The Heian period, which lasted from the 8th to the 12th century, was a time of great cultural and artistic achievement in Japan.

The Himeji Castle in Himeji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful and well-preserved castles in Japan.

Akira, directed by Katsuhiro Otomo in 1988, is a classic anime film that helped to popularize the cyberpunk genre of science fiction.