5. Japan’s Famous Shrine Island: Miyajima
Occupying some 30 square kilometers of Hiroshima Bay, Miyajima – also called «Shrine Island» – is best known for the beautiful Itsukushima shrine. There’s certainly enough to see and do on the island to warrant spending the best part of a day here, and the views over the city at night are wonderful.
6. Himeji Castle (Shirasagi)
An hour-and-a-half west of Kyoto is the city of Himeji, famous as the site of Japan’s largest fortress, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Himeji Castle. This magnificent 14th-century palace, also known as Shirasagi Castle – or White Heron Castle for its exterior walls that resemble a flying white heron – is a delight to visit and can easily consume a few hours of your day as you explore the site’s more than 80 buildings, fortifications, and parks.
