Tourist Attractions & Monuments Japan

This park had its moment of glory in 1975 when it hosted the International Ocean Exhibition. Admission to the park is free. You will find an extraordinary aquarium, where rays and whale sharks evolve, which is very impressive. The main pool was the largest in the world in 2011. The park also includes Aquapolis, a museum of ocean culture, a museum of Okinawa and flowers. An ideal family trip.

Park or museum, why choose when you can do both? Here, 70 hectares are dedicated to nature and works of art. Hundreds of sculptures are on display, including works by Maillol, Rodin and Nikki de Saint Phalle. Covered pavilions, such as the one dedicated to Picasso, display works inside the park. It is a magnificent place in which it is good to stroll when the weather allows it. It is one of the favorite places for Tokyoites to go out on long weekends with their families

It is certainly the most famous monument in Japan. It takes its name from the large golden-roofed pavilion in the middle of the park, which is brilliantly reflected in the surrounding lake. The park surrounding the garden is just as sublime as the pavilion itself.

The pavilion. Built on the site of the country house of Kintsune Saionji, a nobleman of the Kamakura period, at the beginning of the 13th century. The shōgun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, after handing over power to his son Yoshimichi, decided to retire and had the Golden Pavilion, which he designed, and the gardens built in 1397. Upon his death, his son converted it into the Rokuon Temple. It is also called Rokuon-ji. The suicide of a young mad monk caused the pavilion to burn down in 1950. This tragic accident was immortalized by Yukio Mishima in his novel The Golden Pavilion. The pavilion was rebuilt identically in 1955, although gold leaf originally covered only the second floor. The building is entirely covered with pure gold, except for the ground floor. It serves as a shariden, containing relics of Buddha. From an architectural point of view, it is a harmonious and elegant building that combines three different types of architecture: the ground floor (Hō-sui-in) is in the Shinden-zukuri style, the style of palaces of the Heian period; the first floor (Chō-on-dō) follows the Buke-zukuri style of samurai houses and the second floor (Kukkyō-chō) is in the Karayō style, that of Zen temples. At the top of the shingled roof is the carving of a golden fenghuang, or "Chinese phoenix".

The garden. It was part of a gigantic property belonging to the family of Kintsune Saionji. It was designed by Yoshimitsu Ashikaga in such a way that the arrangement of rocks and plants gives it a Zen style. It is believed that his design was directly influenced by Kokushi Mus, the great master of moss gardens. The garden was devastated during the Civil War and only the Golden Pavilion survived. We can notice the Sekka-tei Tea Pavilion, built in the 17th century and the Kyōhoku-rō, a construction dating from the Meiji era. The whole (garden and pavilion) is since 1994 classified in the world heritage of the Humanity of UNESCO. Try to go there a little before or after the lunch break to avoid the crowd of organized trips that crowds around the pavilion trying to find the perfect photograph to immortalize the beauty of the place.

Ueno hill dominated the Edo bay. During the Tokugawa era, the park belonged to lordly families such as the Tsugaru. The shōgun Iemitsu Tokugawa (1623-1651) asked a monk named Tenkai to build a Buddhist monastery, Kan'ei-ji, there. Located in the northeast of the city, the temple was intended to protect it from evil. It was burned down during the struggle between the supporters of the emperor and the Tokugawa after the Meiji restoration. From that time on, the park became public and opened in 1873.

125 hectares in size, it is much more than a recreational area where people come to relax. Whether it is to go to the shrines and museums, to see the cherry blossoms or to participate in a festival, visitors are always numerous. The park is said to be visited by nearly 10 million people every year.
It is also a cultural center of the capital, as it is home to the University of Arts and Music, the Metropolitan Museum of Arts, the Academy of Fine Arts, the National Museum. All these buildings were built by prestigious architects such as Le Corbusier, Hitoshi Watanabe, Junzō Sakakura, Kunio Maekawa.
Arriving by the southern entrance of the park, by the Keisei station, one climbs up wide, gently sloping steps to reach the bronze statue of Saigō Takamori (1827-1877). It represents the samurai of the Satsuma clan and was erected by sculptor Kōun Takamura in 1892, in memory of this popular figure who fought with the imperial forces, before meeting a tragic end in 1877. Behind his statue is the tomb of the Shōgitai, the collective name for the samurai who defended the shōgun against imperial troops on Ueno Hill.
The famous Ueno Zoo, to the west of the park, is Japan's oldest. Pandas are the main attraction. You have to be patient to see them, but the rest of the animal park is a bit faded.
Another nostalgic museum, the Shitamachi museum, is located near the south entrance. Shitamachi, or the lower city, refers to the old working-class neighborhoods where merchants and craftsmen used to gather. Reconstructions of houses from the past, children's games, photos of Tokyo before and after the 1923 earthquake, there is enough to give an idea of the atmosphere in old Tokyo.
Finally, Shinobazu Pond is transformed into a field of water lilies in late summer. In the spring, the park's long driveway lined with cherry trees is dressed in white and pink. A must-see!

Located in the north of Nara Park, it is one of the most famous temple complexes in Nara and Japan. Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, it is so large and there is so much to see that one can easily spend the afternoon there. Tōdai-ji was built in the ^8th century by order of Emperor Shōmu. After a series of natural disasters, the emperor decided that every province would have a Buddhist temple and that Tōdai-ji would be built to be at the head of these temples. The emperor's political plan was to create a centralized state based on Buddhism. Construction took over 20 years, and the temple opened in 752. It held immense power during the Nara period but declined when the capital was moved to Kyoto in 794. Destroyed or burned several times, notably by the Taira clan in 1180, and rebuilt in 1195 by the monk Chōgen Sunjōbō, it was burned again in 1567 and rebuilt by Tsunayoshi Tokugawa in 1708. Its last restoration was in 1980. Originally, the Tōdai-ji included, in addition to the current buildings, 2 large pagodas with 10 and 7 floors. The Tōdaiji houses the Daibutsuden, the Buddha pavilion, and other pavilions scattered throughout a large park.

Daibutsu-den or Kon-dō. In front of the building, a stone pillar is topped by an octagonal lantern dating from the ^8th century. The Daibutsu-den, which houses the gigantic bronze statue of Buddha, is 57 m long and 50 m wide. Its height is 47 meters. It is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, yet it is only a modest reconstruction of the original building. It consists of a double roof, supported by pillars knotted together by a metal ring to support the gigantic weight (450 tons). The building was constructed in four years, from 747 to 751, at the same time as the statue. The statue itself represents Vairocana Buddha, or Resplendent Buddha. It is 15 meters high and weighs 450 tons. It is the largest statue of this Buddha in the world. It was cast in 749 with a special technique called garakuri. It was first damaged by an earthquake in 885, then in the successive fires in 1180 and 1567, but the statue was always repaired. Nevertheless, the renovations made it lose its homogeneity. Thanks to X-rays, a tooth, pearls, mirrors and swords were discovered in the knee of the statue. These are believed to be relics of the emperor Shōmu.

Nandai-mon. South Gate. It was built in 1199 and is 29 m high and 11 m deep. The building is five ken (1 ken is 182 centimeters) in length and two ken in depth. This gate, built in the Tenjiku-yō style, houses two large statues of Nio executed by Unkei and Kaikei. One has a closed mouth and the other an open mouth. It gives off an impression of powerful anger and determination. Behind the two statues are 2 lion dogs (koma-inu) executed by the Chinese sculptor Chinnakei in 1196.

Chū-mon is connected to Daibutsu-den by corridors. Near the Mirror Pond, one will notice the locations of the two pagodas, seven and ten stories high respectively.

Nigatsu-dō. Founded in 752, it was rebuilt in 1669. This hall houses two statues of Kannon, one of which is said to have been found in Ōsaka Bay by the monk Jichū. Visiting this hall is not permitted to the public.

Hokke-dō. This hall was built by Ryōben, a member of the Kegon-Shū sect in 733. Sculptures dating from the ^8th to the ^14th centuries can be seen here.

Shōrō (or belfry). Built in 1239, it contains the largest clapperless bell in Japan.

Kaisan-dō (Founder's Hall). Built in 1019 and rebuilt in 1250 in the Tenjiku-yō style. It contains a statue of Ryōben which is usually only visible on December 16.

Kaidan-in (Ordination Hall). It contains the clay Shi-Tennō, guardians of the Four Directions and dating from the Tempyō period, during the reign of Emperor Shōmu, from 729 to 749.

Shōsō-in (imperial treasure). Located north of Daibutsu-den, the building was constructed in 760 in the azekura-zukuri (kura: granaries) style. The building is supported by forty pillars with a height of 2.50 meters. The roof is in Yosemune style and covered with tiles. Nowadays, the treasure is kept in Nara National Museum. It is exhibited every year from the end of October to the beginning of November.

Tegai-mon. This is one of the oldest buildings in the temple as it dates back to 752. According to legend, walking in front of this building is supposed to cure diseases. The Shunjō-dō holds a statue of Chōgen Sunjōbō that can only be seen on July 5.

Kasuga Taisha. This shrine is located southeast of Todai-ji. It was founded in 709 by Fuhitō Fujiwara and dedicated to the deity Takemikazuchi of Kashima Jingū Shrine. The three thousand bronze and stone lanterns that adorn the park are illuminated only twice a year, during setsubun (February) and o-bon (August). The shrine had many buildings which did not all escape the terrible fires. Nevertheless, one can still notice the Nandai-mon gate (1179) which opens on the first courtyard. Then, after the Chū mon gate, one reaches another courtyard, where four Nagare-zukuri (asymmetrical roofs) style shrines stand. The shrine is known for its theater and music arts.

The Silver Pavilion is one of the must-see places in Kyoto. It is located at the beginning of the Path of Philosophy and nestled in a very pleasant wooded park, mixing moss garden and dry white sand garden. The shōgun Yoshimasa Ashikaga had the Silver Pavilion built between 1479 and 1482 to serve as his place of retreat. Upon his death, the residence became a Buddhist temple. During the shogun's stay in the pavilion, it became the heart of Higashiyama culture, based on Zen ideas in the main. Tea ceremony, ikebana and other arts were developed there while the shogun invited artists and poets to his court. The residence was to be covered with silver shingles, following the model of the golden pavilion, but the crisis caused by the Onin civil war ruined the project. What was supposed to be a pompous building finally became a model of the sober Japanese style. It was in this same residence that the first tea room, or chashitsu, was built. This room had only four and a half tatamis. Later, at the urging of Rikyū Sen, known in Japan for codifying the tea ceremony, the pavilion would be built outside the residence in an appropriate garden. The whole thing is a World Heritage Site.

Ginkaku-ji. The pavilion consists of a first floor and a first floor. The first floor is built in what would later be called the residential shoin style while the upper floor is decidedly Zen with its bell-shaped windows. This aesthetic feature is found in the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji, dating from 1359.

Other buildings: In addition to the pavilion, the temple has a moss-covered woodland and a Japanese garden attributed to the painter, poet and garden architect Soami. This sand garden is very famous. For the little anecdote, a pile of sand, which is said to have been left by the workers when the work was interrupted, is now part of it. It would symbolize Mount Fuji.

Togu Do. You will need special permission to visit the shōgun's residence and chapel. One can see the famous tea room (Dōjin-sai) made up of the 4.5 tatami square. The architectural style remains that of shoin. The building houses a wooden statue of the shōgun as well as two other statues: one of the Buddha executed by Jōchō in the 11th century and the other of Kannon, carved by Unkei in the 12th century.

The Tsukiji Fish Market, formerly the main fish market of the metropolis of Tōkyō and the largest wholesale market in the world, is gradually disappearing for health reasons and because it was no longer large enough to accommodate the growing number of traders and visitors. However, there are still a few shops near the old market hall that are more restaurants than fish shops! It is now in Toyosu, 15 minutes by transport from there, that you can appreciate the real market and its 600 stands.

Himeji Castle has been inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List, since 1993, for "the most perfect expression of early 17th century castle architecture in Japan". It reopened to the public in March 2015, after five years of work, more resplendent than ever! Its strategic position of control of the western and southern provinces on the Sanyō-dō artery and its dominant position on the Harima plain gave Himeji decisive importance. It was in 1346 that Sadanori Akamatsu built a first castle, Himeyama. He entrusted the residence to the Kodera who stayed there until 1577. Hideyoshi took over the castle at this date and decided to embellish and enlarge it to make it his own residence between 1581 and 1585. Then he entrusted it to his brother-in-law Iesada Kinoshita (1543-1608). The latter had to get rid of it after the battle of Sekigahara, which brought together the armies of the Tokugawa and those of Toyotomi. It was Terumasa Ikeda, leader of one of the Tokugawa armies who inherited the custody of the castle. He continued its construction and added twenty castelets (yagura). It was inhabited by a number of prestigious families until 1868. The castle is sometimes called Shirasagi-jō ("of the Egret") because of its white color but also because of the cut of the roofs, or Hakuro-jō ("the castle of the White Heron"). Built on a hill, the castle is surrounded by a number of interlocking enclosures, the walls of which fall directly into the moat. Gates lead to a rather complicated system of courtyards where weapons rooms and stores for food and ammunition are located. Hishinomon (Diamond Gate) is one of the largest gates in Himeji Castle, extending from the second to the third wall. It preserves the architectural style of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Sangokubori (Sangoku Ditch), is a ditch hidden by the Hishinomon Gate and embraces both the main and secondary passages of the second wall. The moated walls had openings (ishiotoshi, "stone fall") that were used to pour boiling oil on attackers, among other things. Its keeps and corridors, which connect the eight towers, are designated as a National Treasure. We appreciate the beauty of this castle that has remained unchanged since its construction, as well as the architectural prowess of the complex. The labyrinthine construction, combined with ingenious ideas, prevented enemies from reaching the main keep. From the top of the dungeon, the visitor can enjoy a panoramic view of the city. During the Second World War, the castle was saved from bombing by the inhabitants of the city who covered it with a large black sheet so that, seen from the sky, the bombers would have the impression of flying over a large lake.

Thebest way to discover the castle is to use the Himeji Castle Great Discovery application which offers additional information throughout the visit, thanks to the terminals installed in the four corners of the castle. To avoid the crowds, it is best to go early in the morning, allowing 2 to 3 hours for the visit. If you want to see the castle from a different angle, climb the steps of Otokoyama Haisuiike Park, not far from there. Many locals go there early in the morning to enjoy the castle at sunrise.

For a long time, the district was home to theaters. Now shopping malls have taken over the area. Dōtonbori is the most lively and bustling district in Ōsaka. It is also the unmissable place in order to satisfy one's many culinary desires. It is advisable to take a look at Ebisu-bashi bridge (also nicknamed nanpa-bashi, the dredge bridge) to get a general view of the neighborhood. It is from there that you can see the famous "Glico Man". A short walk away is the small Hōzen-ji temple and the picturesque Yokochō Hōzen-ji alley.

The castle dates from 1603. Ieyasu Tokugawa, then the new shōgun, had it built both to establish his authority, to emphasize the weakness of the emperor, and to have a place of residence during his stays in Kyoto. To accomplish this task, he did not skimp on architectural means and placed the construction under the direction of Enshū Kobori (1579-1647). The famous tea master and garden architect retrieved structural and ornamental elements from Fushimi Castle, located in the southeast of the city.
It is entered through the eastern gate which gives access to some gardens and the two enclosures, Honmaru and Ninomaru. The buildings of Ninomaru have been preserved in their original state. The visit leads us through the audience rooms with richly decorated doors and ceilings, and connected between them by corridors with nightingale floors.
A^second castle was built in the Honmaru, as well as a keep, but both buildings were destroyed by fire in the 18th century and never rebuilt. The current palace was moved after the fall of the shogunate in 1867. It is not regularly open to the public although one can walk in its gardens.
South of the castle, the Shinsen-en garden, with its shrine and pond, remains the only remnant of the original imperial palace burnt down in 1227.
Many varieties of cherry trees can be admired in the gardens, and it is a popular spot during the cherry blossom season in April. A visit at an early or late hour is a good way to avoid being overwhelmed by the crowds.

Itsukushima-jinja is established on the island of Miyajima, at the foot of Mount Misen. The great Torii of Miyajima has existed since the renovation of the shrine by Taira no Kiyomori in 1168. Cleared at low tide, the main shrine consists of the Hai Den and the main hall, the Hon Den. A platform hosts the bugaku dance. The first shrine was built in the 6th century in 593, although this date is questioned by scholars who favour 811. Kiyomori Taira renovated the shrine and raised the vermilion-colored torii into the sea. It was restored several times, notably in 1168, 1241 and 1571. The shrine is dedicated to the three daughters of Susano'o, characters from Shintō mythology who are said to have caused another of their sisters, Amaterasu, to withdraw into a cave. The stage of the Nō Theatre dates from 1680, making it one of the oldest in Japan. It is located further south. The treasure pavilion contains sutras and also the Heike no Kyō, consisting of 33 volumes of sutras. These are purely Buddhist texts, with the exception of one volume devoted to the vows made by Taira no Kiyomori. At the back, on the hill to the north, one can see the Thousand Tatami Pavilion, the Senjō Kaku. This pavilion, built in 1587, was donated by Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Miyajima has many other temples such as, for example, Daigan-ji, which is said to date from 1201 and is located south of the shrine.

Located in Inokashira Park, it is home to the fairytale world of the animated films of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. The museum is attached to the Ghibli studios, which produced, among others, My Neighbour Totoro, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. The museum's collection includes the material needed to make a cartoon, reconstructions of Hayao Miyazaki's workspace, his research notebooks, or his original drawings exhibited on the walls. An immersion into the Ghibli universe that will delight children, the only ones with access to the Catbus.