Design Pocket Osaka Main Store

A shop that specializes in making fake food models. There are over a thousand different kinds of food models that look exactly like the real thing. You can also take a tour to find out more about how they are made.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa

It is a Shinto ritual dedicated to Kushida Shrine, known as the chief deity of the Hakata area of Fukuoka City, and has a long history of about 800 years. In 2016, it was registered as a World Heritage SiteINtangible Cultural Heritage) by UNESCO, along with 32 other festivals around Japan. Drawing approx. 3.5 million […]

Kushiro City Marshland Observatory

The Kushiro City Marshland Observatory is the best-maintained observatory near the city and the airport, and is located at the western edge of Kushiro Marsh. From the observation deck on the third floor and the rooftop, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the marshland, Kushiro city, and the Pacific Ocean. The first floor has […]

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Tokyo

An indoor attraction for kids, the facility has over 3 million Lego blocks. Adults alone cannot enter. Build all kinds of stuff in themed classrooms, build a Lego race car, play shooting games or enjoy 4D cinema, all kinds of attractions and large models for families to enjoy.

Tsutenkaku

Tsutenkaku is the symbol of Shinsekai, and it is even called the “Eiffel Tower of Naniwa (Osaka)” – likely an over-exaggeration. It was built in 1912 but deconstructed in 1943 after experiencing a fire, and rebuilt in 1956 with a great increase in height from 64 meters to 103 meters. The 5th floor is known […]

Nakijin Castle Ruin

SMALL WORLDS TOKYO

With a total area of approximately 8,000 square meters, it is one of the largest indoor miniature theme parks in the world. The “miniature world in motion” is a fusion of sophisticated and cutting-edge Japanese technology on a scale of 1/80th of a miniature. There are a total of six areas, including an area that […]

Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street

Because the strip is about 2.6 kilometers long, walking its total length will take approximately 40 minutes. Weekends will be especially crowded, so it will take longer. If you’re short on time, then just walk around 5 chome. The characteristics of each chome are as follows. 3 to 6 chome are generally very lively.  Most […]

Seven Stars Tree

On the northern side of Highway 237 stands a single Japanese oak tree in the middle of the rolling hills. The tree suddenly earned fame in 1976 as the world’s 4th largest tobacco manufacturer, JT, used the tree as the package image of their Seven Stars cigarette brand. That’s pretty much all there is to […]

Senso-ji

The oldest temple in Tokyo.   Though the temple has the same characters as “Asakusa”, it is read “Senso-ji”, not “Asakusa-dera”. In the year 628, 2 fishermen (brothers), built Senso-ji to enshrine the the bodhisattva of mercy and salvation after going out to nearby Sumida River and catching a statue of the bodhisattva Kannon with […]

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine

This shrine is where the Tenjin Festival, one of the three greatest festivals in Japan, is held. The shrine has a long history stemming from 650, when Emperor Kotoku built Naniwa Nagara-Toyosaki Palace. The “Shrine of General ” was founded to the northwest of the palace as a guardian deity. In 949, the God of […]

Lake Akan Ainu Kotan

In a corner of the Lake Akan hot spring resort, there is the Ainu Village, the largest Ainu village in Japan, where about 30 houses and 120 people live. The Ainu Theater Ikoro (where Ainu dances are performed), two museums introducing the culture, souvenir stores selling wood carving goods, and restaurants that serve Ainu local […]

Kushiro Zoo

YANAGAWA TACHIBANA-TEI OHANA

The Tachibana Residence was built in 1738 by the fifth lord of the Yanagawa domain as his private residence. In 1910 during the Meiji period (1868-1912), a guest house and Japanese garden were built, and today the entire 23,100 m2 site is designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty in Japan.

Shikisai no Oka

Located atop a high hill, the garden is one of the must visit spots in Biei with a spectacular view. Enjoy in season flowers from spring to autumn. The garden takes up over 150,000 sq. m. of land and has roughly 30 kinds of flowers planted in stripes of red, yellow, pink, and white, so […]

Lake Akan Hot Springs

Due to the volcanic land, the area around Lake Akan gush with high quality hot springs; one hot spring town on the lake’s south shore has around 20 lodging facilities. Among them, roughly 10 of the lodges (like the 2 below) allow you to enjoy their hot spring for about ¥1500 without having to stay […]

Munakata Taisha Okitsu-miya Yohaisho

A shrine built in the 18th century near the northern tip of Oshima to worship Okinoshima Island, which is off-limits to visitors. It stands in the middle of the slope facing the coast, with the magnificent ocean spread out below. On a clear day, Okinoshima Island can be clearly seen floating on the horizon. The […]

Sugi no Baba

This is a 500-meter walkway leading from the Akizuki Museum to the Akizuki Castle Ruins. It was once lined with cedar trees and used by samurai warriors to practice horsemanship, hence the name “Sugi no Baba.” The cedar trees were replaced by a large number of cherry trees in celebration of Japan’s victory in the […]