The Akashi Kaikyō Bridge was officially opened in April 1998, with a total length of 3,911 meters, making it the world's longest suspension bridge. Even the world’s most powerful Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake failed to shake it, demonstrating its outstanding design and construction. Its presence has made transportation between Osaka, Kobe, and the Shikoku region increasingly convenient. …
The Kobe Maritime Museum was established in April 1987 to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Kobe’s port opening. Located in Meriken Park in Kobe’s Chūō Ward, the museum centers on the themes of “sea, ship, and port.” It is one of the few large-scale maritime museums in the world and also one of Kobe’s most iconic structures. The…
Soen Garden refers to a traditional Japanese garden located in Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, covering a total area of approximately 20,000 square meters. This garden is the first registered monument under Japan's Cultural Properties Protection Law and is also a renowned spot in Japan for viewing azaleas. Soen Garden was created by…
Suma Temple is located in Sumadera-chō, Suma Ward, Kobe City, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Established in the 2nd year of the Ninna era (886), it is a Shingon sect temple. Its official name is Fukuoshō-ji on Mount Ueno, with the mountain name Ueno-yama, and its principal image is the Sacred Kannon. Having endured over a thousand years of wind and rain, today’s Suma Temple may no longer have the splendor of its past…
The Sympathy Pavilion, also known as the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, is located in Higashimaioka, Tarumi-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, adjacent to the world’s largest suspension bridge over the sea—the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge. Established in November 1984, it is the only public facility in Japan that...
Nankinmachi is the colloquial name for a narrow area located between Motomachi-dori and Sakuragicho-dori in Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. It is also a registered trademark of the Nankinmachi Shopping Street Promotion Association. It is a Chinatown rich in Chinese flavor, and together with Yokohama Chinatown and Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown, it is counted as one of Japan’s three major Chinatowns. Nankinmachi has gone through 140 years of changes since the opening of…
Harborland is located on the west side of Kobe Port in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. It is a redevelopment project on the former site of the Kobe Municipal Railway's Konominato Freight Terminal. Established in October 1992 with the theme of creating a cultural city connected to the sea, it is a comprehensive commercial and sightseeing district that attracts a large number of domestic and international visitors every year. …
Ikuta Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Chūō-ku, Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. It was established in the first year of Empress Jingū's reign (201 AD), with the main deity worshipped being Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto. Legend has it that in ancient times, the person who managed Ikuta Shrine was named Kobe, and the area now known as Chūō-ku, Kobe, was once the shrine’s territory. Over time, the name “Kobe” became the official name of the city.
Kobe Port Tower is an observation tower located in Motomachi, Chūō-ku, Kobe City, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Designed by Nikken Sekkei and completed in 1963, it is the world’s only tubular-structured observation tower, a renowned attraction in Japan, and one of the most recognizable landmarks of Kobe. The tower has eight floors in total,…
Introduction Gyokusendo Cave is the largest limestone karst cave on Okinawa Island. It was discovered in 1967 (Showa 42) by an academic exploration team from Ehime University. It is estimated to be 300,000 years old, with its main and branch caves stretching a combined length of 5 kilometers, making it the second largest in Japan after Anko Cave in Iwate Prefecture...
Introduction During World War II, over 200,000 residents of Okinawa were caught in the flames of war, suffering heavy casualties. After the war, reflecting on the tragedy, the people of Okinawa built Peace Memorial Park in the Mabuni area to warn future generations of the disasters brought by war. The park houses the Peace Memorial Hall, the Peace Memorial Museum, and various...
Introduction It takes about three minutes to walk west from Shureimon to reach Tamaudun, also known as the stone mausoleum of the Ryû-ô-den. In 1501, during the first year of the Bunki era, King Shô Shin—who is regarded as the restorer of the Ryukyu Kingdom—built this mausoleum to relocate the remains of his father, King Shô En. From that time on, it became the second royal mausoleum of the Shô family…
Introduction Naha is the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, located on the western coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island, covering an area of 37.17 square kilometers. As early as the mid-14th century, it was already a trading port. It was destroyed during World War II, later rebuilt, and occupied by the U.S. military after the war, before being returned to Japan in 1972. Naha boasts beautiful scenery, with many gracefully swaying palm and betel nut trees, lush and upright Ryukyu pines, and a riot of colorful flowers, all set against the deep blue sea and white-clouded skies, presenting a quintessential southern landscape. It is one of Japan’s rare subtropical tourist destinations. The city is home to the ruins of Shuri Castle, the residence of successive Ryukyu kings, where the Shureimon Gate is a symbol of Okinawa; there is also the Chūzonji Temple, the national shrine of the Ryukyu Kingdom era, whose stone gate has been designated a national treasure; and the 15th-century Rinkū-udun, among others.
Introduction Shureimon is the symbol of Okinawa and a famous sightseeing spot in Shuri Castle. It was once the second gate among the six gates of Shuri Castle. During the Ryukyu Kingdom era, Okinawa was revered as the "Land of Propriety," and the inscription hanging on the gate is the origin of its name. It is said that Shureimon was built in the first half of the 16th century…
Introduction Kokusai Dori is also known as the “Miracle Mile.” After World War II, Okinawa was reduced to ruins. However, with their strong will to survive, the local people established markets on this land and recovered in an incredibly short time. Since then, this area has become a main street symbolizing Okinawa, …
Introduction The Izu Peninsula is located in the eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture, jutting out into the Pacific Ocean, covering an area of 1,430 square kilometers. The Fuji Volcanic Zone runs north to south across the peninsula, resulting in numerous hot springs. It is home to Japan’s largest hot spring city, Atami, as well as the Shuzenji Onsen with over 1,200 years of history, and hot springs at Izu-yama, -, and Nagaoka...
Introduction: Cape Zanpa has long been a popular tourist destination and a frequent theme in Ryukyuan classical music. The dramatic cliffs here display a striking presence. The area boasts numerous excellent fishing and diving spots, along with well-developed tourism facilities, making it a favorite spot for visitors.
Introduction The Okinawa Ocean Expo Memorial Park is located in Kunigami District, about 90 kilometers north of Naha City. It was built to commemorate the 1975 Okinawa Ocean Expo. The park covers a total area of 77 hectares and features an aquarium, dolphin theater, white-sand beach, ocean culture museum, Tropical Dream Center, …
Introduction In Toyama Prefecture, located in the Hokuriku region of central Japan, stands Tateyama, known as the "Roof of Japan." It receives an average snowfall of about 6 meters each winter. The access roads to Tateyama in the Kurobe area and the Hakusan foothills are typically closed from November to March and only reopen at the end of April.
Introduction The aquarium, located within the Ocean Expo Park on the Motobu Peninsula, boasts the world’s largest water volume, the greatest diversity of fish species, the thickest aquarium tank, the most diverse shark species, and was the first in the world to artificially breed natural coral in an aquarium. It showcases 650 species of marine life and 75,000 various exotic fish, offering visitors an experience as if they were deep underwater.