Yufuin Motorcycle Museum

Japan of the 1950s is reproduced in remarkable detail in a museum celebrating the daily life of a recently passed era.

The picturesque emblem of Yufuin, this geothermal lake has a remarkable beauty that is best appreciated when the air is chilly.

Examples of some of the world’s best-known sports cars appear alongside motorcycles, a bus and even a few small planes in this private collection.

Mind-bending optical illusions offer opportunities for photos, special events and good fun on rainy days right off Yufuin’s main tourist street.

Set in a shaded forest, this 16th-century temple with a long history offers relaxation and meditation to visitors of any faith.

Works of two of Japan’s best-known modernist sculptors and artists fill this private museum, making it feel a bit like entering their home, full of an easy intimacy.