Asia attractions

The Meiji-Mura is an open-air museum in the Aichi Prefecture. This theme park-like attraction opened in 1965, allowing visitors to discover what life was like during the Meiji period, which spanned 1868 to 1912. Highlights of the museum include over 60 reconstructed Meiji period buildings—such as a sake brewery, a prison, a theater, and a hospital.

More than 100,000 animals from 800 different species call the Singapore Oceanarium (formerly SEA Aquarium) their home. One of the largest oceanariums in the world, Singapore Oceanarium comprises zones that represent almost 50 marine habitats. Visit the glass-panelled Open Ocean habitat to feel as though you’re standing on the ocean floor and enjoy multisensory zones celebrating all levels of the sea.

Madurai's centerpiece attraction is the Meenakshi Amman Temple, a huge temple complex that mostly dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries (though some parts are older). It's dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi (a form of Parvati), who is a consort of Shiva—the destroyer in the Hindu trinity—in his Sundareswarar form.

Jagged limestone cliffs and sculptural boulders frame the powder-soft white sands and vivid blue waters of Entalula Island, one of dozens of isles and islets that make up El Nido’s Bacuit Archipelago. Visitors relax under swaying coconut palms, shaded from the tropical sun, and there’s good snorkeling just offshore.

For an authentic local dinner in Da Nang, check out the Son Tra Night Market. Here you can rub shoulders with locals, shop for souvenirs, and even get a head or foot massage. Don’t miss this market, whether you want to go wild with your culinary adventures in Vietnam—think snails or grilled stingray—or play it safer with noodle soup or fried rice.

A welcome escape from the bustle of Kyoto and located off the main tourist trail, Shoren-in Temple is a 12th-century temple complex at the foot of the Higashiyama mountains. Part of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, Shoren-in is also a monzeki temple, the special name given to temples that historically had priests from imperial or high-ranking families in Japan.

One of many popular optical-illusion museums in Southeast Asia, Penang’s Upside Down Museum is set up like an ordinary home but with the furniture and accessories stuck to the ceiling. It’s a favorite among locals and travelers, adults and children alike, who come to take disorienting selfies to post on social media.

Considered to be the most famous crossing in Japan, Shibuya Crossing—also known as the “Shibuya Scramble Crossing”—is also said to be the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world. It allows people to cross from all directions in front of Shibuya station and immerses visitors in Tokyo’s fast-paced lifestyle, plus it is a popular meeting place and a prime Tokyo photo spot.

Launched in 1996, the 1,666-acre (674-hectare) Ramoji Film City is the world's largest film complex. Tour studio lots, sets, and gardens to see where Bollywood and film celebs have shot scenes. Try activities at the skating rink, children’s play area, bird park, and family-friendly amusement park, Fundustan.

The 25-minute, 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) journey on the Maokong Gondola takes visitors from Taipei Zoo up to Mount Maokong. You can simply take the gondola and enjoy the stunning views, or you can visit the many attractions along the gondola route—including the zoo, temples, shrines, tea plantations, teahouses, and nature walks and hikes.

With its rose gardens and cherry blossoms, Osaka’s peaceful Utsubo Park offers respite from the city's flashing lights and bustling streets. It’s a particular hit with tennis lovers. It's home to the Utsubo Tennis Center, which boasts 16 tennis courts that host international competitions.

Although built in the 16th century, Soswaewon Garden remains a textbook example of a traditional Korean garden. Soswaegong Yang San-bo built the garden after the death of his mentor, and 15 generations later, his descendants continue to care for it. The garden features a variety of tree types, two ponds, a small waterfall, and a bamboo grove.

Occupying a swath of Bali’s northwestern corner, West Bali National Park (Bali Barat National Park) is Bali’s last true wilderness. Highlights include the reefs around Menjangan Island, mangrove and tropical savanna landscapes, and wildlife the likes of monkeys, deer, macaques, and the white Bali starling—the preservation of which was a main reason the park was created in 1941.

Experience the thrilling and hilarious NANTA show—South Korea’s longest-running theatrical performance—at Myeongdong NANTA Theater. One of the most popular shows in the country, the award-winning nonverbal performance combines traditional Korean folk music with comedy, acrobatics, martial arts, pantomime, and audience participation.

The Lin Family Garden represents the best preserved surviving example of traditional Chinese garden architecture. Built in the late nineteenth century in Qing Dynasty style for one of Taiwan’s wealthy merchant families, the mansion and asymmetrical gardens were designed to make the residents feel closer to nature.

Otherwise known as Hello Kitty Land, Sanrio Puroland is an indoor theme park designed around the friendly cartoon cat and other popular Sanrio characters. With its bright colors and adorable design, it epitomizes Japan’s kawaii (cute style) culture. Even though it’s a train ride from central Tokyo into the suburbs, it’s worth the trip—you’re likely to leave Sanrio Puroland with a lighter outlook on life.

Atop a steep hill in the Assamese city of Guwahati, the Kamakhya Temple is among the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites in northeastern India. It's dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya, a mother goddess sometimes described as a bride of Shiva, a yielder of desires, and a giver of salvation.

Every Saturday and Sunday, a road in east Phuket comes to life with the sights, sounds, and smells of Thai culture. At Phuket Weekend Market (Naka Market, you’ll find fragrant street food stalls offering everything from pad thai to papaya salad, and local artisans selling hand-crafted souvenirs.

The Tungabhadra River is a major river in South India that flows from the Western Ghats in Karnataka, down and through Andhra Pradesh, and passes through the historic city of Hampi. It is a popular place for rides on coracles, which are round, woven boats frequently used for leisure rides and river crossings.

Tokyo’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan for short) is a fun place that’s dedicated to technology and the way it affects our lives. Visit the family-friendly attraction to see robot demonstrations, enjoy interactive exhibits, watch films projected on a domed screen, and listen to talks with scientists. It’s especially popular with kids and teens, but a great pick for all ages.

Jozankei is a hot spring (onsen) resort town near Sapporo, on Japan’s northern Hokkaido island. It’s located within the Shikotsu-Toya National Park, built around cliffs on the Toyohira River. There are many traditional Japanese inns (ryokan) to stay at in Jozankei, as well as baths that can be visited for a day or half-day.

History buffs won’t want to miss the Chiang Mai National Museum, which houses an impressive collection of Lanna artifacts from throughout Northern Thailand. The museum is divided into six sections covering topics such as ancient settlements in Chiang Mai, geography and ecology, the Lanna Kingdom, Lanna fine art, and life in modern Chiang Mai.

This luxury shopping complex inside a three-story building houses some 270 outlet stores, representing a mixture of international and designer brand names and local retailers. The complex is known for its discounted products, with everything from designer clothing and accessories to homeware and gifts offered at a reduced cost.

Modern architecture goes space age and skywards at the cutting-edge Umeda Sky Building. The edifice is made up of two glass towers that rise 567 feet (173 meters) and are connected by a futuristic observation platform with an amazing 360-degree view from the 40th floor. An escalator in a glass tube takes visitors up the last five storeys.

Singapore’s Changi Chapel and Museum commemorates the World War II prisoners of war (POWs) who suffered in the notorious Changi prison camp, run by Japanese forces. It’s not on the site of the original camp and the chapel is a replica, but it’s a powerful tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and Changi’s many internees.

Tokyo Midtown is a mixed-use complex with six towers. Within the complex, you’ll find apartments, a luxury hotel, shopping, dining, gardens, and galleries. You could spend a whole day or more in and around Tokyo Midtown, admiring the art and browsing the boutiques. It’s conveniently located in the Roppongi area, which has other attractions and reasons to visit, including dining and nightlife.

Even amid the Ring of Fire, even on an island alive with volcanoes, Mt. Bromo is special. The centerpiece of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, this gaping maw of a crater sits framed by soaring volcanic peaks amid a sea of sand. The vistas can be magical at sunrise, with local Tengger horsemen riding to the Hindu temple at its base.

Delhi isn’t short on green spaces, but a top spot for experiencing a colorful riot of spring color is Amrit Udyan, formerly Mughal Garden, at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Although built in the 1920s, long after Mughal rule ended, the gardens were based on Mughal gardens found throughout North India, depictions in exquisite Persian miniature paintings, and English flower gardens.

Located at the top of Lotte World Tower, the tallest building in South Korea, Seoul Sky is the highest observatory in the city at 1,640 feet (500 meters) above sea level. Enjoy unparalleled panoramic views of Seoul from multiple observation decks over several floors, including the glass-bottomed Sky Deck and the open-roofed Sky Terrace.

Located in the Western Ghats mountains of eastern Goa, Mollem National Park is a forested reserve that’s home to a huge range of Indian wildlife and flora. The national park sits within the larger Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, which runs along the border of Karnataka state. Mollem is popular for trekking and spotting leopards, tigers, pangolins, black panthers, and Indian bison.