Shirakami Sanchi
This vast mountainous area covers nearly 13 hectares over northwestern Akita and southwestern Aomori, which has rarely been affected by humans since ancient times. The world’s largest primitive beech forest hosts various native wildlife. The valuable ecosystem was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1993.
This place has remained untouched by humans up to now, preserving its original ecosystem. There are no artificial landscapes here at all. Highly recommend visiting!
Hakuba Happo One
Hakuba Happo One offers trekking and mountain climbing in summer, winter sports in the winter, and many other activities throughout the year. Hakuba Happo Onē is also famous for being used as the venue for the Alpine skiing competitions at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.
It's breathtakingly beautiful here all year round. Happo One is truly a paradise for Japanese ski lovers! 🥰
Nozawa Onsen
Nozawa Onsen has an array of inns and restaurants that offer hot springs and local food. It is a historical resort with legends - some say it was found by Reverend Gyoki in the era of Emperor Shomu (724-748), others say it was found by a mountain priest in training.
Visiting the public bathhouses or open-air baths at this time is such a treat. You can really enjoy soaking in the hot springs. There are about a dozen bathhouses here, all maintained by local residents. ☺️
Fruitsland Shirone Grape Garden
In Niigata, Minami District is known as a fertile farming area, where the Shirone Grape Garden is located. Fruits in seasons are grown with the water from the nearby Shinano River, organic fertilizer and minimum agricultural chemical and made available on this tourist farm.
I was a bit tired after picking fruit, but the garden offers ice cream vouchers, so I got to enjoy some ice cream! 🍦
Keikyu Museum
Under the concept of “See, Touch and enjoy ‘the Real Things’,” the museum was opened in 2020, commemorating Keikyu Group’s 120-year anniversary.
The platform recreates how it looked back in the day, and you can really feel the atmosphere like a train could depart at any moment. Definitely worth experiencing! ☺️
Sanroku-gai (3・6Town)
Asahikawa's "Sanroku-gai (3・6Town) " is said to be the second largest in Hokkaido after Sapporo's Susukino. The name "Sanroku-gai" is said to derive from its location in the 3jodori 6-chrome (SAN-jo-Dori ROKU-chome) area in the center of Asahikawa City and its site at the foot of Mt. Taisetsuzan = Taisetsuzan no Sanroku (Pronunciation in Japanese).
You can enjoy fresh seafood here. Asahikawa is also known as the 'Northern Beach,' and there are several sake breweries where you can taste locally brewed sake. 🍷 Highly recommend this spot.
Shirotori Garden
This strolling Japanese garden surrounding a pond is created after the geography of Chubu Region. The grounds cover 3.7 hectares, the largest in the Tokai Region.
This is a great spot for a relaxing stroll. It's a strolling-style garden, and Shirotori Garden is the largest in the Chubu region! 👍
Ogura-Yama Nison-in Temple
Founded in the Jouwa period (834-848), the temple is also known as the SANTEIRYO (Emperors' Mausoleum）, which is said to contain a part of the bones of Emperor Saga, Emperor Tsuchimikado, Emperor Gosaga, and Emperor Kameyama, and as a temple associated with Honen Shonin.
The main gate is actually the approach to the temple, called Momiji Baba—it's a famous spot for viewing autumn leaves. In spring, the blue maples and cherry blossoms bloom together, creating a stunning scene. 🎊
Mirai Museum of Art
Minatomirai District has a school, Minatomirai Gakuen. On its campus, there is an art museum with glass art, which was mostly collected by the founder of the school, Teruhiko Tsurumi.
This is a fantastic exhibition with a wide variety of artworks, from paintings to films. The museum itself is really attractive too.
Omi Bridge
The Omi Bridge, spanning Lake Biwa, connects Marunouchi-cho in Otsu City and Shinhamacho in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture. Opened in 1974, it was originally a toll road but became toll-free in 2013. Along with the Biwako Ohashi Bridge, which connects Otsu City and Moriyama City, Omi Bridge is one of two bridges over Lake Biwa.
The elegant curve of the bridge is just beautiful! Crossing it makes me happy, and the view from the lakeside is stunning too. Highly recommended!