Japan's Top 3
This article is a travel topic After the Three Views were composed in the 17th century, many authors have come up with their own lists of Japanese sites and attractions. While there are countless lists and variations thereof, here is a selection of the best-known ones: Three Views[edit]![]() Floating torii, Miyajima 三景 Sankei in Japanese. The most famous list of them all, attributed to scholar Hayashi Razan back in 1643. New Three Views[edit]
Castles[edit]![]() Himeji Castle Three Famous Castles[edit]三名城 Sanmeijō Three Great Mountain Castles[edit]三大山城 Sandaiyamashiro
Three Great Flatland Mountain Castles[edit]三大平山城 Sandaihiroyamashiro
Three Famous Gardens[edit]Korakuen Garden, Okayama 三名園 Sanmeien
Three Famous Mountains[edit]三名山 Sanmeizan (Three Famous Mountains), also 三霊山 Sanreizan (Three Sacred Mountains)
Three Sacred Grounds[edit]![]() Okunoin graves on Mount Koya 三大霊場 sandai-reijo
Three Famous Big Buddhas[edit]![]() Great Buddha of Kamakura 三大大仏 Sandai-daibutsu
Three Great Festivals[edit]Neputa Matsuri, Hirosaki 三大祭 Sandaisai The Neputa/Nebuta Matsuri of Aomori is often considered to be one of the top three festivals, but it is actually only listed as one of the top three festivals of the Tohoku region (below). Three Great Festivals of Tohoku[edit]
Three Great Festivals of Kyoto[edit]
Three Hot Springs[edit]Certainly one of the more hotly contested categories. (No pun intended). ![]() Sakinoyu Onsen, Shirahama Three Great Hot Springs[edit]三大温泉 Sandaionsen Three Famous Springs[edit]三名泉 Sanmeisen. This list, too, was authored by Hayashi Razan. Three Old Springs[edit]Bathhouse, Dogo Onsen 三古湯 Sankosen Three Baths of Fuso[edit]扶桑三名湯 Fuso-sanmeiyu. Fuso is a poetic name for Japan and this one is credited to traveling haiku poet Matsuo Basho.
Three Great Night Views[edit]Osaka Bay at night 三大夜景 Sandaiyakei
New Three Great Night Views[edit]新三大夜景 Shin-sandaiyakei
Three Holy Places of Ōshū[edit]Sulphur pit, Mount Osore 奥州三霊場 Ōshū sanreijō are the three most famous pilgrimage sites in the ancient land of Oku (奥), now known as Tohoku.
Shrines[edit]Three Great Inari Shrines[edit]![]() Fushimi Inari, Kyoto 三大稲荷 Sandai Inari
As the head of all Inari shrines, Fushimi Inari Shrine is naturally one of the top three, but there is little historical or present consensus on the others, since sites only declare themselves to be a top 3 without mentioning the others. Takekoma Shrine in Iwanuma and Kasuma Inari Shrine in Kasama are also suggested by some.
Three Great Tenjin Shrines[edit]![]() Kitano Tenmangu, Kyoto 三大天神 Sandai Tenjin
All Tenjin (Tenmangu) shrines are dedicated to the worship of Sugawara Michizane. This top three list actually highlights his exile from Kyoto to Dazaifu. Along the way, he stopped in Hofu and built the first Tenjin shrine. Official dedication of shrines to him began after his death when a series of natural disasters and tragedies in the capital were believed to be caused by his restless soul seeking vengeance for his unjust exile. Kitano Tenmangu was built to pacify him.
Three Great Hachiman Shrines[edit]三八幡 San Hachiman
Three Great Torii[edit]三大鳥居 Sandai Torii Three Hidden Regions[edit]Vine bridge, Iya Valley 三大秘境 Sandaihikkyō
Three Caves[edit]
Three Sake Towns[edit]日本三大酒処
Three Chinatowns[edit]![]() Chinatown, Yokohama 三大中華街 Sandai-chūkagai Three Luxury Beefs[edit]
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