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From Tokyo Videos

Best 10 Tokyo spots

More than 9 million residents live in the capital city of Tokyo. Tokyo has various kinds of tourist attractions. The latest cultural trends can be found in Shibuya or Harajuku, Shinjuku and Ginza are known for shopping, and Tokyo is full of traditional sites including Asakusa’s Sensoji Temple and Meiji Jingu Shrine.

Tokyo Shibuya Harajuku Akihabara Asakusa Temple Shopping Observatory

From Osaka Videos

Osaka night plan

Osaka is an exciting city for visitors and the town becomes more vibrant after sunset. Large neon billboards along the Dotonbori River in the Minami (southern) area is the most iconic landscape of the town. There are dizzying arrays of restaurants, food stalls, and shops in Dotonbori, Hozenji Yokocho and Shinsekai. The traditional atmosphere in the busy quarters of the town have not changed for decades.

Osaka Night Observatory Eat Street

Hokkaido Videos

Things to do in Sapporo, Hokkaido

Sapporo is Japan's fifth-largest city and the prefectural capital of Japan's northernmost region, Hokkaidō, The city is famous with local food such as fresh seafood, ramen, and Jingisukan (grilled mutton) . Sapporo Snow Festival is annually held in early February.

Hokkaido Sapporo Eat Fish Park Eat Ramen Shopping Observatory

Kyoto Videos

All about Kyoto

Until 1868, Kyoto was the capital of Japan since the end of the 8th century, it is one of the most popular destinations amongst overseas tourists to Japan. With a variety of historically valuable structures such as temples, shrines and Japanese gardens the city draws over 50 million visitors annually from all over the world.

Kyoto Temple Shrine

Fukuoka Videos

Fukuoka in a Day

Fukuoka is the biggest city on Kyushu Island in Southern Japan. It is an important harbor and a hub for Japan travel. In the Edo Period (1603-1868), Fukuoka Castle was the largest castle in Kyushu. It was torn down, but its castle walls remain in Maizuru Park, a popular cherry blossom spot in the spring. Fukuoka is famous in Japan for its culinary culture and cuisine, its many food stalls (yatai) and Hakata Ramen - thin noodles in pork-based tonkotsu soup. Visit the Yanagibashi Rengo Ichiba (fish market) and the yatai in the Nakasu area to try Fukuokas’s best foods.

Eat Ramen Street food market History Castle Park

Okinawa Videos

Visit Okinawa

Okinawa is Japan's southernmost prefecture and is located over 600 km south of the island of Kyushu. Okinawa consists of approx. 50 islands. Some of them are developed with modern resorts, others are remote islands that boast untouched beautiful natural landscapes. Visitors can enjoy distinctive Okinawan culture in food, craft, music and architecture which originated from the Ryukyu Kingdom which ruled the islands until the late 19th century.

Okinawa Naha Island Fish market Castle

Northern Japan

Things to do in Sapporo, Hokkaido

Sapporo is Japan's fifth-largest city and the prefectural capital of Japan's northernmost region, Hokkaidō, The city is famous with local food such as fresh seafood, ramen, and Jingisukan (grilled mutton) . Sapporo Snow Festival is annually held in early February.

Hokkaido Sapporo Eat Fish Park Eat Ramen Shopping Observatory

Sapporo, rugby legend's visit

Sapporo is the largest city in Hokkaido. It is an excellent base for exploring Hokkaido’s mountains, ski resorts, coastal towns, and wildlife. In Japan, Hokkaido is known for its good food made with local ingredients like dairy, meats and seafood. Sapporo is known for its food scene, beer, ramen noodles, and grilled “Genghis Khan” mutton and vegetables. For a great view of the city, visit the large Moerenuma Park and go up Mount Moere. Sapporo is also famous for its Snow Festival with large sculptures made of snow and ice on display in the city each winter.

Eat Play Park Art View

Sapporo Maruyama Zoo

Sapporo Maruyama Zoo is located in the expansive Maruyama Park in Hokkaido’s capital Sapporo. Although the zoo is located in the city, it is close to nature. Maruyama Wild Forest, part of Maruyama Park, is a designated wildlife sanctuary. Inside the zoo you can see animals from around the world, but also species from Japan’s northernmost region of Hokkaido such as bears, deer, and squirrels. Maruyama Zoo was opened in 1951 as the first zoo in Hokkaido and now houses over 170 animal species. Easy access makes this a good place to visit with small children.

Hokkaido Zoo Animals Fun Travel with children

Visit Kesennuma, Miyagi

Kesennuma is located on the Sanriku Coast in Miyagi Prefecture in the north of Japan’s main island, Honshu. The city has a large fishing port and its fish market is one of the biggest in Japan. Oshima island is part of the city. The tsunami caused by the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake hit Kesennuma’s waterfront area hard, but the city has been recovering. Now there are again many places where you can enjoy delicious local seafood and sake. For good views of the coast and the port, walk up Mount Anba. There are several viewpoints along the trail to the summit.

View Coast Eat Seafood Sake

>> More Northern Japan Videos

Eastern Japan

Best 10 Tokyo spots

More than 9 million residents live in the capital city of Tokyo. Tokyo has various kinds of tourist attractions. The latest cultural trends can be found in Shibuya or Harajuku, Shinjuku and Ginza are known for shopping, and Tokyo is full of traditional sites including Asakusa’s Sensoji Temple and Meiji Jingu Shrine.

Tokyo Shibuya Harajuku Akihabara Asakusa Temple Shopping Observatory

Tokyo must see places

Japan’s capital Tokyo is a huge metropolis that is continuously reinventing itself. It is the main hub for Japan travel and offers seemingly endless options for eating out and shopping. Tokyo is also rich in culture, from traditional to kawaii, pop, and futuristic. The city combines new and old. From its iconic landmarks Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree you can see how modern architecture and historic structures sit next to each other in the sprawling cityscape. The forested grounds of Meiji Shrine for example are surrounded with some of the busiest districts.

View Culture Play View Shrine

Tokyo westside

For a day trip away from the busy districts of Tokyo, take a train to the green western side of the city. Mt. Takao is a popular destination for hiking. Different trails lead to the summit - trail #1 goes past Mt. Takao Monkey Park and Takao-san Yakuo-in Temple. From the summit of Mt. Takao you can see Mt. Fuji on a clear day. After a long walk, relax with a leisurely onsen bath. Akigawa Keikoku Seoto-no-Yu is an onsen spa located near Ishibune-bashi Bridge, a spot known for its gorgeous view across Akigawa River in the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park.

Nature Hiking National park View Temple Monkeys Onsen

How to get to Tokyo Stadium

Rugby World Cup 2019 will be held in 12 venues in Japan and Tokyo hosts eight matches including the opening game. Here's a short video to show you the directions from Shinjuku station to Tokyo Stadium.

Sports Stadium Rugby

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Central Japan

Things to do in Nagoya

Nagoya is the capital of Aichi Prefecture, located in the center of Japan’s main island Honshu. In the past, Nagoya was an important castle town. On the castle grounds stand the reconstructed main keep and the palace of the ruling lords. Present day Nagoya is one of Japan’s industrial centers and home to both traditional and modern manufacturers like Toyota. Toyota’s museums focus on the development of automotive technology while the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park is all about Japan’s trains. Located on the Shinkansen Tokaido Line between Tokyo and Kyoto & Osaka, Nagoya is an excellent base for Japan travel.

History Castle Museum Cars Trains Fun

Nagoya, rugby legend's visit

Nagoya is the third biggest cities in Japan and the capital of Aichi Prefecture. It is an excellent base for day trips and Japan travel, located between Tokyo and Osaka on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line. Nagoya played an important role in Japan’s history. Nagoya Castle was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogunate in the Edo Era (1603-1867). Today, Nagoya is an important industrial center and home to Toyota Motor Corporation. The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology (Toyota Techno Museum) is one of several interesting museums here where you can learn about Japanese cars and manufacturing technology.

History Castle Museum Technology Cars

Shizuoka, rugby legend's visit

Shizuoka Prefecture is located west of Tokyo on the Pacific Coast and is home of iconic Mount Fuji and the Izu Peninsula. The Old Tokaido Road linking Tokyo and Kyoto runs through Shizuoka. Now Shizuoka City, is situated just between Tokyo and Nagoya on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line. At the city center stand the remains of Sumpu Castle, built by Japan’s first Shogunate Tokugawa Ieyasu. Shizuoka is the top producer of green tea in Japan and also known for its excellent food. Many places on the coast such as Nihon-daira have fantastic views of Mount Fuji.

Castle Garden History View Park

Nature, History, Culture and Life in Shizuoka

Shizuoka Prefecture located between Tokyo and Nagoya is famous as the home of iconic Mount Fuji. Not only the highest mountain in Japan, but a lot of onsen resorts such as Shuzenji Onsen in the Izu Peninsula attract the visitors from Tokyo and surrounding areas. Shizuoka is top in the number of catches of tuna from many fishing ports along the Pacific Coast such as Yaizu. Note that getting around multiple places in the video need a couple of days, staying at Shuzeji Onsen and Sumatakyo Onsen.

Onsen Train Bridge Port Castle History

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Western Japan

Osaka night plan

Osaka is an exciting city for visitors and the town becomes more vibrant after sunset. Large neon billboards along the Dotonbori River in the Minami (southern) area is the most iconic landscape of the town. There are dizzying arrays of restaurants, food stalls, and shops in Dotonbori, Hozenji Yokocho and Shinsekai. The traditional atmosphere in the busy quarters of the town have not changed for decades.

Osaka Night Observatory Eat Street

Osaka attractions

Osaka is the economic center of the Kansai region and a main hub for Japan travel. Go up to the observatory of the Umeda Sky Building for great city views. In the center stands Osaka Castle with great views over the city. Compared to Tokyo, Osaka has a different atmosphere and its citizens speak the Kansai-ben dialect. Osaka also has its own flavors and is known for good eating. Try local favorites like savoury okonomiyaki pancakes, takoyaki dumplings, and kushiage skewers in the Shinsekai and Dotonbori districts. Lively Dotonbori is famous for its restaurants with their flashy signage and neon billboards.

View Play Eat Temple History Amusement park

Things to do in Osaka

Osaka developed as a merchant city. It is a hub for Japan travel and known for its food, fun, and attractions. Ride the iconic red HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel for great city views. Located at the waterfront are Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan - one of the largest aquariums in the world - and Universal Studios Japan. At the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living you can walk through Osaka’s streets as they looked 200 years ago. And in Takimi Koji you can try the food Osaka is famous for in retro surroundings looking like the 1920s cityscape.

Play Eat Aquarium Castle History

Osaka, rugby legend's visit

Osaka is the second biggest city in Japan and has been an important port. It is a city of merchants and traders and famous for its local food. Try Osaka-style "kuidaore" that means eat until you drop (literally eat yourself broke). Visit the Kuromon Market to see the produce that goes into preparing Osaka’s specialties like savory okonomiyaki pancakes, deep fried kushikatsu skewers, and takoyaki octopus dumplings. And visit Dotonbori for street food, restaurants, and neon lights. For a good city view, go to the Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory or Osaka Castle’s observation deck, which has a 360 degree view.

View Castle History Eat Shop Market

>> More Western Japan Videos

Southern Japan

Fukuoka in a Day

Fukuoka is the biggest city on Kyushu Island in Southern Japan. It is an important harbor and a hub for Japan travel. In the Edo Period (1603-1868), Fukuoka Castle was the largest castle in Kyushu. It was torn down, but its castle walls remain in Maizuru Park, a popular cherry blossom spot in the spring. Fukuoka is famous in Japan for its culinary culture and cuisine, its many food stalls (yatai) and Hakata Ramen - thin noodles in pork-based tonkotsu soup. Visit the Yanagibashi Rengo Ichiba (fish market) and the yatai in the Nakasu area to try Fukuokas’s best foods.

Eat Ramen Street food market History Castle Park

Fukuoka, rugby legend's visit

If you travel by Shinkansen train from Tokyo to Kyushu Island, you will first come to Fukuoka Prefecture. Its capital Fukuoka City is a former castle town and now the biggest city on Kyushu Island. Ohori Park is located on the old castle grounds. The Kyushu National Museum has an excellent collection showing Japanese art and history. It is located nearby in Dazaifu, the former governmental center of Kyushu. The Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is the national headquarter for all Tenmangu shrines. Also in the Fukuoka area is Munakata Taisha, UNESCO World Heritage and one of the oldest shrines in Japan.

Culture History Art Museum Shrine World heritage

Visit Okinawa

Okinawa is Japan's southernmost prefecture and is located over 600 km south of the island of Kyushu. Okinawa consists of approx. 50 islands. Some of them are developed with modern resorts, others are remote islands that boast untouched beautiful natural landscapes. Visitors can enjoy distinctive Okinawan culture in food, craft, music and architecture which originated from the Ryukyu Kingdom which ruled the islands until the late 19th century.

Okinawa Naha Island Fish market Castle

Oita, rugby legend's visit

Oita Prefecture is part of Kyushu Island in southern Japan. Onsen hot springs are found throughout Oita and the seaside city of Beppu on the Seto Inland Sea has the highest amount of onsen water in Japan. The Hells of Beppu are scalding hot onsen with different qualities and colors, a fascinating display of the force nature. Yufuin, a little inland from Beppu, is another popular onsen resort. Down the coast in Usuki, the Usuki Stone Buddhas carved into the rocks are designated National Treasures. Explore Oita’s towns, unwind in its many onsen baths and enjoy the tasty local cuisine.

Onsen Hot spring Nature Relax History

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