Hoheikyo Dam
Hoheikyo Dam is built upstream of Toyohira River in the Minami District of Sapporo City. It controls the flow of the Toyohira River, of course, supplies water to the Sapporo City, and the surrounding area is renowned as a tourist spot for the fall foliage.
Came in the fall for the foliage and the dam. The rainbow-like scenery was a huge plus.
You don’t have to walk very far to get great views, so it’s an easy, relaxed visit.
Fukiware no Taki Falls
Usually, when you look at waterfalls in well-known tourist spots, you have to look up to feel their dynamism. However, Fukiware no Taki is different. As a place where you can feel the splendor of nature by looking down a waterfall, it is extremely rare. Also nicknamed the “Niagara Falls of the East”, this waterfall boasts a 7-meter drop and a width of 30 meters.
You can get really close to the waterfall, which makes it super immersive. When the water flow is strong, it's honestly pretty breathtaking.
Café & Bar Tower View Terrace
Located on the 3rd floor of Tokyo Prince Hotel in Minato’s Shiba Park area, Café & Bar Tower View Terrace is a stylish café and bar renowned for its stunning terrace overlooking Tokyo Tower. Surrounded by the beauty of the seasons-cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, and vibrant autumn foliage-it offers a relaxing, open-air setting for dining in any season.
Sipping drinks on the terrace with that amazing night view is just so romantic! During the day, you can chill with a coffee and totally relax, but at night it turns into the perfect date spot with cocktails. The scenery is fantastic and the vibe is on point—such a great place for photos and social media!
Okutone Water Source Forest
Okutone Water Source Forest is a nature-filled gem at an elevation of 4,600 feet in Gunma Prefecture, home to a vast primeval beech forest. It’s also one of the “100 Best Forests for Water Sources,” selected by Japan’s Forestry Agency, and you can enjoy stunning scenery in summer’s fresh greenery and the fall foliage season. A great spot for anyone looking to refresh in nature.
Such a relaxing nature spot. The air is fresh, the forest is lush, and walking along the trail is really soothing—plus the sound of the stream in the background is super healing.
It’s perfect for escaping the heat in summer, and it’s also great in fall for the foliage. The whole forest vibe just makes you feel calm.
Highly recommended if you love being outdoors.
Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu
Mount Takao is a Michelin 3-star destination that sees countless tourists from Japan and across the world. It’s also home to Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu, a coveted daytrip hot springs spot located conveniently near Takaosan-guchi station so you can easily tack on a dip to your next hiking or sightseeing trip.
They have both indoor and outdoor baths, plus you can try the stone sauna. I felt super relaxed here! The view isn’t super dramatic, but it’s got a really soothing mountain vibe.
Tama Zoological Park
This zoo, one of the largest in the world exceeding 50 hectares, allows visitors to see about 300 species of animals, from ants to elephants. Located in the Tama Hills, walking around the park gives the feeling of hiking in a nature park.
I originally planned to just spend half a day here, but ended up staying the whole day!
The animals are all so cute, and there are way more species than I could count.
If you're in Tokyo with kids and want to avoid big crowds, this is the place!
Just a heads up, there are a lot of slopes in the park, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
Honpukuji Water Temple
This temple is of the Omuro school of the Shingong sect of Buddhism, and it is said to have been built in the latter half of the Heian period (794-1185). Located atop a small hill, visitors can look out over Osaka Bay from the temple’s grounds.
This is a masterpiece by architect Tadao Ando. He moved the Buddha altar beneath the lotus pond, completely challenging the traditional idea of what a temple should look like.
Awaji Island Akashi Kaikyo National Government Park
The Akashi Kaikyo National Government Park has two locations in Awaji Island and Kobe City. The concept of the Awaji District location is "an amusement park by the ocean." The park has three main zones: the observation zone on the green sloped land, the cultural exchange zone with beautiful flower fields and a playground, and the coastal zone by the ocean with an open atmosphere.
When I visited in winter, it was super windy and there weren't many people around. It felt pretty quiet and cold. I bet it would be awesome here in the summer!