Himeji Castle
Himeji · Palace
Asia · 5 landmarks
Famous landmarks in Japan
A white castle, a golden pavilion and a gate beside the sea.
The Japan collection teaches you to separate several striking outlines. Himeji Castle combines white walls with layered roofs. Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto has a golden upper exterior and a pavilion form. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima invites you to look at the relationship between shrine, gate and water; the scene changes with the tide, so a gate standing above exposed ground does not rule the place out.
Tokyo Tower gives you a metal lattice landmark with orange-and-white paint rather than temple architecture. The Great Buddha of Kamakura adds a seated outdoor figure. Keep the Buddha’s body and the surrounding space in view before making a location guess. These five landmarks span several cities, so matching a name to Tokyo by default will miss much of the collection.
Locations: Himeji · Kyoto · Miyajima · Tokyo · Kamakura. The landmark cards below include exact coordinates.
Read the map
Use Tokyo and nearby Kamakura as an eastern pair. Locate Kyoto and Himeji farther west, with Miyajima farther west again near Hiroshima.
A small learning challenge
Recall one material or outline for each stop, then say the place name. Practise both directions: picture to city and city to landmark.
Meet the five landmarks
Open a guide for location, history, photo clues, and credited photography.
Kinkaku-ji
Kyoto · Religious
Itsukushima Shrine
Miyajima · Religious
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo · Tower
Great Buddha of Kamakura
Kamakura · Religious
How well do you know Japan?
Five photographs, five pins. Put your new mental map to work.