Region:Western japan / Japan Travel Videos

Osaka Major Cities

Osaka is the second largest city in Japan that attracts international visitors to popular towns such as Dotonbori and Shinsekai. The video shows how local people are living ordinary lives dealing with COVID-19 wearing masks in major towns in Osaka during the state of emergency which was lifted as of June 21, 2021.

Street Shopping Observatory Amusement park

Dotonbori Osaka Itinerary

Osaka is one of the biggest cities in Japan. With its busy port it is the economic center of the Kansai region in Western Japan. Osaka is known for its tasty food and rich culinary culture. Explore the Minami (southern) area with a river cruise and on foot, taking in the crowds and neon lights. Then visit the restaurants, food stalls, and shops in the Dotonbori, Namba, and Shinsekai districts where you can try everything that Osaka is known for. In the Doguyasuji Arcade you can also shop for utensils, fake food, and everything you need to cook Japanese food.

Food Fun Eating Cooking Shopping Cruise

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

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 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

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

Spring in Kyoto

Kyoto has been one of the most popular destinations that used to be packed with the visitors from all across the nation and the world called as "over tourism". As you can see in the video shot in 2021, the city is less crowded since 2020 and the tourist attractions are ready for the visitors taking safety majors during the pandemic. Now you would be able to experience the original serine atmosphere at popular landmarks such as Kinkakuji Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine and Arashiyama.

Temple Shrine History Eat Walk

Best places in Kyoto

Japan’s imperial capital from the 8th century until 1868, Kyoto exemplifies Japanese history and culture. Now an extremely popular tourist destination, the old city is famous for its fine cuisine, geisha district, architecture and garden design. The UNESCO World Heritage “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto” include Ryoan-ji Temple and its famous rock garden, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and Kinkaku-ji Temple with its iconic Golden Pavilion. Other outstanding places to visit among Kyoto’s thousands of shrines and temples are Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine with its long rows of torii gates and Sanjusangendo Temple with its 1001 statues of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy.

World heritage History Shrine Temple Garden View

Kyoto travel guide

Kyoto, Japan’s imperial capital from the 8th century until 1868, stands for history and culture. It is famous for its architecture, temples, shrines, gardens, geisha district, and fine cuisine. Kyoto’s large collection of World Heritage sites include Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion. Also very famous are the bamboo grove of Arashiyama and the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine with its long rows of shrine gates. Throughout the year, various festivalsare held in Kyoto. The traditional that has maintained its place in modern city life here makes Kyoto one of the most popular destinations in Japan.

View Culture History World heritage Temple Shrine Architecture Bamboo Monkeys

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

Fukuyama City

Fukuyama City is located at the eastern end of Hiroshima Prefecture. Fukuyama Castle and Fukuyama Museum of Art stand in the park next to Fukuyama Station of the JR San-yo Shinkansen Line. Tomonoura is the picturesque port town along the coastline in the Seto Inland Sea National Park. The town flourished centuries ago when many merchants' boats sailing the Seto Inland Sea docked at the port. Myoo-in Temple is designated a national treasure popular with the five-tiered pagoda and the main hall. Its details feature a mixture of Chinese Buddhist and Zen style architecture.

Museum Castle Temple Shrine Port

Best places in Hiroshima

Hiroshima is one of the largest cities in Western Japan located on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea. Every year, millions visit its two World Heritage sites, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Itsukushima Shrine. In 1945, Hiroshima was the target of the first atomic bomb and the Peace Memorial Park commemorates this. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island is famous for its Torii gate that looks like it floats on the water.

History Park World heritage site Island Shrine Factory Eat

Kobe, rugby legend's visit

Kobe is a major port city in western Japan and the capital of Hyogo Prefecture. It is one of the main cities in the Kansai region next to Osaka and Kyoto. The port opened up to foreign traders in 1868 whose influence can still be seen in old buildings. Kobe is famous for its excellent beef and sake, products of its beautiful natural surroundings dominated by the Rokko mountain range. Go up Mount Rokko for a great view of Kobe and Osaka Bay. Fun districts to explore are Nankinmachi Chinatown and Kobe Harborland, which is all about shopping and entertainment.

Fun Nature View Eat Sake Wagyu beef

All about Kobe, Hyogo

Kobe is a major port city in western Japan that opened to foreign trade and became home to one of the first foreign communities in the 19th century. The city is on a narrow strip of land between mountains and sea, and has a variety of tourist attractions ranging from a vibrant commercial districts that includes a Chinatown, a ropeway, and a cable car that take you to either a garden or an observatory where you can enjoy a commanding view of the entire landscape of the town with the port in the backdrop.

Hyogo Kobe Chinatown Port Ropeway Cable car Garden Mountain Observatory

All about Koyasan, Wakayama

Mount Koya or Koyasan is the center of a Buddhist sect. Shingon Buddhism was introduced to Japan by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) about 1200 years ago. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004 along with neighboring Kumano, Yoshino and Ominesan as the “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.” Visitors can experience an overnight stay at a temple lodging (shukubo), experience eating a vegetarian monk's cuisine (shojin ryori) and attend morning prayers that are offered at about 50 temples.

Wakayama Koya-san Mountain Temple Museum

Ehime Travel Vlog

Ehime Prefecture is in the northwest of Shikoku island. The prefectural capital is Matsuyama known for Matsuyama Castle. Four of its eight strategic gates are designated national cultural treasures. Dogo Onsen Honkan bathhouse was built in 1894 and has been the main attraction of Dogo Onsen which is known as the oldest onsen hot spring resort in Japan. Imabari City is famous as the producer of high quality towels and is located at the southern end of the Shimanami Kaido bridge system that links Shikoku with Honshu Island which is popular for a spectacular bike ride.

Castle Onsen View History

Meet My Kagawa

Kagawa is one of the four prefectures that make up Shikoku Island. It is famous for its udon noodles and often called Udon Prefecture. Major attractions besides the tasty local food are historic shrines, temples, and scenic spots. Kagawa faces the Seto Inland Sea and has many beautiful places on the coast such as Chichibugahama Beach and Shodoshima Island’s Angel Road sandbank. The “Henro” pilgrimage route to 88 temples in Shikoku includes 23 temples in Kagawa, among them Zentsuji Temple. Other famous destinations are Kotohira-gu Shrine (Konpira-san) and Ritsurin Garden, one of the most important landscape gardens in the country.

History Shrine Temple Garden Nature

Okayama, Onomichi, Kurashiki

Okayama Prefecture is bordering Hiroshima Prefecture on the west. Okayama City, the prefectural capital is famous with Oakayama Castle with its notable black exterior and Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three outstanding gardens along with Kenrokuen in Kanazawa City and Kairakuen in Mito City. Kurashiki is a historic merchant town that is famous for its canals running through the old quarter with unchanged atmosphere from centuries ago.

Castle Garden Park observatory Canal History Street

Nara Day Trip

Nara was Japan's first permanent capital in the 8th century before moving to Kyoto. Eight sites including Japan's oldest and largest temples in Nara such as Kofukuji Temple, Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine were designated as "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara" by UNESCO. The location of the city is within one-hour train ride from Osaka and Kyoto and Nara attracts visitors with its full chest of historic treasures.

History Culture Temple Park Deer. garden Shrine

Nara for first timers

Nara was Japan's first permanent capital in the 8th century before moving to Kyoto. Eight sites including Japan's oldest and largest temples in Nara was designated as "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara" by UNESCO. The city is located less than one hour from Kyoto and Osaka and attracts visitors with its full chest of historic treasures.

Nara Temple Shrine Park Street Buddha

Shiga Tourist Attractions

Shiga Prefecture located next to Kyoto is famous with Hieizan Enryakuji Shrine, Hikone Castle and Lake Biwa which is the largest lake in Japan. More historical sites such as gen-ji Temple, Aga Shrine and Hino Castle Ruin are accesable from Omihachiman Station just about one-hour train ride from Osaka. Cosmos at Noda-cho is expected to bloom from late Sep. to late Oct.

Castle Moat Shrine Temple Flower History View

Stunning Views in Shiga

Shiga Prefecture is next to Kyoto and easily accessible by trains from Osaka as well. Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan is located in the center of the Prefecture and many popular places are located around the lake. One of them is Shirahige Shrine popular with its Torii gate standing in the lake water. Located in Kyoto's eastern mountain range on Mount Hieizan, Enryakuji Temple has been the headquarters of the Tendai sect and one of the most significant monasteries in Japanese history since founded in 788. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.

Castle Lake Shrine Temple History View

Tottori Travel Guide

Tottori Prefecture is located along the Sea of Japan. Its capital is Tottori City, famous for the large area of sand dunes just outside of the city. The biggest dunes have a great view of the beautiful coast which is part of the San’in Kaigan National Park. The Sand Museum here shows sculptures made from sand, every year with a different theme. Outside the capital, you can explore cliffs and sea caves or venture inland to more off-the-beaten-track destinations. To relax and recover your strengths, unwind in the hot springs of MisasaOnsen and taste some of the local cuisine.

Eat Japanese cuisine Local Coast Dunes Onsen 

Uncovered Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi is located on the westernmost of the Honshu main island of Japan, bordering Hiroshima on the east and Fukuoka is in Kyushu on the west. The major cities of the prefectures are connected by the Shikansen bullet train. One of the Yamaguchi's major attractions is the five-arched Kintaikyo Bridge in Iwakuni City. Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park consists of Akiyoshidai Plateau, a 130 square kilometer area of karst topography with over 400 limestone caves including Akiyoshido Cave which is Japan’s longest limestone cave.

Bridge Plateau Cave Castle Onsen History

Yamaguchi Tourism

Yamaguchi is located on the westernmost of the Honshu main island of Japan, bordering Hiroshima on the east and Fukuoka is in Kyushu on the west. The major cities of the prefectures are connected by the Shikansen bullet train. One of the Yamaguchi's major attractions is the five-arched Kintaikyo Bridge in Iwakuni City. Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park consists of Akiyoshidai Plateau, a 130 square kilometer area of karst topography with over 400 limestone caves including Akiyoshido Cave which is Japan’s longest limestone cave.

Bridge Shrine Plateau Cave Temple History

Iya Valley and Wonders, Tokushima

Tokushima Prefecture is one of the four prefectures of Japan's Shikoku Island. Surrounded by mountains, the Iya Valley and Oboke region seems a world away from modern Japanese cities. This remote area has spectacular scenery with steep gorges and is famous for its Kazurabashi Bridges made from vines. Near Okobe Gorge, you can take in the landscape from a boat or from the quiet of an onsen bath. Time seems to have stopped here - Ochiai Village has preserved its traditional old farmhouses. To see more historic Japanese architecture, take a walk through the Udatsu Townscape of Wakimachi in Mima.

Nature History View Scenery Mountains Onsen

Central Kochi

Kochi is located on the southern coast of Shikoku Island in Japan. Kochi Castle is the only castle in Japan whose original building is preserved as it was built 400 years ago. On the hilltop in the eastside of the town, stand Godaisan Observatory and Chikurinji Temple, one of the 88 temples along the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Kochi is known as the home of Sakamoto Ryoma who played a important role in the Meiji Restoration in the 19th Century. His statue is located at the Katsurahama Beach that faces the Pacific Ocean in the south of the city.

Castle Market Temple Observatory Eat View

Shimane’s Beautiful Scenery

Shimane Prefecture is located in the northern region of Western Japan, facing the Sea of Japan. Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine is famous as the place where myriads of Japanese gods gather to hold annual meetings. The Adachi Museum of Art with the majestic Japanese gardens is a Michelin Guide 3 stars winner. Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine Ruins is the World Heritage Site designated in 2007. Matsue Castle is one of 12 castles in Japan with extant original donjons. Lake Shinji is popular with the beautiful sunset.

View Traditional performing art Shrine World heritage Castle Museum