Japan's Top 3
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:
Views
Three Views
Sankei (三景). The most famous list of them all, attributed to scholar Hayashi Gahō back in 1643. They follow the Snow-Moon-Flower (雪月花) aesthetic with Amanohashidate representing the snow (雪), Matsushima representing the moon (月), and Miyajima representing the flower (花), although the "flowers" are said to actually be the autumn leaves.
Three Great Night Views
三大夜景 Sandaiyakei
New Three Great Night Views
新三大夜景 Shin-sandaiyakei
- Kitakyushu seen from Mount Sarakurayama
- Nara seen from Mount Wakakusayama
- Yamanashi seen from Fuefuki River Fruit Park
Castles
- See also: Japanese castles
Three Famous Castles
三名城 Sanmeijō. A list written by Ogyu Sorai in the Edo Period. He chose these three castles as the top among those designed by Kato Kiyomasa and Todo Takatora who he considered to be the best castle designers. All three are modern reconstructions, since Kumamoto Castle burned down during the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion and Nagoya and Osaka Castles were destroyed during World War II. Himeji Castle, widely recognized as Japan's greatest surviving castle, didn't make the cut back in the late 1600s.
Three Great Mountain Castles
三大山城 Sandaiyamajiro
- Bitchu Matsuyama Castle Takahashi
- Iwamura Castle Iwamura
- Takatori Castle Takatori
Three Famous Gardens
- See also: Japanese gardens
三名園 Sanmeien
It is unclear when these gardens were chosen or by whom. The first recorded list dates back to 1899, but a postcard bought by Shiki Masaoka from his visit to Korakuen Garden in 1891 has "Korakuen Garden, Number 1 of the Top 3 Gardens" written on the back. It is widely believed that the gardens follow the "Snow-Moon-Flower" (雪月花) aesthetic coined by a famous Chinese poem by Bai Juyi. Kenrokuen Garden, famous for its snowy scenery, represents the "Snow" (雪), Korakuen Garden, which to this day has an autumn moon-viewing event, represents the "Moon" (月), and Kairakuen, known for its early spring plum blossoms, represents the "Flower" (花). In addition, each of the gardens are strolling gardens built by famous daimyo (The Tokugawa built Kairakuen, the Ikeda built Korakuen, and the Maeda built Kenrokuen) which is also believed to have played a role in which gardens were given the prestigious designation.
Festivals
Three Great Festivals
三大祭り Sandai Matsuri
Three Beautiful Festivals
日本三大美祭り Nihon Sandai bimatsuri
- Gion Festival (Kyoto, Kyoto)
- Takayama Festival (Takayama, Gifu)
- Chichibu Yomatsuri (Chichibu, Saitama)
The beauty list is often referenced interchangeably with the Three Great Float Festivals (日本三大曳山祭り Nihonsandai hikiyamamatsuri), which sometimes features Nagahama's Hikiyama Festival in place of the Chichibu Yomatsuri.
Three Great Obon Festivals
日本三大盆踊り Nihon Sandai Bon-odori
Three Great Naked Festivals
日本三大裸祭り Nihon Sandai Hadakamatsuri
- Saidaiji Eyo (Okayama, Okayama)
- Wakamiya Shrine Autumn Festival (Bungotakada, Oita)
- Konomiya Naked Festival (Inazawa, Aichi)
Some lists replace the Konomiya Naked Festival with the Hadakabo Festival in Hofu, Yamaguchi or the Furukawa Festival in Hida, Gifu.
Hot Springs
Certainly one of the more hotly contested categories. (No pun intended).
Three Great Hot Springs
三大温泉 Sandaionsen
Three Famous Springs
三名泉 Sanmeisen. Authored by Hayashi Razan, father of Hayashi Gahō.
Three Old Springs
三古湯 Sankotō, Three Old Hot Springs.
Three Baths of Fusō
扶桑三名湯 Fusō-sanmeitō. Fusō is a poetic name for Japan and this one is credited to traveling haiku poet Matsuo Basho.
Shrines
Three Great Inari Shrines
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. After Fushimi Inari, the list varies depending on the source. Takekoma Shrine in Iwanuma and Kasama Inari Shrine in Kasama are also suggested by some. To further confuse things, there is a "Top 5 Inari Shrines" (五大稲荷) list that doesn't contain any shrines in the "Top 3" list
Three Great Tenjin Shrines
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
三八幡 San Hachiman
Temples
Three Pagodas
三名塔 Sanmeitō
Three Hase Temples
三長谷 Sanhase
Nature
Three Famous Mountains
三名山 Sanmeizan (Three Famous Mountains), also 三霊山 Sanreizan (Three Sacred Mountains)
Top Three Gorges
三大渓谷 Sandai Keikoku
Three Caves
三大鍾乳洞 Sandai-shōnyūdō
Three Waterfalls
日本三名瀑 Nihon San-meibaku
- Nachi Falls
- Kegon Falls
- Fukuroda Falls (Ibaraki Prefecture)
Three Pine Groves
三大松原 Sandai-matsubara
Three Snow Monsters
三大樹氷 Sandai-juhyo
Certain mountains in northern Japan have the right trees and weather conditions to cover the trees completely in snow to transform them into Juhyo (樹氷) or "Snow Monsters" (also sometimes called "Ice Monsters" in Japanese). These sites were chosen because they feature a good number of snow monsters along with having a ski lift for easy access.
Cherry Blossom Trees
三大桜 Sandai-zakura
Night Cherry Blossoms
三大夜桜 Sandai-yozakura
Towns
Three Historical Battlefields
三大古戦場 Sandai-kosenjō
- Dan-no-ura 1185 (Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi)
- Okehazama 1560 (Nagoya, Aichi)
- Sekigahara 1600 (Sekigahara, Gifu)
Three Historic Warehouse Towns
日本三大蔵の町 Sandai Kuranomachi
Three Ceramicware Areas
三大焼き物 Sandai-yakimono
Three Lacquerware Towns
日本三大漆器 Sandai Shikki
Three Chinatowns
三大中華街 Sandai-chūkagai
Three Fishery Ports
三大漁港 Sandai-gyokō
Food
- See also: Japanese cuisine
Soba
三大そば Sandai-soba, buckwheat noodles
Ramen
三大ラーメン Sandai-raamen
Udon
三大うどん Sandai-udon
Beef
三大和牛 Sandai-wagyu
Some sources also claim Yonezawa Beef (Yonezawa) is one of the top three beefs.
Others
三大美人県 sandai bijin ken
The three prefectures which produce the most beautiful women: Akita, Kyoto and Fukuoka - sorry, no photos.