Himeji Castle: The White Heron of Japan
Rising in a cascade of gleaming white walls and gracefully curving roofs above the city that shares its name, Himeji Castle is widely regarded as the most beautiful castle in
Kumamoto Castle: The Black Fortress That Never Yielded
There are castles that were built to be admired and castles that were built to be feared, and Kumamoto belongs firmly, unforgettably, to the second kind. Rising black and stern
Kyoto International Manga Museum: A Visitor’s Guide
A guide to the Kyoto International Manga Museum, where you can read from 50,000 manga, with real visitor ratings and tips.
Kyoto National Museum: A Visitor’s Guide to Japanese Art
A guide to the Kyoto National Museum, home to centuries of Japanese art, with real visitor ratings and practical visiting tips.
Kyoto Railway Museum: A Complete Visitor’s Guide
Everything to know before visiting the Kyoto Railway Museum, one of Japan’s largest train museums, with real visitor ratings and tips.
Matsumoto Castle: Japan’s Black Crow of the Alps
Rising in a striking silhouette of black-walled keeps and steep gables above its moat, with the snow-capped peaks of the Japanese Alps as a backdrop, Matsumoto Castle is one of
Meet the Ainu, an Indigenous People at Japan’s Northern Edge
Long before the Japanese state reached Hokkaido, the Ainu lived there with their own language, gods, and way of life. An honest portrait of their history and revival.
Meiji Shrine: Tokyo’s Tranquil Forest Sanctuary
A guide to Meiji Jingu, the serene Shinto shrine set in a vast forest beside Harajuku, and how to make the most of a visit.
Nijo Castle: The Shogun’s Golden Fortress and the Singing Floors of Kyoto
Not far from the serene halls of the Kyoto Imperial Palace stands a very different kind of residence, one built not for a reigning emperor but for the military ruler
Osaka Castle: A Guide to the City’s Iconic Fortress
A guide to Osaka Castle, the city’s most famous landmark, with tips on the keep, the park, and the best times to visit.
