Asia attractions

Anand Bhavan, which means house of bliss, is the grand 1930s ancestral home of the Nehru family. Located in Prayagraj (Allahabad), it produced India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and two more: Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Nehru’s daughter, Indira, gifted the mansion to India in 1970. Now, it's a museum chronicling the family and India’s independence movement.

Kuala Lumpur’s Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery does something rather unusual in the world of museums: it combines art with banking and economics exhibits. This is perhaps unsurprising as it’s run by Bank Negara Malaysia, or the Central Bank of Malaysia. Come here to learn about the Malaysian economy and the bank’s role in supporting local arts.

Pineapples are the protagonists of this quirky Okinawa park near Nago, which celebrates the islands’ beloved tropical fruit and gives visitors the chance to discover it in lots of different ways. Driverless vehicles on tracks, a dinosaur model park, and wacky photo points are among the kid-friendly highlights, while pineapple wine is up for grabs for the grown-ups.

The Pingshan Grand Canyon, located in Gansu province in the Gobi Desert, is something to behold. You can see different shades of red and yellow rock representing the different periods in which the canyon developed. There’s a stone forest, gullies, and mazes to explore, plus the annual Obo Festival, which celebrates Mongolian sporting culture, including archery, wrestling, and horse racing.

The Aokigahara Forest at the base of Mt. Fuji is pockmarked with underground caves, created when Fuji erupted about 1,100 years ago. The Fugaku Wind Cave is one of these and is well set up for visitors. It is tube-shaped inside, formed when lava flowed through, and is quite cold, with an average temperature of about 37°F (3°C).

Phuket is a huge island, loaded with beaches that all have their own feel. Surin is perfect for those who want a more relaxed vibe, but who still want the comforts of being able to rent beach chairs and try some local goodies from food vendors. Stay for sunset, if you like a bit of a party atmosphere.

Families and travelers who appreciate quaint, unusual collections will enjoy visiting Kawaguchiko’s Music Forest Museum, a small theme park dedicated to music boxes and automatic musical instruments. Peruse the antique music boxes and mechanical organs in the indoor exhibition spaces, then stroll through pretty European-style gardens with great views of nearby Mt. Fuji when the weather’s clear.

Folklore says that Sojobo, the mythological King of the Tengu, inhabits Kurama, a rural temple town in the foothills of the northern Kyoto mountains. Less than an hour from Kyoto, Mt. Kurama is a popular choice for a day trip, famous for its hot springs and mountain top temple.

One of Hokkaido’s best-known sightseeing spots, historic Otaru Canal provides a nostalgic glimpse into the days when the region was a hub of trade with Russia and China. Lined with turn-of-the-century brick storehouses that now house shops, cafés, and museums, Otaru Canal is a lovely spot for a stroll.

Located at the confluence of the Yangtze, Huangpu, and Yunzaobang rivers, Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal serves as a gateway for cruise passengers to explore Shanghai, one of the most popular cities in China. As one of the largest terminals in Asia, Wusongkou berths both international liners and smaller China-bound ships.

A wetland scenic area across the river from downtown Harbin, Sun Island is home to the world’s largest permanent indoor ice and snow theme park, plus epic snow sculpture displays during the Harbin Ice Festival—but you don't have to like the cold to have a good time. Other attractions include landscaped gardens, animal displays, a Russian-style village, and small museums and galleries.

In the heart of Pondicherry’s White Town neighborhood, just a few blocks from the sea, stands the Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple—known simply as the “Ganesh Temple” by many. This historic temple, believed to date back three to five centuries, is dedicated to the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesh, and is one of the most important places of worship in the city.

Head to Tanjung Aru Beach, with a quick ride from Kota Kinabalu, for walks, jogs, and other exercise, along with street food and picnics, and make sure you stay for the gorgeous Malaysian sunset. You can explore Tanjung Aru Beach Park, formerly known as Prince Philip Park, and look out for blue naped parrots and oriental pied hornbills. Or come in the morning or evening to do some tai chi with the locals.

This is one well-preserved city wall. Built around 1370 during the Ming Dynasty, it was incredibly important for the defense of Pingyao, which was once the main banking center in China. The wall has six gates, resembling a turtle from above, so Pingyao has been nicknamed the “Tortoise City,” a city of immortality.

The name of Semarang’s signature sight, Lawang Sewu, translates to 1,000 doors. And, while the colonial architecture doesn’t have quite that many portals, its echoing corridors provide Shining-style vistas. Many locals believe the building is haunted, as Japanese forces used its eerie, flooded basement for interrogations and torture in World War II.

Behind a large gate and freshly painted walls lies Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, once a temporary palace in Suwon for Korea’s royal family. Little of the original 18th-century palace is left, except for a single hall, but this careful modern reconstruction within Suwon’s Hwaseong Fortress shows off the designs and lifestyles of the period.

Nissan Crossing is the main showroom for Nissan Intelligent Mobility, where you can see interactive exhibits that feature notable vehicles, as well as advanced technology and even a 4D racing simulator. For fun, the on-site Crossing Cafe has coffee with custom latte art, which can be your favorite Nissan car or even something personalized.

Located where the Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment, the Mahabodhi Temple is among the world's most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been drawing in pilgrims for thousands of years, with parts of the temple dating back to the reign of Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor who was instrumental in spreading Buddhism through the subcontinent.

You’ll often see Boracay on lists of the world’s best beaches, and Yapak Beach (Puka Shell Beach) makes it easy to see why. A serene alternative to the island's bustling White Beach, this stretch boasts powdery sand and turquoise waters backed by lush greenery. It gets its name from the puka shells that once lined the beach.

The Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneshwar, dating to the 11th century, is celebrated as a fine example of Kalinga temple architecture. It stands around 180 feet (55 meters) and houses a Shivling (representation of the Lord Shiva) within its walls.

Matsushima Bay is home to hundreds of pine-covered islands in Miyagi Prefecture and has been named one of the three most iconic views in Japan. The biggest island, Fukuura Island, is reached by a long vermillion bridge and has hiking trails to explore. There’s also the Kantantei Tea House, which used to be famous for entertaining feudal lords.

For much of its history, this majestic golden fort on Trikuta Hill was synonymous with the city of Jaisalmer, and parts of the city still reside within the citadel. Within its walls and 99 bastions, you’ll find meandering lanes, boisterous shops, temples, and a royal palace and museum fit for an Indian rajah.

Many people visit Delhi’s Hauz Khas Village for the nightlife, but beside the popular urban enclave is Deer Park, a more tranquil natural spot. Next to Hauz Khas Fort, the sprawling park extends far beyond the atmospheric ruins and is a significant patch of greenery within the city.

Shizuoka City’s Miho no Matsubara, or Pine Grove, is a scenic area of over 50,000 pine trees along a 4.3-mile (7-kilometer) stretch of beach on a peninsula. It’s part of the Mt. Fuji UNESCO World Heritage Site and, with Fuji views on a clear day, it’s long been considered one of Japan’s most beautiful natural landscapes.

A hidden pool almost completely enclosed by jagged limestone, Secret Lagoon lies concealed beside one of the Bacuit Archipelago’s most perfect beaches. Many travelers find the soaring pinnacles and spires of the karst behind the creamy beach more impressive than the cool, dark pool—although scrambling through the rocky entrance is an experience.

Even though it is only 610 feet (186 meters) high, the Phi Phi Viewpoint offers some of the best views in town. After a short but steep hike, you’ll be rewarded with three different viewpoints, from which you can see the jungle-covered hills, white-sand isthmus, and iridescent waters of Ko Phi Phi Don.

On the southeastern outskirts of Fukuoka City, the ancient Dazaifu Tenmangu is one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines. Visitors can stroll through the beautiful grounds filled with cypress trees, visit several shrine buildings, see a classical dance or art performance (often on the schedule), and learn more about Shinto at the two on-site museums.

Head to Crocodile Lake in Vietnam’s Cat Tien National Park to catch sight of its resident freshwater Siamese crocodiles, which have been successfully rewilded here following a conservation project that began in the late 1990s. Along with crocs, the surrounding tropical rainforest is home to an abundance of wildlife, including Andaman water monitors, gibbons and a variety of bird species.

Dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the Mahabaleshwar Temple is a 16th-century construction built in the Hemadant style and crowned by a pyramidal roof. It houses Shiva lingams (an abstract representation of the diety) that draw in huge crowds of religious pilgrims throughout the year.

Sunshine 60 is a skyscraper in central Tokyo with a 60th-floor observatory deck. The views of the surrounding city from 823 feet (251 meters) above are spectacular, and its central-city location in Ikebukuro makes it a good place to fit into your itinerary between shopping and dining. Visit during the day or at night with kids or friends for sweeping views, especially when the weather’s clear.