Photo credits
The photographers
Every gem photo comes from Wikimedia Commons under an open license. Thank you to everyone below for sharing their work. Photos were resized and cropped to fit; follow a link to see the original and its full license.
Abeno Harukas 300 Observatory Fee Increase · Osaka
Photo: Laitche · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Adashino Nenbutsu-ji — forgotten souls temple · Kyoto
Photo: Dudva · CC0 ↗
Ainokura — window-light evenings · Nanto
Photo: minque · Public domain ↗
Akasawa-juku · Hayakawa
Photo: Sakaori (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Akihabara — Radio Kaikan and the back alleys · Tokyo
Photo: Aimaimyi · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Arashiyama bamboo grove at 5am · Kyoto
Photo: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Arimatsu Narumi Shibori Kaikan · Nagoya
Photo: Tomio344456 · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Asahi Inari Shrine — Weathering With You pilgrimage · Tokyo
Photo: MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Asakusa — Denboin Garden's once-a-year opening · Tokyo
Photo: Maarten Heerlien from Voorschoten, The Netherlands · CC BY 2.0 ↗
Asakusa — Hanayashiki, skip the day pass · Tokyo
Photo: Aimaimyi · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Asakusa — the free rooftop that frames Sensoji and Skytree in one shot · Tokyo
Photo: DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Beppu — the seven hells circuit · Beppu
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 ↗
City Museum of Gojo Culture · Gojō
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 ↗
Daitoku-ji sub-temples — rotating access · Kyoto
Photo: Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY 4.0 ↗
Dotonbori at 6am · Osaka
Photo: 32linesky · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Edo-Tokyo Museum Reopening Coverage Gap · Tokyo
Photo: Wiiii · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Eikan-dō Regular Admission Increase · Kyoto
Photo: Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
ESHIKOTO — Kokuryu sake tasting · Fukui
Photo: Suikotei · CC BY 4.0 ↗
Fujiya Hotel — Meiji-era resort · Hakone
Photo: 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Fukiya Furusato Village · Takahashi
Photo: 皓月旗 · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Fushimi Inari upper trail · Kyoto
Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY 2.0 ↗
Fushimi sake district — brewery walk · Kyoto
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 ↗
Ginkaku-ji Admission Price Doubling · Kyoto
Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0 ↗
Ginzan Onsen — Taisho-era hot spring village · Yamagata
Photo: さかおり · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Gion Hatanaka — maiko experience · Kyoto
Photo: HAGAT hOMSZE · CC0 ↗
Hakone Open Air Museum · Hakone
Photo: Suicasmo · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Harajuku — the ukiyo-e museum that closes on its own schedule, not the calendar's · Tokyo
Photo: Rs1421 · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Hōtōrō, Sancho-machi teahouse quarter · Obama
Photo: Asturio Cantabrio · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Hozenji Yokocho — moss alley off Dotonbori · Osaka
Photo: Choi2451 · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Imanishi House, Imai-cho · Kashihara
Photo: Tokiwokakeru · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Ine Funaya — overnight in a boat house · Kyoto
Photo: Naokijp · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Ishiguro Samurai House, Kakunodate · Semboku
Photo: 天然芝 · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Iwamura Historical Museum & Folklore Museum · Ena
Photo: Asturio Cantabrio · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Izumi-Fumoto Samurai Quarter — Izumi-Fumoto History Museum · Izumi
Photo: Asturio Cantabrio · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Izushi Karō Yashiki · Toyooka
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 ↗
Jimbocho — Tokyo's book town · Tokyo
Photo: Nick-D · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Kaikado — tea canister showroom and café · Kyoto
Photo: そらみみ (Soramimi) · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Kakuchō Soy Sauce Museum, Yuasa · Yuasa
Photo: 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Kakusho — shojin ryori kaiseki · Takayama
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 ↗
Kanazawa Higashi Chaya — pre-9am · Kanazawa
Photo: Andrea Schaffer from Sydney, Australia · CC BY 2.0 ↗
Kayabuki no Sato, Miyama · Miyama
Photo: Indiana jo · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Kenroku-en at opening — Kanazawa's great garden · Kanazawa
Photo: Daderot at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Kibune kawadoko — stream dining in the gorge · Kyoto
Photo: PekePON · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Kiso Shikkikan (Kiso Lacquerware Museum), Kiso-Hirasawa · Shiojiri
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 ↗
Kissaten culture — how to find the real ones · Osaka
Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson · CC BY 2.0 ↗
Kiyomizu-dera — the ¥500 admission everyone still calls ¥400 · Kyoto
Photo: Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Kiyomizu-dera — the week the inner sanctuary opens, longer than the night lights suggest · Kyoto
Photo: Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Kodaiji Temple — night illumination · Kyoto
Photo: 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Koya-san — overnight in a Buddhist monastery · Wakayama
Photo: Josep M. Gracia · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Kurokawa Onsen — communal bathing pass system · Kumamoto
Photo: hiroooooki from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY 2.0 ↗
Kuromon Ichiba — early morning visit · Osaka
Photo: Mc681 · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Kyoto Botanical Garden Greenhouse Bundling · Kyoto
Photo: lumoplank · CC0 ↗
Kyū Takahashi Residence, Nakamachi Komise · Kuroishi
Photo: Isoyan · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Magome to Tsumago — Nakasendo post town walk · Nagano
Photo: Gryffindor · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Makabe Folklore and History Museum · Sakuragawa
Photo: Abasaa · Public domain ↗
Matsumoto — overnight when the day-trippers leave · Matsumoto
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 ↗
Mitarai (Yutaka-machi), Kure — the ferry that no longer runs · Kure
Photo: Olegushka · CC0 ↗
Miyajima — low tide walk to the floating torii · Hiroshima
Photo: DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Motoyu (Izumi-yakuto), Yunotsu Onsen · Ōda
Photo: 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Nakameguro canal at night · Tokyo
Photo: Syced · CC0 ↗
Namba Yasaka Shrine — the lion head stage · Osaka
Photo: Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY 4.0 ↗
Naoshima — Chichu Art Museum · Naoshima
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 ↗
Nara Park at dawn · Nara
Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0 ↗
Narai-juku · Shiojiri
Photo: Luka Peternel · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Nijo Castle — the palace that reopened after 18 years, and the paintings that rotate every six months · Kyoto
Photo: CCP2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Nishiki Tenmangū — torii embedded in buildings · Kyoto
Photo: Naokijp · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Okunoshima — Rabbit Island · Hiroshima
Photo: Tak H. · CC BY-SA 2.0 ↗
Onta Ware Pottery Museum (Ontayaki Togeikan) · Hita
Photo: STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Osaka Castle — the garden that quietly went up 50% this year · Osaka
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 ↗
Osaka Municipal Museum of Art Collection Fee Increase · Osaka
Photo: KishujiRapid · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Osaka Museum of Housing and Living Renovation Closure · Osaka
Photo: Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY 4.0 ↗
Ōtagi Nenbutsu-ji · Kyoto
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 ↗
Ozu Washi — 370-year-old paper shop · Tokyo
Photo: 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Philosopher's Path at dawn · Kyoto
Photo: David Monniaux · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Rokugō Akaiwa Silk-Farming Village · Nakanojō
Photo: On-chan · CC0 ↗
Ryugenji Mabu, Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine · Ōda
Photo: Yama 1009 · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Ryūmon Falls Onsen Closure · Aira
Photo: Ray_go · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Sanjusangendo Toshiya Free-Admission Day · Kyoto
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 ↗
Shibuya — the crossing-view rooftop that isn't Shibuya Sky · Tokyo
Photo: David Kernan · CC BY 4.0 ↗
Shibuya Scramble Square's free floor, seven levels below the paid deck · Tokyo
Photo: Syced · CC0 ↗
Shimokitazawa — vinyl, vintage, and live music · Tokyo
Photo: Syced · CC0 ↗
Shinjuku Golden Gai — late-night bar labyrinth · Tokyo
Photo: Alexkom000 · CC BY 4.0 ↗
Shirakawa-go — overnight in a gassho farmhouse · Shirakawa-go
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 ↗
Shishiori Kinzan Museum · Kesennuma
Photo: Satoh Junpei · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Shōren-in Special Night Viewing · Kyoto
Photo: Christophe95 · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Shukunegi · Sado
Photo: JH0WJF · Public domain ↗
Sugaura Local History Museum · Nagahama
Photo: 先従隗始 · CC0 ↗
Suzaka Fureaikan Mayugura · Suzaka
Photo: Suikotei · CC BY 4.0 ↗
Takachiho Gorge — rowboat through the falls · Miyazaki
Photo: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY 2.0 ↗
Takaoka Dozo-zukuri Museum, Yamachō-suji · Takaoka
Photo: Miyuki Meinaka · Public domain ↗
Takefu Knife Village · Echizen
Photo: SONIC BLOOMING · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Taketomi Island water buffalo cart · Taketomi
Photo: Ken@Okinawa (Flickr) · CC BY-SA 2.0 ↗
teamLab Borderless — it moved, and the ticket price isn't fixed · Tokyo
Photo: Syced · CC0 ↗
teamLab Planets — the free shorts and towel rental nobody mentions, and a closing date worth knowing · Tokyo
Photo: Syced · CC0 ↗
Tō-ji Kondō/Kōdō Fee Increase · Kyoto
Photo: Chainwit. · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Todoroki Valley Reopening Caveats · Tokyo
Photo: Daderot · CC0 ↗
Tofuku-ji — dawn garden and autumn maple canyon · Kyoto
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 ↗
Tokyo Skytree Dynamic Pricing Ceiling · Tokyo
Photo: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Toyosu tuna auction viewing · Tokyo
Photo: 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Tsukiji outer market — the tuna breakfast circuit · Tokyo
Photo: Aimaimyi · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu — pre-crowd morning visit · Kamakura
Photo: Ocdp · CC0 ↗
Tsutenkaku Tower Bundled Deck Pricing · Osaka
Photo: Sakai Yayoi · CC0 ↗
Ueno at dawn — Shinobazu Pond and the lotus season · Tokyo
Photo: ノボホショコロトソ · CC BY 4.0 ↗
Ueno Tōshō-gū Shrine Hall Admission Increase · Tokyo
Photo: Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 ↗
Universal Studios Japan — Super Nintendo World's ticket machines are gone · Osaka
Photo: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Unno-juku · Tomi
Photo: hoge asdf · CC BY 2.0 ↗
Usukuchi Tatsuno Soy Sauce Museum · Tatsuno
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 ↗
Yanaka Ginza — Niku no Suzuki menchi katsu · Tokyo
Photo: Stephen Kelly from San Francisco, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0 ↗
Yatsubuchi-no-taki · Takashima
Photo: Alpsdake · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Your Name staircase — Suga Shrine · Tokyo
Photo: Hisagi · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Yūbari Coal Mine Museum · Yūbari
Photo: Ooyubari9201 at Japanese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Yunotsu Yokagura, Ryūgozen Shrine · Ōda
Photo: Pattio · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗