Shiawase no Mori Park
Opened in 2017, Shiawase no Mori Park is a natural park covering approximately 56,195 square meters. Located on a hill behind Michi-no-Eki Katsuragi, it’s about a 12-minute walk from the Katsuragi roadside station bus stop to the park entrance.
I visited at the end of April. There were less than 30,000 moss phlox, but it was already beautiful—like a pink carpet.
Hokkaido Shrine
Hokkaido Shrine, one of the most prominent shrines in Hokkaido, is located in Chuo District, Sapporo City. Its history is long, which began in 1869, when the Emperor Meiji directed to enshrine “Kaitaku Sanshin (Developing Three Deities)” here as a place of faith for pioneers.
This shrine is dedicated to the three deities of Hokkaido’s development, making it really representative of the region’s history. It’s not as crowded as the big shrines in Tokyo, so it’s a comfortable place to visit.
Kegon Falls
Nikko is home to many waterfalls, but its most famous waterfall is Kegon Falls. Here the water from Lake Chuzenji spills down a 97-meter-tall cliff, showcasing a beautiful and powerful force of nature. From the observation platform, which you can reach down at the waterfall basin by elevator, you can experience the roar of the falls and the splashing water from up close.
Seeing the waterfall from the observation deck above and taking the elevator down for a closer look are totally different experiences.
Sagano Romantic train
The Sagano Kanko Railway's trolley trains operate on a revived part of the former San'in Main Line, which was closed down. Classical Art Deco style coaches coupled to a diesel locomotive travel 7.3 km one way from Torokko Saga Station, adjacent to JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, to Torokko Kameoka Station, taking about 25 minutes.
During the fall foliage season, this popular sightseeing train is packed! If you don't book tickets early, you'll only get standing room. The train passes by the Hozu River, and you can even wave to people on the boats.
Yasaka Shrine
The shrine’s deities are Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Kushiinadahime-no-Mikoto, and Yahashira-no-Mikogami, and it is the head shrine of approximately 2,300 Yasaka Shrine and related shrines with Susanoo-no-Mikoto enshrined scattered throughout Japan.
It's really close to Hanamikoji Street, and you can also walk through Maruyama Park to visit Chion-in Temple on the other side.
Tottori Sand Dunes The Sand Museum
The world’s first museum, curating sand creations. It is produced by Katsuhiko Chaen, who was selected as “100 Most Respected Japanese People.” He invites sand sculptors from all over the world to display sand sculpture at the global top level.
Every exhibit here is incredibly detailed and creative, like a true masterpiece. Definitely a spot worth visiting!
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
Arashiyama’s tourist spot, Togetsukyo Bridge. Walk roughly 20m upstream from there into the grounds of Ichitani Munakata Shrine, and you will find the entrance to Arashiyama Monkey Park, Iwatayama. Currently, almost 120 monkeys live in the wild, which you can view throughout the year.
You can buy peanuts to feed the monkeys.