Shimanami Kaido (Seaway)
The “Shimanami Kaido” is a 60 km long road connecting Honshu and Shikoku. It connects Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture to Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture, and bridges six islands in the Seto Inland Sea. It consists of the Nishi-Seto Expressway, Ikuchijima Road, and Oshima Road.
It looks great in photos, but being there in person feels even more immersive.
Itsukushima Shrine
Itsukushima Shrine stands on the island of Itsukushima, which is also known as the island of gods. It is said that the shrine was founded in 593 by Saeki no Kuramoto, and the 3 goddess “Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto,” “Tagorihime-no-Mikoto,” and “Tagitsuhime-no-Mikoto” are enshrined there. Famous for granting a wide list of benefits, these three goddesses as are worshipped as the goddesses of the sea, transportation, fortune, and art.
Itsukushima Shrine is truly breathtaking. The giant torii gate out on the water is especially impressive—at high tide, it looks like it’s floating on the sea.
At low tide, you can walk right up to it and see the details. The whole atmosphere feels sacred without being overwhelming, and with the deer and ocean views on Miyajima, it’s actually more relaxing than I expected.
Tanukikoji Shopping Street
Tanuki Koji Shopping Street, with over 145 years of history is one of Hokkaido’s oldest shopping streets. It’s located in the center of Sapporo, stretching 900 meters from east to west with some 200 different shops. It has an arcade-style covered roofing, meaning you can enjoy shopping, dining, or an easy stroll no matter what the weather.
The whole street is covered, so you don’t have to worry about rain or snow, and it’s really comfortable to walk around.
They have everything from souvenirs and drugstores to izakayas and street food. Prices are a little more affordable than in the main tourist areas.
Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchi-ko)
Lake Kawaguchi is known as one of the five Fuji lakes and is a popular spot because of its spectacular view of Mt. Fuji. The lakeside is filled with cherry blossoms in the spring, purple lavender in early summer, and autumn leaves in the fall, making each season a different and beautiful sight. Lake Kawaguchi is also known for having the only "island" and "bridge" in the Fuji Five Lakes.
Lake Kawaguchi is probably one of the most reliable and classic spots for viewing Mt. Fuji. That said, the actual experience depends a lot on the weather, so it’s good to be prepared—whether you get that perfect Mt. Fuji view really comes down to luck to some extent.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
“Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium” is a popular tourist spot, located in Okinawa’s Kaiyohaku Park. If you take the building’s escalator down from the 4th floor to the 3rd, you’ll find yourself at the entrance to the aquarium. The aquarium is designed as a “deep dive” into the ocean as you go down to the 2nd and 1st floors, so as you descend, a magnificent world filled with mysterious Okinawan ocean creatures unfolds before you!
Definitely worth visiting! The Kuroshio Sea tank is absolutely spectacular, and seeing the whale sharks swim right in front of you is amazing. The overall flow through the aquarium is smooth too, so this is definitely one of the must-visit spots in Okinawa.
Teuchi Suisha Kisoba
Founded in 1861. This long-standing soba restaurant near Tendo Park has been serving for over 160 years. Out front stands a large waterwheel, still used today in the traditional way to turn the millstone and grind buckwheat. The soba, made with 100% whole-ground pure buckwheat flour, is outstanding. Enjoy its rich flavor, aroma, and smooth finish.
The soba at Teuchi Suisha Kisoba is seriously well done. The noodles are pleasantly chewy and fragrant, and the broth is light and clean without feeling heavy. It all goes down so smoothly and feels really satisfying.
The atmosphere inside is also very Japanese, making it a great place to relax and enjoy your meal at a leisurely pace. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to come back again.
Shirakawa-go (Historic Village)
Shirakawa-go, a beautiful area where traditional Japanese scenery still exists, is home to the largest number of still-standing traditional “gassho-zukuri” Japanese homes. As of 2016, there are around 100 buildings still standing, both large and small. It is the largest remaining historic settlement in Japan, and it is preserved as a Group of Traditional Buildings in the register of Cultural Properties of Japan.
Shirakawa-go lit up at night feels absolutely magical. The whole place looks like a fairy tale.
The atmosphere is so მშვიდ शांत and soothing, and the snowy scenery with the lights is stunning. Definitely worth visiting at least once.
Monkey D. Luffy Statue
With over 500 million copies in circulation worldwide as of 2020, ONE PIECE has become one of Japan’s most iconic manga series.
This Luffy statue is seriously awesome. It looks even more impressive in person than in photos, and fans will definitely get excited.
If you’re visiting Kumamoto, this is a must-stop spot for photos.