World Heritage

Todai-ji Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall)

SPOTS

Nara

Visual & Performing Arts

Shrines & Temples

The massive Daibutsuden hall of Todai-ji Temple under a bright blue sky, with a wide, open plaza in the foreground.

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine

SPOTS

Shimane

Castles & Historic Sites

Craft Making & Workshops

The interior of a dimly lit, hand-dug mine tunnel (mabu) at the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine.

Hagi Castle Town

SPOTS

Yamaguchi

Scenic Views & Townscapes

Craft Making & Workshops

The preserved streetscape of Hagi Castle Town, featuring a large white earthen wall with a diamond-patterned namako-kabe base under a blue sky.

Sengan-en Garden

SPOTS

Kagoshima

Gardens & Nature

An elevated view of Sengan-en Garden and buildings, with the open water of Kagoshima Bay and the Sakurajima volcano in the distance at sunset.

Shuri Castle

SPOTS

Okinawa

Castles & Historic Sites

Cultural Immersion & Activities

The majestic Seiden (Main Hall) of Shuri Castle, a vibrant red, Okinawan-style wooden building with a tiled plaza in front, set against a bright blue sky.