Kyoto
Kyoto (京都, Kyōto) served as Japan’s capital and the emperor‘s residence from 794 until 1868. It is one of the country’s ten largest cities with 1.5 million inhabitants and a modern face. Over the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by many wars and fires, but due to its exceptional historic value, the city was dropped from…
Read MoreKumamoto Prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県, Kumamoto-ken) is located along the west coast of Kyushu. Its prefectural capital is Kumamoto City. Kumamoto is known for Mount Aso and hot spring resorts such as Kurokawa Onsen.
Read MoreNagasaki
Nagasaki (長崎) is an important port city on the island of Kyushu and the capital of Nagasaki Prefecture. Its rich history and culture and attractive location around a narrow inlet make Nagasaki one of Japan’s most interesting travel destinations. Thanks to its proximity to the Asian mainland, the port city of Nagasaki has played a…
Read MoreShizuoka Prefecture
Sometimes referred to as Japan’s riviera, Shizuoka Prefecture (静岡県, Shizuoka-ken) is located along the Pacific coast in the south of the Chubu Region. Mount Fuji and the Izu Peninsula are part of Shizuoka Prefecture. Tea is the prefecture’s most famous product. The prefectural capital is Shizuoka City.
Read MoreOkinawa Islands: Getting there and around
The transportation hub for the Okinawa Islands is Naha on the Okinawa Main Island. Please refer to our Okinawa Main Island orientation page for access details. Ferries and flights connect Okinawa Main Island with the other islands of the Okinawa archipelago. Kume Island and Yoron Island in neighboring Kagoshima Prefecture have airports with daily flights…
Read MoreAichi Prefecture
Aichi Prefecture (愛知県, Aichi-ken) is located in the Chubu Region. The prefectural capital of Nagoya is the region’s largest and Japan’s fourth largest city. The prefecture is home to the Toyota Motor Corporation and as such is a major center of Japan’s automotive industry.
Read MoreHyogo Prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture (兵庫県, Hyōgo-ken) is located in the Kansai Region, stretching from the Seto Inland Sea to the Sea of Japan. Its largest city and capital is Kobe, its most famous tourist attraction is Himeji Castle, and its best known hot spring resorts are Arima and Kinosaki.
Read MoreFukuoka
Fukuoka (福岡) is Kyushu‘s largest and one of Japan’s ten most populated cities. Because of its closeness to the Asian mainland (closer to Seoul than to Tokyo), Fukuoka has been an important harbor city for many centuries and was chosen by the Mongol invasion forces as their landing point in the 13th century. Today’s Fukuoka…
Read MoreTochigi Prefecture
Tochigi (栃木県, Tochigi-ken) is a landlocked prefecture in the Kanto Region. One of Japan’s most popular tourist attractions, the city of Nikko with its famous Toshogu Shrine, is located in Tochigi Prefecture. The prefectural capital is Utsunomiya.
Read MoreIshikawa Prefecture
Ishikawa Prefecture (石川県, Ishikawa-ken) is located along the Sea of Japan coast in the Chubu Region. Its capital and largest tourist attraction is Kanazawa, best known for Kenrokuen Garden. The Noto Peninsula is the prefecture’s most prominent geographical feature.
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