Japanese Landmarks Quiz
What is the name of this famous Kyoto temple? It shares its name with a famous Yukio Mishima novel.
- The Temple of the Golden Pavilion is actually covered in gold. This famous Kyoto landmark features heavily in tons of Japanese media, including the aforementioned novel by Mishima.
This castle in Hyōgo Prefecture was one of Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage sites.
- Himeji Castle is Japan's largest and most popular remaining castle, and it is considered exemplary of Japanese castle architecture.
This tower in the Sumida ward is the tallest structure in Japan, and the second tallest worldwide.
- The Tokyo Skytree is a functioning broadcast tower, but it's perhaps better known for its panoramic view of the city below.
This scramble crossing is iconic of Tokyo. It famously houses a statue of Hachiko, the loyal dog who waited for his master here for nine years.
- Shibuya Crossing appears in tons of books, movies, and games. It was even featured in early promotional materials for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
This shrine is famous for its roughly 1000 torii, or shrine gates.
- The Fushimi Inari-taisha has roughly 1,000 torii, each donated by different businesses. The fox god Inari is a patron of commerce.
This archipelago of 260 scenic islands is one of the "Three Views of Japan." It's named for the pines that cover the islands.
- Several of the islands are independently famous for their weird shapes, but the whole archipelago is considered a national treasure of Japan. "Matsushima" literally means "pine islands."
This bridge, Dōtonbori, is at the heart of which Japanese city?
- This bridge spans the heart of Osaka. In a city called "the nation's kitchen," Dōtonbori has an especially robust clustering of eateries and vendors.
This park, and the nearby shrine, are famous for the herds of deer that live here.
- Nara Park is a popular destination for school trips and families. You can buy biscuits to feed the deer.
This famous castle saw the destruction of the Toyotomi clan, and the rise of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
- Osaka Castle was built by the second of the Great Unifiers, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After his death, his clan lost the ensuing power struggle and was ultimately destroyed.
More of a "landmark event," this yearly festival attracts millions of visitors.
- Sapporo is the largest city on the snowy northern island of Hokkaido. It has hosted the country's largest snow festival since the 1950s, with hundreds of monumental snow and ice sculptures that attract visitors the world over.
