The most beautiful natural sites to discover Japan

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.

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.

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!

52 storey building with the centre of Design Ozone, on the 2nd floor and the Park Hyatt on the last twelve floors.

This park is famous for its wisteria that fill in spring and summer, its plum trees and beautiful bambouseraies.

In particular, we can see the fighting of buffalo.

This onsen is mixed, but it's wearing a bathing suit. Getting there is a bit complicated. Take a bus from the port (Sueyoshi bus), change to Kashitate Onsen Mae, then go through another bus to Nakata-Shōten Mae. Finally, walk for 20 minutes to the ocean. The second, the Sueyoshi Onsen Miharashi-noyu is open from until and closed on Tuesday. Entry: 500 yen. It offers a beautiful view of the Pacific. Take the bus from the port to the Sueyoshi stop.

Three kilometers north of the station, one can stroll in this park built in 1888, at the foot of a group of hills and small mountains bordered by the Nagara gawa river. One can appreciate there the sanctuary of Inaba-jinja, the museum of the insects of Nawa, the museum of history of the town of Gifu, as well as a pagoda with three floors. The park is dominated by Mount Kinka. Oda Nobunaga, master of Gifu Castle, built his residence here. The cable car to Mount Kinka takes four minutes to reach the top, from which there are walking trails.

No need to go to Okinawa to enjoy beautiful beaches in Japan. Katsurahama is the proof. This pretty white sand beach, surrounded by many pine trees, will delight the amateurs. From the beach, you can also, from time to time, see fishing boats and fishermen coming back to the port with their nets full of fish. The place is highly recommended for contemplating the full moon. There is a cute little shrine at the tip of the beach. From here there is a beautiful view of the sea and the horizon.

Here (4 km northeast of Dōgo) is the Jungle Onsen (open 6 h to 22 h 30, 500 ¥). If the crowd of Dōgo Onsen stunned you, choose this quiet and modern onsen, the numerous baths immersed in the greenery.

Located 1 km northeast of the railway station, the park is home to the former dungeon of the Ogasawara clan. It was called the Bukaku-jō or castle of the flying stork, because the drawing of the two beaches evoked a bird with its wings deployed.

The gorges, carved by the Abu River, are among the most beautiful in Japan. It is located about 20 km northeast of Yamaguchi. With a total length of 12 km, the canyon is located in the central part of the prefecture. The gorge has also been selected as one of the 100 most famous sights in Japan. Along the Abugawa River there is a hiking trail with a total length of 5.5 km. The starting point is about a 5-minute walk from the station, making it an easy and accessible excursion.

You can see wild monkeys in a park located in the Choshi-kei valley.

The Kanka-kei Gorge can be reached with the Kanka-kei cable car, from which you can also see the sea. It is considered one of the three most beautiful valleys in Japan. They offer a landscape of cliffs, some of which are over 100 meters high. The lush vegetation of the valley becomes even more beautiful in autumn. At the top, there are several observatories as well as starting points for walks. In addition to the cable car, there are two hiking trails that lead to both stations.

It is rumored to be the purest lake in Japan, after the Akan National Park. The color of the water becomes a deep blue on sunny days. The lake was formed in a caldera and its water is exceptionally cold, making it impossible to swim. The lake is renowned for its sockeye salmon fishing and is also home to freshwater crayfish and salamanders. The absolute clarity of the water makes it easy to see them. In addition to the beautiful surrounding hikes, you can also take a boat ride on the lake.

The name of this valley is explained by its volcanic activity. And the valley of the Inferno bears its name well. Count on several hours of hiking to make the tour. At the end, the reward is rather original: to contemplate the free macaques which splash in hot springs to warm up. This monkey paradise opened its doors in 1964. It is advisable to go there in winter so that you can also experience the onsen in the open air.

It is possible to take a shuttle bus that takes you directly to the waterfall, but only for a short period between July and August. The rest of the year, you have to walk for several hours. The bathing in this rotenburo is memorable. You have to cross a waterfall for almost half an hour to enjoy the three natural hot water baths. Bring a bathing suit and shoes with non-slip soles. You can also rent straw sandals before starting the climb.

The nature-loving traveller can circumnavigate these five lakes in about an hour via small hiking trails through the forest. During the peak season in summer, the first two lakes can be relatively crowded. An 800-metre-long elevated wooden walkway has recently been built between the car park and the first lake, allowing visitors to enjoy views of the lake, the Sea of Okhotsk and the surrounding mountains without damaging the fragile ecosystem. The walk is free of charge.

Wakkanai-Kōen Park is dedicated to the victims of the Sakhalin earthquake. The view is unobstructed and you can look out over the coast and Sakhalin Island from a tower (with questionable architecture). There is also a monument to the first Japanese explorer of Hokkaidō, the surveyor Rinzō Mamiya (1780-1844). One of the symbols is the Hyosetsu-no-Mon, an eight-meter-high doorway with a statue of a woman on top. It is a symbol of the city's history and culture, as well as a symbol of the city's identity and culture. The park covers about 45 hectares.

It is the largest volcanic lake in Japan and the 6th largest lake in the country by area. Like the famous Loch Ness, it has its own mythical monster, the Kusshie. It is a popular place for camping, swimming and onsen. The Suna-yu onsen is on the east bank and the Wakoto onsen on the south. There is also a beach with sand that is naturally heated by hot groundwater. The local fauna and flora will delight nature lovers and photography aficionados.

The "Lake of Mystery" is located 12 km southeast of Kawayu-Onsen. This impressive volcanic lake is surrounded by walls nearly 300 m high. It is a unique feature in Japan. It can be seen and contemplated from two observatories. The Japanese particularly appreciate the seasons when the small island in the middle is hidden in the mists that cover the area. You can see it for a short time if you are lucky. It is also common to go there to enjoy the starry sky.

Major objectives for hikers, thanks to their waterfalls, Ryūsei-no-taki and Ginga-no-taki are the two gorges that lead to Kobako and Obako. They drop into a canyon over 170m deep. You can rent bicycles to enjoy the beautiful views around. You can also reach Mt. Kuro-Dake by taking the cable car and the ski lift in succession, but the most popular hike is to Mt.