Venues & things to do in Japan
Iconic places, landmarks and must-see spots across Japan.
224 listings
Nikkō Tōshō-gū Shrine
A lavishly decorated UNESCO World Heritage shrine complex enshrined in cedar forest, dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Fushimi Inari-taisha
Ten thousand vermilion torii gates wind up a sacred mountain in Kyoto's most iconic and atmospheric shrine.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Home to whale sharks and manta rays in a colossal tank, this is one of the world's great aquarium experiences.
teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills)
An immersive digital art world without maps or rooms where light, sound and motion blur the boundary between visitor and artwork.
Nishiki Market
Kyoto's famed 'Kitchen' — a 400-metre covered arcade of over 100 stalls selling fresh produce, pickles and street food.
Naoshima Art Island
A small Seto Inland Sea island transformed into a world-class contemporary art destination by the Benesse Art Site.
Nebuta no Ie Warasse (Nebuta Museum)
A stunning waterfront museum housing giant illuminated Nebuta floats and immersive displays on Aomori's most famous festival.
Dōgo Onsen Honkan
Japan's oldest hot-spring bathhouse, a fairy-tale Meiji-era wooden building said to have inspired Miyazaki's 'Spirited Away.'
Uchiko Historic Townscape
A remarkably preserved Edo-to-Meiji merchant town famous for its wax-trade mansions, kabuki theatre and unhurried rural pace.
Hakone Open-Air Museum (Hakone Chōkoku-no-Mori Bijutsukan)
Japan's first open-air art museum displays over 120 sculptures by Rodin, Moore and Picasso across seven hectares of mountain meadow.
Kenroku-en Garden, Kanazawa
Ranked one of Japan's three great gardens, Kenroku-en captivates in every season — nowhere more so than under a canopy of winter yukitsuri rope-support sculptures.
Matsumoto Castle
Japan's oldest surviving original wooden castle, a dramatic black-and-white 'crow castle' reflected in its moat against the snowy Northern Alps.
Higashi Chaya Geisha District, Kanazawa
Japan's largest and best-preserved geisha district outside Kyoto, with lattice-fronted ochaya teahouses, gold-leaf shops, and live shamisen music.
teamLab: Drawing on the Water Surface Created by the Dance of Koi and Boats – Hamarikyu
teamLab's immersive digital koi-and-boat installation turns Hamarikyu's tidal pond into a living, interactive artwork.
Itsukushima Shrine & Miyajima Island
A UNESCO World Heritage vermilion torii gate appears to float on the Seto Inland Sea at high tide on sacred Miyajima Island.
Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum & Peace Park
Nagasaki's deeply moving museum and Peace Park stand at the hypocenter of the 1945 atomic bombing, offering an essential historical experience.
Okinawa Ryukyu Mura (Ryukyu Village)
Relocated historic Ryukyuan houses and live cultural performances immerse visitors in the distinct heritage of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Nijō-jō Castle (Nijo Castle), Kyoto
The shogun's Kyoto palace features 'nightingale floors' that squeak with every footstep — a clever security system from feudal Japan.
Ise Jingū Grand Shrine Pilgrimage
Japan's most sacred Shinto complex — two ancient shrines set in primeval cedar forest, rebuilt identically every 20 years for 1,300 years.
Towada City Winter Art Walk (Towada Art Center)
A world-class open-air art museum lines a snow-covered boulevard with permanent site-specific installations by global contemporary artists.
Sapporo Ramen Yokocho (Ramen Alley)
A legendary narrow alley of 17 tiny ramen shops in central Sapporo, birthplace of the iconic miso ramen that changed Japanese food culture.
Edo Wonderland Nikkō Edomura
A full-scale Edo-period theme park where ninja shows, samurai training, and period costumes recreate 17th-century Japan.
Kawagoe 'Koedo' Historic Kurazukuri District
The 'Little Edo' of Saitama preserves fire-proof kurazukuri clay-walled merchant storehouses and a candy-lane market unchanged since the Edo era.
Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine
A UNESCO World Heritage silver mine that once produced one-third of the world's silver, hidden in a lush forested valley in rural Shimane.
Ritsurin Kōen Garden, Takamatsu
Considered Japan's finest strolling garden, this 300-year-old feudal masterpiece frames sculpted pines against the backdrop of Mount Shuin.
Dejima Reconstructed Dutch Trading Post, Nagasaki
The painstakingly rebuilt fan-shaped artificial island where Dutch traders were Japan's only Western link during 200 years of self-imposed isolation.
Shuri Castle (Shuri-jō), Naha
The UNESCO-listed scarlet castle of the Ryukyu Kingdom, rebuilt after wartime destruction, stands as the supreme symbol of Okinawan identity.
Risshakuji Temple (Yamadera)
Ancient clifftop temple complex reached by 1,015 stone steps, immortalised in haiku by Matsuo Bashō with panoramic valley views.
Aizu Byakkotai Memorial & Iimori Hill
Iimori Hill enshrines the graves of the teenage Byakkotai samurai who chose death over defeat during the Boshin War of 1868.
Ashikaga Flower Park Wisteria Festival
Cascading curtains of ancient wisteria — some over 150 years old — create otherworldly violet tunnels at Japan's most celebrated flower park.
Iya Kazurabashi Vine Bridge, Iya Valley
Cross a swaying 45-metre suspension bridge woven entirely from wild mountain vines above the emerald Iya River gorge.
Hirome Ichiba Market, Kochi
Kochi's beloved indoor food market where dozens of stalls serve bonito tataki, Tosa sake, and local dishes to convivial communal tables.
Kotohiragu Shrine (Konpira-san), Kotohira
Climb 1,368 stone steps to one of Japan's most revered maritime shrines, rewarded by sweeping views over the Sanuki Plain.
Maruyama Park Hanami (円山公園花見)
Sapporo's most beloved hanami spot, where over 100 Ezo Yamazakura trees ring a historic park beside Hokkaido Jingu shrine.
Goryokaku Park Cherry Blossoms (五稜郭公園の桜)
Hakodate's star-shaped Goryokaku fort transforms into a stunning floral spectacle viewed from the Goryokaku Tower observation deck.
Asahiyama Memorial Park Cherry Blossoms (旭山記念公園の桜)
A hillside park above Sapporo where blooming cherry trees frame sweeping panoramic views over the city and distant mountain ranges.
Hokkaido Jingu Spring Cherry Blossom (北海道神宮の桜)
Sapporo's grand Shinto shrine is surrounded by 1,400 cherry trees, blending sacred architecture with one of Hokkaido's most atmospheric hanami settings.
Onuma Quasi-National Park Cherry Blossoms (大沼国定公園の桜)
Volcanic Mount Komagatake looms over mirror-calm lakes fringed with cherry blossoms at this stunning quasi-national park near Hakodate.
Obihiro Sakuragaoka Park Hanami (帯広桜ヶ丘公園花見)
Obihiro's beloved hilltop park offers a sea of cherry blossoms overlooking the vast Tokachi Plains, a quintessential Hokkaido spring panorama.
Nishiki Park Cherry Blossom Hanami, Kitami (北見錦公園の桜)
One of eastern Hokkaido's finest hanami locations, where Nishiki Park's hillside cherry trees bloom late and long above the city of Kitami.
Takino Suzuran Hillside National Government Park Sakura (滝野すずらん公園の桜)
Japan's only national government park in Hokkaido surprises spring visitors with waterfalls, forest trails, and cherry blossoms across 400 hectares.
Miharu Takizakura Weeping Cherry Tree
One of Japan's Three Great Cherry Trees — a 1,000-year-old weeping cherry with a 22-metre canopy spread in Fukushima's countryside.
Yonomori Cherry Blossom Avenue (Yonomori Sakura)
A hauntingly beautiful 2.2km tunnel of 320 cherry trees in Tomioka, reopen to visitors and symbolising Fukushima's resilience and renewal.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden Cherry Blossom Season
A curated national garden with over 65 cherry varieties offering Japan's longest single-site blossom season.
Inokashira Park Cherry Blossom Season
A beloved west-Tokyo park where 260 cherry trees reflect in Inokashira Pond and swan boats glide beneath blossom boughs.
Negishi Shinrin Park Cherry Blossom Season
A serene forest park on a former Meiji-era racetrack site, ringed by 700 cherry trees in a woodland setting.
Takato Castle Ruins Park Cherry Blossoms (Takato Jōshi Kōen)
Over 1,500 deep-pink Takato Kohigan cherry trees blanket this hilltop castle ruin, ranked among Japan's top three hanami sites.
Tsuruma Park Cherry Blossom Hanami, Nagoya
Nagoya's oldest Western-style public park hosts over 900 cherry trees and a renowned hanami season beloved by locals since the Meiji era.
Yamazaki River Cherry Blossom Tunnel, Nagoya
Nearly 600 cherry trees arch over the Yamazaki River forming a celebrated 2 km blossom tunnel through the residential heart of Nagoya.
Gifu Castle & Kinkazan Cherry Blossom Viewing
Gifu Castle crowns Mt Kinka above a sea of 1,600 cherry trees in Kōen-dōri park, illuminated nightly for one of Japan's most dramatic castle hanami.
Maruyama Park Hanami (円山公園花見)
Kyoto's most beloved hanami park, centred on a magnificent weeping cherry tree illuminated after dark.
Kema Sakuranomiya Park Hanami (毛馬桜之宮公園花見)
A 4-kilometre riverside promenade lined with 4,700 cherry trees along the Okawa River in central Osaka.
Himeji Castle Cherry Blossom Viewing (姫路城観桜会)
Over 1,000 cherry trees frame Japan's most celebrated white castle, creating an unrivalled blossom-and-castle panorama.
Ninna-ji Omuro Cherry Blossoms (仁和寺御室桜)
Ninna-ji's low-growing Omuro cherries bloom two weeks after Kyoto's main season, framed by the UNESCO temple's five-storey pagoda.
Expo '70 Commemorative Park Hanami (万博記念公園花見)
Osaka's largest cherry blossom park, with 5,500 trees surrounding the iconic Tower of the Sun sculpture from Expo 1970.
Isuien Garden & Nara Park Hanami (依水園・奈良公園花見)
Nara Park's 1,700 cherry trees bloom alongside freely roaming deer, with Tōdai-ji's Great Buddha Hall as a majestic backdrop.
Arashiyama Nakanoshima Park Hanami (嵐山中之島公園花見)
A sandy river island in Arashiyama carpeted with cherry trees, where blossoms reflect in the Ōi River with Togetsukyo Bridge in view.
Tsurumi Park Hanami, Kurashiki
Kurashiki's beloved Tsurumi Park bursts with hundreds of cherry trees, making it the city's favourite spot for casual hanami picnics.
Makiba Park Cherry Blossom Viewing, Niimi
Niimi's Makiba Park offers a tranquil rural hanami experience surrounded by mountain scenery and thousands of blooming cherry trees.
Yuki Cherry Blossom Tunnel, Akiota
A magical 2 km tunnel of cherry trees lines the road through the mountain village of Yuki, creating one of Hiroshima Prefecture's most enchanting hanami corridors.
Jofuku-ji Temple Cherry Blossom Viewing, Yamaguchi
The mossy stone garden of Jofuku-ji Temple in Yamaguchi City frames ancient weeping cherry trees in a scene of profound Buddhist tranquility.
Shiroyama Park Cherry Blossom Viewing, Matsuyama
Matsuyama Castle's hilltop park offers spectacular sakura scenery accessible by ropeway above the city.
Uwajima Castle Cherry Blossom Hanami
Uwajima's rare original castle keep rises above a hillside carpeted in cherry blossoms each April.
Chikurinji Temple Cherry Blossom, Mount Godaisan
Temple 31 of the Shikoku Pilgrimage on Mount Godaisan pairs a moss-carpeted garden with vivid spring cherry blossoms.
Marugame Castle Cherry Blossom Hanami
Japan's tallest natural stone castle walls are crowned with cherry blossoms in a dramatic Kagawa spring scene.
Nishi Park (Nishi-koen) Cherry Blossom Viewing, Fukuoka
Fukuoka's oldest public park hosts 1,300 cherry trees on a hillside with panoramic views over Hakata Bay.
Shiroyama Park Cherry Blossom Viewing, Kagoshima
Cherry trees atop Shiroyama ridge offer sweeping views of Sakurajima with blossoms in the foreground — Kagoshima's iconic spring vista.
Saga Castle Historic Museum Cherry Blossom Viewing
The moats and grounds of reconstructed Saga Castle are lined with cherry trees for a serene, crowd-light hanami experience.
Ocean Expo Park Sakura Viewing (Motobu)
Combine hanami with ocean breezes and marine exhibits at this expansive seaside park adjacent to the famous Churaumi Aquarium grounds.
Naminoue Shrine & Park Sakura Viewing
Okinawa's most revered Shinto shrine perches above a coral cliff with cherry blossoms nodding in the sea breeze over Naha's urban coastline.
Jozankei Onsen Autumn Foliage (定山渎温泉紅葉)
A beloved hot-spring valley just an hour from Sapporo bursts into vivid reds and yellows along the Toyohira River each October.
Onuma Quasi-National Park Autumn Foliage (大沼国定公園の紅葉)
Over 100 small islets linked by arched wooden bridges become floating stages of crimson and gold with Mount Komagatake looming beyond.
Mount Hakodate Autumn Foliage & Night View (函館山の紅葉と夜景)
Ride the ropeway to Hokkaido's most iconic night-view summit as autumn foliage transforms the hillside slopes before the city lights appear below.
Abashiri Tento-zan Park Autumn Foliage (網走天都山紅葉)
Climb Tento-zan hill above Abashiri for sweeping views over Lake Abashiri and the Sea of Okhotsk coastline framed in vivid autumn forest.
Towada-Hachimantai National Park Autumn Foliage
Sweeping alpine plateau blazing with scarlet and gold across volcanic highlands straddling Akita and Iwate.
Naruko Gorge Autumn Foliage
A narrow volcanic gorge draped in vivid maple reds reflected in the emerald Naruko River below.
Zuigan-ji Temple Autumn Foliage, Matsushima
Cedars and maples frame the cedar avenue to Date clan's most sacred Zen temple against the famous island-dotted bay.
Kakunodate Samurai District Autumn Foliage
Crimson maples and golden ginkgos overhang 300-year-old samurai mansion walls in Japan's best-preserved castle town.
Mt. Bandai & Goshikinuma Autumn Foliage
Trek between five mineral-hued crater lakes whose turquoise and emerald surfaces mirror an erupting autumn forest.
Shinjuku Gyoen Autumn Foliage Season
Over 700 trees blaze in crimson and gold across 58 hectares in the heart of Tokyo.
Showa Kinen Park Autumn Foliage & Ginkgo Avenue
A golden tunnel of 180 ginkgo trees lines the grand avenue of this vast national commemorative park in western Tokyo.
Kairakuen Garden Autumn Foliage Season
One of Japan's three great gardens exchanges its famous plum blossoms for vivid autumn maple and zelkova colour in October.
Sanboji Park Autumn Foliage (Sanboji Koen Koyo)
A beloved Saitama city park renowned for its dense stand of deep-crimson maples surrounding a tranquil pond.
Ashikaga Gakko Autumn Foliage
Japan's oldest academic institution cloaks its ancient courtyard in vivid autumn colour each November in central Tochigi.
Jigokudani Monkey Park Autumn Visit
Trek through blazing autumn forest to watch wild Japanese macaques bathing in steaming natural hot springs.
Kenroku-en Garden Autumn Foliage Season
Wander one of Japan's top three landscape gardens as maples, ginkgos, and zelkovas ignite in seasonal colour.
Ogimachi Village Autumn Foliage, Shirakawa-go
Gassho-zukuri thatched farmhouses of this UNESCO village glow against mountain slopes blazing with autumn colour.
Kiyotsu Gorge Autumn Foliage & Tunnel of Light
Descend into a dramatic river gorge as crimson forest walls enclose the award-winning Tunnel of Light art installation.
Tōfuku-ji Autumn Foliage (東福寺紅葉)
One of Kyoto's most celebrated koyo sites, where 2,000 maples blaze over the iconic Tsūtenkyō bridge.
Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji Autumn Leaves (永観堂禅林寺紅葉)
Known as 'Momiji no Eikan-dō,' this temple complex dazzles with vivid maples reflected in its serene pond.
Kiyomizu-dera Autumn Foliage (清水寺紅葉)
Kyoto's UNESCO-listed clifftop temple becomes spectacular in autumn with maples cascading down Otowa ravine.
Daitoku-ji Autumn Foliage (大徳寺紅葉)
A sprawling Rinzai Zen complex of 24 sub-temples with intimate walled gardens glowing gold and crimson in autumn.
Minoo Park Autumn Leaves (箕面公園紅葉)
A gorge trail north of Osaka blazes with 10,000 maple trees leading to the thundering 33-metre Minoo Waterfall.
Nara Park Autumn Foliage (奈良公園紅葉)
Ancient deer roam freely beneath blazing maples and ginkgos at UNESCO World Heritage Nara Park.
Mount Hiei Enryaku-ji Autumn Foliage (比叡山延暦寺紅葉)
A UNESCO World Heritage mountain temple complex draped in ancient cedars and maples ablaze with autumn colour.
Mitaki-dera Temple Autumn Foliage
A hidden mountain temple draped in fiery maples and moss-covered pagodas just minutes from Hiroshima city centre.
Jōei-ji Garden Autumn Foliage
Sesshu's masterpiece Zen garden glows with reflected autumn colour in a tranquil pond of mirror-still water.
Kōgen-ji Temple Autumn Koyo, Tsuwano
Vivid maple canopies blanket the historic precincts of a Zen temple in Japan's 'Little Kyoto of the mountains'.
Kintai Bridge Autumn Foliage, Iwakuni
Japan's most elegant wooden arch bridge glows gold against a hillside ablaze with maples and the distant Iwakuni Castle.
Taishakukyō Gorge Autumn Foliage
Glide by boat through a cathedral of limestone karst and blazing autumn maples in Hiroshima's most striking river gorge.
Matsue Castle Autumn Foliage
Japan's only remaining original black castle keep rises above a moat-side promenade glowing with golden ginkgo and red maple.
Kōrakuen Garden Autumn Foliage, Okayama
Stroll Japan's third-most-celebrated garden as maple groves and ginkgo avenues glow copper beside Okayama Castle's black silhouette.
Oboke Gorge Autumn Foliage
Dramatic crimson and gold maples blaze above the emerald rapids of Oboke Gorge in Tokushima's mountainous interior.
Iya Valley Kohankei Autumn Leaves
The remote Iya Valley's terraced slopes erupt in vivid autumn colour, framing thatched farmhouses and misty ravines.
Ritsurin Kōen Autumn Koyo Viewing
Over 200 Japanese maples and centuries-old pines ignite with autumn colour across Ritsurin Kōen's six ponds and hills.
Godaisan & Chikurin-ji Temple Autumn Foliage
Ancient cedar and maple trees surrounding Chikurin-ji Temple on Mount Godaisan glow crimson above Kochi city in late autumn.
Ishite-ji Temple Autumn Foliage, Matsuyama
Colourful maples and ancient moss-covered stone lanterns line the atmospheric approach to Matsuyama's celebrated Ishite-ji Temple.
Ōzuchidani Maple Valley Autumn Colour, Ehime
Thousands of wild maples carpet the steep slopes of Ōzuchidani, one of Ehime's most celebrated koyo valleys.
Omogo Valley Autumn Foliage, Ehime
Omogo Valley's rugged rock faces and pristine stream are draped in vivid autumn colour, one of Ehime's top koyo secrets.
Kuju Highlands (Kujūkōgen) Autumn Foliage
Japan's largest highland plateau blazes with crimson and gold as kumazasa grasses and maples turn across 1,700 m peaks.
Suizenji Jōjuen Garden Autumn Koyo, Kumamoto
A 400-year-old Edo-period stroll garden in Kumamoto city glows with maple and zelkova foliage reflected in its spring-fed central pond.
Sengan-en (Iso Teien) Autumn Foliage & Sakurajima Views, Kagoshima
The Shimadzu clan's 17th-century seaside garden frames Sakurajima volcano with maples and satsuma mandarins in full autumn splendour.
Kawachi Fujien Autumn Foliage Season, Kitakyushu
The world-famous wisteria garden of Kitakyushu reinvents itself each November as maples and oaks flood its hillside paths with autumn colour.
Unzen Onsen & Jigokudate Autumn Foliage, Nagasaki
Steam vents and bubbling hell pools at Unzen are encircled by Japan's earliest autumn foliage, turning brilliant red by early November.
Yabakei Gorge Autumn Foliage Viewing, Oita
Dramatic volcanic tuff gorges along the Yamakuni River near Nakatsu are reflected in still pools surrounded by blazing autumn maples.
備瀬のフクギ並木 Bise Fukugi Tree Avenue Autumn Walk
Stroll a centuries-old tunnel of golden fukugi trees in the village of Bise as their canopy glows in late-year light.
名護中央公園 紅葉 Nago Central Park Koyo Stroll
Nago Central Park's mix of subtropical and temperate trees offers a rare patch of genuine colour change in northern Okinawa.
中村家住宅 秋の庭園 Nakamura House Historic Garden in Autumn
Explore a designated Important Cultural Property farmhouse whose traditional Ryukyuan garden takes on warm seasonal tones in autumn.
中城城跡 秋の夕暮れ見学 Nakagusuku Castle Ruins Autumn Sunset Visit
The UNESCO-listed dry-stone ramparts of Nakagusuku glow amber at sunset as surrounding subtropical trees deepen in autumn colour.
Snow Crystal Museum (Yuki no Bijutsukan), Asahikawa
A fairytale castle museum dedicated to snow crystals, featuring an ice tunnel and pipe-organ concerts year-round.
Aomori Winter Nebuta Museum WA·RASSE
Explore towering illuminated Nebuta floats up close inside Aomori's striking waterfront museum, open throughout the snowy winter months.
Hitachi Seaside Park Winter Illumination (Miharashi Hill Lights)
Miharashi Hill at Hitachi Seaside Park glows with colourful winter illuminations after the famous kochia season ends.
Tokyo Midtown Christmas & Winter Illumination (Starlight Garden)
Tokyo Midtown's Starlight Garden blankets Hinokicho Park with over 100,000 LEDs for a magical Christmas atmosphere.
Caretta Shiodome Winter Illumination (Canyon of Lights)
Caretta Shiodome's sunken canyon erupts in a free nightly light-and-music show beneath towering skyscrapers.
Sagami Lake Illumination Resort (Sagamiko Illumillion)
One of Japan's largest illumination events, Sagamiko Illumillion wraps an entire lakeside resort in over four million lights.
Odaiba Rainbow Illumination & Winter Aqua City Lights
Odaiba's artificial island dazzles with waterfront illuminations and a towering Christmas tree framing the Rainbow Bridge.
Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum (Okhotsk Ryuhyo-kan)
A unique museum on Mt. Tento where a sub-zero hall lets visitors touch and walk among real Sea of Okhotsk drift ice.
Goryokaku Park Cherry Blossoms (五稜郭公園の桜)
Over 1,600 cherry trees bloom inside Japan's iconic star-shaped Western-style fort, best viewed from the Goryokaku Tower.
Hakodate Park Cherry Blossom Hanami (函館公園の桜)
Hakodate's oldest public park, opened in 1879, offers a charming old-fashioned hanami atmosphere beneath mature cherry trees in the historic port city.
Nopporo Forest Park Cherry Blossoms (野幌森林公園の桜)
Japan's largest urban forest park offers serene woodland cherry blossom walks through 2,053 hectares of protected nature east of Sapporo.
Asahikawa Tokiwa Park Cherry Blossoms (旭川常磐公園の桜)
Asahikawa's central civic park becomes a beloved hanami hub when hundreds of cherry trees bloom beside the Ishikari River in central Hokkaido.
Kushiro City Chuo Park Cherry Blossoms (釧路市中央公園の桜)
Eastern Hokkaido's largest city welcomes spring late but brilliantly, with Chuo Park's cherry trees blooming in a cool, misty Pacific coast atmosphere.
Tenshochi Cherry Blossom Promenade (Tenshochi Sakura Namiki)
A 2-kilometre riverside promenade lined with 10,000 Somei Yoshino trees creates an unforgettable pink tunnel in Kitakami.
Funaoka Castle Ruins Park Cherry Blossom (Funaoka Joshi Koen Hanami)
Historic hilltop castle ruins offer sweeping valley views beneath clouds of cherry blossoms in Miyagi Prefecture.
Hanamiyama Park Cherry Blossom (Hanamiyama Koen Hanami)
A privately cultivated hillside garden of mixed flowering trees creates a breathtaking mosaic of pink, white, and red blossoms.
Kajo Park Nishiki-no-Sato Cherry Blossom Walk (Yamagata Nishiki Hanami)
A broad promenade of weeping and Somei Yoshino cherry trees lines the outer moats of historic Yamagata Castle ruins.
Shinjuku Central Park Cherry Blossom Season
A tranquil urban oasis in the heart of Shinjuku where cherry trees bloom against a dramatic skyscraper backdrop.
Kitanomaru Park Cherry Blossom Season
A refined Imperial Palace-adjacent park where cherry blossoms reflect in the moat alongside Budokan arena and Science Museum.
Shakujii Park Cherry Blossom Season
A serene west-Tokyo park where cherry trees ring two tranquil ponds, creating mirror-perfect blossom reflections.
Rinshi-no-Mori Park Cherry Blossom Season
A hidden gem in Meguro where a forested park once used for forestry research blooms beautifully with diverse cherry varieties.
Kairakuen Garden Spring Cherry Blossom Season
Japan's third-greatest garden dazzles in spring as cherry blossoms follow the famous plum season in a historic samurai landscape.
Kenroku-en Garden Cherry Blossom Viewing
Stroll among over 200 cherry trees in one of Japan's three great classical gardens, free-entry during peak bloom.
Hida Furukawa Shiroyama Park Cherry Blossom Viewing
Cherry blossoms crown the hillside ruins above Furukawa's white-walled canal town, offering a serene alternative to Takayama.
Nihondaira Cherry Blossom Viewing, Shizuoka
Cherry blossoms frame iconic views of snow-capped Mount Fuji from Shizuoka's most celebrated plateau.
Yoshino Mountain Cherry Blossoms (吉野山花見)
Over 30,000 cherry trees blanket a sacred mountain in one of Japan's most legendary hanami landscapes.
Shukugawa Park Cherry Blossom Viewing (夙川公園花見)
Nearly 1,500 cherry trees line the tranquil Shukugawa riverbanks in one of Hyogo's top hanami destinations.
Nara Park Cherry Blossom Viewing (奈良公園花見)
Stroll among Nara's free-roaming deer under hundreds of cherry trees in one of Japan's most enchanting spring scenes.
Osaka Castle Park Cherry Blossom Viewing (大阪城公園花見)
Over 3,000 cherry trees surround the golden turrets of Osaka Castle in one of Japan's grandest urban hanami settings.
Kyoto Botanical Garden Cherry Blossom Viewing (京都府立植物園花見)
Japan's oldest public botanical garden showcases over 200 cherry varieties in a serene, curated springtime spectacle.
Kōko-en Garden Cherry Blossom Viewing (好古園花見)
Nine Edo-period style gardens beside Himeji Castle burst into bloom, offering a refined samurai-era hanami atmosphere.
Ōmizo Castle Ruins Hanami (大溝城跡花見)
Cherry trees crown the photogenic moated ruins of Ōmizo Castle on the western shore of Lake Biwa for a serene hidden-gem hanami.
Hiroshima Castle Cherry Blossom Viewing
Over 200 cherry trees frame Hiroshima Castle's moat and stone walls in a stunning springtime reflection.
Mitaki-dera Temple Cherry Blossom Viewing
A secluded mountain temple in Hiroshima's western hills where cherry blossoms cascade alongside ancient stone pagodas.
Hagi Shizuki Park Cherry Blossom Hanami
Shizuki Park's 600 cherry trees bloom around Hagi's historic castle ruins and the restored samurai district below.
Yonago Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Viewing
Climb Iinoyama Hill to Yonago Castle's stone ruins for panoramic views of Mt. Daisen framed by blooming cherry trees.
Jōei-ji Garden Cherry Blossom Viewing, Yamaguchi
Sesshu's 15th-century zen garden in Yamaguchi gains ethereal beauty when cherry blossoms crown its sculpted pines and moss.
Godaisan Kōen Cherry Blossom Viewing
Hilltop park beside Chikurin-ji temple offering sweeping cherry blossom views over Kochi city and Tosa Bay.
Senkō-ji Temple Cherry Blossom Hanami, Tokushima
A serene temple hillside on the Bizan cable-car route blanketed in cherry blossoms with sweeping views of Tokushima city.
Makino Botanical Garden Spring Cherry Blossom Exhibition
Explore over 50 cherry varieties including rare wild species in the garden dedicated to Japan's 'father of botany', Dr Tomitaro Makino.
Warei Shrine Cherry Blossom Hanami, Uwajima
Cherry blossoms frame the striking sea-facing torii gate of Warei Shrine, Uwajima's most beloved sacred site on the southern Ehime coast.
Ohori Park Cherry Blossom Hanami, Fukuoka
Stroll beneath hundreds of blooming sakura trees ringing the vast central lake of Fukuoka's beloved Ohori Park.
Kitsuki Castle Cherry Blossom Viewing, Oita
Japan's smallest castle sits atop a hill draped in cherry blossoms, overlooking the serene samurai-town streets of Kitsuki.
Miyazaki Prefectural Nature Park Hanami (Miyakonojo Maruyama Park)
Maruyama Park in Miyakonojo draws hanami crowds under a thick canopy of Yoshino cherry trees beside a serene riverside setting.
Kotsuki River Cherry Blossom Promenade, Kagoshima
A 3-kilometre riverside walkway lined with cherry trees offers one of Kagoshima's most scenic and accessible urban hanami promenades.
Tateyama Park Cherry Blossom Viewing, Nagasaki
Perched above central Nagasaki, Tateyama Park offers sweeping harbour views framed by cherry blossoms from one of the city's top hilltop hanami spots.
Nakagusuku Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Viewing
UNESCO-listed Nakagusuku Castle ruins draped in vivid pink kanhizakura blossoms against ancient Ryukyuan stone walls.
Shikinaen Royal Garden Cherry Blossom Stroll
Stroll through a UNESCO-listed Ryukyuan royal garden adorned with kanhizakura blossoms reflected in its tranquil pond.
Nago Central Park Cherry Blossom Walk
Wander under hundreds of kanhizakura trees lining the hillside paths of Nago Central Park, the heart of Okinawa's cherry blossom season.
Sounkyo Gorge Autumn Foliage (層雲峡紅葉)
Dramatic cliffs of Sounkyo Gorge blaze with crimson and gold as Daisetsuzan's first autumn colours cascade down sheer rock faces.
Shikisai-no-Oka Autumn Colour (四季彩の丘秋景色)
Biei's famous flower hill transforms in autumn into sweeping terraced rows of salvia, cosmos and marigold set against a backdrop of golden larch forests.
Nopporo Centennial Memorial Forest Autumn (野幌森林公園の紅葉)
Hokkaido's largest urban forest park offers 2,000 hectares of uninterrupted elm, oak and maple autumn colour just 30 minutes from central Sapporo.
Akan National Park Autumn Foliage (阿寒国立公園の紅葉)
Lake Akan's forested caldera shores and the volcanic peak of Me-Akan-dake explode with colour, reflected perfectly in the lake home to rare marimo algae balls.
Nikkō Tōshōgū Shrine Autumn Foliage Season
Nikkō's ornate UNESCO-listed shrines blaze with crimson and gold as ancient cedar avenues transform into tunnels of autumn colour.
Kita-in Temple Autumn Foliage Season, Kawagoe
Kita-in's five-hundred rakan stone statues stand amid blazing maple and ginkgo trees in Kawagoe's most atmospheric autumn foliage setting.
Zuiganji Temple Autumn Foliage, Tochigi City
Zuiganji's moat-side maple grove turns brilliant scarlet in November, mirrored in the still waters of Tochigi City's historic canal district.
Mitsumine Shrine Autumn Foliage Season, Chichibu
Perched at 1,100 m in the Chichibu mountains, Mitsumine Shrine commands misty autumn panoramas of ridge after ridge of blazing deciduous forest.
Fukuroda Falls Autumn Foliage Season, Daigo
Fukuroda Falls, one of Japan's three great waterfalls, roars through a gorge framed by blazing autumn maples and sheer moss-covered cliffs.
Jōsai Castle Ruins Autumn Foliage, Togane
Togane's hilltop Jōsai Castle ruins emerge from a dense maple forest each November, turning the old earthworks into a blazing crimson citadel.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden Autumn Foliage Season
Shinjuku Gyoen's 1,500 trees — including rare liquidambar and tupelo — create one of Tokyo's most diverse and elegant autumn foliage palettes.
Matsumoto Agatanomori Park Autumn Foliage
Ginkgo and maple trees blaze gold and crimson around Matsumoto's beloved city woodland park.
Yoro Park Autumn Foliage & Yoro Waterfall
A sacred waterfall and forested hillside in Gifu erupt in autumn colour, set within tranquil Yoro Quasi-National Park.
Shōsenkyo Gorge Autumn Foliage, Kōfu
Japan's most scenic gorge blazes with crimson maples above dramatic granite boulders and emerald river waters.
Ena Gorge Autumn Foliage, Ena
A dramatic river gorge in eastern Gifu glows with layered red and orange maples reflected in the still waters of Ena Reservoir.
Togakushi Shrine Autumn Foliage Walk, Nagano
Ancient cryptomeria cedars and blazing maples line the sacred approach to Togakushi's mountain shrines in the highlands above Nagano city.
Arashiyama Hogon-in Autumn Foliage (宝厳院紅葉)
Hogon-in's lion-shaped garden glows crimson beneath ancient maples during its exclusive autumn special opening.
Jōjakkō-ji Autumn Foliage (常寂光寺紅葉)
Jōjakkō-ji's hillside pagoda rises above a blazing sea of maples in the heart of Arashiyama's quieter lanes.
Kibune Shrine Autumn Foliage (貴船神社紅葉)
A vermillion stone-lantern stairway tunnels through a blazing canopy of autumn maples at this ancient water deity shrine.
Expo Commemorative Park Autumn Leaves (万博記念公園紅葉)
Japan Folk Crafts Museum gardens and 260 hectares of parkland burst with autumn colour beneath Taro Okamoto's iconic Tower of the Sun.
Kōko-en Autumn Foliage (好古園紅葉)
Nine linked Edo-style garden rooms glow with autumn maples in the shadow of UNESCO-listed Himeji Castle's white towers.
Byōdō-in Autumn Foliage (平等院紅葉)
The Phoenix Hall of Japan's 10-yen coin shimmers with perfect symmetry across its mirror pond, framed by autumn maples.
Daigo-ji Autumn Foliage (醍醐寺紅葉)
Kyoto's oldest five-storey pagoda towers above blazing autumn maples at this sprawling UNESCO World Heritage temple complex.
Enkō-ji Autumn Foliage (圓光寺紅葉)
A carpet of fallen maple leaves on moss and stone creates Japan's most celebrated autumn ground-level composition at Enkō-ji.
Hase-dera Autumn Foliage (長谷寺紅葉)
A 399-step covered pilgrimage gallery winds through blazing maples to a dramatic cliffside main hall above the Hatsuse valley.
Jōsen-ji Temple Autumn Foliage, Tsuyama
A serene Zen temple in Tsuyama where maple-lined paths blaze in crimson and gold beneath a historic pagoda.
Ruriko-ji Temple Autumn Foliage, Yamaguchi
The UNESCO-listed five-storey pagoda of Ruriko-ji stands ethereally amid blazing autumn maples in Yamaguchi city.
Momijidani Park Autumn Foliage, Miyajima
Hundreds of maple trees set Miyajima's Momijidani Park ablaze with colour, steps from the iconic floating torii gate.
Taikodani Inari Shrine Autumn Foliage, Tsuwano
A tunnel of 1,000 vermillion torii gates winds up a forested hillside ablaze with autumn colour above the castle town of Tsuwano.
Ritsurin Kōen Autumn Evening Illumination (夜の特別観覧)
Ritsurin Kōen's UNESCO-listed strolling garden glows after dark as spotlights transform maple-fringed ponds into living paintings.
Shōsan-ji Temple (Temple 12) Autumn Pilgrimage Foliage
Ascend the 'Henro's Navel' mountain temple via a steep cedar and maple forest trail that burns with colour during October's peak koyo.
Makino Botanical Garden Autumn Foliage Season
Walk winding paths through 3,000 plant species on forested Godaisan hill as the botanical garden blazes with late-autumn colour.
Garyū Sansō Villa Autumn Garden Viewing, Ōzu
Admire perhaps Shikoku's finest private villa garden as maples frame a Meiji-era sukiya pavilion cantilevered over the Hiji River gorge.
Kotohira-gū (Konpira-san) Autumn Stone Steps Foliage
Climb Konpira-san's famous 785 stone steps through a burnished tunnel of maples and camphor trees glowing in late-autumn gold.
Iya Kazurabashi Vine Bridge Autumn Koyo
Cross Iya Valley's ancient wisteria vine bridge swaying above a gorge framed by some of Shikoku's most dramatic autumn foliage.
Nishiyama Park Autumn Foliage, Imari
Over 20,000 maple trees blaze red and gold across Imari's beloved hilltop park, one of Japan's top 100 foliage spots.
Kirishima Jingū Shrine Autumn Foliage, Kagoshima
Ancient cedar-lined approaches and surrounding volcanic highlands frame Kirishima Jingū in breathtaking autumnal red and gold.
Futagoji Temple Autumn Foliage, Kunisaki Peninsula, Oita
A remote mountain temple on the mystical Kunisaki Peninsula glows beneath ancient maples and cryptomeria in deep, spiritual autumn colour.
Dazaifu Tenmangū Autumn Foliage Walk, Fukuoka
Stroll the sacred precincts of Dazaifu Tenmangū as ancient camphor trees and surrounding maples ignite in glorious autumn colour.
Kuju Flower Park Autumn Cosmos & Foliage, Oita
Japan's highest-altitude flower park bursts with autumn cosmos blooms against a backdrop of Kuju's volcanic peaks draped in foliage.
Ōkawachi-yama Pottery Village Autumn Foliage, Imari, Saga
Discover Kyushu's hidden porcelain valley ablaze with autumn maples, where master Imari and Nabeshima ware kilns have fired since the 17th century.
今帰仁城跡 秋の紅葉 Nakijin Castle Ruins Autumn Foliage
Wander the UNESCO-listed Nakijin Castle ruins as subtropical foliage turns amber against ancient stone walls.
名護城公園 秋のひんぷんガジュマル Nago Castle Park Autumn Banyan & Foliage Walk
Explore Nago Castle Park's ancient banyan trees and hillside woodland as autumn softens the tropical greenery.
玉泉洞 秋の鍾乳洞探検 Gyokusendo Cave Autumn Underground Exploration
Descend into one of Japan's longest stalactite caves at Okinawa World, a cool autumnal refuge of natural wonder.
識名園 秋の琉球庭園散策 Shikinaen Royal Garden Autumn Ryukyuan Garden Stroll
Stroll the UNESCO-listed Shikinaen Royal Garden as its Ryukyuan-Chinese landscape softens into subtle autumnal colours.
Furano Ningle Terrace Winter Illumination (ニングルテラス冬のイルミネーション)
A fairy-tale forest boardwalk of glowing handcraft cabins in the Furano ski resort woods, lit softly throughout the winter season.
Aomori Nebuta Museum WA·RASSE Winter Visit
Explore towering, luminous Nebuta floats up close inside Aomori's striking waterfront museum during the quiet winter season.
Yomiuri Land Jewellumination
Yomiuri Land amusement park becomes a jewel-toned wonderland with over 1.5 million Swarovski-inspired LED lights each winter.
Tokyo Dome City Winter Illumination (Smile Illumination)
Tokyo Dome City's LaQua and promenade light up with half a million warm-white LEDs in the heart of central Tokyo every winter.
Roppongi Hills Christmas & Winter Illumination
Roppongi Hills' Keyakizaka Zelkova-lined boulevard blazes with elegant white lights for one of Tokyo's most stylish Christmas illuminations.
Shibuya Ao Christmas Illumination (Ao Illumination)
Omotesando's premium shopping street Ao blazes with icy blue and white LEDs, anchoring one of Tokyo's most elegant Christmas walks.
Hachioji Jo Terrace Winter Illumination
Hachioji's Jo Terrace shopping complex sparkles with seasonal winter lights, offering western Tokyo residents a local Christmas and New Year illumination destination.
Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination
One of Japan's largest illumination events, featuring a dazzling 200-metre tunnel of LED lights and sweeping themed light fields.
Matsumoto Castle Winter Night Illumination
Japan's oldest wooden castle glows midnight-black against winter skies, its moat mirroring floodlights and occasional snow.
Nagoya Christmas Illumination at Oasis 21 & Hisaya Odori Park
Nagoya's futuristic glass spaceship plaza and its grand boulevard park sparkle with millions of LEDs through the Christmas season.
Lake Biwa Otsu Hikari no Michi Winter Illumination (大津光の路冬イルミネーション)
Otsu's historic lakefront promenade along Lake Biwa glitters with thousands of LED lights reflected in Japan's largest freshwater lake.