1. Noboribetsu Onsen (Hokkaido)
It is a popular hot spring resort located at the foot of Mount Hiyori, a volcano in the southwest of Sapporo on Hokkaido, Japan’s northern island. The place is famous for its numerous hot springs, or onsen, but visitors also appreciate the astounding natural landscapes resulting from the volcanic activity. The onsen of Noboribetsu are famous for not only their bounty but also their variety. Natural spring waters flow down from Jigokudani (Hell Valley), resulting in naturally created baths and nine types of water. You can treat your skin to rejuvenating detoxification and emerge from the onsen waters feeling totally cleansed. To complete your trip, you may want to sign up for a night cruise and witness Jigokudani be illuminated and transformed into an eye-catching dreamscape at night.
2. Risshakuji Temple (Yamagata)
Risshakuji Temple is located northeast of Yamagata City, in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. It is also known as Yama-dera (Mountain Temple) and is part of the Zaō Quasi-National Park. The temple buildings clinging to the steep, forested, rocky hillsides are picturesque and unusual. The temple has been a place for pilgrimage for centuries and is designated as both a Place of Scenic Beauty and as a National Historic Site. It is believed that the temple was built in the year of 860. You can take 1,015 steps to see Japan’s greatest and most scenic view of the temple stands close to the sky.
3. Frost-Covered Trees of Zao (Yamagata)
The Frost-Covered Trees of Zao are located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. They are also known as “snow monsters” and can be seen from December to February and are at their peak in February. Zao Onsen Ski Resort features a “Field of Frost Covered Trees Course” where visitors can enjoy skiing or snowboarding with incredible views of the snow monsters.
4. Ashikaga Flower Park (Tochigi)
Although offering stunning sights of seasonal flowers all throughout the year, Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture is famous for its hanging wisteria, creating a mystical sight as you walk among the delicately hanging blossoms while breathing in the sweet scent wafting through the air. Its appeal is not difficult to grasp – in fact, CNN thinks that this flower park is worthy of acclaim and nominated it as one of the world’s top ten dream destinations in 2014.
Come April or May, be sure to pay the park a visit and let your spirits soar as you take in the majestic sight of 350 wisteria trees in bloom. A spectacular riot of differently colored wisteria awaits you, including blue, pink, white, violet, and yellow. Also not to be missed is a hundred-year-old wisteria tree that is so huge that its thick branches have to be supported to create a breathtaking umbrella of blue wisteria flowers.
5. Mount Kano (Chiba)
Mount Kano is located in Kimitsu-shi, Chiba-ken. It is one of Chiba’s Three Mountains of Boso along with Mt. Nokogiri and Mt. Kiyosumi. It’s Chiba’s second-highest mountain at 379 meters high and offers breathtaking panoramic views of Tokyo Bay. The hazy scenery was the object of Japanese artist Kaii Higashiyama’s famous piece “Afterglow”.
For travelers who wish to make Tokyo the focal point of their trip but spend some quality time with nature as well, Mount Kano will be the answer to your prayers. Mount Kano is Chiba Prefecture’s second-highest mountain at 379 meters high and provides breathtaking views of rural Chiba. Although located in close proximity to Tokyo, it allows visitors to envelop themselves in bountiful nature, offering a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of the city.
One memorable place you should include in your itinerary is the Kanozan Kujukutani Outlook Park. Overlooking the nearby Kujukutani Valley, this deck offers you first row seats to admire the “unkai” (sea of clouds) that usually appears in the mornings from late autumn to early spring. You will surely be arrested by the thick, mesmerizing clouds of mist that float over Kujukutani Valley and give rise to this ethereal sight.
6. Sado Island (Niigata)
Sado Island is located in the Sea of Japan, off the coast of Niigata Prefecture. It is the sixth-largest island of Japan and has a rich history and culture. The island is known for its gold mines, which were active for over 400 years and produced 30 tons of gold in total. The island is also famous for its traditional performing arts such as Sado Okesa (a dance festival) and Kodo (a taiko drumming group).
If you’re a hiking enthusiast, you may gravitate towards the idea of trekking at Sado Island, an island that is chock full of natural attractions. Situated 45 kilometers off the coast of Niigata, it allows you to immerse yourself in verdant forests and crystal-blue seas. Be sure to check out Ishina Natural Cedar Forest, as it gives you the chance to observe various unique birds and flowers. This walkway is also home to gigantic, ancient cedar trees, some of which are hundreds of years old and have been twisted and bent by the elements, lending an otherworldly and mystical touch to the surroundings.
Sado Island offers a microcosm of Japanese history, which will amaze history and culture buffs. For example, the “tarai bune” are a type of boat made from repurposed wash bins and has become a symbol of Sado Island. Visitors can even enjoy rides in these tiny boats, weaving through the waves of the Sea of Japan. Sado Island was also employed as a gold and silver mining location, and you can explore the remnants of these mines and visualize what life must have been like for these determined miners during the Edo (1603 – 1867)
7. Hiyo Koke no Sato Moss Garden (Ishikawa)
Hiyo Koke no Sato Moss Garden is located in Hiyo-machi, Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture. The entire village rests on a giant, verdant moss garden that has been cultivated for generations. The tall cedars that tower over this village of moss make for a mystic stroll through the woods in sunny or rainy weather. The admission fee of 500 yen goes toward moss upkeep.
Hiyo Koke no Sato Moss Garden consists of a huge, vibrant moss garden that will transport you to a transcendental setting that would not be out of place in a Studio Ghibli movie. These heart-stopping stretches of green moss have been lovingly tended by the village residents for generations, thus ensuring its vitality. In fact, they curate the land such that 48 kinds of moss not only coexist seamlessly, but also juxtapose nicely against each other to create a harmonious scene.
8. Karasawa Cirque (Nagano)
Autumn foliage is a beloved seasonal sight in Japan, with popular spots filling up with crowds during the peak season. However, if you prefer to have a picturesque place away from the crowded tourist spots, Karasawa Cirque in Nagano would be an ideal destination from late September to early October. Avid and athletic trekkers may particularly enjoy the challenge of trekking the 30 kilometers that are required to reach Karasawa Cirque. Located 2,300 meters above sea level, the maple leaves will dazzle your eyes with vivid hues of red, yellow, orange, and green against the rocky backdrop of the Japan Alps.
One thing to note: the trek typically takes about six hours, so many visitors choose to pitch their tents or stay overnight at Karasawa Hyutte or Karasawa Goya, both of which are mountain huts. This allows you more time to soak in the tranquility of Karasawa Cirque, breathing in the fresh mountain air.
9. Hamamatsu Flower Park (Shizuoka)
Hamamatsu Flower Park is a botanical garden that hosts over 3,000 different species of plants, offering sights of splendid colors and beautiful collaborations of flowers. One notable pairing is the cherry blossom trees creating a stunning backdrop for the tulip fields, carpeting the ground with a whimsy of colors.
Spring is not the only time one should visit the park, as its seasonal flowers dye the precincts every shade of the rainbow throughout the year. For those who are looking for a leisurely way to enjoy the sights, you can hop on the Flower Train and listen to the explanations provided by the guides, offering an enjoyable and educational experience.
10. Adachi Museum of Art (Shimane)
The Adachi Museum of Art combines the best of art and nature, two rejuvenating and introspective fields, under one roof. Art aficionados and nature lovers should feel right at home, as this museum enables you to develop a profound appreciation of Japanese-style aesthetics with its collection of artworks, including those by Taikan Yokoyama, one of the great masters of Japanese painting.
Its Japanese garden is also in a league of its own, as it has been selected as the best Japanese garden in Japan for many consecutive years by the Journal of Japanese Gardens. Visitors will certainly understand why, as looking out of the windows from the museum will make you feel that the garden is like a pretty painting that portrays the marvels of nature. Stop by the Adachi Museum of Art to experience how art seamlessly intertwines with nature, bringing about a sense of peace and serenity!
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