Visit Japan AU

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine in Saitama Prefecture beautifully blends history and charm. Known for being a spot where you can pray for blessings in love, this shrine attracts visitors seeking luck in love and fortune. 🎋

Visitors to the shrine can look for the unique sweet potato fortune slips. Each slip is handmade by individuals at the Kawagoe Imo no Ko Workshop, a facility that supports the independence of people with disabilities. This makes every fortune slip not only a symbol of luck, but also a testament to community support and craftsmanship. 🍠

📍📷 @‌kawagoe_hikawa on Instagram

Discover the timeless elegance of Arita pottery, Japan’s esteemed ceramic art dating back over 400 years. Arita pottery is celebrated for its intricate designs and meticulous craftsmanship. 🎨

Local ceramics company Marubun has create a modern collection of porcelain, made using the specialist skills still practiced by the craftsmen of Arita. Why not decorate your home with these finely crafted ceramics and support the local artisans in keeping their artform alive. 🍵

📷 @‌aritayaki_marubun on Instagram

Embark on a new culinary journey in the "SAVOR JAPAN" regions and uncover authentic Japanese cuisine like never before!

The "SAVOR JAPAN" regions consist of 41 areas certified by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries for their diverse local dishes and rich food culture.

In the "SAVOR JAPAN" regions, experience the pinnacle of authentic Japanese cuisine, including Wagyu Beef, Sushi, Noodles, Hot Pot, Seafood, and rare specialties. Some of these areas also offer first-hand experiences in making the cuisine, such as Soba noodle workshops and overnight stays at Japanese Sake breweries.

Videos introducing these fascinating cuisines are now available for a limited time on Japan Airlines' international flights starting July 1.

We look forward to sharing the true flavors of Japan with you.

＜Video Links＞
What is SAVOR JAPAN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCJXqiA64fU&t=1s
Wagyu beef & Beef Cuisine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XH2x3d5i1c&t=0s
Sushi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99XW3KFazV4&t=0s
Noodles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9Sns1B26_U&t=0s
Hot Pot Cuisine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Sn-57FMK8&t=0s
Seafood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4UX_aS21o8&t=0s
Extremely Unique Foods: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdIY-Dv0H6U&t=0s

Gaze into an endless sea of clouds at the SORA Terrace in Nagano Prefecture. ☁️🌊

Ride on one of Japan's largest ropeways to an altitude of 1,770m high, where you will be transported above the clouds and to a magical world in the sky. With a café on site, this is the perfect place to escape the summer heat and unwind.

TIP: Visit at sunset for a stunning view of the clouds illuminated by the fiery rays of the setting sun. 🌄

📷 @‌hiro_minami_ on Instagram
📍 @‌soraterrace_ryuooski on Instagram

Step back into the past at Narai-juku, a preserved post town part of the Nakasendo Trail, which led from Edo (present-day Tokyo) to Kyoto during the Edo Period (1603-1868). 🏚️🍶

11 post towns flourished along the Nakasendo Trail with Narai-juku being one of the best preserved. Many residences remain in their original state, and you can enter some of them to see how the wealthy merchants once lived.

Stroll the cobblestone streets and alleyways, and walk the same path that samurai once did. For a truly authentic experience, you can hike from Narai-juku along the historic Nakasendo Trail to next post town of Yabuhara. Keep an eye out for the posts travellers once used to tie up their horses! 🐎🚶‍♂️

📷 @‌washima12 on Instagram

Dreamy nights and lantern lights await at Katayamazu Onsen in Ishikawa Prefecture. ✨

Every August 16, Katayamazu Onsen shines brightly with the ethereal beauty of hundreds of floating lanterns illuminating the gently flowing river. 🕯️

Held since 1950, this Obon tradition enchants visitors each summer with its magical atmosphere. 🌙💫

📷 @‌kenpi009

Celebrating its 73rd year, the Atami Marine Fireworks Festival in Shizuoka Prefecture makes an easy side trip from Tokyo and offers the rare chance to see Atami Castle lit up by fireworks. 🏯

Watch the fireworks illuminate Atami Bay while the sound of the show reverberates off the surrounding mountains, making the event not just one to be watched, but a show for all your senses. 🎆⛰️

📷 @‌teruru112 on Instagram

Visit the Tottori Sand Dunes, immense hills of sand shaped by nature over 100,000 years. ⛰️

Brave the heat and climb the dunes for a view of the ocean beyond, or try one of the many activities on offer like paragliding, sand dune yoga, or fat biking. Snowboarding fans are also welcome to test their skills in the summer by sandboarding down these dunes. 🏂🏖️

📷 @‌shiifoncake on Instagram

Experience Japan in summer - let's visit the remote islands! Here are 4 remote islands in Japan where you can have an adventure this summer. 🌞⛱️

1. Miyako Island (Okinawa): Enjoying stand-up paddleboarding!
Try stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) on the tropical island of Miyako in Okinawa Prefecture. Miyako Island is a true haven for marine sports lovers with its white sandy beaches and sparkling turquoise water.🌺

📷 @‌lani_sup_miyako on Instagram

2. Yakushima (Kagoshima): Hiking adventures
Set out on a trekking adventure on the island of Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture.🌿 The island has over 1,900 species of plant, including ancient Japanese cedar trees that date back over a thousand years!

📷 @‌soramido_yakushima on Instagram

3. Shodoshima Island (Kagawa): Visiting a movie studio
Hark back to a simpler time on Shodoshima Island in Kagawa Prefecture. Surrounded by the Seto Inland Sea, the east end of the island was the outdoor set for the movie “Nijushi no Hitomi (Twenty-Four Eyes)” . 📽️✨The movie was set in the nostalgic early Showa (1926-1989) period and the movie set is open to the public to explore.

TIP: Visit the restaurant Kinema no Iori to try a real Japanese school lunch served with the same tableware Japanese school students use!

📷 @‌y_k_camera on Instagram

4. Awajishima Island (Hyogo): Dining at Happy Pancake Awajishima Resort
Dine while gazing out at the sparkling blue sea at the Happy Pancake Awajishima Resort, where all tables have an ocean view and the thick fluffy pancakes will melt in your mouth. There are plenty of photo spots with ocean views where you can relax and unwind.🥞🩵

📷📍 @‌ahappypancake_official on Instagram

Join the festivities at the Awa Odori Festival (Awa Dance) in Tokushima Prefecture. One of the traditional summer festival dances in Japan, the Awa Odori has been around for over 400 years and is one of Tokushima's biggest highlights of the year. 👘

The dance follows a rhythm known as "zomeki", which means 'spirited', and Tokushima comes alive to this rhythm every year from August 12 to 15.

As they say in Tokushima – “the dancing fool and the watching fool are both fools, so why not dance”? 🕺

📷 @‌zeal_88 on Instagram

Did you know that Himeji Castle in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, was the first official World Heritage Site ever in Japan?

Visit this iconic castle where you can take in breath-taking views from the top floor. The castle not only holds a treasure trove of history, it also hosts various events throughout the year such as illuminations, festivals, and marathons!

Visit a world-renowned castle and immerse yourself in an awe-inspiring experience.

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The nature aims at coexistence and harmony between humans and nature. 🍃

The Kamikochi highland is located in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. It is known as a “treasure trove of nature” with a huge amount of its nature remaining unexplored.

It has been granted two honourable titles within Japan - Special Place of Scenic Beauty and Special Natural Monument, listed as a globally valuable natural heritage.

Experience first-hand the cherished natural beauty of Japan. 🏞️

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Nature and art blend together in Setoda Town, Hiroshima Prefecture.

Nestled on Ikuchijima in the Seto Inland Sea lies the town of Setoda, which is home to 17 outdoor art exhibits.

Take a break in Setoda while doing the Shimanami Kaido cycling route and see if you can spot all 17 exhibits scattered around the town, including the intriguing Belvedere Setoda by Kisaburo Kawakami which is to be found in the ocean itself. 🌊🚴

📷 @‌le37janvier on Instagram

Explore the ocean on a stand-up paddleboard, using a paddle to propel yourself over the sea life swimming below. 🏄‍♂️

On Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, the sea is illuminated by special underwater lighting and visitors can explore the previously hidden depths! 🌊 ✨

In addition, Sado Island offers numerous other spots where you can try kayaking and SUP!

📷 @‌sado_sup on Instagram

There is much to see in Japan’s wide variety of museums. Here are a few stand-out museums for your next trip! 👀✨

1. The National Art Center, Tokyo
Art lovers rejoice at the National Art Center, Tokyo, one of the largest art museums in Japan. Aiming to convey the power of art, the museum hosts diverse contemporary exhibitions from Japan and abroad. 🖼️🏛️

📷 @‌kiyokari43 on Instagram
📍 @‌thenationalartcentertokyo on Instagram

2. Benesse House Museum, Naoshima, Kagawa Prefecture
Experience the harmony of art, nature, and architecture at Benesse House Museum on Naoshima. The artworks are not only found indoors, but also scattered around the island's forests and shoreline, creating a true confluence of art and nature. 🎨🌿

📷📍 @‌benesse_artsite on Instagram

3.Aomori Museum of Art, Aomori
Explore works by renowned local artists like Shikō Munakata, Yosh*tomo Nara, and Tohl Narita, known for creating the character designs for Ultraman. Check out the unique architecture inspired by the Sannai-Maruyama site.

📷📍 @‌aomorikenbi on Instagram

4. Adachi Museum of Art, Shimane Prefecture
Gaze upon a living painting at the Adachi Museum of Art in Shimane Prefecture. The museum feature not only Japanese paintings but also beautiful Japanese gardens which is a work of art in itself. Gazing out the window is like looking at a painting come to life. 🌸🌿

Photo by Adachi Museum

Visit one of the great power spots of Japan at the mysterious Blue Cave in Cape Suzu, Ishikawa Prefecture.

The water appears to be a deep cobalt blue, and the inside of the cave is illuminated, allowing visitors to the cave to gaze into the water’s depths. 🌊 🔵

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Colourful mosaic tiles ascend to the sky at the Mosaic Tile Museum in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture, Japan's leading mosaic tile producer.

This charmingly unorthodox museum is filled with shimmering mosaic tiles in all shapes and sizes, showing how everyday objects like bathroom tiles can be made into things of beauty. 🎨✨

🚃ACCESS: Take a 20-minute bus from JR Taijimi Station bound for Higashikusaguchi or Sonenakagiri Hane, and get off at the Mosaic Tile Museum stop.

📷 @‌cha_chan0124 on Instagram

Ever dreamed of soaring through the sky with the breathtaking Mt Fuji as your backdrop? Makaino Farm Resort in Shizuoka Prefecture offers you the chance to do just that! Their Sky-High Swing propels you into the air, so high you can almost reach out and touch Mt Fuji! 🗻✨

The farm also has a terrace for a more relaxing view of Mt Fuji, along with a crafts experience area, glamping zone, adventure playground and of course, farm animals. 🐄

📷 @‌lulu_camera on Instagram

This summer the Konan Railway Owani Line has been turned into the Goldfish Neputa Train, with 350 brightly shining goldfish made by local Neputa artists displayed all through the carriages. 🐟🟠

The decorations can be seen from July 6 through to August, with special illuminations happening on weekends and during the Hirosaki Neputa Festival on August 1, 2, and 7. 🚂

📷 @‌tetsutype on Instagram

Become one with nature at Zenbo Seinei’s Zen meditation yoga retreat on Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture.

Surrounded by the tranquillity of nature, you can experience unique retreats incorporating Zen philosophy, including meditation, yoga, matcha treats, and calligraphy.🧘‍♀️🌿 Enjoy a meal rich in the natural flavours of Awaji Island's vegetables and fruits, without the use of artificial flavourings. You can taste the freshness in every bite!

Why not enhance your wellbeing, both mentally, and physically, through the activities and Zen Stay? Tag a friend you’d love to go with!💬

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Dance the night away at the Owara Kaze-no-Bon Festival in Toyama Prefecture. This three-day festival delights over 200,000 visitors a year with its traditional dances and paper lantern decorations. 🏮

The festival originated 300 years ago as a way to pray for a good harvest, and features folk dancers donning traditional costumes, dancing to live shamisen (Japanese 3-stringed instrument) and taiko drum performances. 👘 🎶

TIP: Free shuttle buses run between Toyama Station and the festival.

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Discover serenity at Nanzoin Temple in Fukuoka Prefecture, home to one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world.

There are also 500 mini-Buddha statues in front of the giant Buddha, all with different poses and facial expressions. It's said to bring money and good fortune.✨

Please be mindful that while this spot is open to visitors, it is still a place of worship.

📷 .photo.0203 on Instagram

Delight in this magical festival where thousands of hanging paper streamers paint the town in colour, celebrating the ancient Japanese star festival known as Tanabata. 🎊

Legend has it that two separated lovers, represented by two stars in the night sky, can only meet once every year on the eve of Tanabata. The Sendai Tanabata Festival is one of the Three Great Festivals of Tohoku - the city of Sendai is transformed into a colourful wonderland every year August 6-8. 🎋

TIP: For an aerial view of Sendai clad in Tanabata decorations, go up the AER Building next to Sendai Station and check out the free observation deck.

📷 @‌eatmapsendai on Instagram

Cross the Tsunoshima Ohashi Bridge to the island paradise of Tsunoshima, where the cobalt blue waters and spectacular sunsets make for an idyllic escape. 🏝️

This iconic bridge has been featured in several TV commercials and dramas, stretching out over the sea. 🌉🌊

TIP: For a scenic photo spot, head to Amagase Park next to the bridge on the mainland side.

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If you’re in Toyama City, make sure to stop by the Toyama City Library!

This library in the heart of Toyama houses not only books for all ages, but also a wonderful glass art museum. Get lost in this beautiful space as you wander the wooden floors and take in the natural light on a sunny day.

📷@‌toyamacity_tourism_association on Instagram
📚Toyama City Library, Toyama Prefecture

Summer is hot in Japan! Here are some festivals that you can check out while you're taking in the heat. 👘🥁

1. Tenjin Matsuri (Osaka)
See a spectacle on land and water at the Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka Prefecture. Drummers and dancers parade along the streets of Osaka before boarding 100 festival boats and continuing along the river.

The night ends with a spectacular fireworks display lighting up Japan's third largest city. 🎆

📷 @‌jeff.jian512 on Instagram

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2. Yosakoi Festival (Kochi)
20,000 dancers dance for joy at the Yosakoi Festival in Kochi Prefecture from August 9-12. Yosakoi combines traditional and modern elements and is an extremely lively form of dance featuring giant flags and wooden clappers called naruko. The dancers parade in troupes, with each group competing to win the title of best dance troupe.

Come experience the lively and electric atmosphere for yourself and witness the spirit of the Kochi people in the birthplace of yosakoi. 💃🥁

📷 @‌sakephotograph on Instagram

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3. Akita Kanto Festival (Akita)
Can you balance 12m high lanterns weighing 50kg on your forehead? 🏮

The participants at the Akita Kanto Festival in Akita Prefecture can! 10,000 lanterns are balanced across 280 poles by local people to pray for a bountiful harvest. There are 46 lanterns on each pole, and the participants carry them on their hand, shoulder, forehead and lower back, which takes not just great strength, but great skill.
The suspense is real with this festival! 🔥

📷 @‌tsuyo_stagram on Instagram

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4. Yamagata Hanagasa Festival (Yamagata)
Join a million spectators spread over 3 days at the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival, where over 10,000 dancers in vibrant costumes wave hats adorned with colourful flowers to the beat of powerful taiko drums and the chant of 'Yassho makkasho,' creating an unforgettable midsummer spectacle. 🎵🥁

Is it a pond or a bed of flowers? Come to Michinoku Hydrangea Garden in Iwate Prefecture from mid-June to mid-July and gaze upon the mesmerising blue of its hydrangea pond.

The park’s 40,000 hydrangea bushes exist in harmony with the surrounding forest, and there are 3 trails that you can walk, ranging from 650m to 1.2km long. 💧💜

TIP: Pack good walking shoes, as the paths are not paved. 🌳

📷 .michelin on Instagram

If you’re visiting Kochi, make sure to stop by this library in the small town of Yusuhara! Designed by Kengo Kuma, who also designed the Haruki Murakami Library, it features a striking wooden ceiling resembling an upside-down forest, built using local timber allowing people and nature to co-exist. The library also has a bouldering facility and a café! 🧗

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📚Kumo-no-Ue Library, Kochi Prefecture