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This is a preview of the full content of our Japan’s Best app.

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Historic Areas

Tsumago

Japan's has some well preserved historic areas, many of them seeing like living museums. Check out:

  • former samurai districts - Nagamachi in Kanazawa city and Kakunodate in Tōhoku are excellent examples.
  • old merchant districts - head to the old town in Takayama, the canal area in Kurashiki or Nakamachi in Matsumoto.
  • old post towns built for travellers - walk from Magome to Tsumago on the Nakasendō.
  • historic farming town - Shirakawa-go and nearby Ogimachi.
  • Ryūkyū culture - check out the living museum that is Taketomi island village in the southern Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa.

Kakunodate 角館

Celebrated samurai district & blossoms

Kanazawa 金沢

Cultural & historic hotspot

Kurashiki 倉敷

Historic willow-edged canal area

Matsumoto 松本

Vibrant, attractive castle city

Nakasendō walk 中山道

Fascinating 2-3hr walk along the old trail

Otaru 小樽

Grand buildings & canal

Shirakawa-gō 白川郷

Rustic thatched farmhouses

Takayama 高山

Museums, galleries & temples

Taketomi Island 竹富島

Ryūkyū culture in the Yaeyama Islands

Text © Craig McLachlan

Image by Stephan Ridgway