Akiu Ōtaki Fall (秋保大滝), also known as the Akiu Great Fall, is the must-see spot in Akiu Onsen. The 55-meter tall waterfall is just spectacular no matter which season you visit. It was thus chosen to be one of Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls and a designated National Place of Scenery Beauty.
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Your visit to Kamikōchi shouldn’t stop at Kappa Bridge. Trekking further for another hour upstream of the Azusa River, you will reach the Myōjin Area. Here is the ground of God. Not sure if it is because this is where God lives, the atmosphere around the area is just different from Kappa Bridge. Once you
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Kappa Bridge (河童橋) is the landmark of Kamikōchi. Most important facilities in the area are located close to the bridge, including the Kamikochi Bus Terminal and visitor centers. This part of Kamikōchi is almost like a transport hub that allows tourists to gain the necessary information to explore the area and rejuvenate. The suspension bridge
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While not as famous as Kappa Bridge or Taishō Pond, Tashiro Marsh (田代湿原) and Tashiro Pond (田代池) located between the two scenic spots are picturesque throughout the year. Especially in the morning of the colder months, you will find these two spots extra stunning because the plants are covered by a thin layer of frost!
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If you take a bus to Kamikōchi, the Taishō Pond (大正池) would be the first stop after the bus enters what the Japanese called the ground that God descends upon. Especially if you take the nighttime express bus from Tokyo, we highly recommend getting off the bus here instead of staying onboard until reaching the
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Chikubu Island (竹生島), floating on the northern Lake Biwa, has been a sacred island since ancient times. Together with the Benzaiten in Enoshima (江ノ島) and Miyajima (宮島), the Benzaiten enshrined on the island are together known as the Three Great Benzaiten in Japan. Also, the Hōngon-ji Temple (宝厳寺) on the island is the 30th temple
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Amongst all the Satobō (residence of retired monks) in Sakamoto, the Former Chikurin-in (旧竹林院) is probably the most famous. Not only is it known to be one of the highest-rank temples in Enryakuji, but its garden was also designated the National Place of Scenery Beauty in 1998. Nowadays, this garden is known as a spot
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The Tanesashi Coast (種差海岸) at the center of Sanriku Fukkō National Park (三陸復興國立公園) in Hachinohe City is an unusual beach. Instead of a sandy beach shore, it has a natural lawn that spreads all the way to the shoreline! As a designated National Place of Scenery Beauty, along the Tanesashi Coastline, you can admire more
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Kamikōchi (上高地) in Japanese literally means “the ground that God descends upon”. It is the perfect name to describe how beautiful this area is. Surrounding by the magnificent Northern Japanese Alps, it is the ultimate tourist destination for nature lovers. There is not a single day that Kamikōchi looks the same because nature changes as
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At the southwest of Nantan City in Kyoto, the Ruri River Valley Natural Park (京都府立るり渓自然公園) in the 4 km long Ruri River Valley (or Rurikei Gorge) is a designated National Place of Scenery Beauty. The valley has a delicate landscape with a 530-meter-tall plateau. The upstream of the valley is made of granite, whereas the
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