The other day I wrote about the "three great vengeful spirits," but Japanese people (and perhaps not only Japanese) do love "three"—"三大" and the like. Personally, what I memorized for exams—"France's three great rivers: Se-ro-gan" (Seine, Loire, Garonne)—still pops into my head from time to time...
Speaking of the Imperial Palace = Edo Castle facing Palaceside Building in Takebashi, there are the three Tokugawa branch houses. Show business had its own "three houses," new three houses, three daughters, and so on. The faces that come to mind differ by generation.
In geography we learn officially recognized sets such as Japan's three scenic views and three famous gardens, but most "three great △△" lists have neither objective selection criteria nor official certification, and objections abound. "Three great waterfalls" is settled as Kegon Falls (Tochigi), Nachi Falls (Wakayama), and Fukuroda Falls (Ibaraki) = photo =, though some push Shomyo Falls (Toyama), Japan's highest drop (local pride?). For "three great Inari shrines," head shrine Fushimi Inari (Kyoto) stands apart, followed by Toyokawa (Aichi), while the third is claimed by Yutoku (Saga), Kasama (Ibaraki), and others. It feels like whoever speaks loudest wins.
Among foods, "three great jidori chickens" is famous: Hinai chicken (Akita), Nagoya Cochin, and Satsuma jidori (Kagoshima) are the standard, but when I lived in Ibaraki I heard, "Not Kagoshima—Okukuji shamo (Daigo, Ibaraki)." A few years ago Miyazaki's governor appealed to add "Miyazaki jitokko" as a "fourth great jidori." Producing regions fight desperately to establish brands.
One could go on forever, but finally a familiar one. "Japan's three most disappointing tourist spots" are often said to be famous buildings, bridges, or slopes in Sapporo, Kochi, and Nagasaki, though Okinawa sites and other theories exist. Famous yet surprisingly small, perhaps. Looking abroad, the "three great disappointments" seem fixed as Singapore's Merlion, Copenhagen's Little Mermaid, and Brussels's Manneken Pis.