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Asia / COUNTRY ATLAS

Japan

Japan brings together dense cities, regional food cultures and landscapes that change dramatically between north and south. In Kyoto, choose a district at a time: the space between temples matters as much as the temples themselves.

Kyoto & beyond
CapitalTokyo
LanguagesJapanese
CurrencyJPY — Japanese yen
IN THIS ATLAS28 place guides7 destinations

Choose a destination

Tokyo →Kyoto →Osaka →Nara →Hiroshima →Miyajima →
YOUR NEXT DISCOVERY

Places worth exploring

Editorial selection · no visitor popularity score is implied.

Browse six places at a time. Choose a destination or use the filters to narrow your selection.

Senso-ji temple in Asakusa, Tokyo.Akonnchiroll · Source · CC0
Tokyo / Buddhist temple

Senso-ji

Discover Asakusa through Tokyo’s oldest temple, its ceremonial approach and a living place of worship.

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Meiji Jingu shrine setting in Tokyo.Akonnchiroll · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Tokyo / Shinto shrine

Meiji Jingu

Explore a forested shrine precinct with respectful time for its spiritual setting. General shrine access differs from museum and garden arrangements.

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Tokyo Skytree and its urban setting; current visibility and visitor access vary.Kakidai · Source · CC BY-SA 3.0
Tokyo / Observation tower

Tokyo Skytree

Choose the official observation-deck product and a realistic visibility window at Tokyo Skytree. Tower entry and surrounding shopping or entertainment are separate experiences.

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Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto; seasonal appearance and access vary.Jordy Meow · Source · CC BY-SA 3.0
Kyoto / Buddhist temple

Kiyomizu-dera

Explore an eastern Kyoto temple setting with time for the approach, main visitor route and respectful interpretation. Special evening programmes require separate calendar checks.

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Ninomaru Palace at Nijo Castle; access depends on the actual ticket and calendar.See source attribution · Source · Public domain
Kyoto / Castle & palace

Nijō Castle

Plan the castle grounds and chosen palace separately. Ninomaru and Honmaru admission are different decisions, and Honmaru requires an advance reservation.

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The dry-landscape garden at Ryoan-ji in Kyoto, photographed in 2019.DXR · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kyoto / Zen temple & garden

Ryōan-ji

Choose a contemplative temple visit with time for the dry-landscape garden. Check current access, opening and the exact route before travelling.

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Dotonbori district and canal setting in Osaka; individual businesses have their own hours.Type specimen · Source · CC BY-SA 3.0
Osaka / Urban district & food

Dōtonbori

Choose a focused canal-side and food-led window in Osaka’s Minami district. Public streets, restaurant reservations, cruises and paid attractions have separate arrangements.

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Kofuku-ji temple setting in an archival photograph; current access and restoration work may differ.663highland · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Nara / Buddhist temple

Kōfuku-ji

Plan a temple and collection-led visit with current restoration information. The five-storied pagoda is undergoing major conservation, so archival photographs do not establish its present appearance.

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Daisho-in temple setting on Miyajima; the visitor route includes its own access considerations.Sailko · Source · CC BY 3.0
Miyajima / Buddhist temple

Daishō-in

Choose a respectful temple-led visit on Miyajima with attention to the actual approach, steps and any separately booked experience.

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UNDERSTAND THE DESTINATION

About Japan

Japan brings together dense cities, regional food cultures and landscapes that change dramatically between north and south. In Kyoto, choose a district at a time: the space between temples matters as much as the temples themselves.

Destinations to begin with

Tokyo · Kyoto · Osaka · Nara

Explore Japan by city

Current collection: 28 attraction guides across 7 cities. Further destinations and national planning chapters are in preparation.

Return to Japan on the world map →