Gunkan-jima or Battleship Island off Nagasaki

This gives you a different type of experience. Several businesses offer cruise tours, most of which include landing on the island. This island used to be a mine which supported Japan's modernization. Mitsubishi employed a lot of miners and their families lived there. The workers were paid well and the vendors who brought food, clothing, and so forth to the island enjoyed their good business. 

Ofunagura where Mori lords' ships were kept

This is something, the one and only which retains the wooden structure and stone walls. Built at the beginning of the 17th century, it used to be on a river.

Magical moment in naoshima

The sunset is always magical at Benesse House.

A free udon day in naoshima

A temple in honmura, naoshima, had a regular ceremony of chanting scriptures in the main hall when udon noodle was offered free and a bag of snacks and/or a box of detergent was given as a gift to take back home. My guests and I happened to be in there this time and enjoyed the occasion. I got the detergent and snacks, which I gave away to the owner of the inn where I stayed. He was such a sweet islander.