Japon | Offbeat Japan

Vibrant Vermilion Torii Gates at Serene Japanese Shrine Garden

Aomori Tohoku

Takayama Inari Shrine

Follow the Senbon-Torii path through the red gates to meet the foxes and the goddess Inari ...

September 1, 2023

Tranquil Shinto shrine nestled in lush forest with stone steps and wooden torii gate.

Kumamoto Kyushu

The Incredible Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine

At the foot of Mount Aso stands a small shrine with a mystical atmosphere, lost in the middle of a cypress forest. Take the path with stone torii gates and discover this timeless place.

August 17, 2023

Magnificent cascading wisteria at Ashikaga Flower Park, Japan.

Printemps Tochigi

The Floral Paradise of Ashikaga

The stars of this floral park? Wisteria of all colours on over 9 hectares: a magical spectacle not to be missed!

August 10, 2023

Charming cobblestone street in historic Hida-Furukawa town, Japan.

Chubu Gifu

In the Alleyways of Hida-Furukawa

This traditional township in the heart of Gifu prefecture comes alive every spring for the hadaka matsuri festival ...

August 5, 2023

Exploring Uchikos Historic Charm: Step Back in Time

Ehime Été Shikoku

The Village of Yokaichi

The charming village of Yokaichi, in the countryside of Shikoku island, takes you back to the Meiji era. Its beautiful wooden houses are worth a lingering look.

December 4, 2022

Suspended Whimsical Wooden Boat Sculpture

Nagano

Fujimori’s Tea houses In Nagano

Terunobu Fujimori is an architect and historian of architecture. He began his building career relatively late, in his early forties. Before that, he had forged a solid reputation as an academic.

November 27, 2022

Masudas Mystical Rock Ship Carving Formation

Nara

The Strange Rock Ship of Masuda

The village of Asuka, in the Takaichi district of Nara prefecture, is famous for its mysterious stones.

November 14, 2022

Miharus ancient weeping cherry tree wonderland.

Fukushima Printemps

Miharu Takizuka: The Most Beautiful Cherry Tree in Japan

A miraculous survivor of the 2011 earthquake, the blossom of the thousand-year-old cherry tree attracts more than 300,000 visitors every year!

October 26, 2022

Printemps Tokyo

Shiofune Kannon-ji Temple

This 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple lights up with beauty when spring comes. Its flowering azalea groves display the most beautiful colours.

October 12, 2022

Haunting abandoned mining town overtaken by nature.

Nagasaki Urbex

Ikeshima: A Semi-Abandoned Island

Ikeshima is the fallback island for explorers disappointed not to have visited Gunkanjima. But despite the shadow of its neighbour, this is a great island!

October 1, 2022

Shizuoka Urbex

The Abandoned Marugen Mansion

Mad jaunt to the abandoned art warehouse of a real-estate magnate overtaken by greed.

September 22, 2022

Aerial view lush green soybean hills landscape

Hokkaido

The Lovely Soya Hills

This pristine white path not far from Wakkanai is a popular destination. Let’s discover an unusual landscape.

August 24, 2022

Decaying Opulence: Remnants of Forgotten Grandeur

Hokkaido Urbex

Gluck Kingdom: An Abandoned Amusement Park on a German Theme

Gluck Kingdom is a theme park based on the Grimm Brothers’ fairytales. Opened 1 July 1989 in the small Hokkaido town of Obihiro, it closed its doors in 2007.

August 11, 2022

Abandoned Hachijo Royal: Japans Haunting Luxury Hotel Relic

Izu Islands Tokyo Tokyo Urbex Urbex

Hachijo Royal Hotel: The Largest Abandoned Resort in Japan

It’s 300 kilometres from Tokyo, but that's where I meet up with my pal Martin for new adventures ... on a deserted island, in a forgotten hotel ...

October 28, 2021

Hokkaido Hokkaido Winter

"Jewelry Ice" is a completely unique phenomenon that can be observed at Otsu Beach in the city of Toyokoro, Hokkaido. During winter, the Tokachi River, which flows near this fishing town, freezes under the very cold...

October 19, 2021