Travel across Japan with the Experts!

Fushimi Inari Shrine, or the Temple of a Thousand Red Gates, is one of Japan's historic symbols dedicated to the goddess of crops. The great tunnels with portals meant for gods were built in accordance with Shintoism principles. The Japanese people believe that a visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine brings success and prosperity. Do not even doubt whether it is worth seeing.

Kinkaku-ji, or the Golden Pavilion, is considered the jewel of the Japanese architectural collection. The palace covered with gold dazzles with its beauty and luxury. There is no tourist destination in Japan that would be able to compete with it. The splendid palace was built in 1397. In the sun, its walls shine with inconceivable beauty. Kinkaku-ji is part of the Rokuonji temple complex. It is considered the best example of national culture.

Tokyo Skytree is the second highest television tower in the world. This elegant architectural structure of glass, concrete, and metal soared into the sky due to the efforts of experienced designers and engineers. This is a 634m-high tower. The project involved half a million people.

Himeji, or White Heron Castle, is the oldest castle in Japan. The complex comprises 83 buildings, and almost all of them are wooden. Himeji is situated in Hyogo Prefecture, at the foot of Mount Hime. The picturesque area compliments the beautiful white castle, a masterpiece of Japanese architecture. The castle has been standing here since the fourteenth century. Today, it is in the UNESCO heritage list. Having crossed a small wooden bridge, tourists reach the territory of the castle complex built upon the high stone foundation.

Nara, or Deer City, is a wellspring of architectural landmarks and masterpieces of art and culture. About 1,600 deer freely roam the streets of the beautiful city. They say that the first Emperor of Japan descended from the skies riding a deer team. During the 6th and 7th centuries, Nara was the first capital of the country.

Another interesting place can be found in Kanagawa Prefecture. It is Hakone, a small town famous for its hot springs. This is also one of the best Japanese resorts where you can feel the national spirit, visit a number of historic buildings and open-air museums as well as relax in fully-furnished hotels and SPA. Most importantly, you will be able to see the oh-so-familiar peak of Mount Fuji covered with a cap of pure white snow.

One of the most ancient Japanese cities is situated to the south of the Japanese capital, on the Honshu Island. This place attracts numerous tourists with its countless sights combined with comfortable climate: neither scorching heat nor fierce cold happens here. It seems as if the old city has witnessed everything over the years: tsunamis, typhoons, earthquakes, and wars. Nevertheless, at present, it holds about 170 ancient monuments of high historical value.

The capital of Japan, a huge and prosperous city. It is overflowing with tourist destinations, restaurants and small cafes, stores and, above all, people. Tokyo is the most densely populated city in the world. This is an amazing and dynamic metropolitan area where high-tech objects exist alongside unexpected reminders of Old Japan. From the modern electronic structures and dazzling skyscrapers to cherry blossoms and the Imperial Palace – this is the city that represents the whole scale of the Japanese history and culture.

The Japanese culture is extremely rich and extraordinary; many traditions in Japan formed under the influence of important historic events. The sheer age of some traditions amounts to millennia while other ones appeared not very long ago. The Sapporo Snow Festival is one of the relatively new traditions. In 1950, a group of senior students from one of the local high schools erected 6 animal sculptures in Odori Park. Since then, every year, at the end of winter citizens organize a grand sculpturing session using snow and ice.

Sankeien Garden is probably one of the most beautiful, quiet, and cozy places in Yokohama. This is a spacious park that occupies an area of about 180 square kilometers. Here, one can take a rest from the hustle and bustle of the city, enjoy the wondrous beauty of nature, delight in the lush variety of plants collected from different corners of the world, and visit a number of historic buildings – 17 in total. In particular, these are the 17th century 3-storey pagoda transported from Kyoto, the Choushukaku tea house, and a medieval rustic home from Gifu Prefecture introducing the guests to the common folk's housekeeping.

The famous Tokyo Disneyland is situated in the suburbs of Tokyo. The park is divided into seven themed zones. In "Fantasyland", children will meet the characters of Walt Disney Studios' classic cartoons. "Adventureland" offers to head off to the tropical rainforests or try the amusement rides at the "Pirates of the Caribbean" complex. "Toontown" is inhabited by the celebrities of the Disney Universe: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Chip and Dale, all happy to have their photos with the kids.

This entertainment complex is equipped with numerous amusement rides and playrooms. Take little kids to the Omotesando Children's Center where they will be offered a wide selection of learning games and workshops. At the center, children can draw on the walls, play in ball pits or watch puppet shows.

During the post-war period, there appeared new places of interest in the Land of the Rising Sun. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park dedicated to the victims of the nuclear bomb is the most famous place. Its huge territory comprises a memorial ensemble including Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, monuments, a ceremonial bell, and a cenotaph. On the memorial ground, people organize demonstrations in the memory of the Hiroshima tragedy. The cenotaph is a symbolic grave for the victims of the nuclear strike whose names are engraved into the memorial plaque.

Toyota Mega Web is Japan's main automobile museum, a fantastic amusement park and a Toyota Corporation showroom, all in one and altogether, a place for all the flashy car fans. Occupying several floors of the huge Palette Town Amusement Center, this museum brings unspeakable pleasure to all the visitors, not only auto enthusiasts. Would you like to see future cars looking more like lunar rovers? Ride a cutting-edge high-speed car? Take a photo beside an amazing, stylish, shining car produced in 1950s-1970s? Then Toyota Mega Web is the right place for you!

Kimono, sushi and manga are the three pillars of Japanese culture in our fellow citizens' minds (and, in all fairness, this is somewhat true). Anyways, when visiting Kyoto, it is next to impossible to walk past the museum of manga, the legendary Japanese comics that amaze us at least with their characters' eye size. It should be said that this is a museum of an entirely new type: there are neither strict attendants who would prohibit touching the exhibits, nor boring expositions with nerdy inscriptions in fine print. In this museum, you can freely take a tome of manga and go to the yard to lie down on the grass and enjoy the twists and turns of a fascinating story.

The Japanese are perceived as an amazing nation for a reason. Who else would come up with an idea to create a true nook of Provence in a small resort town famous for its hot springs? This is exactly what happened in Hakone: in 1999, Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc. helped open the Museum of the Little Prince, the very one who saw a boa constrictor instead of a hat in a drawing. The exposition tells us about the life of the famous character's author, with his authentic letters and photographs. It should be said that the idea was not restricted to the museum alone. Soon, in a small area, there appeared a miniature French town with shops and famous bakeries.

This is a mountain in Wakayama Prefecture where many Shingon Buddhist temples are situated. The first temple was founded in 819. Today, these temples welcome tourists. The mountain is very picturesque, and the place itself is serene. Travelers are able to feel involved in the monks' lifestyle. On the mountain, there is also a beautiful cemetery illuminated at night. One can climb the mountain by riding a tram.

This is one of the Kumano shrines. It is located near Katsuura Hot Springs. Numerous little paths lead to the shrine. They are surrounded with huge trees and stretch forward for 600 meters. The major beauties of Kumano Nachi Taisha include Japan's highest waterfall. It is 113 meters high and has a religious value for the Japanese people. Its might and beauty amaze even the most experienced travelers.

This is the main island of the Yaeyama island group. Here stands Mount Omote-dake, 526 meters in height. Ishigaki is famous for its coral reefs. People swim in the sea near the island all the year round because the water here is warm. Diving is extremely popular. Besides, here one can find the beautiful caves of Hirakubo and Ugan. Tourists are brought to the neighboring islands by boat.

Kotoku-in is a temple famous for its bronze statue of Buddha. The statue is 13.5 meters tall and over eight hundred years old. The initial statue was made of wood; its height amounted to 24 meters. But it got destroyed by a storm in 1247. In 1252, the construction of a new statue began. The process took 12 years, but the final masterpiece stood against all elements and has outlived the temple where it had been built.

The Happo-en Garden is a green island amidst the city of concrete. Its beauty has been noted by the government, and more tourists add it to their routes. In the garden, you can watch an authentic tea ceremony. Afterwards, you can walk along the path crossing a valley and surrounded by bonsai trees, watch fish in the pond or visit a temple. There are two temples here, and they regularly host weddings.