Japan is currently dubbed as one of the world’s best commercial centers and is a favorite tourist destination for many good reasons. The country also serves as the home to numerous historical sites that will give you a glimpse of the distant past. If you want to discover more about Japan history, below are some of the places you should add to your bucket list.
Table of Contents
Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
It is not a secret that Tokyo serves as the home to some of the most breathtaking and awesome architectures that the Earth has ever seen. Going for a theme tour of the capital of the country is a great way to learn more about the history of the entire kingdom.
The Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum is one place worthy to visit. The museum can be found right at the end of the city of Tokyo and once you get there, you will be welcomed by several outdoor historic buildings with some of them preserved.
There are also other edifices that are in the process of restoration. Many of the buildings that you can find on the site are accessible to the general public. A tour of every room will give you a good idea of the way of life of the people who lived in them back in the days.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Aside from Japan (https://www.planetarioviaggi.it/7-luoghi-piu-sorprendenti-da-visitare-in-giappone/), many countries across the world will never be able to forget the unfortunate things that took place at Hiroshima in the time of war. This is why it makes sense that they built a memorial park there to commemorate the day.
Back in 1945, the residents of Hiroshima experienced a terrifying ordeal as the war planes of the United States dropped atomic bombs on the area that didn’t only destroy many buildings but also took the lives of millions of people.
The commemorative park was the design of Kenzo Tange, a former metabolist school practitioner. The building site constructed sits on the spot that used to be a bustling commercial district. The centerpiece of the park is where you can find the A-bomb Dome today that shows the skeleton remains of the building closest to the blast that was able to survive the bombing like a miracle.
UNESCO has named the park as World Heritage Site several years ago and is definitely a must visit if you are interested with Japan history.
Nikko Toshogu Shrine
The Toshogu Shrine is no doubt the most popular out of all the shrines in Nikko and is named as one of the World Heritage shrines by UNESCO. Inside the shrine peacefully lies the tomb of Tokugawa Leyasu, the first ever shogun during Edo period. The shrine went through renovation in 1936 to make it to how it looks today. This is a colorful spectacle of architectural style that sets it apart from the rest of the shrines that you can find in the neighborhood.
The shrine’s Yomei-mon gate is an exceptional masterpiece of craftsmanship that is a favorite among visitors of the area. The gate is made up of 500 delicately chiseled carvings that are 400 years old that endows a picturesque beauty to the shrine. Some other masterpieces that you can see on the property include the sparrow carving and the Sleeping Cat or also called the Numurineko carving.
Shinjuku, Tokyo
There is no doubt that Shinjuku (Tokyo) is the most talked about location not only in Japan but also other countries across the world due to its commercial perks. This is where you can find a plethora of entertainment centers, shops, and nightlife districts. This also serves as home to the busiest train station in Japan.
Back in the 60s and 70s, the streets were filled with beatniks and political dissidents as they sing songs of protest and shout protesting words to let the ruling authorities of the time to know about their dissatisfaction.
This is the reason why the world considered Shinjuku has the 1960s’ birthed counter culture and also a place that you can visit if you wish to travel back in time and experience Japan history firsthand.
The West Exit of Shinjuku often serves as the starting point when exploring the area which also happens to be a historic place that served as the location of numerous protest gatherings during that time.
Taiyuin Temple
Taiyuin Temple is yet another UNESCO World Heritage site that is comfortably perched on the side of a mountain in Nikko. The third reigning shogun of that time, Tokugawa Lemitsu, commissioned builders to put up two crypts, the first one being for Tokuga Leyasu, his founding grandfather and the Edo era’s first shogun leader and the second one for himself.
To prevent overshadowing the legacy of his grandfather or causing criticisms during the Edo era, the third shogun instructed the construction of a smaller and less picturesque Taiyuin Temple than the Toshogu shrine.
Upon climbing the stairs and setting foot inside the temple, gold pillars, sculptures, paintings, and several ornaments will welcome you. You will also get to enjoy the best of nature thanks to the magnificent cedars that surround the building.
Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park, Nikko
Located in Nikko, the Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park, Nikko has a capacity of 106 rooms and is among the most outstanding wooden structure constructions ever known in Japan history that remains standing to this day in the kingdom.
The park is a unique combination of modernized Western and traditional Japanese architecture. This is what makes it a very popular destination not only for the savvy tourists spending their holidays in the region but even for the locals.
It was originally the house of the relatives of Tokugawa family members. The park’s authorities later thought that it would be better to relocate it somewhere else and this is why it was brought to Nikko that has a cooler temperature.
Aside from the amazing architectural buildings found on the property, there is also a breathtaking Japanese garden that is perfect for relaxation or being up close and personal with the different flower species grown in the compound.
