Shirakawa-go

A castle town in Gifu Prefecture known as 'Little Kyoto of Hida.' Edo-period streetscapes, the ornate festival floats of the Takayama Festival, and Hida beef cuisine make it enormously popular with international tourists. It earned three stars in the Michelin Green Guide.

A historic district in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, preserving townscapes from the Edo to Meiji periods. Approximately 3 kilometers of old streets feature traditional inns, sake breweries, and craft shops. Attracts about 2 million visitors annually and has become a standard school excursion destination.

Preserved Edo-period town in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. The 'sanmachi' district features merchant houses and sake breweries on both sides of narrow streets. Designated as a National Important Traditional Building Preservation District. Preserves history as former center of Hida's political and economic power. Attracts over 2 million visitors annually as the heart of Hida region tourism.

Flooring material used in Japanese houses. Traditional mat made from rush grass. Characteristic of Japanese rooms (washitsu). Essential in traditional inn rooms at tourism destinations. Closely related to sitting culture. Symbolizes Japanese residential culture. Important element shaping hot spring inn experience. Staying in tatami rooms popular with tourists. Preserves and disseminates Japanese lifestyle.

A district in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, with approximately 100 Edo-period merchant houses. Both the Kamitown and Shimotown areas are preserved with complete retention of Edo-period architectural styles including earthen walls and latticed windows. Designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings in 1999. One of Gifu Prefecture's top tourist attractions with about 2 million annual visitors.

Tourism form seeking emotional connection to hometowns and rural landscapes after leaving for cities. Urban residents visit agricultural regions pursuing natural beauty and human connections. Focuses on preserved old townscapes, rice terraces, and post towns. Combines Japanese nostalgia with regional revitalization. Keywords include 'healing' and 'stress relief.' Recently gaining attention as crucial pillar of regional revitalization policies.

A distinctive architectural style developed in Hida region and Shirakawa-go, featuring steeply pitched thatched roofs resembling hands in prayer (gassho). Engineered to withstand heavy snow loads and provide fire resistance, these structures showcase masterful timber joinery and thick beam construction. The style embodies practical wisdom adapted to harsh alpine climates and represents a pinnacle of traditional Japanese building techniques.

The regional center of Hida in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. The preserved 'Sanmachi' district features townhouses from the Edo period. Traditional morning markets with over 400-year heritage showcase local vegetables and crafts. Attracts over 2 million visitors annually, offering authentic experiences of traditional mountain village culture and landscape.

A tourist destination in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture preserving the town layout from the Edo period. The Miyagawa morning market and the old merchant quarters were designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings in 1979. Known for continuing the tradition of Hida craftsmen and producing local specialties like Hida beef and Hida zappe. Attracts approximately 2 million visitors annually.

A district in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture preserving Edo-period streetscape. Historic merchant houses with kura-zukuri storehouse architecture line the streets, with the 200-meter Kamiassunomachi area particularly picturesque. Living traditional architecture and culture, attracts approximately 2.5 million visitors annually. Representative of Japan's heritage tourism.

Japan's tallest free-standing mountain, revered since ancient times as a subject of faith and art. Registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2013, it symbolizes Japan and attracts roughly 300,000 climbers annually.

A collection of temples and shrines including Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, and Ryoan-ji, encompassing the UNESCO World Heritage 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.' They embody the aesthetic and historical essence of Japan's thousand-year imperial capital.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site that bears witness to the devastation of the 1945 atomic bombing. The Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park serve as enduring symbols advocating for nuclear disarmament and lasting world peace, drawing visitors from around the globe each year.

Known affectionately as the 'White Heron Castle,' Himeji Castle was one of Japan's first UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites. Combining an elegant white-plastered exterior with sophisticated defensive architecture, it is regarded as the finest surviving example of Japanese castle construction. After major restoration in 2015, it attracts around two million visitors annually.

A shrine built over the sea on Miyajima island in the Seto Inland Sea, iconic for its great torii gate standing in the water at high tide. Registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1996, it has been celebrated since ancient times as one of Japan's Three Most Scenic Views.

A vast urban park home to approximately 1,200 wild deer roaming freely. The deer have been protected since ancient times as divine messengers of Kasuga Grand Shrine, and feeding them 'deer crackers' is a beloved tourist experience. Adjacent to World Heritage sites including Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji, it is the heart of Nara tourism.