Takeda Castle in the Sky (Hyogo Prefecture)

Known as Japan's 'Machu Picchu', Takeda Castle was built in 1443 and then abandoned in 1600 after the Battle of Sekigahara. The castle ruins now stand magnificently on top of a mountain. On foggy mornings (usually in the early mornings in autumn and winter), you may be lucky enough to see the castle ruins 'floating in the sky' when viewed from neighboring mountains.    

Tanegashima Light Festival 2024 (Kagoshima Prefecture)  

The island of Tanegashima is known for its surf, sun, and sand. It is also home to Japan’s space program and is the venue for the Tanegashima Light Festival. The festival will take place at night, with Tanegashima’s dark starry skies providing the perfect canvas for the stunning light installations. 

 

Festival dates: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 1 Nov to 8 Dec 2024.

Image © ︎Satfes2024 

Thanks to its high altitude and close proximity to Mt Aso volcano, Takamori enjoys a cool climate and impeccably clean ground water, making the region perfect for sake making. The beloved Yamamura Shuzo sake distillery has been around since 1762 and still uses traditional brewing techniques. The friendly staff are very welcoming and speak some English. 
The nearby Spring Water Tunnel Park was  a tunnel construction project that had to be abandoned in 1980 but has since been made into charming an informative tourist attraction. 
To top it off you can enjoy a traditional BBQ meal in a 200 year old house in Dengaku-no-sato (reservations only available with a Japanese phone number).