JTB USA

1
Korankei

AICHI
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This is the best place to see autumn leaves in Aichi. About 4,000 trees change their color from a deep green to reds and yellows when the weather cools. ‘Korankei Momiji (Maple) Festival’ is held in November every year. During the festival, trees are illuminated from sunset to 9 pm allowing you to enjoy a completely different version of the trees’ scenery from what you saw during the day.

2
Futagawa Syuku

AICHI
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In 1601, the shogunate government of Edo established 53 stations along Tokaido Road between Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto. Futagawa Syuku is the 33rd station numbered from Edo. Structures reminiscent of the ancient town and old houses are still there along the road.

3
Takeshima

AICHI
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Takeshima Island (literally Bamboo Island) is the symbol of Gamagori City and is connected to shore by a 387 meter bridge. On the island is the "Yaotomi Shrine," built in dedication to the Buddhist goddess Benzaiten. The bridge is supposed to bring good luck to couples, so if you come with your significant other, it is customary to walk the bridge together while holding hands.
Gamagori Classic Hotel's garden is a place well known for beautiful azalea. From late April to early May, approximately 3,000 azaleas in 5 different varieties, bloom in pink and red spanning approximately 3.4 hectares.

4
Nagoya Meshi

NAGOYA
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Local cuisine in Nagoya is called ‘Nogoya Meshi’. Nagoya has over 20 famous local foods, some of which include, Pork cutlet with miso sauce (miso katsu), eel bowl with some condiments called ‘Hitsumabushi’, colorful steamed cake ‘Uiro’, udon noodle cooked in thick miso soup, and rice balls with shrimp tempura inside.

5
Shirakawago

GIFU
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A village where history and traditional culture has continued to fluorish for over 300 years.
The architecture of the thatched roof houses, built to withstand the harsh winters of the region, as well as the neighboring rural landscapes were registered in 1995 with UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
There remain close to 100 houses where villageres still reside, allowing us a glimpse at the lives of a people who continue to live with nature.

6
Takayama

GIFU
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Located only a 10 minute walk from JR Takayama Station, the city of Takayama has an old town feel that reflects the days that it prospered as a castle town approximately 300 years ago. Takayama is near the Japan Alps and close to clean, pure waters, and for that reason, you will see many sake breweries making local sake and taking advantage of the pure water that comes from the high mountains. In addition, as you walk along the streets you can enjoy various forms of their popular Hida beef, from grilled skewers to croquettes, and even beef sushi.

7
Gero Onsen

GIFU
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Gero Onsen is often called "Bihada no Yu" which translates to "waters of the Beautiful skin" due to the positive effects of its soft and almost silky hot spring waters. Along the Hida River, there are free outdoor baths, and even some places to enjoy foot bathing in this hot-spring resort town.

8
Ise Jingu

MIE
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Ise Jingu is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, who is said to be an ancestor of the Japanese emperor. It has 2000 years of history and is the most famous shrine in Japan. Nearby the shrine, there is a street called ‘Okage-Yokocho’, where shops from the Edo era were rebuilt and is a great way to enjoy street food!

9
Iga Ninja

MIE
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This Ninja museum has a Ninja house with a lot of protections such as escape routes, hidden doors and places to hide swards. You can learn about Ninja’s real daily life and their weapons. Ninja show is also held at the museum. You will enjoy watching Ninjutsu which is the strategy and tactics of warfare.

10
Kumano Kodo Iseji

MIE
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Iseji, one of the routes of Kumano Kodo, runs along the east coast of the Kii peninsula between Ise Jingu and Kumano Sanzan temples. The route is paved with stones and offers bamboo forests and beaches along the coast.

11
Hamamatsu Flower Park

SHIZUOKA
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Hamamatsu Flower Park is a botanical garden on the edge of Lake Hamana. The park is about 30,000 square meters, and carries 3,000 different species of plants, allowing us to enjoy seasonal flowers and greenery throughout the year.
One of the most popular seasons to visit is Spring when you can see Yoshino cherry trees and double cherry blossoms blooming all over the park. Cherry blossoms blooming in a bright blue sky are sepctacular, but there's a certain elegance to them at night, under illumination, as well.
“The Most Beautiful Cherry Blossom and Tulip Garden in the World” Viewing Season|Late March to Mid-April Wisteria Trellis Viewing Season|Late April to Early May

12
Hamamatsu Castle Park

SHIZUOKA
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Ieyasu Tokugawa lived in Hamamatsu Castle for 17 years, which is also called ‘Shusse (Success) Castle’. The park grounds include the reconstructed Hamamatsu Castle, as well as forested greenery and a Japanese garden.

13
Hokoji Temple

SHIZUOKA
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Okuyama Houkouji is located in Inasachō Okuyama, Kita-ku, which is in the city of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture. It is the head temple of the Houkouji sect of Rinzai Buddhism and is also famous as a Zen temple representative of the Tōkai region. The temple is also known as Okuyama Hansōbō.

14
Kakegawa Castle, Ninomaruchaya

SHIZUOKA
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Located within walking distance from Shinkansen Kakegawa station is the Kakegawa-jo Castle, restored as Japan's first "authentic wooden castle tower" in 1994. With its restoration, you can feel the splendor that helped to earn its former nickname "the famous castle of Tokai". At the" Ninomaruchaya " tearoom next to the castle, you can enjoy the green tea (sencha) and powdered green tea(matcha) of Shizuoka where the production and consumption of tea are number one in Japan. "Kakegawa Marutoku Passport" (1,800 yen) is highly recommended for visitors who wants to make the most of their travels around Kakegawa-jo Castle.

15
Akibasohonden, Kasuisai

SHIZUOKA
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This is a Zen training temple where you can have a shojin (vegetarian) meal and experience Zazen and Shakyo. Zazen is a meditative discipline; you meditate by sitting on the floor with folded legs and hands. Shakyo is a practice where you copy the sutra by hand. Nowadays, people who practice Zazen and Shakyo enjoy the quietness to escape from busy days.

16
Tenryu Hamana Lake Railway,
Tenhama Line

SHIZUOKA
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Tenryu Hamana Lake Railway is a private local railway loved to this day by locals. You are greated by a traditional Japanese landscape as soon as you leave the Shinkansen Kakegawa station. The Railway turntable and station buildings are even registered as Tangible Cultural Properties of the country. Along the railway, you will find a variety of activities and sights such as; a pleasure boat ride on Lake Hamana, the Hamamatsu Flower Park where you can see a huge variety of flowers throughout the year, fruit picking at the Fruitpark, or relax at the hot springs in Kanzanji Onsen or Mikkabi Onsen.
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