Places worth the detour in Japan
Japan has 2,921 places worth going out of your way for on Detourmap, across 16 kinds — the biggest group is churches, temples, monasteries & shrines (654). The best known is Mount Fuji. 2,648 of them are hidden gems most guides skip. Every place below has a photo and a Wikipedia article — click any of them to fly the map there.
Churches, temples, monasteries & shrines in Japan 654
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Kōtoku-in Temple
Sacred sites · 13th century · Renowned
Buddhist temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Ancient & archaeological sites in Japan 477
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Yoshinogari site
Ancient & megalithic · 4th century BC · Hidden gem
Prehistoric site located in Yoshinogari, Saga, Japan
Castles, palaces & forts in Japan 381
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Nagoya Castle
Castles & palaces · 16th century · Renowned
Japanese castle located in Nagoya, central Japan
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Matsumoto Castle
Castles & palaces · 16th century · Notable
Building in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Parks, canyons & rock formations in Japan 290
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Hashima Island
Natural wonders · Renowned
Abandoned island lying about 15 kilometres (9 miles) from the city of Nagasaki, in southern Japan. Abandoned concrete buildings and the surrounding sea wall.
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Mount Hiei
Natural wonders · Notable
Mountain in Kyōto, Kyōto prefefecture and Ōtsu, Shiga Prefectures, Japan
Museums & galleries in Japan 275
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National Museum of Western Art
Museums & galleries · 20th century · Notable
Art museum in Tokyo, Japan
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National Museum of Nature and Science
Museums & galleries · 19th century · Notable
National Science Museum in Tokyo, Japan
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The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Museums & galleries · 20th century · Notable
Art museum in Tokyo, Japan
Bridges & aqueducts in Japan 226
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Rainbow Bridge
Great structures · 20th century · Notable
Suspension bridge across the Tokyo Bay, Japan
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Kanmon Bridge
Great structures · 20th century · Notable
Suspension bridge that crosses the Strait Kanmon Strait and unites the islands of Honshū and Kyūshū of Japan.
Volcanoes, geysers & hot springs in Japan 166
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Mount Asama
Volcanic & geothermal · Renowned
Volcano on the border of Gunma and Nagano prefectures in Japan
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Sakurajima
Volcanic & geothermal · Renowned
Volcano and island located in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan
Theme parks, zoos & aquariums in Japan 144
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Tokyo Disneyland
Fun & leisure · 20th century · Renowned
Theme park in Japan, owned by The Oriental Land Company
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Tokyo DisneySea
Fun & leisure · 21st century · Notable
Theme park in Japan, owned by The Oriental Land Company
Parks, gardens & arboretums in Japan 108
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Shinjuku Gyoen
Parks & gardens · 19th century · Notable
Park and garden in Shinjuku and Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Towers & lighthouses in Japan 56
Monuments & statues in Japan 52
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Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining
Monuments & statues · Notable
World Heritage Site in Japan
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Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Monuments & statues · 20th century · Notable
Memorial park located in Hiroshima, Japan
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Shrines and Temples of Nikkō
Monuments & statues · Notable
UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kantō region, Japan
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Ushiku Daibutsu
Monuments & statues · 20th century · Notable
Statue located in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Waterfalls in Japan 39
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Shiraito Falls
Waterfalls · Notable
Waterfall in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, near Mount Fuji, Japan
Caves & caverns in Japan 21
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Akkadō
Caves & caverns · Hidden gem
Longest cave in Japan, a limestone cave in Iwaizumi Town, Shimohei District, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
Catacombs, shipwrecks & cemeteries in Japan 18
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Musashi Imperial Graveyard
Macabre & curious · 20th century · Hidden gem
Cemetery in Nagabusamachi, Tokyo, Japan
Beaches & coves in Japan 12
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Yuigahama
Beaches & coves · 20th century · Hidden gem
Beach and neighborhood in Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan
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Jōdogahama
Beaches & coves · Hidden gem
Part of the Rikuchū Kaigan National Park, in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
