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Tower of Yasaka (Hokanji)
Location:
388, Yasakakamimachi, Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
（Credit notation is required）Kyoto Media Support Center
This Rinzai sect temple was built in 1658, and was known as the family temple of the lords of the Fukui Domain during the feudal era. Today, it is preserved in the same condition as it was at the time. On the western side of the temple grounds, there is an iris garden famous for the beauty of the 10,000 flowers tha bloom there in early summer.
Nihonkai Sakana Machi Seafood Market
Location:
Tsuruga City,Fukui Prefecture
A huge, bustling market full of shops selling fresh seafood staight from Tsuruga Port, and restaurans offering delicious items like sushi or bowls of rice generously topped with seafood.
Sabae, Fukui leads Japan in eyeglass production. The museum features a shop selling many varieties of glasses made in Sabae, as well as a workshop where visitors can make their own glasses.
Echizen Bamboo Doll Village
Location:
Sakai City,Fukui Prefecture
The only museum in Japan dedicated to bamboo dolls. In addition to seeing exhibits of dolls based on various themes, such as Kabuki, visitors can also try making their own.
Ski slopes perfect for beginners, experts, and everyone in between. Featuring comfortable facilities like restaurants, hot spring baths, and slopes for children.
National Historic Site Hakusan Heisenji Shrine
Location:
Katsuyama City,Fukui Prefecture
Opened in the year 717 as a base for faith in the sacred mountain Mt.Hakusan. Its wide-open grounds are virtually carpeted with moss.
Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum
Location:
Katsuyama City,Fukui Prefecture
Located in Katsuyama, Fukui, the site of more dinosaur fossil discoveries than anywhere else in Japan. One of the world's three biggest dinosaur museums. This vast museum features displays of dinosaur skeletons and fossil specimens, as well as life-sized dioramas. While you're there, why not get on a shuttle bus from the museum and join a tour? Near the excavation site where dinosaur fossils have been found, you can try a hands-on "fossil excavation" experience. When dig out a fossil, the researcher will explain the fossil.
Fukui's finest hot spring town, boasting 130 years of history since its opening. The plaza in front of Awara-Yunomachi Station features a free public foot bath and a variety of small restaurants. At the Dento Geinokan (Traditional Performing Arts Hall), visitors can transform geisha, have a lesson from real geisha, and enjoy a taiko drum performance of traditional geisha games.
The vermilion-painted torii gate is known as one of the three largest wooden torii gates in Japan, and is nationally designated as an important cultural property. Within the shrine grounds, you'll find Chomeisui, a well said to be flowing with mystical energy in addition to pure water.
Once the second residence of the Matsudaira clan, the feudal lords of Fukui long ago. Its Shoin architecture and garden are considered valuable examples of famous gardens from the middle of the Edo era(1603-1868).
Miketsukuni Wakasa Obama Food Culture Museum
Location:
Obama City,Fukui Prefecture
Some 80% of all lacquered chopsticks produced in Japan are Wakasa Lacquered Chopsticks. Here, visitors can see demonstrations by traditional artisans, and try making their own lacquered chopsticks themselves.
Takefu Knife Village
Location:
Echizen City,Fukui Prefecture
With their exceptional qualty, Echizen Forged Blades are beloved by chefs both within Japan and around the world. In addition to selling kitchen knives, scissors, and other bladed tools, Takefu Knife Village also serves as a knife-making workshop, where visitors can watch from the second floor as knife-makers forge and sharpen these incredible knives. Additionally, visitors can also try their hands at making a metal keyfob or even a kitchen knife.
Fukui Prefectural Museum of Ceramics
Location:
Nyu District,Fukui Prefecture
A museum at the Echizen Pottery Village, home of one of the Six Old Kilns of Japan, Echizen Pottery. The museum consists of an exhibit hall, a pottery hands-on course, visitors can make their own pottery using Echizen Pottery clay.
Echizen Lacquerware Hall
Location:
Sabae City,Fukui Prefecture
Fukui has 1,500 years of tradition as "lacquer village". At Echizen Lacquerware Hall, visitors can see artisans making lacquerware, or try it themselves.
Echizen Pa;er Villlage
Location:
Echizen City,Fukui Prefecture
Here, visitors can make their own washi paper and then decorate it with pressed flowers, dyes, and more, making pstcards, business cards, coasters, fans, lampshades, or other goods with their own hand-make paper.
These remarkably shaped rocks, tunnels, and caves carved out by the choppy waters of the Sea of Japan extend across some 6 km of the coast. Enjoy an hour-long pleasure cruise departing from Wakasa Fisherman's Wharf for a refreshing yet breathtaking time.
Consisting of five lakes, the water and depths of each of them vary, making each a different shade of blue. The Rainbow Line (toll road) to the mountaintop park offers fantastic views of the dynamic scenery.
From October to April, the Ono Basin occasionally becomes enveloped in clouds that cause Echizen Ono Castle to appear to "float" on them, leading to its nickname, the "Castle in the Sky".
Carved out by the rough wavves of the Sea of Japan, this 1.5 km stretch of coastline features breathtaking views that led to its being nationally designated as both a place of scenic beauty and a natural monument, as well as magnificent sunsets worthy of recognition as one of Japan's 100 most beautiful sunsets.
You'll find old townhouses and geisya teahouses with wooden latticed exteriors, bay windows, and more in thes area selected as an Important Preseration District fo Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Kumagawa-juku Historic Post Town
Location:
Mikatakaminaka District,Fukui Prefecture
The road through Wakasa, the southern half of Fukui where Kumagawa-juku Historic Post Town is located, was once used to provide the then-capital city of Kyoto with a wide variety of seafood.the town features old-fashioned buildings like guard houses, and the old irrgation canal.
Located right next to Mikuni Port, Mikuni-Minato machi flourished for centuries as the port of call for the Kitamae ships that would travel to destinations like Hokkaido or Osaka. With its latticed townhouses and families that trace back to the wealthy merchants of the day, it's easy to feel the liveliness of the town in its heyday evevn today.
Built in 1576, Maruoka Castle is the oldest original castle tower still standing in Japan.Also known as the "Castle of the Mist." When the 400 or so cherry trees surrounding it come into bloom in spring, the castle practically "floats" fantastically on the blossoms.
Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins
Location:
Fukui City,Fukui Prefecture
The Warring States-era warlords, the Asakura clan, ruled this area from 1471 to 1574, the remains of their castle town can still be seen today. These remains have been designated a special historic site, a site of special scenic beauty, and an important cultural property.
The ceremony holds annually on the forth Saturday of January. Yamayaki is a ritual involving burning the grass covering Mt Wakakusa, a 342m high hill, which overlooks the city. It is one of Nara’s major events and marks the arrival of spring.
Kakinoha-sushi is a rectangular, bit-sized mackerel sushi wrapped in a persimmon leave. It has been served as a feast at a summer festival. It was originally made in Kishu Region (Wakayama Prefecture) in mid Edo period. Fishmen carried salt-marinated mackerels, caught in Kumanonada Sea, and sold them to the people in mountain villages along the Yoshino River in order to pay high taxes to the government. Summer festivals were held around the same period as the mackerel season. Therefore, the sushi became a feast at a summer festival.
Hatenashi Settlement is located along Kohechi Route, which is one of the pilgrimage routes to Kumano. These routes were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage as part of the “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range”. It is also called ‘The Sky Village’ due to its high altitude location and has spectacular views of the Hatenashi Mountain Range. Hatenashi Settlement is chosen one of Japan’s top 100 villages. Visitors enjoy these views not only on clear days but also in mist and clouds on rainy days.
Mitarai Gorge is surrounded by beautiful trees and renowned for its scenic beauty created by large rocks and gushing waterfalls. The streams flow with emerald-green crystal clear water. Visitors enjoy seasonal vistas, from fresh greenery in spring to colorful red leaves in autumn.
Dorogawa Onsen is a hot spring town with many inns, souvenir shops, and restaurants. It has flourished around Ryusenji Temple, which is regarded as the first ascetic practice place of Shugendo on Mt Omine. The mountain reverberates with the sound of the conch shells blown by Yamabushi (mountain ascetics) during the practice season from May to September. The hot springs, at the inns or the public resort called ‘Dorogawa Onsen Center’, have attracted many visitors as their waters are said to benefit skin complexion.
Mt Yoshinoyama is regarded as Japan’s best cherry-blossom sight. It has about 30,000 cherry trees, mainly of the Shiroyamazakura variety. The trees burst into bloom from early to mid-April. Mt Yoshinoyama has long been worshipped as a sacred mountain and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site named the “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range”.
The history of Gojo Shinmachi went back to roughly 400 years ago, shortly after the Edo Bakufu was established following the Battle of Sekigahara. The Shimmachi Street retains historical buildings from the Edo period including the oldest existing private residence. Their architectural styles vary from each period. The area was designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Soni Haighland is a grassland covered with Japanese pampas grass.The grass is burned in middle of March every year,and the area becomes like a large fresh-green carpet from spring to summer. Sivery and golden Jananese pampas grass glows reflecting sunlight in autumn,and a number of tourists visit this place every year. It is well-known for the most beautuful sunset in Japan.
Mt Miune is part of the Murou Akane Aoyama Quasi- National Park. Freezing fog can be seen in mid-winter, between January and February. That is one of the few places in the Kansai region. The summit of Mt Miune, at 1,235m above sea level, and the plateau called “Hachodaira” command a spectacular view. It trekking trail is about 10km long round trip and takes about 4 hours. Winter trekking gears such as crampons are needed in winter.
Asuka Village is located in Inabuch District and a popular destination, selected one of the top 100 Japanese rice terraces and the top 100 beautiful Japanese villages. In mid-September, red spider lilies called ‘Higanbana’ or “Manjusage” in Japanese, blossom along the paddy fields and the river banks. These strikingly red flowers with mystical shapes attract visitors. Its highlight is a nostalgic view through the contrast between the green rice fields and the bright red lilies and the undulating contours of terraced paddy fields.
Nara Park extends 4km east to west and 2km north to south. The vast urban park covers the eastern part of Nara City, including the grounds of Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Kohfukuji Temple, as well as the primeval forest of Kasuga Okuyama protected as a sanctuary of Kasuga Taisha Shrine. The park provides beautiful lawns, pine groves over 100 years old, and approximately 1,100 wild dear roaming freely.
Tottori Prefectural Flower Park
Location:
Nanbu (Town),Tottori Prefecture
Set with a view of the majestic mountain Daisen, this is the largest flower park in western Japan. A covered walkway reaches for one kilometer all the way around the park. Visitors can therefore enjoy flowers in each of the four seasons regardless of the weather.
Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography
Location:
Hoki (Town),Tottori Prefecture
This museum exhibits valuable works by the photographer Shoji Ueda. The harmony of the displayed works and the building housing them is itself a work of art. His distinctive style of arranging his subjects as art objects has been internationally acclaimed as “Ueda-cho.”
Backed by broad stretches of beech forest, the mountain Daisen still has untouched tracts of nature containing colonies of wild birds and vegetation. The area is very popular as a place for peaceful and relaxing walks in the forest, and appreciation of nature. There are many ways to enjoy your stay, including trekking, downhill cycling and leisurely cycling. Come and take a deep breath of clean mountain air.
Okumiya (Summer Shrine), of Ogamiyama-jinja Shrine
Location:
Daisen (Town),Tottori Prefecture
The mountain Daisen has been revered since olden times by mountain priests as a holy mountain inhabited by gods. The Okumiya Shrine of Ogamiyama-jinja has long been the center of worship. The majestic shrine hall stands at the end of a sacred approach of about 700 meters, paved with natural stone. At the formal summer opening of the mountain, a torch procession of 2,000 people leads off from the Okumiya.
This natural beach is an unusual formation in Japan. Oval-shaped cobblestones collecting on the beach grind against each other when pushed back and forth by the waves, emitting a soothing sound. Scenic sunsets can be enjoyed on the beach, and each of the seasons shows a unique perspective.
Nageire-do Hall of Sanbutsu-ji Temple, on Mt. Mitoku
Location:
Misasa (Town),Tottori Prefecture
En-no-Gyoja, by tradition the founder of the Shugendo school of Buddhism, was said to have used the power of Buddhism to throw the hall onto the side of Mt. Mitoku. Indeed, the hall seems to be floating on the side of a precipitous cliff. Nageire-do Hall can be reached by climbing the pilgrim’s path, a steep and difficult track passing over tree roots and boulders. However, the scenery on reaching the top is something special.
Itaibara Village
Location:
Chizu (Town),Tottori Prefecture
Itaibara Village is classified as a Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings. As if hidden within a valley of deep green cedar forests, Itaibara is a Japanese mountain village presenting a scene that appears just as it would have in days long past, with groups of old thatched-roof houses, branch schools, shrines, small mill houses working with the flowing river water, charcoal huts, and more.
Fudoin Iwaya-do is a butai-zukuri (balcony-type) construction built into a natural cave. It is renowned as a temple of the Shugendo school of Buddhism, and listed as a National Important Cultural Property. The Main Hall holds a statue of the Buddhist divinity Fudo Myo-o, said to have been carved by Kobo Daishi at the age of 33 years. The statue is regarded as one of Three Great Fudo Myo-o Images in Japan.
Jinpukaku is a white, European-style building located close to the ruins of Tottori Castle within Kyusho Park, an area renowned also for cherry blossoms. The two-story building is of wood with a tiled roof, and was designed in the French Renaissance style. The elegance of the exterior harmonizes nicely with the beauty of the Japanese-style garden. Jinpukaku is listed as a National Important Cultural Property.
Sanin Kaigan Geopark, Part of the Global Geopark Network (GGN)
Location:
Iwami (Town), Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture Shinonsen (Town), Kami (Town), Toyooka City, hyogo Prefecture Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture
A Geopark is a “Natural Park” that contains especially important, valuable or beautiful geological and geographical features. Centered on Sanin Kaigan National Park, Sanin Kaigan Geopark is a broad area stretching about 120 km east to west, and encompassing parts of the prefectures Tottori, hyogo and Kyoto. Visitors can see many valuable and beautiful geographical and geological features. These include the Tottori Sand Dunes, the largest group of coastal dunes in Japan, Genbu Cave with its basaltic jointed rock structures, the famous singing sands of Kotohiki Beach, and diverse variegated coastal landforms, rocks and rock strata.
Five million daffodils in Nadakuroiwa Daffodil Park
Location:
Minamiawaji City, hyogo Prefecture
Lovely wild daffodils bloom all over a steep slope facing the Pacific Ocean. The sight of so many yellow flowers swaying simultaneously to ocean winds is truly breathtaking. Seen only from January to February, the daffodils are a bit of natural winter poetry on Awaji Island.
Awaji Ningyo Joruri
Location:
Minamiawaji City, hyogo Prefecture
Awaji Ningyo Joruri, a narrative puppet theater art accompanied by shamisen music, is a traditional performing art with a history of over 500 years. This performing art is presented every day in its own theater. Each puppet has three people operating it, displaying skills that result from many years of training. Encounter an aspect of culture and history unique to Awaji.
Seto Inland Sea, viewed from the Ako Onsen District
Location:
Ako City, hyogo Prefecture
Ako Misaki is a richly varied and picturesque area offering views of a coastline with fantastically shaped rocks, jointed cliffs and beaches. Shodo Island and a group of islands known as Ieshima Shoto can be seen out to sea. The setting sun, throwing light over the coastline and islands, presents a wonderful and ever-popular spectacle.
SPring-8
Location:
Sayo (Town), hyogo Prefecture
SPring-8 is a large-scale synchrotron radiation facility with diameter of about 450 meters and circumference of some 1,500 meters. Delivering the world’s most powerful synchrotron radiation, the facility can be used for research into diverse areas, including nanotechnology and biotechnology. The Exhibition Hall is freely open to the public. Guided tours of the site are also offered.
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