History

Learn and experience it all at once.

This demanding trek is for seasoned hikers only, but gorgeous views and the unearthly Mount Koya are sure to take anyone’s breath away.

Take the road less traveled on this coastal hiking trail once sought out by poets and painters for artistic inspiration.

This stunning trek through Wakayama Prefecture was once favored by emperors and nobles.

Walk in the presence of the gods as you follow these ancient pilgrimage trails in Western Japan.

Pay your respects to Ise Jingu, Japan’s most holy shrine, and hike in the footsteps of the gods in Mie Prefecture.

The mummified remains of an 18th-century monk resides in this peaceful rural temple.

Worship the dead at these temples featuring Japan’s self-mummified monks.

A distinct keyhole-shaped burial mound that's considered the largest in the world. Exactly who’s buried here, however, is a bit of a mystery.

Ninja time in the mountains.

Live and bathe like the locals — in a cauldron — at this historic and tattoo-friendly spot.

Kyoto’s undiscovered gem.