A stone path through a tunnel of orange torii gates at Fushimi Inari, Kyoto

The 100 Wonders of Japan

Our growing collection of the 100 Wonders of Japan. Each one gets a full photo story: why it matters, how to see it at its best, and the legends behind it.

Photo: David Emrich on Unsplash
The collection

The first ten wonders

New wonders join the list regularly until all 100 are here. Each one is chosen for beauty, history or sheer surprise.

Wonders01
A stone path through a tunnel of orange torii gates at Fushimi Inari, Kyoto

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Kyoto · About 10,000 vermilion torii gates climbing a sacred mountain.

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Wonders02
Chureito Pagoda framed against a snow-capped Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji

Yamanashi and Shizuoka · Japan’s 3,776 m sacred volcano, best seen from the Fuji Five Lakes.

Full story coming soon
Wonders03
An empty pathway between towering bamboo stalks

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Kyoto · A green cathedral of towering bamboo that creaks in the wind.

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Wonders04
The orange Great Torii of Itsukushima Shrine standing in the sea off Miyajima

Itsukushima Shrine

Hiroshima · The Great Torii that seems to float on the sea at high tide.

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Wonders05
Snow-covered thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses in Shirakawa-go

Shirakawa-go

Gifu · Steep thatched farmhouses that look like a fairy tale under snow.

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Wonders06
The white Himeji Castle rising above the trees of its gardens

Himeji Castle

Hyogo · The White Heron, the best-preserved of Japan’s original castles.

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Wonders07
Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, reflected in its pond

Kinkaku-ji

Kyoto · A pavilion covered in gold leaf, mirrored in a still pond.

Full story coming soon
Wonders08
Deer grazing on the lawns of Nara Park

Nara Park

Nara · Friendly bowing deer roaming among ancient temples.

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Wonders09
Aerial view of crowds crossing the Shibuya scramble crossing

Shibuya Crossing

Tokyo · The world’s most famous scramble, a pulse of modern Tokyo.

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Wonders10
The red Chureito Pagoda overlooking Fujiyoshida with Mount Fuji in the distance

Chureito Pagoda

Yamanashi · A five-storey pagoda with Mount Fuji rising behind it.

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On the way

Coming soon to Wonders

  • Mount Fuji: the best viewpoints
  • Shirakawa-go in winter
  • Himeji Castle
  • Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion
  • Nara Park and Todai-ji
Keep exploring

More ways into Japan

Cars driving through a neon-lit intersection in Shibuya, Tokyo, at night

Destinations

Cities, regions and rural gems, from neon Tokyo to quiet mountain villages.

A bowl of ramen with egg and vegetables in Tokyo

Experiences

Food, onsen, festivals, ryokan stays and the moments you will talk about for years.

A white Shinkansen bullet train arriving at a station platform

Plan Your Trip

Itineraries, budgets, trains, money and etiquette, all in plain language.