Kakunodate

A castle town called 'Little Kyoto of San'in.' Koi swim in the moats of Tonomachi Street, and the thousand torii gates of Taikodani Inari Shrine are stunning. Also the birthplace of author Mori Ogai.

A district of samurai residences in Senboku, Akita Prefecture. The Edo-period townscape has been almost completely preserved for approximately 400 years. Samurai residences, merchant houses, and black walls remain as they were, designated as an Important Preservation District. Beautiful cherry blossoms in spring and autumn foliage attract about 1 million visitors annually, making it a representative tourist destination of Tohoku.

A castle town in Gifu known as the 'Little Kyoto of Hida.' The preserved Sanmachi-suji streets, spring and autumn Takayama Festivals, Hida beef, and morning markets offer immersive traditional Japanese life and food experiences, making it enormously popular with international tourists.

A cultural city in Hokuriku that flourished as the castle town of the Kaga domain, where tradition and modernity coexist at Kenroku-en Garden, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, and Higashi Chaya District. The 2015 Hokuriku Shinkansen dramatically improved access from Tokyo, triggering a tourism surge.

One of Japan's premier mountain scenic spots at approximately 1,500m elevation in the Northern Alps. Views from Taisho Pond and Kappa Bridge reflecting the Hotaka Range are sometimes called 'Japan's Switzerland.' Private car restrictions preserve the natural environment, making it a popular base for mountaineering and trekking.

A UNESCO World Natural Heritage archipelago roughly 1,000km south of Tokyo. Called the 'Galapagos of the East,' the islands are a treasure trove of endemic species. Accessible only by a 24-hour ferry, this remote paradise is popular for whale watching and diving.