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Best traditional destinations in Asia

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Kyoto
Temples, geisha districts and kaiseki dining
9.2
Japan's imperial capital for over a thousand years, this city holds 17 UNESCO sites. Kinkakuji, Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizudera are the biggest names. Geisha still walk the lanes of Gion in the evening. Visitors can join a traditional tea ceremony at a temple or a historic teahouse.
Highlights:
  • ⛩️ Climb the vermillion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine
  • 🍱 Experience Japan’s beautifully presented Kaiseki dining at a traditional restaurant
  • 🎋 Stroll through the magical Arashiyama bamboo forest early in the morning
Gion
Wooden teahouse lanes where geiko work
9.6
Geiko and maiko walk the stone lanes of Gion at dusk on their way to appointments. Wooden machiya townhouses line Hanamikoji Street, where teahouses host evening banquets. Visitors can watch dance performances and tea ceremonies at Gion Corner. Spotting a geiko is a matter of luck.
Highlights:
  • 🍵 Join a tea ceremony in a centuries-old teahouse
  • 🍱 Dine at a traditional Kaiseki restaurant overlooking the Shirakawa River
  • 👘 Spot a geisha or maiko walking along Hanamikoji Street
Bhutan
Himalayan monasteries, dzongs and trekking trails
8.5
Buddhist monasteries called dzongs shape every valley of this Himalayan kingdom. Tiger's Nest perches on a cliff above the Paro valley. Visitors see monks in maroon robes and colorful tsechu festivals with masked dances. Citizens still wear traditional dress called gho and kira in daily life.
Highlights:
  • 🌄 Admire Himalayan panoramas from Dochula Pass’ 108 chortens
  • 🎉 Join a colorful Buddhist festival at Punakha Dzong
  • 🏔️ Hike to the cliffside Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Paro
Takayama
Old town, morning markets and Hida beef
8.1
Preserved Edo era merchant streets line the Sanmachi Suji district. Sake breweries hang cedar balls over their doors. Morning markets sell pickles, crafts and hot coffee beside the river. Huge decorated floats parade through town during the spring and autumn festivals that date back centuries.
Highlights:
  • 🏯 Tour the Takayama Jinya, the historic Edo government house
  • 🍠 Visit the morning markets along the Miyagawa River
  • 🏮 Wander through Takayama’s preserved old town of Sanmachi Suji
Shirakawa-go
Thatched gassho farmhouses in the Hida mountains
7.6
Steep thatched farmhouses called gassho zukuri fill this snowy mountain valley in Gifu. Their steep roofs resemble hands pressed together in prayer. Visitors can climb to a hilltop lookout for sweeping views over the village. Some houses are open to the public as museums or guesthouses.
Highlights:
  • 🏺 Visit the open-air museum to explore preserved houses
  • 📸 Capture winter scenery with snow-covered village rooftops
  • 🏡 Admire the traditional gassho-zukuri thatched farmhouses
Kanazawa
Samurai streets, gold leaf and Kenrokuen garden
8.2
Geisha districts and old samurai houses line the preserved streets of this city. Kenroku en is one of Japan's most famous gardens and opens early. Gold leaf crafts and lacquerware are local specialties. Omicho market sells fresh seafood, fruit and regional snacks near the station.
Highlights:
  • 🍵 Wander the preserved tea houses of Higashi Chaya District
  • 🏯 Explore Kanazawa Castle and its impressive defensive grounds
  • 🌸 Stroll through Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan’s finest landscapes
Okinawa Island
Reef beaches and Ryukyu Kingdom heritage
8.4
Shuri Castle served as the royal seat of the Ryukyu Kingdom until 1879. Its red halls show a blend of Chinese and Japanese design. Visitors can learn about court dance and bingata textiles in nearby workshops. Many villages hold eisa drum dances during the summer Obon season.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on white sands of Emerald and Zanpa Beaches
  • 🏯 Explore historic Shuri Castle, former Ryukyu Kingdom palace
  • 🐋 Visit Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, home to whale sharks
Kawagoe
Edo-style warehouse town near Tokyo
7.8
Black tiled kurazukuri warehouses line the main street of this Edo style town. The Toki no Kane bell tower rings four times daily. Kashiya Yokocho is a lane of old candy shops. Trains from Tokyo take under an hour so it works as a day trip.
Highlights:
  • 🕰️ Visit the iconic Toki no Kane clock tower
  • 🍠 Taste traditional sweet potato treats at Kashiya Yokocho
  • 🏮 Stroll down Kurazukuri Street and admire Edo-era warehouses
Ise
Japan's most sacred Shinto shrine city
7.8
Amaterasu, the sun goddess, is honored at Ise Grand Shrine. Its wooden buildings are rebuilt every 20 years in an ancient ritual. Visitors walk through cedar forests to the inner shrine. Okage Yokocho street sells sweets like akafuku rice cakes near the shrine gates and the river.
Highlights:
  • 🏯 Explore Naiku and Geku, the inner and outer shrine complexes
  • 🍡 Walk the charming old streets of Okage Yokocho and taste local snacks
  • ⛩️ Visit the sacred Ise Grand Shrine, Japan’s most revered Shinto site
Shikoku
Pilgrimage trail, gorges and hot springs
8.1
Pilgrims walk an 88 temple circuit around the island, following the path of the monk Kobo Daishi. The route stretches for about 1,200 kilometers. Many walkers wear white jackets and carry wooden staffs as they go. Locals offer snacks and tea called osettai along the way.
Highlights:
  • ♨️ Relax in Dōgo Onsen, Japan’s oldest hot spring
  • 🌊 Admire the whirlpools of Naruto Strait from the Ōnaruto Bridge
  • ⛩️ Complete the 88 Temple Pilgrimage across Shikoku
Nara
Giant Buddha, tame deer and ancient temples
8.4
Todaiji Temple houses a giant bronze Buddha inside one of the largest wooden halls in the world. Sika deer roam freely through the park around the temple grounds. Visitors can buy special crackers from vendors to feed them. Kasuga Taisha shrine glows with hundreds of stone and bronze lanterns.
Highlights:
  • 🏮 Explore historic Kasuga Taisha Shrine lantern pathways
  • 🏯 Visit Todaiji Temple and see the Great Buddha
  • 🦌 Feed and photograph friendly deer in Nara Park
Matsumoto
Black castle town below the Alps
7.9
A black keep known as Crow Castle stands in the middle of town. It is one of a handful of original castles left in Japan. Visitors can climb steep wooden stairs to the top floor for views of the Alps. A red bridge crosses the moat beside it.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Visit Matsumoto City Museum of Art and see Yayoi Kusama works
  • 🛤️ Stroll along the charming streets of Nakamachi and Nawate
  • 🏯 Explore the historic wooden Matsumoto Castle and its black keep
Hida
Carp canal and sake town near Takayama
7.3
Steep thatched gassho zukuri farmhouses stand in the mountain villages of this region. Hida Folk Village displays about 30 old houses in an open air museum. Visitors can try Hida beef and mountain vegetable dishes. Shirakawago is a UNESCO site nearby and makes an easy day trip.
Highlights:
  • 🚆 Ride the scenic Hida-Furukawa rail line through mountain valleys
  • 🍶 Take a sake brewery tour and sample local varieties
  • 🏮 Wander through the preserved streets of Hida-Furukawa
Kinosaki Onsen
Seven bathhouses to stroll between in yukata
8.3
Seven public bathhouses line the willow shaded canal of this hot spring town. Guests wear cotton yukata robes and wooden sandals to stroll between them. Each bathhouse has its own style of pools and stonework. Visitors can buy a day pass that covers all seven bathhouses.
Highlights:
  • ⛩️ Visit the historic Kinosaki Shrine and participate in local rituals
  • 👘 Stroll through the charming streets wearing a yukata and geta
  • 🛁 Relax in a traditional ryokan and soak in private onsen baths
Miyajima
Torii in the sea, deer and Mount Misen
8.6
A red torii gate appears to float on the water at high tide off Itsukushima Island. The shrine halls stand on piles above the bay. Visitors can walk to the gate across wet sand at low tide. Wild deer roam the village streets behind the main shrine.
Highlights:
  • 🍁 Stroll through Momijidani Park’s maple trees in autumn
  • 🏔️ Climb Mount Misen for panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea
  • ⛩️ Admire the floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine at high tide
Nikko
Tokugawa shrines, waterfalls and hot springs
8.6
Toshogu Shrine honors the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu with carved gates and gilded halls. Its carved panels include the famous three wise monkeys who see no evil. Visitors can walk through an old cedar forest to reach the grounds. Rinnoji temple adds to the sacred mountain setting.
Highlights:
  • 💦 Admire the majestic Kegon Falls viewpoint
  • 🌉 Cross the striking vermilion Shinkyo Bridge
  • ⛩️ Visit the ornate Nikko Toshogu Shrine complex
Kamakura
Great Buddha, Zen temples and surf beaches
8.5
Samurai rulers made this town their capital in the late 1100s. The Great Buddha is a huge bronze statue sitting outdoors since the 1200s. Hase dera temple has hillside gardens with sea views over the bay. The Enoden train rattles along the coast between temples and beaches.
Highlights:
  • 🎋 Walk the bamboo groves of Hokokuji Zen Temple
  • 🌸 Explore Hasedera Temple’s gardens and sea views
  • 🗿 Visit the Great Buddha statue at Kotoku-in Temple
Kurashiki
Canal town with storehouses and Western art
7.7
White walled rice warehouses line a willow lined canal in the old merchant quarter. The Bikan Historical Quarter keeps Edo era shops and tea houses. Ohara Museum of Art shows works by Monet and El Greco. Denim shops nearby sell local jeans made in Okayama.
Highlights:
  • 🌿 Visit Kurashiki Ivy Square, a scenic former textile mill
  • 🖼️ Explore the Ohara Museum of Art’s priceless collection
  • 🏞️ Stroll the historic Kurashiki Bikan Quarter canals
Iya Valley
Vine bridges, deep gorges and mountain hot springs
7.8
Kazurabashi vine bridges span the Iya river in a deep mountain valley. Remote villages keep thatched farmhouses and old terraced fields. Visitors can walk across the swaying bridges and hike forest trails. Chiiori, an old farmhouse, offers stays with an open hearth and simple country food.
Highlights:
  • ♨️ Relax in the soothing hot springs of Oboke
  • ⛰️ Hike Mount Tsurugi, Shikoku’s second highest peak
  • 🌉 Cross the historic vine bridges swaying above river
Kurokawa Onsen
Riverside bath hopping in a Kumamoto valley
8.8
Visitors to Kurokawa buy a wooden bath pass to try three different outdoor baths. Small inns line a quiet stream in a forested valley of Kyushu. Rotenburo pools sit beside cedar trees and bamboo groves. Evening lanterns light the stone paths between the traditional ryokan.
Highlights:
  • 🏮 Enjoy seasonal lantern festivals lighting the village
  • 👘 Stroll the charming streets in traditional yukata robes
  • ♨️ Use the wooden pass for onsen hopping across baths
Izu Peninsula
Hot springs, volcanic coast and beaches
8.3
Hot spring towns dot the coast and hills of this scenic peninsula. Shuzenji Onsen has an old temple and a bamboo path beside the river. Shimoda recalls the arrival of Perry's black ships in the 1850s. Wasabi farms in the mountains add local flavor to meals.
Highlights:
  • 🌸 Explore Izu Kogen highland's flower gardens
  • 🏔️ Watch the sunset over Suruga Bay from Cape Koganezaki
  • 🛁 Soak in Atami's famed hot spring baths
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