Japan Travel Guides

From aquariums to World Heritage sites — one subject at a time, covered in full.

131 spotsJapan Aquarium MapFrom Okinawa's coral tanks to Hokkaido's winter penguins, Japan's aquariums are worth a detour on almost any route. Ranked, and each one placed on the map.

• 36 spotsJapan's UNESCO World Heritage SitesFrom Shiretoko in Hokkaido to the Nansei Islands, Japan's twenty-seven World Heritage properties span the length of the archipelago. The cultural ones preserve the craft behind its temples, castles and ancient capitals; the natural ones protect old-growth forest, island ecosystems and landforms far older than anything built on them. Culture and nature side by side is what World Heritage looks like in Japan.
• 12 spotsJapan's 12 Original Castle KeepsOnly twelve castle keeps in Japan survive from before the Meiji era. Every other tenshu you will see is a reconstruction.
• 19 spotsJapan's Classic ThreesThree views, three gardens, three night views, three waterfalls, three hot springs, three castles. The bay at Matsushima, the snow ropes at Kenroku-en, the lights from Mount Hakodate, the baths at Arima — if you are drawing up a Japan bucket list, this is where the ideas come from.
• 19 spotsJapan's RecordsThe northernmost point, the deepest lake, the tallest tower, the oldest inn still taking guests. Every Japanese record here is a place you can actually go and visit.