Dewa Sanzan (”three mountains of Dewa”) are three sacred mountains in Yamagata Prefecture, each with a shrine on or near its peak. The mountains are named Haguro-san, Gas-san and Yudono-san and remain centers of mountain worship. Representing birth (Haguro-san), death (Gas-san) and rebirth (Yudono-san), the mountains are usually visited in that order.
Tokushima City is the prefectural capital of Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku Island. The city’s main tourist attraction is the Awa Odori, a highly popular, annual dance festival held during the Obon season in mid August.
Aizu, located in western Fukushima Prefecture, is a region with a long samurai tradition that is proudly put on display for visitors. A story well known throughout Japan, a group of young soldiers from Aizu committed ritual suicide upon thinking that their castle, Tsuruga Castle, had been taken by the enemy in a battle accompanying [...]
Yuzawa in Niigata Prefecture is one of the largest and the most easily accessed ski areas from Tokyo. You can be on the slopes from Tokyo Station in under two hours. Yuzawa is known for deep powder and a long season, with some of its resorts open from mid November to late May.
Sado Island lies just off the coast of Niigata Prefecture, and is one of Japan’s largest islands. This remote place has long been a destination for political exiles, many of whom ended up working in Sado’s prosperous gold mine.
The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial is a modern art festival, held every three years in the rural Echigo-Tsumari region of Niigata Prefecture. The next triennial is scheduled to take place in summer 2009, and smaller festivals are held in the summers in between.
The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a spectacular route through the Northern Japan Alps, which can be easily followed by using various means of transportation, including cablecars, trolley buses and a ropeway.
Ikaho Onsen is one of the four most famous hot spring resorts of Gunma Prefecture. Its thermal waters are characterized by a high concentration of iron.
Kusatsu Onsen is one of Japan’s most famous hot spring resorts, blessed with large volumes of high quality hot spring water, said to cure every illness but lovesickness.
The Yaeyama Islands are the southernmost of three major island groups making up the prefecture of Okinawa. The Miyako and Okinawa Islands are the other two.