Lot’s of small museums are hidden among the city center and enable you to learn more about Japanese culture as well as famous inhabitants the city has seen in the past centuries.

Opened in 1995, the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum takes pride in being the only comprehensive public museum representing photography and moving images.

His works are notable for the unconventional shapes and designs as well as the philosophy he puts in creating them – he believes in what he calls ‘ordered poverty.’

You probably now have an image of the Heaven and Hell concepts surrounding this area, especially if you saw the mandaras in the museum. Well how about getting a hands-on, 3-D multi-sensory experience for yourself! Time to move on to Mandara Yuen for a modern and artistic representation of Tateyama’s Heaven and Hell! As it has indoor and outdoor experiences, going in fine weather is preferable.

The region of Tajima, which refers to northern Hyogo prefecture, offers a completely different face to that of southern Hyogo, which comprises of big city names such as Kobe where many skyscrapers and vivid colors of neon lights characterize the province. On the contrary, this part of Hyogo is full of nature, history and boasts of premium quality hot springs.

The name means "doll town," and a long time ago the area was famous for its puppet shows, puppet makers, and puppeteers. Nowadays, the only remaining doll "theaters" are the two signature Ningyocho clocktowers. Shows run hourly from 11 a.m. To 7 p.m. but be sure to have your camera ready, because they last only 2 minutes!

Come to Iwate to experience a colorful dreamscape of crystals and light. At the Kenji Miyazawa Fairy Tale Village, you can jump into a world befitting of fairies.

An often-neglected historical edifice but bearing equal significance and prestige not only for its vast, sprawling garden but also more importantly for the Art Deco interiors of Prince Asaka’s former residence, is the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum in Meguro.

Okawachiyama, Saga. As soon as you get off the bus, sightseeing starts. You see the mountains in the background, narrow roads, pottery and porcelain everywhere, a stream and cute little bridges over it.

Once the Kingdom of the Ryukyus, a distinct local culture flourished, with strong influences from China, Indonesia, and other neighbors, who traded dyes, tools, and techniques. Many of these beautiful handicrafts survive today, so when in Okinawa, skip the mass produced souvenirs, and have fun making your own instead.

Yusuhara is a small town in Kochi located in between mountains and holds a population of less than 4000 people. It touts itself as the town above the clouds, and is also known for its eco-friendliness. What this amounts to is a friendly town where everyone seems to know and greet each other everywhere, a town that retires home before it gets dark, and a quiet and peaceful town, all in all providing for a quaint Japanese town experience that would likely surprise you.

Mori Building Digital Art Museum: Epson teamLab Borderless in Odaiba’s Palette Town is the first permanent digital museum in the world, and is easily becoming a must-see for tourists and locals alike. The brainchild of teamLab, a visionary art collective made up of artists, engineers, CG animators and more, this digital wonderland lives up to its 'borderless' name.