straight, hands in a mudra y…
Heian Shrine
Locally knownHeian Shrine (平安神宮) was built in 1895 to commemorate Kyoto's 1,100th anniversary, recreating the original Heian Imperial…
Kyoto Traditional Sweets
Locally knownWagashi (和菓子, traditional Japanese sweets) reached its aesthetic and technical peak in Kyoto, where sweets-making became…
Illustration — not a photographEikan-do Temple
Locally knownEikan-do Temple (永観堂), officially Zenrin-ji, is renowned for its autumn night illuminations (mid-November) when 3,000 ma…
Shosei-en Garden
Locally knownShosei-en Garden (渉成園), also called Kikoku-tei, is a tranquil 10-acre stroll garden just east of Kyoto Station — remarka…
Nishijin Textile Center
Locally knownNishijin (西陣) is Kyoto's historic textile district where high-end kimono fabric has been woven for 1,200 years. The neig…
Kyoto Station Building
Locally knownKyoto Station (京都駅) is a controversial modern architectural landmark designed by Hiroshi Hara (completed 1997). The 15-s…
Katsura Imperial Villa
Locally knownIn 1933, German architect Bruno Taut visited Katsura and wept. "The greatest work of Japanese architectural genius," he…
Kurama-dera Temple
Locally knownKurama-dera Temple (鞍馬寺) sits atop Mt. Kurama (570m) in northern Kyoto, accessible by cable car or a scenic 30-minute fo…
Kifune Shrine
Locally knownKifune Shrine (貴船神社) sits in a forested mountain valley north of Kyoto, famous for its summer river dining platforms (川床…
Maiko Makeover
Locally knownMaiko makeover experiences allow participants to undergo full transformation into apprentice geisha: traditional white m…
Nanzen-ji Temple
Locally knownNanzen-ji (南禅寺) ranks as the head temple of the Rinzai Zen sect's Nanzen-ji school, with a massive Sanmon gate (三門, 22 m…
Illustration — not a photographTea Ceremony Experience
Locally knownYou'll crouch through a door so low your forehead nearly scrapes the frame. This is intentional—samurai had to leave the…
Illustration — not a photographUji Matcha
Locally knownUji (宇治) has produced Japan's finest green tea for over 800 years, and Uji matcha (抹茶) is considered the gold standard f…
Awamori Distillery Tour
Locally knownAwamori (泡盛) is Okinawa's indigenous distilled spirit (25–43% alcohol), predating Japanese shochu by 500 years. It's dis…
Illustration — not a photographFukushu-en Garden
Locally knownFukushu-en (福州園) is a traditional Suzhou-style Chinese garden built in 1992 to commemorate 10 years of sister-city relat…
Taco Rice
Locally knownTaco rice is Okinawa's signature fusion dish — seasoned ground beef (taco meat), shredded lettuce, diced tomato, and shr…
Kokusai Dori
Locally knownKokusai Dori (国際通り, 'International Street') is Naha's 1.6km main shopping and entertainment strip, running from Palette…
Illustration — not a photographOkinawa Soba
Locally knownOkinawa soba (沖縄そば) is the prefecture's soul food — thick wheat noodles in pork bone broth, topped with slow-braised por…
Satsuma-age
Locally knownSatsuma-age (さつま揚げ) is Kagoshima's signature fish cake — ground white fish mixed with brown sugar, sake, and miso, shape…
Kagoshima City Aquarium
Locally knownKagoshima City Aquarium (いおワールドかごしま水族館) sits on the waterfront directly facing Sakurajima volcano, with the main Kuroshi…
Iso Beach
Locally knownIso Beach (磯海水浴場) is a small city beach in Kagoshima's northern suburbs, offering the unique combination of urban swimmi…
Estimated from distance to the nearest airport or shinkansen station. Confirm actual journey times before you travel.