Asia attractions

Located in northeast Hokkaido, Abashiri Prison Museum is the only prison museum in Japan. Visitors can get a glimpse of the life of prisoners and learn about their contribution to the development of Hokkaido at this open-air museum, which has more than a dozen structures, including original buildings from the Meiji era built by the inmates.

Right in the center of Bishkek, this tranquil, leafy park provides a quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle of the Kyrgyz capital. Known for its towering oak trees, the park also has jogging paths, public fountains, and a 1980s-era sculpture exhibition with 90 statues related to Kyrgyz and Soviet history, including one of Marx and Engels.

Perched on a hilltop high above Gorkha town in central Nepal, Gorakhnath Temple offers wonderful views of the Himalayas on a clear day. The red-brick, slate-roofed building is also a fine example of Nepali architecture, and visitors who have spent any time in Kathmandu may recognize the ethnic Newari artisanship in its intricately carved screens, doors, and window frames.

Shiseido Gallery—run by the cosmetics company Shiseido—is known for being one of the oldest operating art galleries in Japan, dating back to 1919. It features exhibitions that showcase the work of contemporary Japanese artists and is a fantastic place to discover emerging talent. With its constantly changing displays, it's an essential stop for anyone interested in exploring Japan's evolving art scene.

Curving stone walls and foundations make up the remains of this ancient UNESCO-listed Ryukyu castle, one of Okinawa's oldest historic sites. Climb the steep hill, read information plaques for the lowdown on Lord Amawari and the castle, and soak up fine ocean views all around.

An airy stilt house built from now-rare tropical hardwoods in 1920, Mrs. Bun Roeung’s Ancient House is one of a few traditional houses that still stand in Wat Kor village. Although it was damaged when used as a communal kitchen during the Khmer Rouge period, vintage and antique furnishings add to its charm.

The Chitose River (Chitose Gawa) in Hokkaido—Japan's second largest island—flows from Lake Shikotsu through the center of the city of Chitose and past Ebetsu before eventually joining the Ishikari River northeast of Sapporo. For travelers visiting Sapporo, the river and its surroundings offer the opportunity to get out of town and go biking, fishing, hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, or canoeing in the summer, and skiing or snowshoeing in the winter.

On a hilltop overlooking the lakefront pilgrimage town of Pushkar, the Savitri Temple is dedicated to the goddess Savitri, Brahma’s first wife. This compact temple houses a small idol of the goddess and sees plenty of religious visitors, while the views it offers of Pushkar’s lake and skyline are its biggest draw for other travelers.

Dating to the 15th century, the Mangla Gauri Temple is one of India's 51 Shakti Peethas—a temple built to mark spots where the Goddess Sati's body parts fell after her death. It's considered an important pilgrimage spot for Hindus, particularly those who follow Shakta (goddess worship) traditions.

This landmark, yellow-sandstone mosque is a standout in Gujarat, with its blend of Hindu, Jain, and Islamic design elements. Built as the principal place of worship for Muslims during the reign of Sultan Ahmed Shah I, the mosque was once among the largest in India and is a must-visit for travelers interested in Indo-Islamic history and architecture.

One of Taipei’s highlight green spaces, the Taipei Expo Park is so named because it hosted the 2010 Taipei International Flora Exhibition. Today, the large multi-use public park offers walking and biking trails, ornamental gardens, museums, a garden maze, and recreation areas. It even hosts the occasional flower festival still.

If you’re looking for a place to kick back with a drink at the end of a busy day sightseeing in the Mekong Delta, Can Tho Beach (Bien Can Tho) might be just what you’re looking for. The artificial beach on the banks of the Hau River offers shady seating, plenty of local eateries, and nice sunset views.

Hainan Assembly Hall (Hội Quán Hải Nam) is one of five 19th-century structures built in Hoi An to provide a place for Chinese immigrants to Vietnam to socialize and uphold Chinese traditions for future generations. In the heart of the Ancient Town on the banks of the Thu Bon River, Hainan Assembly Hall is an integral part of Hoi An’s diverse cultural landscape.

Bingling Temple is home to caves, grottoes, and pagodas with Buddhist carvings and sculptures dating back several dynasties. The rocky cliffs and mountains surrounding the area make it only accessible by boat across the Liujiaxia Dam. It’s a remote treasure that’s been ransacked by looters over the years, but it’s still worth a visit.

Among Hampi's best-preserved historical sites is its Elephant Stables, a long dome-topped structure that was originally used to house elephants during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire. Most of the elephants housed here appeared in regal processions and military parades.

An enormous colonial-era Dutch fort, Fort Rotterdam is Makassar’s signature sight and a waterfront landmark. Besides its historical value, the fort is home to the La Galigo Museum and hosts cultural events, including the Makassar International Writers Festival. Its lush lawns and walkable walls make it a popular spot for an afternoon stroll.

Located on the nature-shrouded mangrove island of Pulau Luba, Makam di Luba is home to the mausoleum of Sultan Husin Kamaluddin—the 16th sultan of Brunei and a significant figure in the small Asian country’s history. The golden-dome-topped memorial is a peaceful place to reflect and soak up the natural beauty that Borneo is so famous for.

On the outskirts of central Ahmedabad, Dada Harir Stepwell (Bai Harir Vav) was built in 1499 by a supervisor of Sultan Mahmud Begada’s harem; Sanskrit and Persian inscriptions say that a royal midwife of Begada’s household named Halima commissioned the stepwell, and a mosque and tomb alongside it. The steps lead to an often dry well, while Halima’s tomb features elegant carved lattice screens called jali.

Located in a ravine formed by the Katashina, Hiragawa, and Kurihara Rivers, Fukiware Falls forms a dramatic V-shape—it's among the most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. From afar, the falls look like water is draining down a large plug hole because it seems to disappear from the river’s surface.

Nestled among the verdant hills of southern Taiwan, Wushanto Guanziling Hot Spring offers a relaxing escape from Tainan, the former capital and bustling second city of Taiwan. From a vantage point 270 meters (885 feet) above sea level, the springs provide spectacular views of the area’s mountainous terrain and sit close to natural attractions such as Hongye Park and the Wushantou Reservoir.

In Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood—a traveler favorite for its old temples and traditional charm—you’ll find this pedestrianized street that runs east–west, intersecting with the busier north–south Nakamise Shopping Street. Although this area was badly damaged during World War II, it’s been reconstructed in the loose style of Edo-era Tokyo (spanning the 17th-19th centuries).

The Shanti Stupa in Leh is a pointed white dome on a rocky hill behind Ladakh; you can see it from many parts of the popular Changspa neighborhood. It’s not centuries-old like many of Ladakh’s Buddhist sites, but it’s a must-visit attraction for the views across Leh and the mountains beyond.

The focal point of the Rajasthani town of Pushkar, Pushkar Lake is a body of water flanked by temples and a total of 52 ghats (steps leading down into the water). It’s considered incredibly sacred, and many pilgrims come to the town to take a dip in its holy waters.

Travelers in North India will probably have seen a few of Akbar the Great’s grand designs before they reach Prayagraj (Allahabad), including Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. If you’re passing through Prayagraj, add 16th-century Allahabad Fort to your list. Although largely dismantled now, the solid riverside walls hint at its past as the largest of Akbar’s constructions.

Set inside the gargantuan Gwalior Fort, the Sas-Bahu Temple comprises two stone temples dating from the 11th century. Step inside the partial ruins, consisting of one larger temple and one smaller one, and you’ll see intricate carvings that cover every surface, spanning statues, arches, and columns.

The Abakh Hoja Tomb is one of Xinjiang’s holiest Muslim sites. It's where five generations of the Abakh family, which is more than 70 people, are buried. It’s one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in the region, with ornate tilework, window decorations, minarets, and domes. This is a highly visited area in Xinjiang.

Ladakh means “country of high passes,” and at an altitude of 17,480 feet (5,328 meters), the Taglang Pass (Taglang La) in the Zanskar Range is one of the highest of all. The Leh–Manali Highway (NH3) stretches through it for several miles, with colorful Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags flying at the summit. Anyone undertaking the grueling-yet-spectacular overland route to Leh will cross the pass.

The largest of the Yaeyama Island group in the East China Sea, Iriomote Island (Iriomote-jima appeals to visitors with its lush jungle and mangrove forest, the home of the rare Iriomote wildcat. The whole island is a designated national park and offers opportunities for kayaking and trekking through its unspoiled landscape.

From his wife’s opium den to his fancy American car and private racecourse, the Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo (Puppet Emperor’s Palace) delivers mesmerizing insights into the life of Puyi, China’s last emperor. He lived here from 1932 until 1945 as ruler of Manchukuo, a theoretically independent state in northeastern China that was actually under Japanese control.

A colorful modern pagoda and a giant seated Buddha statue lead the way to Wat Ek Phnom’s star attraction—an 11th-century Angkorian Hindu temple with its own baray reservoir that blooms with lotus flowers in season. While small and tumbled compared to the splendors of Siem Reap, it’s Battambang’s top ancient sight.