Fukuroda no Taki (Fukuroda Falls)
Fukuroda Falls, a prominent tourist spot in Ibaraki, are located in Taki River which stems from Kuji River running through Okukuji District. The great waterfall is 120m-tall and 73m-wide, one of Japan's Three Great Waterfalls along with Kegon Falls in Tochigi and Nachi Falls in Wakayama. It was also selected into 100 best waterfalls in Japan.
If you love nature, you'll fall in love with this place. It's pure beauty.
Samurai Residences in Kakunodate
In Kakunodate, part of the city of Semboku in Akita Prefecture, exists rows of old houses first attributed to the Ashina family in the early Edo period (around year 1620), that later flourished under the castle town of the Satake-Kita family. This district has been designated as protected in an effort to conserve traditional buildings.
Late April to early May is cherry blossom season in Kakunodate—it's the best time to visit.
Goryokaku Park
Goryokaku, a Western-style fortress, was built in 1866 and served as the political capital of Hokkaido until the new Meiji government took over. It later became a popular tourist attraction after it was opened to the public as "Goryokaku Park" in 1914 and was designated as a national special historic site.
The cherry blossoms in the park are in full bloom, attracting lots of visitors. It's one of the most famous spots for cherry blossom viewing in Hokkaido.
Higashine Tourism Orchard
Higashine City produces abundant fruits such as cherries and apples. Cherries are their top produce at 3,600 tons a year, greater than any other city in Japan. The main cherry species, Sato Nishiki, was created in Higashine. Before JR Sakurambo-Higashine Station, there is a bronze statue of Eisuke Sato in honor of his creation of Sato Nishiki.
I absolutely love cherries from Yamagata Prefecture!
GOTEMBA PREMIUM OUTLETS
GOTEMBA PREMIUM OUTLETS was established in 2000 and is the largest outlet mall in Japan. It is easily accessible from famous tourist spots such as Hakone, Izu, and Mt. Fuji, and is a popular spot to stop by during sightseeing.
This shopping mall has beautiful scenery and you can see Mt. Fuji directly. There are so many international brands—my wallet took a big hit!
Hakone-Yumoto Onsen Hot Spring Village
Hakone-Yumoto Onsen Hot Spring Village is known as one of the seven hot springs in Hakone and the largest hot spring resort in Hakone.
I stayed at Yoshikei Ryokan in Hakone-Yumoto. The huge Japanese garden is over 10,000 tsubo, and you can stroll around at your own pace. Super relaxing.
The Hakone Open-air Museum
Japan’s first open-air museum, founded in 1969, aimed at harmony between nature and art. It has about 120 sculptures spread across a cast landscape of 70,000 m², including classic work by Rodin, Moore, Miro and other world masters of modern and contemporary art.
This outdoor art museum is beautifully designed, with lots of installations by famous artists. It's a great spot for taking photos and making memories.
Narukawa Art Museum
Opened in 1988, the museum focuses on contemporary Japanese painting and introduces its appeal to visitors. The museum gathers together about 4,000 masterpieces by the greatest masters of contemporary Japanese painting, including about 150 works by Kyujin Yamamoto, who led the postwar Japanese art world and was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit. There are about 40 works (including drawings) by Ikuo Hirayama as well.
From the observation deck, you get an amazing view of both Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi. It honestly looks like a painting—so breathtaking and moving.