History & Culture in Japan

Archaeologists continue to debate whether this site yielded the oldest human remains in Japan.

At this Neolithic site, the remains of ancient humans have been found alongside the bones of the toxic fugu pufferfish.

The location of the site of one of the defining battles of feudal Japan is being fought over by two neighboring cities.

A glimpse into life in 1830s Tokyo, back during the heyday of the Tokugawa shogunate.

The former mansion complex of a merchant prince, related to a famed filmmaker.

Associated with Japanese folklore's most eminent sorcerer, this slab of rock is said to be both a blessing and a curse.

Descendants of the samurai who guarded Matsusaka Castle during the Edo period still live in these charming historic houses (and visitors can enter one of them for free).

An unassuming set of tiles next to a mailbox mark the former location of one of the most famous springs in the city.

Over 80 years old, this hand-dug tunnel is a Chinese-style portal to another world.

A collection of nearly 5,000 yokai-themed toys, sculptures, and more, dating from the 1700s to the present day.

This frenetic mural recalls an annual festival that once took the city by storm.

These statues are dedicated to the damned souls of those executed centuries ago on the beautiful Yuigahama beach.

Home to 800-year-old zen basin, a 400-year-old pilgrim’s path, and a century-old industrial grotto.

This glass-themed tourist park in northern Japan feels like taking a step back in time.

Home to a legend of the supernatural raccoon dog, a rare wooden structure of Edo, and witnesses of the Tokyo bombings.

This one-of-a-kind indie publisher-bookshop specializes in archiving historic red-light districts and niche cultural topics of the Shōwa era.