4 discoveries
A tiny art space run by Hiroshi Abe — the picture-book illustrator who spent 25 years as an Asahiyama Zoo keeper before becoming one of Japan's best-loved children's authors — with a new exhibition every couple of months.
Eight of Asahikawa's most famous ramen shops under one roof, plus a joke shrine with a torii gate where you can pray to the ramen gods.
A gently shelving cove ranked among Japan's 100 best beaches, where a white torii gate stands facing the sea and shallow, calm water has drawn swimming families for generations.
A former castle cape juts into Katsuura Bay with a sea-view plaza, playground equipment, walking paths, and a statue of the shogun's mistress who once lived on this ground.
