The Ultimate App for Cultural Travel Japan

Kyoto

Kyoto is a major city in Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of central Honshu. It served as Japan's imperial capital from 794, when the court moved to Heian-kyo, until 1868, when the capital transferred to Tokyo, shaping its urban form and culture. The city features landmarks such as Kiyomizu-dera temple, Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine with its torii gate paths, Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), and Nijo Castle, a former Tokugawa shogun residence; many are grouped in the UNESCO World Heritage "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto." Kyoto lies in a basin crossed by the Kamo and Katsura rivers and includes districts like Gion, known for geisha arts. Festivals such as the Gion Matsuri and a strong university community sustain its role in Japanese history, religion, and learning.

Takatori

Wakayama

Wakayama is the capital city of Wakayama Prefecture in the Kansai region. It lies at the mouth of the Kinokawa River on the northwestern Kii Peninsula, facing the Kii Channel. The city grew as the castle town of the Kii Domain, ruled by the Kii branch of the Tokugawa from 1619. Wakayama City was established in 1889 and was heavily damaged by air raids in 1945 before rebuilding as a regional center. Wakayama Castle, originally built in 1585 by Toyotomi Hidenaga and now reconstructed, anchors a hilltop park with a small history museum. Kimii-dera temple, a stop on the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage, is noted for early cherry blossoms. The Wakanoura area is a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty. Wakayama Port runs ferries to Tokushima, and Nankai Electric Railway links the city to Osa...

Nara

Nara is the capital of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. It served as Japan’s first permanent capital at Heijō-kyō from 710 to 784, giving its name to the Nara period (710–794). The Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, which include temples, shrines, and palace ruins, were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. Tōdai-ji temple houses the Great Buddha and one of the world’s largest wooden halls. Kōfuku-ji is noted for its five-story pagoda, while Kasuga Taisha and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest reflect ancient Shinto worship. The Heijō Palace Site offers reconstructed state halls and a museum. Nara Park links major landmarks and is known for protected free-roaming deer, and the Nara National Museum showcases Buddhist art.

Otsu

Omihachiman