Home > Attractive Regions of Japan
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It is full of attractive locations such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site Shiretoko, and is known for its breathtaking and rich natural environment, nostalgic canals and nightscapes. Hokkaido offers the best of the land and the sea when it comes to food, and a visit to a market in a port town will be your enjoyable moment. The cuisine that makes use of these fantastic ingredients is also welcoming of visitors.
With various unique coast lines such as Sanriku Coast with a rugged shoreline and coastal sand dunes along flat plains, the Tohoku region presents some of the most beautiful sceneries in Japan. The country's several best fishing ports are located in this region, where one can sample fresh produce the ocean can offer, as well as simple and delicious local delicacies, such as "kiritanpo" (mashed rice formed around a skewer), as well as all the different local varieties of ramen noodles. Add to this a variety of summer festivals where visitors can experience traditional Japanese culture.
The newest trends in technology, art, animation mix with traditional history such as Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, sumo wrestling and cultural arts such as kabuki theatre. Visitors to Kanto can experience a broad range of what makes Japan special. There are many places to enjoy delicious food, great shopping, as well as Japanese gardens designed during the Edo Period, with beautiful cherry blossom trees and fall foliage. The region also has many modern attractions such as aquariums and theme parks to entertain and delight the visitor.
The region is replete with castles, Japanese gardens, temples and shrines that are classed as national treasures, and visitors can learn the history and culture of Japan through these historical buildings. In terms of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the satoyama mountain villages of old, with their thatched roofs, tell of another age. The region is also home to Japan's finest rice crop as well as the best sake in the land. Added to this is the excellent fishing ground, so visitors will be delighted when they experience fresh seafood from Hokuriku. There are also a variety of Japanese traditional crafts that are still being made in this area, such as lacquerware, etc.
The highest peak in the land and a symbol of Japan the world over, Mt. Fuji is a beautiful sight to behold for anyone visiting the country. The Chubu area is also home to shrines with 2,000 years of history, as well as huge industrial complexes that become part of amazing nightscapes when darkness falls. Chubu is where the largest proportion of Japan's "maguro" bluefin tuna catch is landed, as well as being known for covering a “tonkatsu” breaded pork cutlet with a miso-based sauce.
Kinki had been the capital of Japan since ancient times and the region played a central role in the country's history. As a result Kinki is a testament to Japanese history and culture, with many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, national treasures and important cultural assets. The region also has its own distinct food culture, as well as traditional cuisines such as “Kyo-ryori” (Kyoto Cuisine) for the visitor to enjoy alongside more simple fare - delicious savories such as “takoyaki” and “okonomiyaki” made with wheat flour.
Chugoku also has the shrine where all gods of Japan come to meet, many UNESCO World Heritage Sites and historical townscapes. Many people visit and enjoy the region. There are museums with numerous art collections and spacious beautiful Japanese gardens. Famous seafood dishes from the region include "fugu" blowfish and oysters. Chugoku is also famous for its fruit production, especially "nashi" pears, peaches and citrus fruits.
Visitors can enjoy the archipelago of the Seto Inland Sea from a cruise ship deck. The region offers wonderful natural environments such as dynamic whirling tides and some of Japan's finest freshwater streams. Shikoku is also home to great castles, traditional cultural and historical events, and fascinates visitors. The dishes of the region include “katsuo-tataki,” a raw bonito fillet lightly braised on the exterior, and nationally famous variations on “udon” noodles.
The history and culture of Kyushu shaped by and through centuries of interaction with other countries can be seen in its historical cultural properties. The region is full of important natural assets, being as it is home to one of Japan's largest caldera, active volcanoes that regularly spew out volcanic ash, as well as Jomon cedars that are 7,200 years old. Each different locale within Kyushu has its own distinct food culture and the area is known for its meat-based cuisine, namely beef, pork and chicken. These dishes are often accompanied by the local distilled liquor, known as “shochu.”
Blessed with a warm climate throughout the year, this is the prototypical Japanese resort, with important natural assets and resources typified by coral reefs, beautiful ocean views, mangrove forests. Since ancient times, trade with other countries has passed through Okinawa, and as a result the local culture and customs, traditions and arts/crafts have been shaped into something distinct from the rest of the country. Visitors can enjoy Okinawan dishes, such as “Okinawa soba” noodles with pork, as well as taco rice, where items usually found in a taco are instead served on top of rice.