Aso Shrine (Kumamoto)
The master god who has created Aso, Takei Watatsu no Mikoto, and 12 of his family gods are enshrined here. As the head of Higo Province, this is ranked top over nearly 500 branch Aso Shrines nationwide. Its history goes back more than 2000 years. Its faith is fused with volcano worship that believes Mt. Aso to be a god.
The overall vibe at Aso Jinja is really relaxing. It’s not one of those super touristy, noisy shrines. The moment I walked in, I felt my mind slow down.
Himeji City Museum of Art
The Himeji City Museum of Art is housed in a former red brick warehouse of the Imperial Japanese Army, registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property. It is located to the east of the World Heritage Site, Himeji Castle.
The surrounding gardens are lush and peaceful. It's a perfect spot for a walk and to quietly enjoy the art.
Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
The Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway is used by many tourists as a way to climb up to Mt. Tenjyoyama from Lake Kawaguchi. From inside the gondola, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Lake Kawaguchi below.
You can get a stunning view of Lake Kawaguchi and Mt. Fuji from here. On clear days, the scenery is especially amazing.
Yoyogi Park
The large 544,711.27㎡ site of this park is filled with water and greenery, something that you don’t often find in the heart of Tokyo. During springtime around 800 cherry trees blossom beautifully, and the area around the south side’s fountain is particularly popular as a cherry blossom viewing location.
There are wide lawns, ponds, and forests here. It's a great spot for Tokyo locals to relax or take a walk. Lots of people jog in the park, too.
National Takino Suzuran Hillside Park
Takino Suzuran Hillside Park is the only national park in Hokkaido. 400 hectares (988 acres) of premises are divided into four zones - colorful flower gardens, a large playground, three waterfalls and a forest for hiking.
This is the only national park in Hokkaido, and it's huge! Perfect for beginners to try skiing. If you're not up for that, you can try snow tubing or sledding—both are super fun and exciting!
Ameyoko Shopping Street
The Ameyoko Shopping Street, affectionately known as "Ameyoko," stretches approximately 500m between JR Ueno Station and JR Okachimachi Station, with around 400 shops lining the street. It features a variety of businesses, including food and confectionery, clothing, general goods, and jewelry stores.
It's just a short walk from Ueno Station. If you love drugstores and beauty products, you'll definitely fall in love with this place.
KidZania Tokyo
A career and social experience facility where children aged 3 to 15 can try a wide variety of jobs and services in a city built at roughly two-thirds the size of the real world, learning how society works while having fun.
Each job experience here has its own unique fun, and you can only try this kind of thing in Japan.
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo originally opened in 1995 after taking over a collection of 3,000 works from the Tokyo Prefectural Art Museum, which itself opened in 1926, and in 2019 had a renewal opening with a renewed collection of approximately 5,500 works.
The exhibitions are really diverse. It's definitely worth a visit for anyone who loves architecture or art.