Kumano Taisha

Three major Shinto shrines in southern Wakayama: Kumano Hongu, Kumano Hayatama, and Kumano Nachi. Considered one of Japan's holiest pilgrimage destinations with over 1,000 years of devotional history. Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 as part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.

An early Edo-period castle in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, completed in 1611. Its main tower is one of only twelve surviving original structures and was designated a National Treasure in 2015. The castle's elegant silhouette against Lake Shinji embodies the cultural heritage of Matsue as a historic castle town.

A castle with a National Treasure keep, nicknamed 'Crow Castle' for its striking black lacquered exterior. It houses Japan's oldest existing five-story, six-floor castle tower, and its beautiful setting against the Northern Alps backdrop attracts visitors year-round.

An art museum perched on a hilltop overlooking Sagami Bay. Housing approximately 3,500 East Asian art works including three National Treasures, it is renowned for Ogata Korin's 'Red and White Plum Blossoms' — a supreme masterpiece of Japanese art.

A National Treasure castle with an original five-story, six-floor keep. The striking black-and-white contrast against the Northern Alps backdrop makes it a beloved subject for photographers and a symbol of Japanese castle aesthetics.

One of Japan's five National Treasure castles in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. The beautiful black-and-white five-story six-floor keep is the oldest existing five-story castle tower. Set against the Northern Alps, it represents the pinnacle of Japanese castle aesthetics. Night illumination is also popular, and the keep surviving from the Sengoku period is a precious historical structure.

An ancient shrine in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture dedicated to Okuninushi. Recorded in Japan's oldest historical text, the Kojiki. Features distinctive shrine architecture among Japan's largest. Particularly crowded during 'Kamiari month' (old calendar October) when deities from all over Japan gather. Attracts approximately 6 million visitors annually.