JAPAN – TOHOKU NORTH & SOUTH, CHIBU NORTH-WEST

TOHOKU NORTH (Aomori, Akita, Iwate)

DARE: Shimokita Peninsula (Honshu extreme north)
World Heritage Sites
Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land
Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan
Shirakami-Sanchi
Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining

Tentative WHS: Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land (extension) (25/09/2012)

AKITA
History, Culture, National and City Museums
Akita: Red Brick Local Museum
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Akita: Kubota Castle
Art Museums: Akita: Akita Museum of Art
Religious Monuments: Akita: Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara of Tazawako
Botanical Gardens: Akita: Akita International Dahlia Garden
Zoos: Akita: Akitashi Omoriyama Zoo

AOMORI
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars
Aomori-Akita: Gono Line
Aomori: Hakkōda Ropeway
Aomori: Tsugaru Line
History, Culture, National and City Museums
Aomori Prefectural Museum
Aomori: Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse
Vestiges of the Past: Aomori: Komakino Remains
Art Museums: Aomori: Aomori Museum of Art
Botanical Gardens: Aomori: Seibi-en
Aquariums: Aomori: Asamushi Aquarium

HACHINOHE
History, Culture, National and City Museums: Hachinohe: Korekawa Jōmon-kan Museum
Art Museums: Hachinohe: Art Museum

MORIOKA
History, Culture, National and City Museums: Morioka: History and Culture Museum
Art Museums: Morioka: Iwate Museum of Art

Villages and Small Towns: Kosaka
Airports: Akita (AXT), Aomori (AOJ), Hanamaki (HNA), Misawa (MSJ)
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Shiki-Shima Luxury Train
Castles, Palaces, Forts
Hirosaki: Hirosaki Castle
Yokote: Yokote Castle
Vestiges of the Past: 
Isedōtai ruins
Kamegaoka Site
Ōyu Stone Circles
Sannai-Maruyama
Religious Temples:
Hiraizumi: Chūson-ji
Hirosaki: Iwakiyama Jinja
Religious Monuments: Iwate: Dai Kannon of Kamaishi
World of Nature: Ichinoseki: Genbikei Gorge, Shimokita Hantō Quasi-National Park, Towada Hachimantai NP, Tsugaru Quasi-National Park
Waterfalls: Ani: Funoshi-no-taki falls
Caves, Sinkholes and Saltmines
Akkadō
Kankanedo
Ryūsendō
Lighthouses: Shiriyazaki Lighthouse”
Maritime/Ship Museums: Aomori: Seikan Ferry Memorial Ship Hakkodamaru
Aviation Museums: Misawa: Misawa Aviation & Science Museum
Open-Air Museums: Kitakami: Michinoku Folklore Village
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TOHOKU SOUTH  (Yamagata, Miyagi, Fukushima)

FUKUSHIMA
Fukushima: SL Banetsu Monogatari
Vestiges of the Past
Fukushima: Iwaya Kannon
Fukushima: Jomopia Miyahata
The Dark Side: Fukushima Exclusion Zone

IWAKI
Religious Temples: Iwaki: Ganjō-ji
Natural History and Earth Museums: Iwaki: Coal and Fossil Museum
Aquariums: Iwaki: Aquamarine Fukushima
Well-being: Springs: Iwaki Yumoto Onsen

KORIYAMA

SENDAI
Sendai Municipal Subway
History, Culture, National and City Museums: Sendai: Sendai City Museum
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Sendai Castle
Art Museums: Sendai: Miyagi Museum of Art
Architectural Delights: Sendai: Sendai Mediatheque
House and Biographical Museums: Aizuwakamatsu: Aizu Bukeyashiki
Religious Temples
Sendai: Ōsaki Hachimangū
Sendai: Sendai Tōshōgū
Religious Monument: Sendai: Sendai Daikannon
Aquariums: Sendai: Umitamago Aquarium

AIZUWAKAMATSU
History, Culture, National and City Museums: Aizuwakamatsu: Fukushima Museum
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Aizuwakamatsu: Aizuwakamatsu Castle
House and Biographical Museums: Aizuwakamatsu: Aizu Bukeyashiki
Religious Temples: Aizuwakamatsu: Sazae Temple
Religious Monument: Aizuwakamatsu: Aizu Jibo Dai-Kannon

YAMAGATA
Yamagata: Zaō Ropeway
History, Culture, National and City Museums: 
Yamagata: Bunshokan
Yamagata: Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Yamagata: Yamagata Castle
Art Museums: Yamagata: Yamagata Museum of Art

Villages and Small Towns: Kitashiobara, Mishima, Okura
Airports: Fukushima (FKS), Sendai (SDJ), Shonai (SYO), Yamagata (GAJ)
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars
Ban’etsu Monogatari Gō (Steam)
Oku: SL Aizu-Tadami
Shiki-Shima Luxury Train
Roads, Road Bridges and Tunnels: Scenic Road – Bandai-Azuma Skyline
Castles, Palaces, Forts
Kaminoyama: Kaminoyama Castle
Nihonmatsu: Nihonmatsu Castle”
Shirakawa: Komine Castle
Art Museums
Kitashiobara: Morohashi Museum of Modern Art
Koriyama: Museum of Art
Religious Temples
Iwaki: Ganjō-ji
Matsushima: Seiryuzan Zuigan-ji
Tsuruoka: Haguro Five-story Pagoda
World of Nature: Bandai-Asahi NP, Chōkai Quasi-National Park, Oze NP, Sanriku Fukkō NP, Zaō Quasi-National Park
Caves, Sinkholes and Saltmines: Abukuma-do
Lakes: Lake Inawashiro, Okama Lake
Rivers: Abukuma River, Mogami River, Tadami River
Trails 2 – Hikes: Oushu-kaido Hike
Zoos: Shiroisi: Zao Fox Village
Markets: Shiogama Fish Market
Music, Film and Photography Museums
Sakata: Ken Domon Museum of Photography
Sukagawa: Eiji Tsuburaya Museum
Museums – Various: Ishninomaki: Ishinomori Manga Museum
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CHIBU NORTH-WEST (Niigata, Ishikawa, Toyama, Fukui, Gifu)

DARE
Honshu – Awashima island
Honshu – Fukui Prefecture extreme South (Obama, Takahama)
Honshu – Niigata Prefecture northern panhandle (Murakami)
Honshu – Noto Peninsula (Ishikawa northwest)
Honshu – Sado island. Amazing island! Regular ferry running from Niigata, every 3 hours, first at 6 am, 2 hours, pricy, but worthwhile the experience! Incredible cycling destination with 270km of high quality roads circling the island, along the coastline.

HISTORIC VILLAGES OF SHIRAKAWA AND GOKAYAMA WHS 
SADO ISLAND GOLD MINES WHS 

GIFU
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars
Gifu: Mt. Kinka Ropeway
Gifu: Takayama Main Line
Tunnel – Gifu: Hida Tunnel
History, Culture, National and City Museums: Gifu: Museum of History
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Gifu: Gifu Castle
Art Museums: Gifu: Museum of Fine Arts
House and Biographical Museums: Gifu: Chiune Sugihara Memorial Hall
Architectural Delights: Gifu: Nagaragawa Convention Center
Religious Temples: Gifu: Shōhō-ji

KANAZAWA
Urban Legends:
Kanazawa: Higashi Chaya District
Kanazawa: Nagamachi District
Kanazawa: Kanazawa Station
History, Culture, National and City Museums: Kanazawa: Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Kanazawa: Kanazawa Castle
Art Museums: Kanazawa: 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
House and Biographical Museums: Kanazawa: Nomura-ke Samurai Heritage Residence
Religious Temples: Kanazawa: Myouryuji
Botanical Gardens: Kanazawa: Kenroku-en
Markets: Kanazawa: Omicho Market
Music, Film and Photography Museums: Kanazawa: Phonograph Museum

 

NIIGATA
Niigata: Hakkaisan Ropeway, Niigata: Yahikoyama Ropewa
Tunnel – Gunma-Niigata: Kan-etsu Tunnel (and Expressway)
History, Culture, National and City Museums:
Niigata: City History Museum
Niigata: Northern Culture Museum
Railway Museums: Niigata: Niigata Niitsu Railway Museum

TOYAMA
Toyama City Tram Line, Kurobe Cable Car, Kurobe Gorge Railway
Art Museums: Toyama: Glass Art Museum
Botanical Gardens: Toyama Botanical Gardens

FUKUI
Beaches: Fukui: Wakasawada Beach
JOETSU
NAGAOKA

Villages and Small Towns: Gifu: Shirakawa-go, Ishikawa: Wajima
Urban Legends: 
Shirakawa: Shiroyama Tenshukaku Observation Deck
Takayama: Sanmachi Suji
Airports: Komatsu (KMQ), Niigata (KIJ), Toyama (TOY)
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars
Ban’etsu Monogatari Gō (Steam)
Gunma: Tanigawadake Ropeway
Shinhotaka Ropeway
Toyamama: Tateyama Cable Car
Yuzawa Kōgen Ropeway
Roads, Road Bridges and Tunnels: Scenic Road – Beach road Chirihama Nagisa Driveway in Ishikawa
History, Culture, National and City Museums: Fukui: Fukui Prefectural Museum of Cultural History
Castles, Palaces, Forts
Inuyama: Inuyama Castle
Maruoka: Maruoka Castle
Shibata: Shibata Castle
Religious Temples
Eiheiji: Daihonzan Eiheiji
Katsuyama: Heisenji Hakusan Shrine
Obama: Myōtsū-ji
Tajimi: Eihō-ji
Takaoka: Zuiryū-ji
Tsuruga: Kehi Shrine
Religious Monuments
Ichishi District: Junkin Kaiun Hoju Daikanzeon Bosatsu
Kaga: Kaga Kannon
Natural History and Earth Museums: Katsuyama: Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum
World of Nature: Chūbu-Sangaku NP, Hakusan NP, Myōkō-Togakushi Renzan NP, Wakasa Wan Quasi-National Park
Botanical Gardens: Nagaoka: Snow Country Botanical Gardens Homaru
Waterfalls: Hannoki Falls, Shōmyō Falls, Yoro Falls
Caves, Sinkholes and Saltmines: Hida Daishonyudo
Trails 1 – Treks: Mount Hakusan Trail
Zoos: Sabae: Nishiyama Zoo
Hospitality Legends: Komatsu: Hōshi Ryokan Hotel
Well-being: Springs: Gero Hot Springs
Pedestrian and Historical Bridges: Ishikawa: Wagatani Suspension Bridge
Museums – Decorative Arts, Design, Fashion: Echizen: Fukui Prefectural Museum of Ceramics
Vehicle Museums: Komatsu: Motorcar Museum of Japan
Aviation Museums: Kakamigahara: Aerospace Science Museum
Railway Museums: Tsuruga: Tsuruga Railway Museum
Open-Air Museums: 
Gero Onsen: Gassho Village
Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village
Shirakawa-go: Gassho-zukuri Folklore Park