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Mōtsū
Established by the priest Ennin in AD 850 at the same time as Chūson-ji, Mōtsū-ji was once Tōhoku’s largest and grandest temple complex. The buildings are all long gone, but the enigmatic 12th-century ‘Pure Land’ gardens, designed with the Buddhist notion of creating an earthly par
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Mt Shirane
Head up into the hills to the volcanic peak of Mt Shirane, famous for its striking milky-green sulphur Yugama crater lake . A bus runs from Kusatsu Station (¥2000 return, 30 minutes) up the steep, winding road to the Shirane Resthouse, from where its a 15-minute stair climb to the
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Jigoku
A short walk uphill reveals what may await us in the afterlife: sulphurous gases, hissing vents and seemingly blood-stained rocks. A number of short tracks run up through Jigoku-dani. Those keen on a walk can carry on over to Oyu-numa, a hot steamy lake about a 30-minute walk from
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Botchan Karakuri Clock
At the start of the arcade you can check out Botchan Karakuri Clock, which was erected as part of Dōgo Onsen Honkans centennial in 1994. It features figures based on the main characters from Botchan , who emerge to take a turn on the hour from 8am to 10pm. The spectacle is utterly
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Barasu
A snorkelling spot worth noting is the unusual Barasu-tō, between Iriomote-jima and Hatoma-jima, which is a small island formed entirely of bits of broken coral. In addition to the island itself, the reefs nearby are in quite good condition and make for good boat-based snorkelling
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Kibitsu
Kibitsu-jinja is a major shrine dedicated to an ancient warrior who subdued a local bandit/demon called Ura and brought the area under central control. Many people believe that these exploits were the ultimate source of the Momotarō legend. The Kibiji bicycle route passes by the sh
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Kiyōmizu Kannon
Ueno-kōens Kiyōmizu Kannon-dō is one of Tokyos oldest structures: established in 1631 and in its present position since 1698, it has survived every disaster that has come its way. Its a miniature of the famous Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto and is a pilgrimage site for women hoping to conc
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Yubatake
Yubattake is the main attraction in the town centre and the source of hot-spring water in the area. Its milky blue sulphuric water flows like a waterfall at 4000L per minute and is topped with wooden tanks from which Kusatsus ryokan fill their baths. The area is atmospherically lit
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Tokyo Midtown Design Hub
Tokyo Midtown prides itself on being at the cutting edge of contemporary Japanese design. This gallery, tucked away on the 5th floor of Midtown Tower, hosts interesting exhibitions around this theme. Some exhibitions tackle social issues, while others facilitate dialogue between di
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Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum
A painter and sculpture, Okamoto Tarō was Japans most recognised artist from the post-WWII period, a rare avant-garde figure with mass appeal. His works are both playful and sinister, life-affirming and chaotic. This small museum, which includes a sculpture garden, is inside the ar
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Reimeikan
The Reimeikan has extensive displays on Satsuma history and ancient swordmaking. Its inside the site of Kagoshimas castle, Tsurumaru-jō (1602); the walls and moat are all that remain, and bullet holes in the stones are still visible. Its behind Kagoshimas city hall and government b
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Sambutsu
The main hall of the temple Rinnō-ji houses a trio of 8m gilded wooden Buddha statues: Amida Nyorai (a primal deity in the Mahayana Buddhist canon), flanked by Senjū (deity of mercy and compassion) and Batō (a horse-headed Kannon). Its exterior is under wraps for restoration until
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Kanazawa Noh Museum
Come here for a basic introduction to the ancient art of nō (noh), one of the worlds oldest continuously performed theatre forms. With special emphasis on Kaga-style performance, changing exhibits complement permanent displays. The ground floor is marked with the outline of a nō st
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Yashima
About 5km east of Takamatsu is the 292m-high tabletop plateau of Yashima, where youll find Yashima-ji, number 84 of the 88 Temples. This was the site of a decisive battle between the Genji and Heike clans in the late 12th century, and the temples Treasure House exhibits artefacts r
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National Museum of Western Art
The permanent collection here runs from medieval Madonna and child images to 20th-century abstract expressionism, but is strongest in French impressionism, including a whole gallery of Monet. The main building was designed by Le Corbusier in the late 1950s and is now on Unesco’s Wo
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Gyokusenji
Founded in 1590, this Zen temple is most famous as the first Western consulate in Japan, established in 1856. A small museum has artefacts of the life of American Townsend Harris, the first consul general. Its a 25-minute walk from Shimoda Station, or take bus 9 to Kakisaki-jinja-m
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Cat Street
Had enough of crowded Harajuku? Exit, stage right, for Cat Street, a windy road lined with a mish-mash of boutiques and more room to move. The retail architecture is also quite a spectacle, as this is where smaller brands strike their monuments to consumerism if they cant afford to
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Nikkō Tōshō
Bypassed by nearly everyone at Tōshō-gū is this marvellous museum in the old shrine offices, showcasing great works of art on its doors, sliding screens, frames and decorative scrolls, some by masters such as Yokoyama Taikan and Nakamura Gakuryo. Follow the path to the right of Omo
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Amo Chinmi Processed Seafoods Company
Amo Chinmi has its factory at the far western end of the harbour, about 10 minutes walk from the town centre. In the factory premises, Uonosato processes much of the locally caught fish and its interesting to watch the workers making prawn sembei (rice crackers) and chikuwa (tube-s
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Togakushi Folk Museum & Ninja House
Above the Okusha bus stop youll find this museum housing artefacts from a time when local yamabushi (mountain monks) practised what became known as ninpo (the art of stealth). The Ninja House is the most fun, cleverly concocted with trick doors, hidden staircases and a room that sl
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