Best Architecture Spot List

View the ocean from 47 meters above sea level

This green western-style home shines with pleasant sensibility

The head of Japan’s Kumano shrines—famous for matchmaking

Stroll along the heart-shaped pond in the garden

A Zen temple of the Rinzai Sect of Buddhism, world famous for its traditional rock garden.

Boasts an amazing stage modeled after a lion mask

The scattered fallen leaves in autumn are beautiful

A famous location for autumn leaves, connected to Kukai (Kobo-daishi)

A mysterious building with a unique structure that has two separate stairways

Hie-jinja Shrine has a history of more than 600 years. The Sanno Festival, one of the three biggest Japanese festivals, is held in June.

Famous since the Edo period (1603–1868) for its god of business prosperity. Site of the largest Tori no Ichi open-air market in Japan.

This is a temple erected at the wish of Keishoin, the real mother of Shogun Tsunayoshi Tokugawa. The main hall, remaining in its original state from the Genroku period, has been designated as a National Important Cultural Property.

The three-story pagoda is the symbol of Takahata

A Zen temple of the Rinzai School built in the scenic area of Arashimaya in Kyoto. It was built by Takauji Ashikaga in memory of the recently deceased Emperor Go-Daigo.

The head temple of the Rinzai sect, known as the highest-ranked Zen temple in Japan.

A shrine for a popular matchmaking deity and associated with the puppet play “Sonezaki Shinju”

A temple founded in Higashiyama by Hideyoshi Toyotomi's wife, Nene, to mourn his passing and pray for his soul. The nighttime illuminations in spring, summer and fall are beautiful to see.

Komagata Bridge on the Sumida River is 150 meters long and has over 80 years of history.

The head shrine of Oshu, boasting 1,200 years of history

Famous for its tea room, ”Hasso-no-seki”