Toshogu is the lavish mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun who unified Japan, and the most spectacular of Nikko’s shrines. Set among towering cedars, its richly carved and gilded buildings

Nikko combines some of Japan’s most ornate shrines with dramatic mountain scenery, all within easy reach of Tokyo. The gilded Toshogu, ancient temples, a sacred bridge and the highland lakes

Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, is a modern, spacious city laid out on a grid unlike anywhere else in Japan. Its green spine, Odori Park, and a handful of historic

Okinawa’s beaches are the reason many travellers come in the first place. Warm, clear water and powder-soft sand stretch along the main island and out to the surrounding islets, with

Okinawa is Japan’s tropical south, a chain of subtropical islands with their own Ryukyu culture, cuisine and pace of life. Naha makes the natural base, with history, shopping and beaches

Your complete Osaka travel guide, linking our in-depth guides to the city’s top sights, from Osaka Castle to Dotonbori and beyond.

Your complete guide to Pattaya: beaches, Koh Larn, the Sanctuary of Truth and viewpoints.

Your complete guide to Phuket: beaches, Old Town, the Big Buddha and island day trips.

Beyond Toshogu, Nikko’s sacred mountain holds a wider complex of temples and shrines that together form the World Heritage site. Rinno-ji and Futarasan Shrine are the other great pillars, set

Sakae is Nagoya’s vibrant downtown, where the city shops, dines and comes alive after dark. Department stores, underground malls, izakaya and the landmark TV Tower cluster here, making it the