Arima Onsen

This is a 931 meter tall mountain in north Kobe. The sky observation deck as well as the observation area that looks down into the landscape below is named as one of Japan's three best night views, where one can see Osaka, Seto Inland Sea and Shikoku. This view is also known as "Kobe's 10 million dollar view".

This is a waterfall that runs down the Mino River. With a height of 4 meters and a width of 30 meters, the waterfall has two stages, and the area is ideal for photography particularly due to the early morning glow. The area has also been a setting for various traditional folk stories and plays.※兵庫県 黒滝の朝 © Tomato_249 クリエイティブコモンズライセンス（表示4.0 国際）https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This is a Shingon sect temple built in 1198 under the instruction of Chogen. The objects of worship are known as Yakushi Nyorai and Amida Nyorai and three great Buddha statues known as Amida Sansonzo, created by Kaikei are desiganated national treasures, along with Jodo do. At Mountain next to Jodoji Temple, there are around 10,000 hydrangea flowers along the path, providing a vividly colorful view.

This is one of Japan's three largest castles built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583. It was also the scene for the great battle known as "Osaka no Eki", fought between the Toyotomi clan and Tokugawa noble families after the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The current castle tower was built by the Tokugawa family after the death of Toyotomi, and is known as one of the great symbols of Osaka. It is familiar to many people and is known as the "Taikohan Castle".

This is a shrine that is said to have been built in 660 BC. The original shrine Gods are known as Amenokoyane no Mikoto, Hime no Omikami, and subsequently the Futsunushi no Kami(Katori Jingu Shrine) and Takemikazuchi no Mikoto (Kashima Shrine) were deified to the shrine, but where then moved to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Because of this, the shrine is sometimes known as the "ex-Kasuga shrine". Many important figures of their time such as Taira KiyomoriMinamoto YoshitsuneMinamoto YoritomoAshikaga Takauji and Toyotomi Hideyori visited this shrine, which possesses what is known as "an ancient sanctuary".

This is a bamboo forest of around 400m in Sagano. This was an area opened by aristocrats and noblemen in the Heian era(794-1185), and this area loved by the upper echelons of society back then still exists today, around 1,000 years later. This symbol of Kyoto brings in many tourists. It is recommended that you visit in early morning or later evening to be able to enjoy at leisure.

This is a temple built under the instruction of Ashikaga Takauji in 1345, and is a branch temple of Rinzai Tenryu-ji sect head temple. It was built as a place of relaxation for Emperor Godaigo. The main object of worship is Shaka Nyorai, and is registered as a world heritage site. The area is also popular for autumn leaf viewing, as there are amazing views of the Arashiyama autumn leaf trees.

This is a temple built in 607 AD by Prince Shotoku, and is a branch temple of the Shotoku sect head temple. It is registered as a world heritage. The object of worship is known as Shaka Nyorai and during the Sengoku era(1467-1600), was restored by the Toyotomi clan and Tokugawa families, as well as significant restoration between 1934 and 1985. Over a long period of time, it has been restored to its former glory. It is a treasure trove of cultural assets with 17 national treasures and 35 assets of cultural importance.

This is a Rinzai sect temple built by Hosokawa Katsumoto in 1450. The main object of faith is Shaka Nyorai, and is registered as World Heritage Site. The famous stone water garden known as "Karesansui Garden" is said to represent a Zen landscape, and is arranged such that one cannot see all 15 stones at the same time. The area became famous when UK's Queen Elizabeth II visited here in 1975.

This is Japan's only world heritage castle built in 1346 under the instruction of Akamatsu Sadanori. It is one of Japan's 12 castle towers and one of 5 registered as a national treasure in Japan. It is also known as one Japan's three greatest castles. It was expanded by its respective castle owners such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Ikeda Terumasa during the Sengoku era(1467-1600), to become the impressive castle that it is today. Due to its impressive white appearance, it is also known as the "White Egret castle".

This temple, which was a branch of the main temple of the Rishu sect, was built in 759 AD by Jianzhen (known as Ganjin in Japanese), a Chinese monk who singlehandedly spread the teachings of Buddhism in Japan. The main object of worship is known as Rushana buddha and is registered as a World Heritage Site. The temple is significant in that is preserves the original 8th century Nara Tenpyou culture, and has the golden hall and auditorium that was constructed during the Nara era(710-794). The name comes from the fact that Jianzhen spent his later years at the temple.

A town built by Empress Genmei in 710 AD, it is a registered world heritage site. The town was created as a capital to practice the law of the land and was 2,500 hectares in size. The model of the city was based on China's city of Choan City. The Suzaku gate and imperial council hall have been restored, allowing visitors to feel the history of the original town.

Built in 711 AD, this shrine is the main central temple of the Inari Shrine group, of which there are about 30,000 in Japan. The main Gods are Ukanomitama no Mikoto , Satahiko no Okami, Omiyanome no Okami, Tanaka no Okami, Shi no Okami, known as the Inari great Gods. The shrine has long been known as a place to pray for wish for abundance, and the countless red/orange Torii gates were built to express the power of abundance of the Inari great shrine God, and is known as the "Thousand Torii gates". It was also the scene for the film "Memoirs of a Geisha".

This is a Rinzai sect temple built by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397. Kannon Bosatsu is the main object of worship, and is registered as a World Heritage Site. The golden Shariden temple known as "Kinkaku" in the centre of the Garden is said to represent paradise in this world. In the Kyoko-chi Pond, there are several stone islands known as Ashihara-jima islandTsurushima islandKameshima island dedicated to the feudal lords who served Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the Shogun whose home the temple was. Along with Ginkakuji Temple(Silver Pavilion), these two temples are the great symbols of the Muromachi era(1336-1573).

This is a Rinzai sect temple built in 1236 by Enni, and is a branch temple of Rinzai Tofukuji sect head temple. The main object of worship is Shaka Nyorai, and the name takes one character from the Todaiji Temple and Kofukuji Temples respectively. The oldest gate in Japan is here, which was rebuilt by Ashikaga Yoshimochi in 1425, and is a designated national treasure. In addition from the Tsuten bridge, provides optimum views of the vivid autumn leaves, and is said to be the best autumn leaf viewing spot in Kyoto.

This is a temple built in 1052 by Fujiwara Yorimichi and is registered as a World Heritage Site. The main object of worship is known as Amida Nyorai, and displays the luxurious aristocratic culture of Fujiwara clan. In the central island of the pond, there is what is known as the phoenix temple, and it appears as if there is a palace floating in the middle of the pond in a treasure paradise. You can see the phoenix design on 10 yen coins and 10,000 yen notes.

For 500 years between 1392 and 1869, the various generations of emperors lived here, where public ceremonies were held and administration took place. Originally, the place began as a small hall known as "Tsuchimikado Higashi no Toindono", but was expanded by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, an important Shogun in Japanese history. It was established by Oda Nobunaga and Hideyoshi Toyotomi, to become the place as it is seen today. It ended as a place of government when the Emperor Meiji and royal family moved to Tokyo in 1869, and became open to the public from August 2016.

This is a Hosso sect temple built by Enchin in 778 AD. The temple is built is reverence to Senju Kannon(1000 Armed) and is registered as a World Heritage Site. There is also a 13 meter high famous hall known as the "Kiyomizu Stage", which was built under the instruction of Tokugawa Iemitsu, where it became the stage for performances such as Gagaku classical music, Noh theatre, Kyogen and Kabuki. The temple can be enjoyed in all four seasons with cherry blossoms, greenery, autumn leaves and snow views during the respective four seasons.

This is a temple built in 669 AD by Fujiwara Fuhito, amongst others, and is a branch temple of the Hoso sect main temple. The main object of worship is known as Shaka Nyorai, and is registered as a national treasure. It was considered as one of the four great temples during the Nara period(710-794) and one of the seven major temples during the Heian period(794-1185), and increased in prominence through sharing teachings with Kasuga Taisha Shrine. There are numerous cultural treasures such as the wooden deva king statue.

This is a Shingon sect temple built by Shobo in 874 AD, and is a branch temple of Shingon sect head temple. Yakushi Nyorai is the primary object of worship, and the temple is registered as a World Heritage Site. Although it was destroyed during the unrest of the Muromachi Era(1336-1573), it was reconstructed as the stage of a famous play starring the hero Toyotomi Hideyoshi, known as the "Daigo no Hanami". It is also famous for cherry blossom viewing.