Sendai Castle Ruins (Aoba Castle)
Sendai Castle was built by order of the lord Date Masamune. Commonly called "Aoba Castle," it has been the center of the clan government for 270 years.
The park is pretty big, so you need to take your time exploring. If the weather's nice, you can get a great view of all of Sendai.
Mogami Kyo Gorge
Mogami River is a prominent grade A river, counted as one of Japan’s Three Greatest Rapids. The middle area of it (From Furukuchi District in Tozawa Village to Kiyokawa District in Shonai Town) is a 15km-long scenic gorge called Mogami Gorge.
The river is really wide. While listening to the boatman sing, you can enjoy the autumn leaves on the mountains. Before you know it, the boat arrives at the shore and the ride is over.
Mt. Fuji
At a staggering 3,776 meters tall, Mt. Fuji is Japan’s tallest mountain and the pride of its two homes, Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures. This famous peak is an iconic symbol of Japan.
There's a lot of trash on the mountain, probably left by tourists. It's a good thing it's only open for two months a year—if it were open all year, they might as well call it 'Trash Mountain.'
Shirakawa-go (Historic Village)
Shirakawa-go, a beautiful area where traditional Japanese scenery still exists, is home to the largest number of still-standing traditional “gassho-zukuri” Japanese homes. As of 2016, there are around 100 buildings still standing, both large and small. It is the largest remaining historic settlement in Japan, and it is preserved as a Group of Traditional Buildings in the register of Cultural Properties of Japan.
I once stayed overnight in Shirakawa-go through the local tourism association. Dinner was local cuisine, and the owner even shared some of his prized sake with us. The owner's daughter played an instrument, and his wife performed a traditional dance. It was such an unforgettable experience.
Lake Suwa
Located almost in the center of Nagano Prefecture, Lake Suwa is the largest lake in the prefecture, with a circumference of about 16 km and surrounded by mountains. Along its nature-rich shores, fully developed cycling and jogging paths allow visitors to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The area is also home to numerous attractions, including visiting all four shrines of Suwa Taisha, appreciating art at museums, and soaking in hot springs with views of the lake.
It takes about 50 minutes to walk uphill from the station to Tateishi Park at the top. The scenery along the way is really beautiful. It's the best spot to see the whole view of Lake Suwa, and if the weather's good, you can even spot Mt. Fuji.
Kamikochi
Kamikochi offers one of Japan's most spectacular mountain sceneries. Its magnificent landscape is designated as a Special Natural Monuments along with Special Places of Scenic Beauty. Walter Weston, a British Anglican missionary praised Kamikochi in his writing “Mountaineering and Exploration in the Japan Alps” in 1896 which made Kamikochi an internationally well-known mountain area.
Walking from Taisho Pond to Kappa Bridge, the scenery is just so poetic. The Japanese really value nature and the environment—everything feels so peaceful and beautiful.