Places
Top sights in Japan: temples, shrines, castles and gardens
The individual places most visitors come for: famous temples and shrines, castles, gardens, museums and landmarks, each with its history, highlights and how to visit. World Heritage properties have their own section.
Region
Hokkaido
Region
Tohoku
Region
Kanto
IbarakiKairakuenKairakuenThe plum garden a daimyo opened to his peopleGardenTokyoImperial PalaceKōkyoThe Emperor's residence within the walls of Edo CastleLandmarkTokyoMeiji JinguMeiji JingūA planted forest and the shrine of Emperor MeijiShrineTokyoSenso-jiSensō-jiTokyo's oldest temple and the heart of AsakusaTempleTokyoTokyo National MuseumTōkyō Kokuritsu HakubutsukanJapan's oldest museum and treasury of its artMuseumTokyoTokyo SkytreeTōkyō SukaitsurīThe world's tallest tower above old downtown TokyoLandmarkTokyoTsukiji Outer MarketTsukiji Jōgai ShijōThe food lanes of Tokyo's old fish marketMarketKanagawaGreat Buddha of Kamakura (Kotoku-in)Kōtoku-inThe bronze Amida under the open skyTempleKanagawaOwakudaniŌwakudaniSteam, sulphur and black eggs on the Hakone volcanoParkKanagawaTsurugaoka HachimanguTsurugaoka HachimangūThe guardian shrine of Kamakura's warrior governmentShrine
Region
Chūbu
IshikawaKenroku-enKenrokuenThe garden that combines six virtuesGardenFukuiEihei-jiEihei-jiDōgen's monastery in the cedar forestTempleNaganoJigokudani Monkey ParkJigokudani Yaen KōenWild macaques in a steaming mountain valleyParkNaganoMatsumoto CastleMatsumoto-jōThe black castle beneath the Northern AlpsCastleNaganoZenko-jiZenkō-jiThe temple that grew a city around itTempleAichiAtsuta JinguAtsuta JingūThe forest shrine of the sacred swordShrineAichiInuyama CastleInuyama-jōThe White Emperor Castle on the Kiso RiverCastleAichiNagoya CastleNagoya-jōThe castle of the golden shachihokoCastle
Region
Kansai
MieIse Grand ShrineIse JingūThe shrine of the sun goddess, renewed every twenty yearsShrineShigaHikone CastleHikone-jōThe Ii clan's castle keep above Lake BiwaCastleKyotoFushimi Inari TaishaFushimi Inari TaishaHead shrine of Inari and its mountain of vermilion gatesShrineKyotoGinkaku-jiGinkaku-jiThe shogun's quiet retreat that shaped Japanese tasteTempleKyotoKinkaku-jiKinkaku-jiA shogun's golden reliquary reflected in a mirror pondTempleKyotoKiyomizu-deraKiyomizu-deraThe temple of pure water and its stage above the treetopsTempleKyotoNijo CastleNijō-jōThe Tokugawa palace where the shogunate began and endedCastleKyotoRyoan-jiRyōan-jiFifteen stones, white gravel and an unanswered questionTempleKyotoSanjusangen-doSanjūsangen-dōA thousand and one golden Kannon in a single hallTempleOsakaOsaka CastleŌsaka-jōHideyoshi's fortress and the stone walls of the TokugawaCastleNaraKasuga TaishaKasuga TaishaThe Fujiwara shrine of vermilion halls and three thousand lanternsShrineNaraTodai-jiTōdai-jiEmperor Shōmu's temple of the bronze Great BuddhaTemple
Region
Chūgoku
Region
Shikoku
KagawaKotohira-guKotohira-gūSeven hundred and eighty-five steps to the guardian of sailorsShrineKagawaRitsurin GardenRitsurin KōenSix ponds and thirteen hills beneath Mount ShiunGardenEhimeDogo Onsen HonkanDōgo Onsen HonkanA Meiji-era bathhouse at one of Japan's oldest hot springsLandmarkEhimeMatsuyama CastleMatsuyama-jōThe hilltop citadel above Shikoku's largest cityCastle
Region
Kyushu and Okinawa
Fukuoka PrefectureDazaifu TenmanguDazaifu TenmangūThe grave shrine of Tenjin, god of scholarshipShrineNagasakiGlover GardenGurabā-enMerchant houses above the harbour where Japan met the WestLandmarkKumamotoKumamoto CastleKumamoto-jōKiyomasa's fortress of warrior-repelling wallsCastleOkinawaOkinawa Churaumi AquariumOkinawa Churaumi SuizokukanThe Kuroshio current and its giants behind a wall of acrylicMuseum