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Old storehouse street and the Toki no Kane bell tower

Culture & history

Old capitals & historic streets

Wooden townhouses, stone lanes and storehouse-lined streets — walk through towns that still feel like the Edo and Meiji eras.

10 places to go

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Kanto

  1. 1

    Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

    Attraction

    The heart of Kamakura, reached along the Wakamiya Oji approach from the station.

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  2. 2

    Kawagoe Old Town (Warehouse District & Bell Tower)

    Attraction

    "Little Edo": storehouse streets and a bell tower, about an hour from Tokyo.

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Chubu & Hokuriku

  1. 3

    Higashi Chaya District

    Attraction

    Kanazawa's teahouse district, lined with latticed wooden houses.

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  2. 4

    Takayama Old Town (Sanmachi Suji)

    Attraction

    The old merchant streets of Hida-Takayama, with morning markets nearby.

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  3. 5

    Shirakawa-go (Gassho-zukuri Village)

    Attraction

    A village of steep thatched farmhouses, reached by bus. Especially popular in the snow.

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  4. 6

    Magome-juku (Nakasendo)

    Attraction

    A post town on the old Nakasendo road, with a stone-paved slope to walk.

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Kansai

  1. 7

    Gion / Yasaka Shrine

    Attraction

    Kyoto's geisha district, at its best on Hanamikoji in the evening. Photography is banned on some private lanes.

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  2. 8

    Arashiyama (Togetsukyo Bridge / Bamboo Grove)

    Attraction

    Togetsukyo Bridge and the bamboo grove. Mornings are the least crowded.

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  3. 9

    Nara Park

    Attraction

    Todaiji and Kasuga Taisha gather around a park where deer roam free.

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Chugoku

  1. 10

    Kurashiki

    Station

    White-walled storehouses along a willow-lined canal, walkable from the station.

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From people who went

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Event dates, operating days, reservation rules and opening hours can change. Please check the official information before you go.

Photo and data credits

Old storehouse street and the Toki no Kane bell tower Balabd (CC BY 4.0) / The vermilion main shrine of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu above its stone steps Ocdp (CC0) / Wooden teahouses lining the street of the Higashi Chaya District Andrea Schaffer from Sydney, Australia (CC BY 2.0) / Visitors strolling along Sanmachi Suji in Takayama's old town 663highland (CC BY 2.5) / A village of thatched gassho-style houses Chainwit. (CC BY 4.0) / The vermilion west gate of Yasaka Shrine facing Shijo Street DXR (CC BY-SA 4.0) / Togetsukyo Bridge with the spring hills of Arashiyama behind Tomomarusan (CC BY 2.5) / Deer drinking under autumn leaves in Nara Park Marek Ślusarczyk (CC BY 3.0) / White-walled storehouses along the Kurashiki River Suicasmo (CC BY-SA 4.0). Cropped and resized.