Other Historic Site/Building Spots in Japan

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Category

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour

Nijojo Castle

4.5

7022 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto City Kyoto City Nakagyo-ku Nijyotoru Horikawa Western Nishi Nijo Castle Town 541

This fortification was built in 1603 to lodge Tokugawa Ieyasu when he travelled to the capital after his victory at the Battle of Sekigahara. Later, the site was significantly renovated by the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, resulting in its present form. In addition to the entire grounds being a nationally designated Historic Site, the site is dotted with numerous historically valuable structures and beautiful sights, including the Ninomaru Palace, the outer citadel palace (a National Treasure), Honmaru Palace, the inner citadel palace (an Important Cultural Property), and Ninomaru Garden, the outer citadel palace garden (a Special Place of Scenic Beauty).

This is an amazing place. We loved walking “around” the main Ninomaru-goten Palace and seeing the panel reproductions that now are displayed in each of the rooms. Be sure to listen as the building...
Sefa Utaki

4.0

1047 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okinawa Pref. Nanjoushi Chinen Kudeken

Sefa Utaki is a historical site located in Nanjo City, Okinawa Prefecture. In December 2000 it was designated as part of the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Within Sefa Utaki there are six Ibi (sacred areas), from one of which, Sangui, there is a wonderful view of Kudaka Island (known as the “Island of the Gods”). Sefa Utaki is still venerated as a sacred place, and many people come to pray here.

It is nearby Cape Chinen Park which we whisked by from. The carpark is pretty near the ticket office to purchase admission tickets. Thankfully the staff at the ticket office briefed us on the way to...
Zuihoden Mausoleum

4.0

617 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Miyagi Pref. Sendaishi Aoba-ku Otamayashita 23-2

Zuihoden, the mausoleum of Date Masamune who died in 1636 at the age of 70, was built at his request. It consists of the main shrine, hall of worship, place of mercy, and Nirvana gate, conveying to the present the characteristics of luxurious and elegant Momoyama culture. Although it was designated as a National Treasure in 1937, it was destroyed by fire during the war in 1945. It was rebuilt in 1979, and large renovation works were carried out in 2001, and the beautiful colors were restored.

Interesting architectural structure surrounded by a peaceful green surroundings. Very serene when I was there and there wasn’t a lot of people as well. This was where the late Date Masamune was...
Shirakawa-go

Travel / Tourism

Gifu Pref. Onogunshirakawamura Ogimachi

A village located in Ogi-machi, Shirakawa Village, Ono County, Gifu Prefecture where many old-fashioned “gassho-zukuri” style homes, distinguished by their steep thatched roofs, can still be found. Still used as living spaces today, this rare collection of buildings has been designated a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the picturesque scenery of these traditional homes backed by mountains in the distance, visitors can catch a glimpse of the lifestyle and ingenious measures of a Japanese mountain village living in harmony with nature. There are also numerous souvenir shops and restaurants, and this popular destination is visited by great numbers of people from around the country and the world.
Yoshinogari Historical Park

4.0

352 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Saga Pref. Kanzakigunyoshinogarichou Tade 1843

These are the ruins of a large-scale moat encircled settlement from the Yayoi period and are located on the Yoshinogari hills. This historic park is made up of National land and Prefectural land

The Yoshinogari site is the largest archaeological site of the Yayoi era found in Japan to date. The Yayoi era is the period following the Jomon era until the Tumulus era represented by the large...
The Tower of Himeyuri / Himeyuri Peace Museum

4.5

354 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okinawa Pref. Itomanshi Ihara 671-1

Himeyuri Memorial Tower is a cenotaph dedicated to the Himeyuri student corps who died in the Battle of Okinawa. The Himeyuri student corps was a group of 240 students and teachers of the Okinawa Shihan Women's School and Okinawa Daiichi Women's High School who were mobilized as a nursing unit for the Okinawan Army Field Hospital, towards the end of the Pacific War. Following the US military's advance at the end of May, they were withdrawn to the southern part of Okinawa Island, and abruptly disbanded in June. However, over 100 of them lost their lives soon after. In 1989, this museum was established to teach people about the wartime experiences of the Himeyuri student corps. The museum displays exhibits of the Himeyuri student corps personal possessions and photographs. There is also a diorama which is a reproduction of the Ihara Third Surgical Cave Hospital. The museum aims to make people consider war and peace through learning about the Himeyuri student corps' experiences.

I enjoyed this museum pretty much, in fact more than the Naval museum as the stories here was presented very well and in a thought provoking manner. Having been to numerous war museum and influence...
Iga Ueno Castle

4.0

236 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Mie Pref. Igashi Uenomarunouchi 106

This castle is also called the Hakuho (white phoenix) castle as the white shining walls of this three-story castle look almost like a phoenix resting its wings. Distinguished castle designer Todo Takatora, who took up the position of feudal lord of Tsu Domain, Ise Province originally built a five-story castle keep but it was destroyed during a great storm in 1612. The current castle keep was restored in 1935. The beautiful stone walls with a height of 30 meters as well as the inner moat remain as they were at the time when Takatora designed them, and the castle was designated as a national historic site in 1967, while the castle keep was designated as an Iga City Tangible Cultural Property in 1985.

A bit of a steep hike up to the castle but worth the effort. The view from the third floor windows is spectacular of the city and surrounding area. Many oif the exhibits have English texts but...
Yanaka Cemetary

4.0

318 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Taitou-ku Yanaka 7-5-24

This cemetery was the site of a five tier pagoda that was burned down by two lovers in a double-suicide, a story which inspired Koda Rohan's novel, The Five-Storied Pagoda. Numerous cherry trees are planted on Yanaka Cemetary's grounds. The cherries growing along either side of the central road running though the cemetery are particularly beautiful, and each year many people come here to see them when they blossom in spring. The cemetery is sunny and quiet, and many famous artists, writers, and actors are buried here.

We had added this stop on our adventures through Yanaka. Our guide had incorporated it in our customized tour as per our request. This is not a spooky cemetery, it is full of history and beauty. It...
Takaoka Daibutsu (Takaoka Great Buddha)

3.5

361 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Toyama Pref. Takaokashi Otemachi 11-29

The Takaoka Daibutsu (Takaoka Great Buddha) is a large statue of Amida Nyorai (the Amitabha Buddha) in a seated posture, approximately 16 meters high, located in the Hotoku-san Daibutsu-ji Temple near Takaoka Station in Toyama Prefecture. The circular halo that rises up behind the Buddha’s back makes this a particularly distinctive statue; it ranks alongside the Great Buddha of Nara and the Great Buddha of Kamakura as one of the “Three Great Buddhas of Japan.” The original statue and its replacement were both destroyed in fires; in 1933, local people built the third statue that visitors see today. Since it was first created, the Takaoka Daibutsu has become an iconic symbol of Takaoka; locals refer to with a mixture of respect and familiarity as “Daibuttsuan.”

In Toyama for 2-nights, with a couple of hours to spare before dinner; this proved to be sufficient time to make a detour to Takaoka to see the Great Buddha. It only takes about 17-mins to travel...
Shiseki Sado Kinzan

4.0

303 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nigata Pref. Sadoshi Shimoaikawa 1305

As Japan’s largest gold mine this was under the Tokugawa shogunate’s direct control and was engaged in the production of koban (small former Japanese oval gold coins). Operations ceased in 1989 due to an exhaustion of its resources, which brought to a close 400 years of history. The mining and refining facilities on the grounds have been designated as National Important Cultural Properties. Currently visitors can see exhibits of model exhibits of the Sado Kinzan during the Edo period based on drawings from Sado Kinzan Emaki (picture scrolls) as well as the remains of actual tunnels that were used.

I was told by multiple trusted sources that the Sado Gold Mine was really worth visiting, and I am so glad I did. Inside the mines you can really imagine previous eras, the historical, technical...
Tamaudun Royal Mausoleum

4.0

417 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okinawa Pref. Nahashi Shurikinjouchou 1-3

This is a mausoleum which was built in 1501 by King Sho Shin for the purpose of reburying the remains of his father, King Sho En, and thereafter successive generations from the dynasty were buried here. The grave chambers are divided into three rooms: the middle chamber is a room where remains are enshrined before the bones of the dead are cleansed, and the bones of the king and the queen are in the eastern chamber while the bones of other family members are buried in the western chamber. The whole mausoleum is a stone-built structure representing a palace with a shingle roof of that time, and the area of the cemetery is 2,442 square meters. It was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2000 as “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu”.

Built in 1501, the mausoleum was built to re-entomb King Sho En and is the Royal Mausoleum. I recommend visiting the mausoleum while touring the Shuri Castle as it is right down the street and part...
Toi Gold Mine

4.0

227 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Shizuoka Pref. Izushi Toi 2726

A gold mine which once boasted the second highest output in the nation from the Edo to the Showa periods located in the Toi area of Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The mine was turned into a tourism facility in 1972 after its closure, and today it is open to the general public. The mine contains a 350 meter stretch of tunnel which recreates a mining scene from the Edo period. Visitors can also view a giant, 250 kilogram chunk of gold which is registered in the Guinness Book of World Records, try panning for gold, enjoy a meal at the mine’s restaurant, or go shopping in the souvenir shop. The most popular souvenir sold in the shop is the Kinpaku Castella, castella sponge cake sprinkled with gold leaf.

１月末に行きました。土肥温泉郷ではちょうど桜祭りをやっており、土肥温泉に泊まった領収書を見せると、＠860の入園料が半額になるとのことでしたので行きました。HP上にも割引券が付いています。金山の中はどうやって金を採掘していたか人形再現しており、又金山の廻りにどんな町があり、どんな人がいて、どんな金が取れたのかなど、歴史的な勉強にも見ごたえがあります。お土産屋さんも充実しており、予想外に良かったです...
Monument of Hagi Castle Town

4.0

308 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Yamaguchi Pref. Hagishi Gofukumachi 2

"This is a monument standing in a corner of ""Edoya Yokocho Alley"" and ""Onarimichi"" in Hagi city, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Visitors can view the charming alleys, shops and samurai residences in the surrounding area which was where merchants and middle to lower class samurai warriors once lived. The area has also been selected as a nationally designated historical site. Rental cycles, are available and many tourists make use of them to explore the castle town."

Pleasant street of vendors. You can buy the hagi yaki pottery that they are famous for here. Note: the feature is a notched bottom. People were friendly. They boxed and wrapped each box.
Furuzono Stone Buddhas

4.5

211 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Oita Usuki-shi Fukata

"This collection of over 60 Buddhist statues carved out of a tuff rock wall forms the core of the Usuki Stone Buddhas and is a five-minute drive from the Usuki Interchange on the Higashikyushu Expressway. The statues are believed to have been created from the late Heian period to the Kamakura period. One of the best stone Buddhist statue groups in Japan in terms of size, quantity, and carving skill, the group's statue of Vairocana in particular is considered a masterpiece. In 1995, this statue was the first such stone Buddhist statue in the country to be designated a National Treasure. Also known as the ""13 Furuzono Buddhas,"" other nearby stone Buddhist statue groups include the first and second Hoki Stone Buddhas clusters, and the Sannosan Stone Buddhas."

It is definitely worth visiting, or I rather say it is worth traveling to Kyushu to visit Usuki Stone Buddha. There are four different areas, you can see many statues of Buddha, which are engraved in...
Shogunzuka Seiryu-den Temple

4.0

159 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Yamashina-ku Zushiokukachouchou 28

When Emperor Kanmu embarked on the transfer of the capital to Heian-kyo, he buried a 2.5-meter tall clay statue of a shogun to protect the capital in a mound and prayed for the capital’s security, which is the origin of the name Shogunzuka. The okutono of the Daigomado’s Seiryuden which was built in 2014 enshrines the National Treasure Aofudo, and in front of this is an elaborate reproduction which has been created for worship. On the premises is a large observatory made of wood that is 4.6 times the size of Kiyomizudera Temple’s platform which allows visitors to enjoy a large panoramic view of Kyoto’s cityscape.

Went early morning, and it was amazing! Nobody was there, and I could enjoy a silent view of the city. But what amazed me was being the only one sitting in front of the VERY beautiful painting of Ao...
Ryozen-Kannon

4.0

156 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto-shi Higashiyama-ku Kodaiji Shimogawara-machi 526-2

This kannon statue is located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City. This kannon was erected in 1955 as a memorial to the victims of war after World War II. The eleven-faced kannon is enshrined beneath this kannon image. In addition to memorial and internment services, the temple hosts workshops to experience zazen, and hannya shingyo heart sutra transcription events.

Ryozen Kwan-on is a magnificent 24 m high monument of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Godess of Mercy). The monument was erected in 1955 to honor all soldiers who died during World War II. Regardless...
Teradaya

3.5

200 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Fushimi-ku Minamihamachou 263

This is an inn where Shimazu Hisamitsu tried to purge the Satsuma shishi, who were advocates in the Satsuma clan of the return to imperial rule, during the latter years of the Edo period (the Teradaya Incident). It was learned that the hero of Tosa, Sakamoto Ryoma, visited this inn regularly, and Teradaya became the scene of a plot to assassinate Ryoma, who just barely managed to escape thanks to the quick-wittedness of his lover, Oryo. Although the building was destroyed by fire during the battle of Toba-Fushimi, it was reconstructed after that and is a facility that offers accommodation as well.

Toba-Fushimi Battle was the end of a series of epoch-making struggles in Kyoto. The struggles had started with Terada-ya Inn incident. Terada-ya was a port-town inn along Goh-kawa Canal in Fushimi...
Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building

4.0

153 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Pref. Moriokashi Nakanohashidori 1-2-20

The Bank of Iwate building is located in the Nakanohashidori area of Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. Opened to the public after its renovation in 2016, it exhibits documents related to the Bank of Iwate. In addition, it has multipurpose halls that can be used for a variety of events. The building has been selected as a nationally-designated Important Cultural Property, and is visited by many tourists.

Very eye catching building in Iwate city. We drove it and it immediately captured my attention. Later on when I was going for lunch, I walked past this building again and admired the historical...
Takasaki Byakui Daikannon

4.0

166 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Gunma Pref. Takasakishi Ishiharamachi Guanyinshan

A symbol of Takasaki City, the Takasaki Byakui Daikannon is a giant reinforced concrete statue of the Buddhist bodhisattva Kannon (Guanyin) which was erected in 1936. The white gown the statue is wearing represents the pure heart that is needed to attain enlightenment. 41.8 meters tall and approximately six thousand tons in weight, the statue was the biggest of its kind in Asia when it was first constructed. The interior of the statue is lined with 20 figures of the Buddha and high priests; visitors can also climb up to the statue’s ninth floor (shoulder height). In recent years, the statue has come to be popularly known for providing luck in finding love and marriage, and on Valentine’s Day, the Red Thread Prayer Festival is held at the statute, referencing the invisible red thread of fate said to tie true lovers together.

I actually visited before cherry blossom in Gunma, but they have some early bloom species, and when taken with the statue, the effect is very breathtaking. Other than that, entrance to the temple is...
Dazaifu Government Office Ruins

4.0

171 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Fukuoka Pref. Dazaifushi Kanzeonji 4-6-1

"A designated National Special Historic Site located a 15-minute walk from Tofuromae Station on the Nishitetsu Tenjin Omuta Line. Today the site is maintained as a historic park. Also a renowned destination for cherry blossom viewing, in the spring when the trees are in bloom they are lit up at night. In addition, the site has become a popular mystical ""power spot (spiritual place with energy vortex)"" and is frequented in particular by locals."

Now it is just ruined, but once this place used to be the administrative center of Western Japan. It stimulates our imagination. Sakamoto Hachiman Shrine is nearby. You can also visit Kanzeonji...