Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center

Tsushima island sits in the Korea Strait, closer to the Korean peninsula than to the Japanese mainland, and its dense mountain forests shelter the critically endangered Tsushima leopard cat, a small wild feline found nowhere else on earth. The Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center runs a breeding and research program for the species, and visitors can learn about conservation efforts and see some of the cats up close. The island itself has a layered history as a trade and diplomatic crossroads between Japan and Korea, with ruins, shrines, and museum displays scattered across its rugged coastline. Sea kayaking and fishing are outstanding here, where warm and cold ocean currents meet. Getting to Tsushima requires a ferry from Hakata or a short flight from Fukuoka.