Tourist Attractions & Monuments Japan

Uzushio Line carries passengers several times a day to the Naruto Whirlpools, a rare natural phenomenon in the Naruto Strait under the Onaruto Bridge. The strait marks the separation between the Japanese Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The water rushes from the Pacific Ocean into the bay of Ōsaka and flows around Awaji Island to the Inland Sea of Japan before flowing down to the Naruto Strait. The water level will then be higher on the Sea of Japan side than on the Pacific Ocean side, cascading down to the Naruto Strait, with a water flow at a speed of 20 km/hour. The process will take 6 hours before it is reversed: it is then the water level on the Pacific Ocean side that will be higher. At the level of the strait, the current is very fast in the centre, but slower on the sides. It is this friction between currents of different speeds that produces the eddies. To observe these eddies when they are at their most spectacular, it is advisable to consult the tide schedules on the company's website. There you will find a table of schedules with the associated size of the eddies. Observation from a boat is a striking experience, especially when the eddies reach their maximum size.

Another company, Naruto Kanko Kisen, offers much the same. It is important to book in advance at ✆ +81 (0) 88 687 0101.

The Chasms and Koboke chasms, near the entrance of the Iya Valley upstream of the Yoshino river, have been registered as a national treasure since 2014. The gorges of Oboke are mainly known for the turquoise colour of water and for the large rocks bordering the river, natural perches for many birds. The Yoshino River is one of the best rafting spots in Japan, but the descent can also take place with a small cruise boat. It stretches over 194 kilometres from the Ichizuchi mountain range to Tokushima Bay.

This valley is splendid and is close to the statue of the famous Japanese piss, perched at 200 metres above sea level. For many years, he was a challenge for young boys in the surrounding area who were facing the wind and urinaient to show their bravery. It's now an extraordinary spot to photograph the river that forms a U around a hill.

This bridge in procedurally is designated as an important cultural property of the national heritage and popular prefecture. It overlooks the Iya River and is very photogenic. This is one of the symbols of Oboke. 

Close to the seaside resort of Ushimado, which is left by boat, the island of Kuroshima, rises there. At a low tide it is within walking distance of Venus road. This strip of sand actually connects three islands, which lovers travel preferably at sunset.

Mont Washuzan offers an exceptional view of the Setonaikai National Park, the first Japanese national park. The park is advised for the view it offers on the Seto Grand Bridge. The view from the summit offers a panorama on the Inland Sea. You will see about islands and Shikoku on the opposite shore. The observatory also offers a picturesque resting place. The sunset on the Seto Sea is considered one of Japan's 100 most beautiful.

The museum, which dates back to 1933, closed between 2015 and 2021 for renovation. The architects, Jun Aoki and Tezzo Nishizawa, succeeded in preserving the historic building while enlarging and modernizing the whole. The main exhibits are by Kyoto artists, both past and present, painters, photographers and sculptors. The collection of paintings from the Meiji and Showa periods is particularly noteworthy, taking us back to the Kyoto of the late ^19th and ^20th centuries. The visit should be combined with that of the nearby Heian Jingu.

Ryuga Cave is famous for its stalactites and stalagmites. It is one of the three largest in Japan. The circuit is one kilometer long and you will have to climb stairs and go through wet tunnels. The show is grandiose and the rooms are illuminated with multiple lights. An amphora seems to have been covered by sediments for more than 500 years and gives rise to all sorts of legends, such as that of a hermit monk who stayed there. At the end of your journey, you will find a museum.

This waterfall, located at the Niyodo River, attracts thousands of Japanese tourists every year. The blue of the water changes its hue according to the different rays of the sun, which would give, to this waterfall, an extremely romantic aspect. To get there, you will have to take a vertical path that is quite steep. The best time to enjoy the place is around noon. Make sure you wear appropriate footwear and clothing, for your own safety and comfort. Swimming is not allowed.

On Sensui-jima island in addition to swimming in summer, you will be able to participate in several recreational activities, such as hiking, table salt, or small traditional objects. There is also a spa, a onsen in the hotel managed by the city. There is also possibility of camping on site. Information from Tomonoura Tourist Office at ✆ +81 84 982 3200.

About 15 minutes walk from the station, the giant bamboo forest is one of the most famous images in Japan. Appearing in advertisements, movies, and wallpapers, the tall bamboos form an arch that protects from the sun along a path of about 500 meters. It's a nice walk to do. Unfortunately, the place is a victim of its success. Hordes of tourists who have come for the serenity of the place disturb its calm. Nevertheless, the freshness of the wind in the stems is worth the detour, without forgetting the villa Okochi Sanso.

The Shiromineji and Negoroji temples, as well as Sanuki National Park, are the main attractions of the Goshikidai Valley, the valley of five colors. The Japanese have given names to the patches of vegetation recognizable from the top of the mountain: Akamine the red, Kimine the yellow, Kuromine the black, Aomine the blue and Shiramine the white. From the observatory, in good weather, the view of the Seto Sea is absolutely magical and unforgettable.

In the small town of Onuma is the eponymous quasi-national park, a park surrounded by lakes, mountains and forests. It was established in July 1958 and covers 90.83 km². It is highly recommended to visit in autumn when all the trees are in their warmest colours. A momiji festival is held during this period. You can also go climbing, cycling, canoeing, skiing and of course hiking.

One of the world's leading nesting sites for caouannes marine turtles and green turtles. The period favourable to this observation extends from mid-May to mid-July.

To discover the primary forest with its Cèdres cedar, thousands of years old, you will have to climb between 1 000 and 3 000 m above sea level. Several hiking trails including a 6-hour walk to the King of the forest, the Jomon Sugi, aged 7 000!

Onsen are hot springs used regularly by villagers. These baths are mixed and no bathing clothing is allowed. It is strongly advised not to take photos to avoid disturbing the occupants. The most extraordinary of the onsen, delimited by rocks, gives directly to the sea.

The lake is surrounded by several volcanic peaks. In the north, Mount Ewina-Dake culminates at 1320 m. To begin the ascent, it is necessary to go to Poropinai, near the stop of Tozan-guchi (entrance of the ascent). It is necessary to walk a little (4 h) to find the real beginning of the paths. The view on the mountains and the lakes is sublime. For the return trip, a bus leaves from the Tozan-guchi stop directly to Sapporo. Mount Tarumae-zan is located in the south. If it is less high than the others (1040 m), it offers nevertheless splendid panoramas on the volcanoes.

Lake Tōya-ko is almost circular. The Tōya-ko Onsen spa is located south of the lake. In 1943, Mount Shōwa Shinzan appeared after a few earthquakes and rose to 402 m. From the parking lot, a cable car takes you to the top of Mount Usu-san (732 m). This small volcano is still active, as in 1977 an eruption damaged the cable car and covered the Tōya-ko spa with over 40 cm of ash and dust. From the top, you can enjoy the view of Mount Yōtei-zan and the lake.

If Akihabara is the HQ of manga and video game fans, Otome Road has been its female counterpart since the 2000s. The avenue was originally called Kasuga, but there are so many manga, video game and merchandising stores catering to young women that it has been renamed "Otome", meaning "girl". Branches of Mandarake, Animate and Comic Toranoana, among others, specialize in literature for young girls and all products that might interest them, such as "otome"-style clothing.

It is one of the largest narcissus gardens in Japan, with more than 4 million flowers on 7 hectares. The subtle scent of the flowers is intoxicating and the landscape is magnificent. It is located between two seas: the inland sea of Japan, with on the left the coast of Wakayama, on the right the island of Nushima and in the center Shikoku and the sea of narcissus with white and green waves. The local legend tells that 180 years ago, a fisherman found a narcissus bulb on the seashore and decided to plant it. Very quickly, the flowers spread all over the hill at the foot of Yuzuruha Mountain. One hundred years later, a resident of Awaji Island picked some flowers and went to sell them at Ōsaka where he got a very good price. Understanding the value of these flowers, the islanders decided to get together to preserve them. Today, the narcissus garden is maintained by a team of gardeners throughout the year. It is a real challenge because, with its 45° slope, the hill is slippery and the gardeners have to work while avoiding damaging the flowers. At the exit of the park there is a shop where you can buy narcissus bulbs and a restaurant offering a delicious fresh clementine juice. The park is easier to reach by car, but shuttle buses connect it to Fukura (Nanairokan-mae stop) during the flowering period (¥900 one way for an adult, ¥2300 return combined with entrance).

Opened from mid-November to the end of March, this ski resort uses artificial snow to allow the small and large to come down the runway. Skiing as well as snowboarding. Rental of equipment on site.

These "five basalt caves" were formed by volcanic activity more than 1.6 million years ago. The flow of magma gave rise to astonishing and highly artistic geometric shapes. A spectacle that was designated as a "national natural monument" in 1931. In 1925, during the earthquake, many stones were detached. They were used to rebuild the low walls on the river bank in the centre of Kinosaki and some house walls. The park changes its face according to the seasons.

In summer, from July to late August, it is a very pleasant stopover to bathe in the clear waters of the sea of Japan. Canoeing is also possible to discover the San 'in Kaigan coast which received the geoparc label in 2008 (protected area supported by UNESCO with strong geological attractions).

The Kinosaki cable car takes 7 minutes to reach the top of Mount Daichi, from where you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the area. It is even possible to see the Sea of Japan. It is possible to walk to Onsenji temple in 15 minutes by a staircase of 500 steps or by the cable car. To go to the top from the temple, the way is steeper, count 40 minutes. One of the main attractions of the city.

This mountain of 1625 m altitude to the characteristic of possessing two craters of volcanoes in its main summit. The surrounding cities all claim that the view of the mount is the most beautiful. At the bottom of the mountain is the Hirosaki Apple Park, the first apple production centre in Japan. More than species of apples are grown there. The park is visiting and you will learn everything about this fruit with multiple virtues.

If you go to Iriomote, then you will have to couple your visit with that of the small island of Yubu. The crossing is done in a very original way: in a large cart pulled by a buffalo, all in song, since your guide will take the opportunity to play his sanshin, a kind of guitar with three strings. The small flat island of Yubu has a circumference of 2.15 kilometers. The whole island has a subtropical garden with 30 varieties of hibiscus and 10 varieties of palm trees, a shell museum, a small restaurant and beaches.

The bay and the marine park are considered the most beautiful places on the island. The bay is also famous for the breeding of pearl oysters. Although swimming is forbidden due to strong currents, glass-bottom boat trips allow you to admire the underwater flora and fauna. Not far away, there is a curious little park, Yoneko-Yaki Pottery, with its giant statues of Shisas, these protective spirits, mixtures of dogs and lions, here diverted from their traditional aspects into funny, smiling and very colorful characters.

The Mont mountain, situated in the middle of the forest trail linking Ono to Nosoko, offers breathtaking views of the Cape de Tamatorizaki.

This beach is known to all Japanese. Its fame is due to tiny star-shaped shells, hoshizuna in Japanese, less than a millimeter in size, which were celebrated by a singer in the 1990s. Since then, many tourists arrive every day with a small glass bottle and a magnifying glass in their hands, in order to find as many as possible. The more you find, the stronger your spouse's love will be... according to local legend. Apart from this particular aspect, Kaijihama is a very beautiful beach, highly recommended.

The first cruise consists of a visit to the Nanatsugama site, seven caves located beneath the natural park. The longest measure is 100 meters. You can see surprising geological formations. The boat even enters a cave.

The second cruise leads to the island of Takashima. The boat has glass in the hold to admire marine fauna and flora.

This impressive cape is located at the southeast end of Mount Hakodate. The grandiose landscape of steep cliffs surrounded by the sea is a sight to behold. On a clear day, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Hakodate City as well as the Tsugaru Strait and Aomori Prefecture in the distance. Hokkaido's flower, the Rugosa rose (or Japanese rose, in Japanese hamanasu), blooms abundantly here in summer. For romantics and photographers, it is the perfect place to watch the sunset.

This small underwater observatory, which is located at the end of a bridge, descends to a depth of nearly seven metres below sea level. Several portholes allow you to see many fish in their natural habitat, which can be excited by feeding them with pellets provided for this purpose. Among the many species are black sea bream and fugu, the famous puffer fish. A fun and pleasant activity to do with the whole family.

Mount Kagamiyama is 284 meters high and offers a spectacular view of Karatsu Bay, the city, the pine forest, and even the island of Iki, near Nagasaki, in good weather. There is a statue of Princess Sayo Matsuura, who cried for eight days for her love who left for Korea at sea, before turning to stone. On the way, you will discover a four-thousand-year-old tree, nicknamed Totoro's house, and a white Shinto temple that was built by a samurai after a military victory.

East of Lake Ashi(Ashino-ko), Mount Komagatake (1354 m) is an excellent viewpoint to observe both Mount Fuji and Ashino-ko. To get to the top, you have to take a boat from Tōgendai to Hakone-en, then a cable car. Between Mount Komagatake and Mount Kami Futayo, Buddhas are carved in relief in the rock. They date back to the Kamakura period (1192-1333). On one side, one can see the Nijūgo bosatsu, a rock carved with a multitude of Buddhas, and on the other appears the Moto-hakone Jizō, which protects pilgrims and travelers.

This small spa is located at the eastern end of Lake Ashi. There are a few cafes and restaurants where you can refresh yourself and enjoy the view while watching the boats passing by. Although the city has been a religious and administrative center for a long time, it is now a tourist stop. From there, one can walk to the Hakone Shrine, walk around the lake and under the old cedar trees alley to the checkpoint, or go on board the famous pirate boats which connect Moto-Hakone to Owakudani.

In particular, we can see the fighting of buffalo.

Miharashi-no-yu Hot Spring is located on the ocean shore. It has a large indoor hot spring pool and an island-shaped outdoor bath. The spring water is greenish-grey and a bit muddy, but don't let that put you off. The outdoor bath has a changing schedule for men and women, so ask ahead of time. For the show, come after sunset to admire the sky, without any light pollution.

Urami-ga-taki onsen is located in a forest near a waterfall. This onsen is mixed, but it's wearing a bathing suit. Getting there is a bit complicated, but it's worth a detour.

This cave contains several underground rivers, waterfalls, and one of the largest caves in Japan. You can walk through this small underground world for more than 800 meters. It is part of the Okinawa World complex, which houses an arts and crafts village. Not far from the cave, on the east coast, are some beaches like Mibara and Hayakuna Beach. Offshore, you can see coral concretions. And as you continue your journey, you will come to the Chinsen Peninsula, known for its sugarcane fields.

A 3 D blockbuster not missed. A musical tale - to follow with the funny glasses of tree glasses provided at the entrance - where Donald visits all those who make Disney legend. A show so interactive that not only is all the arms moving to pick up the jewels that fly, but the breath of the flying mat ride you off the hair, the sweet smell of the cake comes to tickle the nostrils, until the ocean qui you a little. A 20-minute show very surprising.

Three great names have worked together to sign this mini film featuring Michael Jackson. At the command of the scenario: George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola. The result is inspired by Star Wars where the good (Michael and his team) fights evil, a nasty queen who governs on a distant planet. 17 minutes of film in 3 D for this battle that mixes humor, action and dance of course. The result has not been terribly mature and is really only for Michael Jackson's fans, others only if you have a little time before you.

Immerse yourself in the incredible world of synthetic images of the Toy Story and lend Buzz to Buzz in its mission to rescue battery reserves on earth. You're set at the heart of the space adventure because you're equipped with laser cannons. A funny animation, very colourful, and if you have a good score, you will have the chance to be on the honor table of the day or month!

This is an attraction inspired by Captain Nemo's submarine. Visitors get into submarines. Through the windows, they can admire the splendour of the ocean. The impression of total immersion in the depths is bluffante. 

It was once a very popular New York hotel… This establishment was a splendid celebration of the Belle Epoque, hosting the most beautiful receptions of all personalities… Suddenly, by a storm night, it became the scene of a mysterious accident in which five people disappeared at all times in the elevator… It is at that same journey as will be invited to the visitors during this new theme evening around attraction. The Tower of Terror. Greeted by an alarming liftier that leads them to the elevator of this old palace, they will then be rushed in the void from the top of the 13 th floor, in the total darkness and at a staggering speed. An unforgettable experience! So, ready for the big jump?

It's a Russian mini-mountain with yellow fish-shaped cars. Ideal for family fun. Toddlers love!

It is a cruise in countries visited by Sindbad represented by dolls in sumptuous sets. It's actually a version of "It's a Small World", a recurring attraction in Disney parks, on the theme of Sindbad's travel.

It is possible to attempt the ascent of Mount Fuji, with proper equipment and information. From the base of the volcano to the top of the mountain, the route is marked by ten stages(gō). Most climbers use the route that takes them directly to the fourth or even fifth stage. The ascent from the fifth stage takes between 4 or 5 hours and the descent between 2 or 3 hours. Once at the top, a trip around the crater (1 hour) is to be expected. Many people climb Japan's sacred mountain in the hope of seeing the cloudless goraikō (sunrise). To get there, climbers will have a choice of six marked trails.

On the northern flank, the Kawaguchiko stage, which stands at 2,305 meters, which is reached by starting from the town of Kawaguchi. This stage is especially appreciated by climbers coming from Tokyo.

Still on the northern flank, the Yoshida trail starts lower at Fuji-Yoshida. It is on this trail that the Sengen-Jinja Shrine is located. The road up to the shrine is lined with inns set back about 50 meters from the road. Each of these inns has a garden with small waterfalls from the mountain. It is also possible to go to the shrine by bus from Fuji-Yoshida Station to Sengen-jinja-mae stop (5 minutes) or by foot from the station (15 minutes). It is best to ask for a map at the Fuji-Yoshida tourist information office.

The Subashiri trail is at 1,980 meters and crosses the Yoshida trail after the eighth station. From Subashiri, buses lead to the fifth stop.

The Gotemba Trail, which starts from Gotemba and whose fifth station is at 1,440 meters, offers one of the longest routes because the station is the lowest. Buses lead to the fifth station.

Fujinomiya Trail, which starts from Fujiyomiya and with its fifth station at 2,380 meters, is mostly suitable for climbers from Nagoya and Kansai.

The Shōji trail, starts from Akaike, on the shores of Lake Shōji, in the northwest. It is 12.5 km long and crosses the Aokigahara forest, passes near the Omurosan in a lava tunnel called Fuji fuketsu. The crater of Mount Fuji, the Nai in, has a circular shape of 600 meters in diameter and a depth of about 100 meters. On the crest, there are eight peaks: Mishima dake, Komaga dake, Joju dake, Izu dake, Dainichi dake, Kusushi dake, Hakusan dake and finally Kenga mine. Two tracks allow to make the tour of the crater.

This was the site of the Grand World Exposition of Ōsaka in 1970. It is now housed in a park of attractions and is a place for the inhabitants of the new town of Senri, built on the slopes of the hills. It is a little too far away from the city centre. It is therefore better to visit Nakazakicho!

This exhibition center can be spotted from afar thanks to its monumental entrance in the shape of inverted pyramids. All kinds of commercial and cultural events take place here throughout the year. At the Tokyo Olympics, fencing, wrestling and Taekwondo events were held here. Not to be missed in May and December is the Design Festa festival. Hundreds of visual artists, musicians, graffiti artists and painters take over the west halls to exhibit their work. There are also regular craft exhibitions featuring Japanese artists.