Osaka is the third largest city in Japan (population 2.7 million) behind Tokyo and Yokohama. And with a rich history dating back some 1,500 years – and popular for its nightlife, food and shopping – Osaka should definitely be on your list when planning your Japan itinerary.Osaka is known as the “Nation's Kitchen,” and is well known for delicious foods such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki.Takayama is a city in Japan's mountainous Gifu Prefecture. The narrow streets of its Sanmachi Suji historic district are lined with wooden merchants’ houses dating to the Edo Period, along with many small museums. The city is famed for its biannual Takayama Festival, going back to at least the mid-1600s, celebrating spring and fall with parades featuring ornate, gilded floats and puppet shows.Shirakawa is a village located in Ōno District, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It is best known for being the site of Shirakawa-gō, a small, traditional village showcasing a building style known as gasshō-zukuri. Mount Fuji, A pilgrimage site for centuries, it’s considered one of Japan’s 3 sacred mountains, and summit hikes remain a popular activity.