Tokyo Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace is the former residential palace of the Tokugawa Shoguns from the Edo Period. Emperor Meiji relocated the palace to Tokyo in 1868 from Kyoto, which had been the Japanese imperial capital for over 1,000 years. Today, the Palace is the Imperial Residence of Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress, and is used for many ceremonies and functions. It also houses the Imperial Household Agency Building, the Momijiyama Imperial Cocoonery (home to Her Majesty’s Koishimaru silk worms), gardens and the Tokagakudo Concert Hall. The complex comprises over 204,261 square meters (2.2 million square feet) of building space, plus gardens, moats, plazas and fountains.

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Kinkaku ji Temple

Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion, is perhaps one of the most widely-recognized images of the city of Kyoto. The temple was originally constructed in 1224 as a second home for an aristocrat. Later, it became home of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358-1409). Adorned with gold leaf, the building was converted to a Zen temple after the Shogun’s death, as stipulated in his will. The temple sits on a large pond which comprises a majority of the 132,000 square meter grounds. Despite its proximity to water and its primarily spiritual status, the structure has been intentionally burned many times during war and other conflicts, most recently by an arsonist in 1950. It was restored in 1955, with major improvement work done in 1987, which replaced all gold leaf. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage, Kinkaku-ji is one of the truly special historical buildings most representative of Japan.

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Hiroshima Peace Memorial/Genbaku Dome

The Genbaku Dome is the ruin of the former Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall that was destroyed when the world’s first atomic bomb was detonated over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Ninety percent of the 76,000 buildings in the old city center were destroyed, and it is estimated that 140,000 people died by the end of the year—about 40% of the city’s population. Because the atomic blast was almost directly above this spot, the walls and dome of the building were partially spared from destruction. This building is registered as a world heritage site as a symbol of prayer for permanent world peace and the elimination of all nuclear weapons. While world heritage sites are usually positive, there are a few dark sites highlighted for remembrance as symbols of tragic deeds never to be repeated. This is one such site. Across the Motoyasu River that runs past the Genbaku Dome, is the Peace Memorial Park where visitors find the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound, Children's Peace Monument and a cenotaph for atomic bomb victims.

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Ninna ji Temple

The temple of Ninna-ji was built at the end of the 9th century, serving as the residence of a member of the Imperial family who entered the priesthood. Today, the temple stands as a symbol of the Omuro sect of Shingon Buddhism. Much of the temple was destroyed by fire over the centuries, chiefly in the 15th century. It was rebuilt in the 17th century using buildings from the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, the residence of the Emperor. These include the Kon-do, a hall designated as a National Treasure, and the Mikage-do, a hall designated as an Important Cultural Property. Other important Cultural Properties designated by the national government include the Nio-mon gate and the five-storied pagoda. The Reiho-kan, a building housing treasures, contains cultural properties including sculptures, paintings and ancient documents. The Amida-Nyorai Buddha can be found on-site, and is the focus of the temple’s religious worship. Unrelated to its storied history, the temple is home to many cherry blossom trees which make it a prime attraction in spring.

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Tokyo Ski Tree

A popular symbol of modern Japan, the Tokyo Sky Tree is the world’s tallest free-standing communications tower at 634 meters (2,080 feet). Opened in May 2012, the tower is the center of Tokyo Skytree Town and contains the Solamachi, a complex with many shops, restaurants and attractions, such as the aquarium and planetarium. The structure evokes a sense of traditional beauty, featuring concave sori curves seen in traditional Japanese architecture, as well as the convex mukuri curves found in temple architecture. It also features shimbashira-seishin, or center column vibration control, which was the world's first vibration control system. The intricate illumination design expresses the Japanese spirit, through the patterns iki (chic) and miyabi (elegance) at night. The Tembo Deck, located 350 meters (1,148 feet) above ground level, offers a 360 degree panoramic view across the entire Kanto region from its large glass panes. The Tembo Galleria at 450 meters (1,476 feet) has a 110m-long glass floor, making visitors feel like they’re walking on air.

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