Katsuo-ji is a Buddhist temple located in the mountains of Minoh City, in the northern suburb of Osaka. It belongs to the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage in Kansai, but nowadays its reputation stems from its gathering of traditional Daruma dolls, as symbols of good fortune and granted wishes.

Located in the northwestern area of Kyoto, Arashiyama draws many visitors for its world-renowned bamboo grove and beautiful scenery that changes with each season. The area is dotted with temples, old imperial villas, and famous historical sites, many of which are National Treasures, or have been recognized as World Heritage sites. The entire region is designated by the Japanese government as a Place of Scenic Beauty.

Himeji Castle is one of only twelve castles in Japan whose main keep remains as it was and it was listed as a National Treasure.Himeji Castle was designated as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993.Because of Himeji Castle’s elegant and white appearance, it is called “Shirasagi Jo” , which translates white heron castle.

Amanohashidate translates to “bridge to heaven” because it appears to be a pathway connecting heaven and earth when viewed from the mountains that rise above it on either side. The sandbar is quite thin—just 20 meters wide at its narrowest point. Most of it is occupied by pine trees.

This restaurant enjoys shopping many products and sea foods. You can eat “awabi”

Ine is famous for its unique funaya, or boat houses. These wooden buildings sit right on the water and serve as both dock and home for the fishermen of the village. The boats are housed in the first floor, with the second floor serving as the dwelling area.Around 230 funaya remain today, stretching along five kilometers of the coastline. A few are minshuku, or guest houses, providing an authentic peek into a life of the fisherman today.

Mitsui Outlet Park Sanda features international brands like Nike, Adidas, Gap, Godiva, Lego, Coleman, and LeSportsac, to name just a few. You can also browse the shelves of many popular Japanese brands. Throughout the year there are many events and bargain sales which makes shopping less painful on your pocketbook.

You can enjoy beaf steaks, sushi , kani bufeat, and hot springs.

Himeji Castle is one of only twelve castles in Japan whose main keep remains as it was and it was listed as a National Treasure.Himeji Castle was designated as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993.Because of Himeji Castle’s elegant and white appearance, it is called “Shirasagi Jo” , which translates white heron castle.

The DRI, established in Hyogo Prefecture in April 2002 with the support of the Japanese government, is operated by the Hyogo Earthquake Memorial 21st Century Research Institute. Our mission is to mold a culture of disaster awareness, enhance local capacity for disaster management, support the development of disaster management policies, and contribute to creating civic collaboration on safety and security as well as a society with reduced disaster related risks. We do this by passing on experiences from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and making the lessons learned available for the future. We are informing the world both today and posterity about creating a society less at risk from disasters, the importance of life, and how wonderful peaceful coexistence is.

The biggest shopping complex in the area is Umie, which houses three main retail wings, each with their own unique purpose: Mosaic, South Mall, and North Mall. With many shops to peruse, the area is huge. Mosaic’s positioning along the waterfront makes it the ideal home for many of the area’s main eateries and offers a vast selection of restaurants and cafes.Kobe Port Tower and the Kobe Maritime Museum are located in the Meriken Park area. This section of the complex is popular with couples enjoying dinner accompanied by a romantic view of the city.

The Dotonbori district sits beside a 400-year-old canal. The bridge over the canal is a popular place to take your photo (look out for the Glico Man; the enormous runner towers over Ebisubashi Bridge and is a famous Osaka landmark).Almost a mile long, Shinsaibashi arcade stretches from Shinsaibaishi station to Dotonbori and is one of the busiest and oldest shopping streets in Japan. There are shops to suit every budget and tastes from high fashion to traditional crafts. Add on a limitless selection of cafes and restaurants, and you’ll be lucky to emerge before nightfall.

Wishing for happiness for all, it took a total of roughly 2.6 million people to come together and create the Great Buddha statue that now sits in Todaiji Temple’s Daibutsu-den, the Great Buddha hall. The statue itself is referred to as the “Daibutsu” in Japanese, with “dai” meaning giant and “butsu” meaning Buddha, however it is modeled after the Vairocana Buddha.

Palm trees, blue skies, and outlet shops. One station away from Kansai Airport, Rinku Town makes a great first or last destination before a long flight.Retail is the prime attraction, with outlets for a wide range of brands, including Adidas, Kate Spade New York, and The North Face. The oceanside, open-air location is also an ideal place to spend time prior to (or directly after) your flight.