•• Shiretoko National park on an unspoiled peninsula. •• Rishiri and Rebun Small islands near Hokkaido's northern tip. •• Daisetsuzan Hokkaido's largest and wildest national park. • Niseko Leading snow resort with lots of powder snow. • Sapporo The largest city on the island of Hokkaido. • Furano Towns with beautiful lavender and flower fields. • Noboribetsu Hokkaido's most famous hot spring resort. • Hakodate Southernmost city on Hokkaido. • Otaru Harbor city near Sapporo with a canal. • Akan Mashu National Park National park with beautiful lakes. • Lake Toya Site of Mount Usu, an active volcano. • Lake Shikotsu Picturesque caldera lake near Sapporo. Matsumae The only former castle town on Hokkaido. Asahikawa City in central Hokkaido famous for its zoo. Rusutsu Attractive ski resort near Niseko. Jozankei Onsen Hot spring resort in the mountains outside central Sapporo. Tomamu Large ski resort in central Hokkaido. Kushiro City in eastern Hokkaido near a large marshland Abashiri Known for its prison and drift ice in winter. Kiroro Ski Resort Ski resort between Sapporo and Niseko.

•• Yamadera Scenic temple on a steep mountainside. •• Dewa Sanzan Three sacred mountains with shrines. • Ginzan Onsen One of Japan's nicest, old-fashioned onsen towns. • Matsushima Scenic bay dotted by pine clad islets. • Towada Caldera lake famous for autumn colors. • Sanriku Coast Pacific coastline that was hit by the 2011 tsunami. • Shimokita Hanto Remote peninsula famed for Fear Mountain. • Zao Volcano with hot spring and ski resort. • Hiraizumi Tohoku's former cultural and political capital. • Hachimantai Mountainous region with rustic hot springs. • Kakunodate City with nicely preserved samurai district. • Hirosaki Former castle town in Northern Tohoku. • Aizu Small city known for its samurai history. • Appi Kogen Leading ski resort in the Tohoku Region. • Bandai Volcanic mountains with beautiful highlands. Tono Rural town known for its folktales and legends. Shirakami Sanchi Mountain range with virgin beech forests. Kaminoyama Onsen Onsen town with castle and fruit farms. Naruko Gorge Forested gorge famous for its autumn colors. Sendai Largest city in the Tohoku Region. Aomori City best known for its Nebuta Matsuri. Kamakura Festival Festival in Yokote with lots of small snow houses. Sakata Commercial center at the Sea of Japan coast. Kitakami Popular cherry blossom spot in the Tohoku Region. Fukushima Prefectural capital with a few attractions. Akita Prefectural capital best known for its festival. Morioka Prefectural capital famous for noodle dishes. Iwaki City famous for its Hawaiian water park resort.

••• Tokyo Japan's capital and largest city. ••• Nikko Site of Nikko Toshogu, Ieyasu's mausoleum. •• Ogasawara Islands Remote islands 1000 kilometers south of Tokyo. •• Kamakura Small city full of historic treasures. • Hakone National park with views of Mount Fuji. • Kusatsu Onsen One of Japan's best hot spring towns. • Yokohama Japan's second largest city. • Oze National Park Popular hiking destination with a marshland. • Manza Onsen Hot spring resort with Japan's most sulfuric waters. Izu Oshima The largest island among the Izu Islands. Shima Onsen Calm hot spring town in a mountain valley. Chichibu Rural city known for its festival and shrines. Minakami Popular hot spring and outdoor resort. Kawagoe Former castle town known as the Little Edo. Boso Peninsula Large peninsula southeast of Tokyo. Ikaho Onsen Hot spring resort famous for its stone stairs. Nasu-Shiobara Resort area with hiking trails and hot springs. Mito Prefectural capital known for its nice garden. Kinugawa Onsen Hot spring resort with theme parks near Nikko. Tomioka Site of a Japan's first modern silk factory. Saitama City north of Tokyo with a few places of interest. Narita Site of Tokyo's international airport. Kawasaki Sandwiched between Tokyo and Yokohama. Utsunomiya Prefectural capital of Tochigi Prefecture. Fukuroda Falls One of Japan's top three waterfalls. Ushiku Daibutsu Japan's tallest bronze statue of Buddha

••• Mount Fuji The country's most iconic landmark. •• Alpine Route Spectacular route through the Northern Alps. •• Shirakawago & Gokayama Mountainous region, known for its farmhouses. •• Kamikochi Popular mountain resort in the Japanese Alps. •• Kiso Valley Valley with nicely preserved post towns. •• Yamanouchi Home of hot spring bathing monkeys. •• Takayama Preserves one of Japan's nicest old towns. •• Kanazawa City rich in culture and history. • Kurobe Gorge Scenic gorge with a small sightseeing train. • Fuji Five Lakes Lake resort at the foot of Mount Fuji. • Okuhida Hot springs in the mountains above Takayama. • Sado Island Large island off the coast of Niigata. • Izu Peninsula Hot springs and natural scenery. • Matsumoto City famous for its beautiful original castle. • Gujo-Hachiman Small town in rural Japan with castle. • Hakuba One of Japan's best ski resorts. • Yuzawa One of Japan's leading ski resort towns. • Furukawa Small town 15 minutes north of Takayama. • Nagano Former olympic city famous for its temple. • Echigo Tsumari Idyllic countryside staging modern art. • Nagoya Japan's third largest economic center. Takato Castle Park Castle ruins covered by cherry trees. Nozawa Onsen Old fashioned hot spring and ski resort. Noto Peninsula Rural peninsula with beautiful coastlines. Norikura Mountain and highland in the Northern Japan Alps. Obuse Pleasant town famous for chestnuts and Hokusai. Gero Onsen Famous hot spring resort south of Takayama. Inuyama Former castle town north of Nagoya. Karuizawa Upmarket mountain resort town. Bessho Onsen Small hot spring town with beautiful temples. Kaga Onsen A collection of four historic hot spring towns. Shizuoka Prefectural capital with views of Mount Fuji. Fukui Prefectural capital nearby Eiheiji Temple. Fujinomiya City at the southern base of Mount Fuji. Takaoka Famous for its bronze casting industry. Toyama Capital city of Toyama Prefecture. Kofu Prefectural capital surrounded by vineyards. Lake Hamanako A seaside lake with hot spring baths. Togura Kamiyamada Foreigner-friendly onsen town with historic fortress. Kakegawa Small city famous for tea. Myoko Volcano with multiple ski areas along its slopes Tsuruga Mid-sized city with a prominent port.

••• Kyoto For over 1000 years the capital of Japan. ••• Mount Koya Atmospheric temple mountain. ••• Nara Japan's first permanent capital. •• Kinosaki Pleasant, old-fashioned hot spring resort. •• Osaka Largest city of the Kinki Region. •• Himeji Site of Japan's most beautiful feudal castle. •• Ise Shima Site of Japan's most sacred Shinto shrines. • Takeda Castle Ruins Hilltop castle ruins sometimes floating on a sea of clouds. • Kumano Pilgrimage destination on the Kii Peninsula. • Yoshino Japan's most famous cherry blossom spot. • Uji City south of Kyoto known for its temple and tea. • Amanohashidate One of Japan's three most scenic views. • Omi Hachiman Former merchant town with pretty canal • Kobe Harbor city, recovered from 1995 earthquake. • Iga Ueno Former castle town famous for ninja. Miyama Rural town with lots of thatched roof houses. Asuka and Sakurai The cradle of the Japanese civilization. Hikone Castle town at the shores of Lake Biwa. Koka Rural city known as a homeland of the ninja.

••• Miyajima Island known for its shrine and large torii gate. •• Hiroshima Regional capital with a tragic history. • Inujima Island Small island turned into a modern art site. • Bitchu-Takahashi Pretty town with original mountaintop castle. • Matsue Former castle town near Izumo Taisha. • Akiyoshidai Karst plateau with large limestone cave. • Izumo Site of Izumo Taisha, Japan's oldest shrine. • Kurashiki City with a picturesque, historic canal area. • Onomichi Port town with many slopes and temples. • Hagi Castle town with preserved samurai district. • Iwakuni Site of the picturesque Kintai-kyo Bridge. Tsuwano Rural town with nice samurai district. Iwami Ginzan Former silver mine with world heritage status. Okayama Famous for one of Japan's three best gardens. Mount Daisen Tallest mountain in the Chugoku Region. Tottori Prefectural capital known for its sand dunes. Yamaguchi Pleasant city at the western end of Honshu. Fukuyama Second largest city in Hiroshima Prefecture. Shimonoseki City at the westernmost tip of Honshu. Motonosumi Shrine Remote shrine along the coast with tunnel of torii gates

•• Naoshima Small island with a lot of modern art. • Iya Valley Remote valley in the center of Shikoku. • Kotohira Site of Shikoku's most popular shrine. • Matsuyama Largest city of Shikoku with a beautiful castle. • Kochi Nice city with a southern flair. • Uchiko Countryside town formerly known for its wax. • Takamatsu Capital of Kagawa Prefecture. • Ozu Small city with nice castle, old town and villa. Shodoshima Island in the Seto Inland Sea know for olives. Naruto City well known for its whirlpools. Uwajima Secluded port town with original castle. Tokushima A city best known for its dance festival. Marugame Port city in Kagawa, known for its castle.

••• Yakushima Subtropical island with ancient cedar forest. •• Kurokawa Onsen Hot spring town with attractive town and baths. •• Nagasaki Attractive port city with a moving history. •• Amami Oshima Subtropical island between Kagoshima and Okinawa. • Yutoku Inari Shrine One of Japan's three best Inari shrines. • Takachiho Mountain town steeped in mythology. • Yufuin Rural yet trendy hot spring town near Beppu. • Kirishima National Park with volcanic mountain range. • Aso Active volcano with a huge ancient caldera. • Kagoshima Southernmost of Kyushu's major cities. • Satsuma Peninsula Rural peninsula with hot springs in southern Kyushu. • Beppu Japan's capital city of hot springs. • Fukuoka Kyushu's largest and most vibrant city. • Kunisaki Peninsula Interesting, rural peninsula north of Beppu. • Kumamoto Modern city most famous for its castle. • Dazaifu Historic town south of Fukuoka. • Udo Shrine Shrine constructed in a cliff side cave. • Huis Ten Bosch Amusement Park themed after a Dutch town. • Yoshinogari Park Best archeological site about the Yayoi Period. Amakusa Remote islands with a large Christian population. Shimabara Peninsula Peninsula with active volcano near Nagasaki City. Usuki Town known for its unique stone Buddhas. Arita and Imari One of Japan's most famous area for pottery. Kuju Mountains Volcanic mountain range in Kyushu. Ureshino Onsen Onsen town with very smooth hot spring waters. Hirado Former site of the Dutch trading post. Miyazaki City in southeastern Kyushu. Munakata Taisha Three shrines and a sacred, off-limit island. Karatsu Coastal city known for castles and pottery. Kitakyushu Industrial city in the north of Kyushu. Takeo Onsen Onsen town with smooth waters and long history. Minamata From pollution site to environmental model city. Goto Islands Remote islands off the coast of Kyushu. Tokunoshima Subtropical island south of Amami-Oshima

••• Yaeyama Islands Okinawa's southernmost island group. •• Kerama Islands Small island group with beautiful beaches. •• Okinawa Island Okinawa Prefecture's main island. •• Miyako Island Subtropical island with excellent beaches. • Kume Island Small island west of Okinawa Honto.