DID YOU KNOW?

Hokkaido is both a prefecture and a region. It is the second largest island in Japan and the most northern. It is a “dō” and not “ken.” Originally called 蝦夷 Ezo, it was changed to 北海道 Hokkaidou in 1869.

• Prefecture's Bird: Japanese Crane
• Prefecture's Tree: a Yezo spruce
• Prefecture's Flower: a Sweetbrier

 Places to See:

• Sapporo—the largest city (and capital) of Hokkaido.
• Asahikawa—the second largest city and officially the coldest city in Japan.
• Matsumae Castle—also known as Fukuyama Castle, it is famous for having over 10,000 cherry blossom trees.

Famous for:

• Farms—Hokkaido produces more agricultural products than any other prefecture.
• Sapporo beer—originally from Sapporo, Hokkaido, the world headquarters is now in Tokyo.
• Wakkanai—the northernmost city in Japan. The Russian island Sakhalin can be seen on a clear day.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Seikan Tunnel links Aomori to Hokkaido. It is the longest tunnel of its kind in the world and has the second longest train tunnel.

The Aomori symbol is a stylized shape of the prefecture on a map with its three peninsulas.

 Places to See:

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  • Hirosaki Castle—originally constructed in 1611, it burned down due to lightning and was not rebuilt until 1810. The surrounding castle grounds houses a beautiful park well known for its cherry blossoms.
  • Shirakami Sanchi—a large mountain range with many hiking trails including waterfalls, ponds, and canyons.
  • Sannai Maruyama Archaeological Site—a large Jomon Period (pre-300 BC) village museum.

Famous for:

• Apples—Japan’s largest producer.
• Tsugaru-jamisen—a genre of shamisen music.
• Aomori Nebuta Matsuri—a Japanese summer festival in which large floats decorated with warrior illustrations are carried through the center of the city.
• Maguro—tuna dishes.

DID YOU KNOW?

The second largest prefecture in area after its northern neighbor Hokkaido, Iwate literally means “rock hand.”

 Places to See:

• Fujiwara no Sato—a movie lot and theme park.
• Tenshochi—a park known for more than 10,000 cherry blossom trees.
• Morioka Castle—the ruins of which is a part of Iwate Park.
• Geibikei—a gorge best viewed from a calm trip on the river.
• Ryusendo Cave—a large limestone cave in the mountains

Famous for:

• Semiconductor and communications manufacturing.
• Costal areas were badly damaged by the 2011 earthquake.
• Nanbu senbei—rice crackers.
• Kenji Miyazawa—the popular poet and author was born and lived in Hanamaki, Iwate. His most famous poem is Ame ni mo makezu which means, “be not defeated by the rain.”
• Konjiki-dou—the “Golden Hall” is a mausoleum containing the mummified remains of leaders of the 12^th century Fujiwara clan.

DID YOU KNOW?

The following famous haiku about an area in Miyagi Prefecture is believed to have been written by Matsuo Basho when he was at a loss for words:

松島や ああ松島や 松島や
matsushima ya / aa matsushima ya / matsushima ya
Matsushima! Ah, Matsushima! Matsushima!

 Places to See:

• Sendai Castle (also known as Aoba Castle)—built in 1601, it is today being restored.
• Matsushima Bay—a group of pine-clad scenic islands and one of the Three Views of Japan.
• Tashirojima—a small island famous for a large stray cat population. There are no pet dogs and the locals feed and care for the more-populous-than-humans cats.

Famous for:

• Manufacturing industries—such as electronics and appliances.
• Gyutan—grilled cow tongue, a famous Sendai dish.
• Sendai Tanabata Matsuri—one of the largest and most colorful Tanabata festivals in Japan held in August.
• Mori no Miyako—Sendai was known as the capital of forests (杜の都 mori no miyako) because residents planted many trees in their yards. Much of the greenery was lost during World War II, but much effort has been made to restore the greenery to the city.

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Home of both the Akita dog and the famously loyal dog named Hachiko who waited for his master every day at the Shibuya train station in Tokyo years after his master’s death. A movie called Hachi starring Richard Gere was made about this faithful friend.

 Places to See:

• Lake Tazawa—with many onsen resorts.
• Kakunodate—known as little Kyoto with its preserved samurai houses.
• Senshu Park—with cherry trees and a replica of Akita Castle.

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

If you are in Yamagata in the winter, you can see the Snow Monsters of Zao. A cold Siberian jet stream freezes wet snow to fir trees and makes them look like huge, white monsters.

 Places to See:

• Yamadera—literally, “mountain temple,” this scenic temple on a sharp mountainside had its start in 860 AD. It is where Matsuo Basho wrote one of his most famous poems:

閑さや岩にしみ入る蝉の声
shizukasa ya iwa ni shimiiru semi no koe
The stillness, sinking into the stones, the voice of the cicada.

• Mt. Zao—a volcanic mountain range with a large crater lake at the summit, hot springs, and a ski resort.
• Kaminoyama Castle—this is a 1982 concrete reconstruction of a 16^th century castle.

Famous for:

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Fukushima was one of the primary regions hit by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

It is the third largest prefecture by area (Hokkaido and Iwate are number one and two respectively).

 Places to See:

• Ouchijuku—an Edo period post town / rest area on an old trade route. It is preserved to look as it did hundreds of years ago.
• Oze National Park—a great hiking spot with boardwalks over vast marshlands.
• Aizu Wakamatsu—a castle town with samurai museums and much local history. The castle is also known as Tsuruga Castle.
• Spa Resort Hawaiians—opening in 1966, this was the first theme park in Japan. Enjoy onsen, a water park, and other Hawaii-themed entertainment.

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

Ibaraki is the home of the martial art, Aikido, and it is the largest producer of natto (fermented soybeans). Ibaraki is growing as the Greater Tokyo Area spreads north.

 Places to See:

• Kairakuen—one of Japan’s three most celebrated gardens with over 3,000 Japanese plum trees.
• Kodokan—the largest school for samurai elite during the Edo Period.
• Kamine Park and Shizumine Park—both are famous for the cherry blossoms.

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

The imperial family has a villa in Nasu, Tochigi. Ashikaga Gakko in Ashikaga City is the oldest higher-learning academic institution in Japan. It had its beginnings in the ninth century.

 Places to See:

• Kegon Falls—beautiful waterfalls in Nikko.
• Cedar Avenue of Nikko—view 400-year-old Japanese Cedars.
• Kanmangafuchi Abyss—a gorge with a walking trail.
• Nikko Botanical Garden—owned by the University of Tokyo, this garden exhibits over 2,000 plants.
• Tamozawa Imperial Villa—a summer residence for the Imperial family now open to the public.
• Tobu World Square—a theme park with 1/25^th-scale replicas of famous buildings and sites across the world. See the pyramids, the Eiffel Tower, and Versailles in one day.

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

Gunma is a landlocked, mostly mountainous prefecture. It is said to be shaped like a crane (tsuru) in flight. The symbol is the first kanji in GUNma surrounded by three sets of mountains representing Mt. Haruna, Mt. Akagi, and Mt. Myogi.

 Places to See:

• Oze National Park—a great place to hike on well-maintained trails.
• Manza Onsen—a hot spring resort town where you can stay and enjoy highly acidic hot springs, supposedly good for your health.
• Takumi no Sato—experience traditional Japanese crafts at this arts and crafts village. There are many workshops open to the public to try things such as washi paper, making soba noodles, indigo dyeing, and other traditional Japanese arts.

Famous for:

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Saitama is a part of the Greater Tokyo Area and has seen its population triple since 1960.

 Places to See:

• Tobu Animal Park—a zoo, amusement park, and a pool.
• Railway Museum—opened in 2007, the museum showcases the history of railway in Japan.
• Omiya Bonsai Village—an area with several bonsai nurseries and a museum.
• Kawagoe’s Warehouse District—sporting many kurazukuri clay-walled buildings, Kawagoe has a feel of an Edo Period town.

Famous for:

• Kobaton—a Eurasian collared dove is the prefectural mascot and prefectural bird.
• Sayama Tea—a type of green tea grown in the southwestern region of Saitama. The leaves are known to be thicker than most other types.
• Bonsai Trees.
• Tokorozawa—a city that was the inspiration for the anime My Neighbor Totoro.
• Crayon Shinchan—the popular five-year-old manga character is set in Kasukabe, Saitama.
• Soccer—home of the Urawa Red Diamonds and Omiya Ardija, two professional association football (soccer) teams. 

DID YOU KNOW?

Chiba is a part of the Greater Tokyo Area and is home to Japan’s largest industrial zone.

 Places to See:

• Tokyo Disneyland—Disney, in Japanese and actually not in Tokyo!
• Narita Airport—chances are, this will be the first thing you see in Japan. Truly, a tourist trap!
• Chiba Castle—a modern concrete reconstruction of a 12^th century castle.

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

Tokyo is the capital of Japan and the largest metropolitan area in the world. It is the seat of the Japanese government and where the Imperial Palace is located. Tokyo is made of 23 main city wards and several other cities, towns, and islands.

Someone born in Tokyo is known as 江戸っ子 edokko—a child of Edo, the old name for Tokyo.

 Places to See:

• Tokyo Tower—Tokyo’s iconic 333 meter (1,092) tower. Its design is based on the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
• Akihabara—famous for its many electronic and otaku shops.
• Tsukiji Fish Market—Japan’s largest fish market.
• Tokyo Skytree—at 634 meters (2,080 feet), it is the tallest building in Japan. Enjoy (or be terrified by) a 360-degree panoramic view of Tokyo from the observation deck.

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

As the second largest prefecture by population, Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.

Commodore Perry landed in Kanagawa in 1853 which led to the opening of Japanese ports to the United States. To the right is The Great Wave off Kanagawa by ukiyoe artist Katsushika Hokusai.

 Places to See:

• Kamakura—once the political center of Japan, Kamakura houses numerous historical points of interest such as one of Japan’s Great Buddhas.
• Hakone—with a view of Mt. Fuji, Hakone has hot springs, gardens, and Lake Ashinoko, a lake formed by Mount Hakone’s last eruption 3,000 years ago.
• Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands—founded in 1976, the garden has over 1,700 varieties of plants native to Japan.
• Yokohama—Japan’s second largest city with over three million residents.
• Zoorasia—a large zoo in Yokohama.
• Hakkeijima Sea Paradise—an aquatic amusement park and aquarium.
• Doraemon Musuem—houses an extensive collection of the work of Fujiko F. Fujio, the creator of Doraemon. Doraemon is a robot cat from the 22^nd century.
  

Famous for:

• Population—a relatively small prefecture, but is the second most populous prefecture in Japan.
• Metropolitan Size—Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan.
• Yokohama Chinatown—the largest in Japan.

DID YOU KNOW?

Niigata means “new lagoon.” The famous 16^th century daimyo and rival of Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin was from the Niigata area. Niigata was the first port on the Sea of Japan to be opened to foreign trade after Commodore Matthew Perry opened Japan.

 Places to See:

• Sado Island—the sixth largest island of Japan is home to the endangered Toki bird (Japanese ibis).
• Yuzawa—one of Japan’s largest ski resorts also known for its hot springs.
• Two Niigata castles: Kasugayama Castle and Shibata Castle—both are ruins, but Shibata Castle has an original gate and is being restored.
• Muramatsu Park—a park with 3,000 cherry blossom trees.

Famous for:

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With the massive Northern Alps and heavy winter snow, the penguin is starting to feel right at home. The prefectural symbol depicts the Tateyama Mountain Range and includes a stylized hiragana と in black in the center.

In 1582 Kenshin Uesugi’s 4,000 soldiers met Oda Nobunaga’s army of 40,000 around Uozu Castle. Uesugi lost, but Nobunaga was soon assassinated.

 Places to See:

• The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route—a spectacular route through the Northern Japan Alps via buses, cable cars, and a ropeway.
• Kurobe Gorge—a forested ravine in the Northern Japan Alps. Take a scenic railway through the winding paths for a spectacular view.
• Gokayama—similar to Shirakawago in Gifu, Gokayama is a small group of villages that have maintained their steeply pitched thatched roofs. Many houses are over 300 years old.
• Toyama Folk Village—a series of cultural museums in original houses.
• Uozu Aquarium—a large aquarium founded in 1913.

Famous for:

• High quality rice.
• Pharmaceutical industry.
• Kurobe Dam—at 186 meters (610 feet), it is Japan’s tallest dam.
• The creator of the beloved children’s character Doraemon, Fujiko Fujio, was born in Toyama.
• Tulips—Toyama is well known for its tulips including many tourist events and fairs.
• Uozu’s Three Mysteries—a mirage over Toyama Bay, the firefly squid that emits light from their bodies, and the buried forest of underwater ceders.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ishikawa prefecture has a mostly mountainous south, a narrow peninsula to the north, and a few islands. Kanazawa, its capital, has a metropolitan feel while richly preserving a traditional Japan of the past.

 Places to See:

• Kenrokuen—one of Japan’s three best gardens.
• 1000 Rice Fields—Senmaida, found on the Noto Peninsula is a hillside with over a thousand rice fields.

• Chaya district—go back in time to enjoy traditional wooden houses and performances by geisha.
• With all its traditional crafts, Kanazawa is a great place to buy unique Japanese gifts and souvenirs.

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

Set on the Sea of Japan, Fukui became a prefecture in 1871, the majority of it formerly being called Echizen. While a small prefecture population-wise, Fukui boasts of having a world-class Dinosaur Museum—the only one in all of Japan, a town (Sabae) that produces 90% of Japan’s eyeglasses, and several nuclear power plants that power about half of the Kansai regional power needs.

 Places to See:

• Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins—an important archeological park of an area controlled by the Asakura clan during the Sengoku period. Oda Nobunaga defeated the Asakura family and burned the town down in 1573. Much of the town has been restored and is open to the public.
• Maruoka Castle—built in 1576, Maruoka Castle has the oldest still-standing keep in Japan.
• Fukui Dinosaur Museum—a world-class museum.
• Fukui Castle/prefectural government offices—while the government offices are built on the ruins of Fukui Castle, the moat and original walls make it a place to visit.
• Tōjinbō—an area of unique sea-side rock formations.

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

The inland prefecture Yamanashi means “mountain pear” and Mt. Fuji borders Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures.

 Places to See:

• Mt. Fuji—the northern half is in Yamanashi prefecture.
• The Fuji Five Lakes Region—located at the foot of Mt. Fuji, this is a great place for hiking, camping, and fishing, as well as viewing Mt. Fuji.
• Fuji-Q Highland—a major amusement park near Mt. Fuji. It is famous for its roller coasters, anime-themed rides, and Thomas Land, a children’s area with a Thomas the Tank Engine theme.
• Shosenkyo Gorge—a beautiful gorge found in the Chichibu Tama Kai National Park. It is particularly spectacular during the autumn when the leaves change color.

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

Nagano was host to the 1998 Winter Olympics and borders more prefectures than any other prefecture in Japan.

 Places to See:

• Matsumoto Castle—one of Japan’s most beautiful and original castles. It was originally built from 1592 to 1614. It has the oldest five-storied wooden donjon (castle keep) in the country.
• Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park—see wild monkeys bathe in an onsen.
• Tsumago-juku—a town preserved to look much as it did during the feudal Edo Period.
• Kamikochi—a resort in the Northern Japan Alps sporting beautiful mountain scenery. It is closed in the winter.
• Kiso Valley—an area that was once an important trade route. The buildings have been preserved to look and feel as they did in the Edo period.
• Karuizawa—an often-pricy mountain resort near the active volcano Mt. Asama. It is a wonderful retreat from heat of the summer.

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

Right in the heart of Japan, Gifu has been Japan’s crossroads between the east and the west. Many decisive battles took place in Gifu including Sekigahara, which was the battle that led to Tokugawa Ieyasu consolidating his power.

 Places to See:

• Takayama—often referred to as Little Kyoto for its old buildings and historical charm.
• Gifu Castle—a beautiful modern reconstruction of a 13^th century Japanese castle atop Mt. Kinka. Oda Nobunaga resided here for a while.
• Shirakawago—a historic village surrounded by mountains. The houses have steep thatched roofs and have been maintained in the traditional construction. The houses are built to withstand heavy snow. As the snow builds, the higher floors become the front door.

A Traditional Thatched-roof House in Shirakawa, Gifu
[photo from Wikipedia]

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

Shizuoka was the area Tokugawa Ieyasu controlled until he conquered much of the Kanto region (present day Tokyo and surrounding area). Mt. Fuji shares a border with Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.

 Places to See:

• Mt. Fuji—officially open for climbing during July and August. The volcano is free from snow and transportation and support huts are open to the public during those months.
• Izu Peninsula—a resort area full of hot springs, beaches, and a clear view of Mt. Fuji.
• Sumpu Castle—the retirement home of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Built in 1585, it was dismantled during the Meiji Restoration. Today, the area is mostly park grounds, but the castle is being reconstructed.
• Fuji Speedway—an international racetrack where the Japanese F1 is held.
• Atami Castle—a 1959 concrete reconstruction, Atami Castle has a spectacular view of the city of Atami and about 200 cherry blossom trees.

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

A densely populated prefecture with Toyota headquartered in its namesake city, Toyota City. Nagoya is Japan’s fourth largest city. The prefectural symbol depicts the rising sun over the waves while also being a stylized あいち, the hiragana for Aichi.

 Places to See:

• Tour of the Toyota car factory in the city of Toyota.
• Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium—a large aquarium.
• The four castles in Nagoya, Okazaki, Toyohashi, and Inuyama.
• Meiji Village is an open-air museum exhibiting the architecture of the Meiji period (1868-1912).
• Kourankei—a beautiful valley located in eastern Toyota City. It is famous for having over 4,000 momiji (maple) trees. A must see in the fall when the leaves change colors.

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

Ise Ninjutsu, a major school of ninjutsu, was based in Mie.

 Places to See:

• Ninja Museum—dedicated to the history of ninja and ninjutsu.
• Ise Shrine complex—ancient Shinto shrines surrounded by dense forest and gravel paths.
• Edo Wonderland—a theme park in the style of a small castle town when the samurai ruled the country.
• Toba Aquarium—a large aquarium.

Famous for:

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Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, is at the heart of Shiga prefecture. Otsu, the capital of Shiga, was also the capital of Japan briefly from 667 to 672.

 Places to See:

• Hikone Castle—a very well-preserved Edo period castle and one of only twelve Japanese castles with the original keep.
• Lake Biwa—the largest lake in Japan.
• Nagahama Castle—originally built in 1576, the castle was soon demolished, and its materials used to build the Hikone Castle. The Nagahama Castle that stands today is a 1983 reconstruction.
• Nagahama Railway Square—a railway museum exhibiting the history of the Nagahama Station—the oldest rail station in Japan.
• Ho Koen—a beautiful garden near the reconstructed Nagahama Castle. It is famous for its cherry blossoms.

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

For over 1,000 years, Kyoto was the capital of Japan. Even when the emperor was powerless, Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan until Tokugawa Ieyasu moved the capital to Edo (present day Tokyo). The Emperor moved to Tokyo in 1868.

 Places to See:

• Kinkakuji—the Golden Pavilion is the iconic image of Kyoto. It is covered in gold leaf and surrounded by beautiful gardens.
• Nijo Castle—the location the last shogun handed over power to the emperor in 1867. The Nightingale floors are so called because they “chirp” when stepped on, alerting the guards of intruders.
• Kyoto Imperial Palace—the residence of the imperial family until 1868.
• Higashiyama—a district preserved to enjoy traditional old Kyoto.
• Gion—Kyoto’s famous geisha district.
• Arashiyama—the name of a mountain and district on the western outskirts of Kyoto, known for its scenic beauty.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Osaka is not called “ken” (prefecture), but “fu” which is used for metropolitan prefectures. The first conveyor belt sushi restaurant—a regular feature found in all Japanese cities—originated in Higashiosaka in Osaka Prefecture.

 Places to See:

• Osaka Castle—Osaka’s most famous landmark. A reconstruction, but a very large castle.
• Universal Studios Japan—containing many of the same rides as the Universal Orlando Resort.
• Osaka Aquarium—one of the largest aquariums in the world.
• Umeda Sky Building—a skyscraper with an observation deck.
• Mino Park—one of the best places to see the autumn’s colorful foliage.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Hyogo prefecture borders two seas: the Sea of Japan to the north and the Inland Sea to the south. In 1180, the emperor moved the imperial court to what is now the city of Kobe, but for only five months!

 Places to See:

• Himeji Castle—built with traditional wooden architecture and stone walls. Originally built in 1333 and expanded through the years, Himeji Castle remains intact even through typhoons, earthquakes, and bombings. It is one of the very few Japanese castles that is not a reconstruction.
• Kinosaki Onsen—this old-fashioned onsen town has been well known for its hot springs since the 8^th century.
• Kobe—historic port for foreign trade in the 19^th century that has gardens, shopping, museums, and the Kobe Port Tower with an observation deck.
• Kitano Ijinkan—a historical district containing Meiji-era foreign residences.

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Over 1,300 years old, Nara was the first permanent capital of Japan.

 Places to See:

• Horyuji Temple—the world’s oldest surviving wooden structure at over 1,300 years old.
• Mount Yoshino has around 30,000 cherry blossom trees.
• Koriyama Castle—built in 1580, but today only ruins remain. It is surrounded by gardens and cherry blossom trees.
• Heijo Palace—the imperial palace during the Nara Period (710 AD-794) when Nara was the capital of Japan.
• Nara Park—a large public park and the best place to see deer.

Famous for:

DID YOU KNOW?

Wakayama has ten World Heritage Sites for its many temples and shrines. It is near Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara, but it has many off-the-beaten paths often overlooked by tourists.

 Places to See:

• Wakayama Castle—originally built in 1585, it was destroyed during World War II. The current reconstruction was completed in 1958.
• Nachi Falls—one of the best-known waterfalls in Japan with a drop of 133 meters (436 feet).

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DID YOU KNOW?

The symbol is a stylized hiragana と to shaped to look like a flying bird. The name 鳥取 tottori has the kanji, “bird” and “to take.” It is also the least populous prefecture in Japan.

 Places to See:

• Tottori Castle ruins—originally built around 1555, this mountain castle is now in ruins.
• Tottori Sand Dunes—the only large sand dune system in Japan. The name in Japanese is 鳥取砂丘 tottori sakyuu.
• Kyusho Park and Utsubuki Park—famous for the cherry blossoms.

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Shimane is the second least populous prefecture in Japan (Tottori ranks #1). But to make up for this embarrassment, Matsue, the capital, takes #1 as having the smallest population out of all the 47 prefectural capitals.

 Places to See:

• Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine—a World Heritage site and, at one point, supplier of a third of the world’s silver in the 17^th century.
• The Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum, honoring the author of Kwaidan and other works showcasing Japan to the 19^th century Western World.
• Matsue Castle—the second largest castle in Japan. Today, only the keep and some walls remain.
• Hii Riverbank with over 800 trees is famous for viewing cherry blossoms.
• Adachi Museum of Art—in Yasugi, Shimane, this museum houses many works of modern Japanese art.

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DID YOU KNOW?

The hometown of Momotaro, the Peach Boy. Also! Miyamoto Musashi, the world’s greatest 17^th century samurai, was from this area.

 Places to See:

• Korakuen—one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.
• Okayama Castle—also known as the “Crow Castle” due to its stark black paint.
• Japanese Folk Toy Museum—wide range of folk toys made throughout Japan from the 18^th to 20^th century.
• Momotaro Karakuri Museum—all you need to know about the Peach Boy.
• Mimasaka—the birthplace of the famous samurai Musashi Miyamoto.
• Bitchu Matsuyama Castle—one of the few remaining original castles in Japan. It is also the castle with the highest elevation above sea level in Japan.

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Hiroshima is, of course, best known for the atomic bombing that ended World War II, but it is worth a visit for many other reasons including the iconic Miyajima Torii and who can miss seeing the world’s largest wooden rice scoop!

 Places to See:

• The Atomic Dome—the only structure left standing near the bomb’s hypocenter.
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
• The Itsukushima Shrine—including the iconic “floating” torii gate, Miyajima Torii. It appears to float in the bay.
• Oshakushi—the world’s largest wooden rice scoop which is 7.7 meters long (25 feet)!
• Takehara—Edo Period merchant houses.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Yamaguchi is one of the few prefectures whose largest city, Shimonoseki, isn’t the capital (Yamaguchi City).

The Chōshū Domain (長州藩 chōshū han) during the Edo Period was in the Yamaguchi area.

The underwater Kanmon Tunnel connects Yamaguchi to Kyushu.

 Places to See:

• Kintai Bridge—built in 1673, this bridge spans the Nishiki River in a series of five arches. This wooden bridge is considered a symbol of Western Honshu.
• Kikko Park and Tokiwa Park.
• Hagi Castle ruins—built in 1604 and destroyed during the Meiji Restoration.

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DID YOU KNOW?

The Tokushima symbol is a stylized melding of the hiragana と to and く ku making the first two characters for TOKUshima.

 Places to See:

• Ichinomiya Castle and Tokushima Castle ruins.
• Omotegoten Garden—near Tokushima Castle Museum.
• Mt. Bizan—the symbol of Tokushima City. The whole of Tokushima City can be seen from its top.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Kagawa is the smallest prefecture in area in Japan.

 Places to See:

• Yashima—a mountain battlefield for a major battle between the Heike and Genji clans on March 22, 1185.
• Ritsurin Garden—established in 1625, Ritsurin Garden became a prefectural garden open to the public in 1875.
• Marugame Castle—originally built in 1597, today, stone walls, two gates, and the keep remain.
• Takamatsu Castle—completed in 1590, it is one of only three castles in Japan with water moats.
• Kotohiki Park—in Kanonji City, Kotohiki Park is famous for its cherry blossoms.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Shikoku (四国), literally, “four kingdoms,” is so named because the large island houses four prefectures.

Ehime (愛媛) means “the love princess.”

 Places to See:

• Dogo Onsen, Japan’s oldest hot spring—over 1,300 years of history!
• Matsuyama Castle—originally built in 1603, modern restoration work began in 1966.

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The largest, but least populous prefecture in the Shikoku region, Kochi is famous for its many rivers.

 Places to See:

• Inamura Mountain—the highest mountain in Kochi.
• Kochi Castle—one of twelve original castles still standing in Japan. There are many reconstructed castles, but most were torn down during the Meiji Restoration or destroyed by fire or war. Kochi Castle was constructed in 1611 and most of the buildings standing are originals.
• Anpanman Museum—beloved by Japanese children everywhere, the bread-faced Anpanman has his own museum in Kochi.
• Makino Park—famous for its cherry blossoms.

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Fukuoka is the largest prefecture in Kyushu and Fukuoka City is the most populated. Fukuoka is closer to Shanghai and Seoul than Tokyo

 Places to See:

• Fukuoka Tower—a 234 meters (768 feet) high iconic symbol of Fukuoka.
• The Ruins of Fukuoka Castle—this was the largest castle in Kyushu in the Edo period (1603-1867) but was intentionally destroyed during the Meiji Restoration due to its symbolic past.
• Canal City Hakata—a large shopping mall with hundreds of shops, restaurants, and game centers.

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Kyushu’s smallest prefecture hosts a major annual hot air balloon festival. Alas, official rules forbid flightless birds from participating.

 Places to See:

• Ogi Park—one of the best places in Japan to see cherry blossoms.
• Yoshinogari Site—a large Yayoi archaeological site with ruins dating back 2,000 years. Ancient structures have been reconstructed making Yoshinogari an interesting place to visit.

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Other than a sharing a short border with Saga Prefecture, there’s plenty of water to go diving and other water activities.

 Places to See:

• Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium
• Inasayama—from the top of this mountain, you can view 360 degrees of Nagasaki and its harbor. Beautiful at night.
• Oura Catholic Church—built in 1864 by French missionaries, it is the oldest standing church in Japan.
• Atomic Bomb Museum & the Peace Park.
• Huis Ten Bosch—a theme park that recreates the Netherlands with full-size copies of old Dutch buildings. The name means “House in the Forest.”

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The origin of the bear... that is what Kumamoto means. Kumamoto is at the heart of Kyushu.

 Places to See:

• Kumamoto Castle—built in 1467, expanded in 1601, destroyed in 1877, rebuilt in the 1960s.
• Mt. Aso—one of the world’s largest active volcanoes!
• Suizen-ji Jōjuen—a Japanese garden originally constructed in 1636 as a tea retreat for a lord. It features an artificial mountain in the shape of Mt. Fuji.
• Tsūjun Bridge—the largest stone aqueduct in Japan. It was built in 1854.

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If you like the Japanese Onsen—hot springs—you will love the rural Oita prefecture.

 Places to See:

• Shouen Village—the landscape and rice fields have been kept intact for 800 years.
• Harajiri Falls—one of Japan’s top waterfalls.
• Beppu—capital city for hot springs with eight major geothermal hot spots.
• Kuju Mountains—volcanic mountain range that is a part of the Aso-Kuju National Park.

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Miyazaki is famous for a beautiful coastline facing the Pacific and for being the birthplace of the mythical first Japanese emperor, Emperor Jimmu.

 Places to See:

• The Nichinan Coastline—a beautiful tropical paradise.
• Aoshima Island—a small island surrounded by rock formations that appear to be man-made but are actually natural formations.
• Kirishima—a national park with volcanic mountains; Obi Castle Town—the main castle of the Ito clan during the Edo period (1603-1867)—mostly reconstructed, but much of the Edo period wall remains.
• Takachiho Gorge—a narrow gorge cut through dense rock by the Gokase River. The sheer cliffs, vegetation, and beautiful Minainotaki waterfall make the Takachiho Gorge a must for any nature/water lover.

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Spanning some 600 kilometers from north to south, Kagoshima is the southernmost prefecture of the southernmost main island (not including Okinawa). Japan is made up of four main islands in addition to thousands of smaller ones. This region is called 九州 kyuushuu. In the old days, Kagoshima was a part of the Satsuma province that played a major role in the Meiji Restoration.

 Places to See:

• Sakurajima—an active volcano near Kagoshima City.
• Ibusuki—hot spring resorts.
• Lake Ikeda—some say a monster similar to the Loch Ness called “Isshi” lives here.
• The Flower Park Kagoshima—the largest flower garden in Japan with 400,000 flowers and trees of 2,400 different species.

Famous for:

• Saigo Takamori—an influential samurai whose life inspired the 2003 movie, The Last Samurai, was born and died in Kagoshima.
• Green tea—the second largest producer next to Shizuoka.
• Sweet potato.
• Unagi eels.

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Okinawa is a sub-tropical prefecture very different from the rest of Japan in culture, food, and even language.

 Places to See:

• Water—beautiful white sand beaches, fishing, diving, whale watching, and other water related activities.
• Yaeyama Islands—Okinawa’s southernmost island group, closer to Taiwan than even Okinawa’s capital, Naha.
• Yonaguni (a part of the Yaeyama Island group) Beneath the waves, it is home to mysterious underwater ruins. It is a platform carved out of solid rock at perfectly right angles. How it was made and by whom is a mystery.
• Shuri Castle—the palace of the Ryuukyuu Kingdom.

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