Best historical destinations in Asia
Best historical destinations in Asia
Dynastic temples and preserved heritage ruins across Asia
Asia's historical depth is staggering, encompassing some of the oldest continuous civilisations on earth and a range of empires, belief systems and cultural traditions that have shaped the modern world in ways that are still only partially understood in the west. The physical evidence of that history, in the form of temples, monuments, ancient cities and sacred landscapes, survives across the continent in extraordinary quantity and variety.
The range of historical experience available is unlike any other region. Ancient temple complexes, imperial palace cities, silk road trading towns, colonial port settlements and the landscapes of more recent twentieth century history all exist within a continent where the past is rarely far from the surface. Some sites are among the most visited on earth. Others of equal significance receive a fraction of the attention.
Preparation pays off more in Asia than in almost any other historical region. The cultural and religious context required to fully appreciate many of the continent's most significant sites is not always obvious on arrival and a modest investment in background reading before departure tends to transform the quality of the experience considerably. A knowledgeable local guide makes a further significant difference at the most complex sites.
Lists by region
City in Japan
Nara
Giant Buddha, tame deer and ancient temples
Nara served as Japan's first permanent capital, established in the year 710. A giant bronze Buddha sits inside Todaiji, among the world's largest wooden buildings. Tame deer roam freely through Nara Park, considered messengers of the gods. Ancient temples and shrines fill the city, predating even those of Kyoto.
City in Japan
Nagasaki
Peace memorials, trade history and harbor views
Nagasaki opened to Dutch traders in the 1600s, one of Japan's only links to the West. Glover Garden preserves colonial-era homes built by foreign merchants on a hillside. Nagasaki Peace Park commemorates the 1945 atomic bombing that devastated the city. Oura Church, built in 1864, ranks among Japan's oldest surviving churches.
City in Japan
Himeji
Famed white castle and samurai gardens
Himeji Castle has survived earthquakes, fires and wartime bombing largely intact since the 1600s. Its white plastered walls earned the nickname White Heron Castle. A maze of gates and passages was designed to confuse attacking forces. Cherry blossoms bloom each spring across the castle's surrounding grounds.
City in Japan
Ise
Japan's most sacred Shinto shrine city
Ise Grand Shrine ranks among Shinto's most sacred sites, rebuilt every 20 years since ancient times. Two main shrines sit within forested grounds, connected by a long gravel path. Wooden torii gates mark the entrance to each inner sanctuary. This rebuilding tradition has preserved ancient construction techniques for over a thousand years.
City in Japan
Kamakura
Great Buddha, Zen temples and surf beaches
A bronze Buddha statue has sat exposed to the elements in Kamakura since the 1200s. Kamakura served as Japan's political capital for roughly 150 years under the shogunate. Hundreds of temples and shrines fill the hillsides surrounding the coastal town. A tunnel of orange torii gates leads to Hokokuji's bamboo grove nearby.
City in Japan
Tokyo
Japan's capital of temples, towers and food
Tokyo grew from the fishing village of Edo into a shogunate capital starting in 1603. Imperial Palace grounds now sit where Edo Castle once stood at the city's center. Traditional neighborhoods survive alongside the city's dense modern skyline. Museums across Tokyo trace the transition from feudal Edo to the modern capital.
City in Japan
Kyoto
Temples, geisha districts and kaiseki dining
Kyoto served as Japan's imperial capital for more than a thousand years before Tokyo. Nearly 2,000 temples and shrines remain scattered across the city and surrounding hills. Geisha still perform in the historic Gion district's traditional teahouses. Wooden machiya townhouses line several of the city's older neighborhoods.
Town in Japan
Nikko
Tokugawa shrines, waterfalls and hot springs
Toshogu Shrine in Nikko holds the mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Elaborate wood carvings cover the shrine, including the famous three wise monkeys. Cedar-lined avenues lead through the surrounding mountains toward the shrine complex. Nikko's temples and shrines date largely to the early 1600s, built under Tokugawa rule.
City in Japan
Hiroshima
Peace Park, okonomiyaki and Miyajima ferry
The Atomic Bomb Dome stands as a preserved ruin near the 1945 blast's center. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park surrounds the dome, dedicated to victims of the bombing. A flame in the park has burned continuously since 1964. Miyajima's floating torii gate sits a short ferry ride from the city.
City in Japan
Toyota
Car capital with Korankei maple gorge
Toyota's Sanage kiln sites trace ceramic production in the region back over a thousand years. The city grew around this pottery tradition long before the automaker took its name. Local shrines and temples preserve the area's pre-industrial farming history. Museums nearby document the region's shift from ceramics to manufacturing.
Temple in Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera
Kyoto's hillside temple with the wooden stage
Kiyomizu-dera's wooden stage extends over a hillside, built without a single nail. The temple takes its name from a waterfall running beneath the main hall. Cherry blossoms and autumn leaves frame views from the stage each season. Pilgrims have visited the site since the temple's founding in 778.
Shrine in Kyoto
Fushimi Inari-taisha
Thousands of torii gates up a Kyoto mountain
Thousands of vermillion torii gates form a tunnel up the mountain behind Fushimi Inari Taisha. Merchants and businesses have donated the gates since the Edo period. Fox statues guard the shrine, seen as messengers of the rice deity Inari. Trails climb well beyond the main gates toward smaller shrines on the hillside.
Landmark in Kyoto
Kinkaku-ji
Gold leaf pavilion beside a mirror pond
Gold leaf covers the upper floors of Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto's famous Golden Pavilion. A reflecting pond mirrors the temple's gilded exterior across still water. Fire destroyed the original structure in 1950, later rebuilt to match its historic design. Zen Buddhist monks once used the building as a retirement villa.
Region in Japan
Izu Peninsula
Hot springs, volcanic coast and beaches
Shimoda's harbor opened to foreign trade in 1854 after centuries of Japanese isolation. Perry's fleet anchored here, marking a turning point in Japan's history. Old merchant buildings still line streets near the harbor in Shimoda. Hot spring towns across the peninsula have drawn travelers for hundreds of years.
Castle in Kyoto
Nijō Castle
The Tokugawa shogun's Kyoto palace and gardens
Nijo Castle's floors were built to chirp underfoot, alerting guards to approaching intruders. Tokugawa shoguns used the castle as their Kyoto residence starting in 1603. Painted screens inside the Ninomaru Palace depict tigers, cranes and pine trees. Moats and stone walls still surround the castle's original grounds.
Temple in Tokyo
Sensō-ji
Tokyo's oldest temple beyond a red lantern gate
Senso-ji ranks as Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in the year 645. A giant red lantern hangs over the Kaminarimon gate leading to the temple grounds. Nakamise shopping street stretches between the gate and the main hall, selling traditional snacks. The temple survived wartime bombing that destroyed much of the surrounding district.
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