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Sugimoto
This small temple, founded in AD 734, is reputed to be the oldest in Kamakura. The ferocious-looking guardian deities and statues of Kannon are its main draw. Take a bus from stop 5 at Kamakura Station to the Sugimoto Kannon bus stop (¥200, 10 minutes).
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St Marys Cathedral Tokyo
Rising nearly 40m tall and glistening in the sun, this stainless-steel contemporary cathedral was completed in 1955. Its the work of Japans foremost modern architect, Tange Kenzō, and structural and acoustic engineers from the University of Tokyo.
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Seison
Inside the Castle Park, Seison-kaku is a retirement villa built by a Maeda lord for his mother in 1863. Elegant chambers named for trees and animals are filled with furniture, clothing and furnishings. A detailed English-language pamphlet is available.
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Shizutani Gakko
The first public school in Japan, Edo-era Shizutani Gakko has wood interiors and beautifully preserved Bizen-yaki roof tiles. The school is about 3km from Yoshinaga station. There are infrequent buses but its walkable; ask at the station for directions.
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Shimonoseki City Art Museum
The Shimonoseki City Art Museum is on the main road at the edge of the old Chōfu area. It houses an eclectic collection of local art, which is rotated based on changing themes. There are regular temporary exhibits, sometimes of international artists.
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Daichi Makishi Kōsetsu Ichiba
Our favourite stop in the arcade area is the covered food market just off Ichibahon-dōri, about 200m south of Kokusai-dōri. The colourful variety of fish and produce on offer here is amazing, and dont miss the wonderful local restaurants upstairs.
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Kayano Shigeru Ainu Memorial Museum
On the eastern side of Nibutanis main street, the Kayano Shigeru Ainu Memorial Museum houses the private collection of Kayano Shigeru, the first person of Ainu descent to be elected to the Japanese Diet. Youll need your own wheels to get to Nibutani.
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Jingū
If you’re hunting to take photos of Harajuku’s legendary cos-players (costume players), this is your best bet. Though the scene appears to be fading, on sunny weekends (especially Sundays) you might catch eccentrically dressed teens assembling here.
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Kurodani Pagoda
This pagoda, which stands above the temple of Kurodani, offers one of the best views over the city. You cannot enter the pagoda itself, but you can climb to its base. Follow the steps that start about 150m southeast of the main hall of the temple.
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Old Sapporo Court of Appeals Building
At the western end of Ōdori Kōen stands this impressive brick building that was built in 1926 as the Sapporo High Court. While the grounds and gardens seem like an extension of the park, the building houses a popular free museum of Sapporos history.
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Nagahama
If youve had a look at the crowds at Yoneha-Maehama and decided you want something quieter, head across the Kurima-Ōhashi and drive to the northwest coast of Kurima-jima (来間島), where you will find the brilliant (and usually uncrowded) Nagahama.
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Yakushima Environmental & Cultural Village Center
In Miyanoura at the corner of the ferry-terminal road. It has exhibits about the islands natural environment and history, with limited English signs. It screens a large-format 25-minute film (sparsely subtitled in English) at 20 minutes past the hour.
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The Container
Quite possibly the citys tiniest art gallery, The Container is literally a shipping container located within a hair salon. Really, it doesnt get more Tokyo than that. Installations feature contemporary artists, both Japanese and international.
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Shitamachi Museum
This museum re-creates life in the plebeian quarters of Tokyo during the Meiji and Taishō periods (1868–1926), before the city was twice destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake and WWII. There are old tenement houses and shops that you can enter.
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Shiseido Gallery
The cosmetics company Shiseido runs its experimental art space out of the basement of its Shiseido Parlour complex of cafes and restaurants. An ever-changing selection, particularly of installation pieces, lends itself well to the gallerys high ceiling.
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Shōhō
The main attraction of this orange-and-white temple is the papier-mâché daibutsu (Great Buddha, circa 1832), one of the three Great Buddha statues of Japan. Its 13.7m tall and is said to have been fashioned over 38 years using a tonne of paper sutras.
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Sendai Castle Ruins
Built on Aoba-yama in 1602 by Date Masamune and destroyed during Allied bombing, Sendai-jō still looms large over the city. Giant moss-covered walls, as imposing as they are impressive, are still intact and the grounds offer sweeping views over the city.
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Tokyo Anime Center Akiba Info
If you’re hunting for specific anime or manga merchandise, try the English-speaking information desk here. It’s part of a shop that sells a decent variety of character goods such as Astro Boy; there are also computer terminals with free internet access.
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Ōhama
The closest beach to Amami, its popular for swimming, snorkelling and sea kayaking in summer. It can get crowded and is not as nice as beaches further afield, but its convenient. Take an Ōhama-bound bus from Amami and get off at the Ōhama stop (¥400).
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Miyara Dōnchi
The unique home of a Ryūkyū kingdom official dating from 1819; walk north along Sanbashi-dōri until you see signs in English. The house is still an actual residence, so you can only peer into the open rooms from the outside and enjoy the small garden.
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