Fun, One-of-a-Kind Experience A waterfall that doubles as a natural hot spring is the best way to describe the Kamuiwakka Falls which are located up the road from the Shiretoko Five Lakes. These falls are one of Japan’s more amazing natural...
Small Town with an Aquamarine Pond Smack-bang in the middle of Hokkaido finds the Biei Blue Pond (Aoiike) an artificial pond flanking the Biei River and down the road from the Shirogane Onsen. The pond itself is little more than an oversized puddle...
Where Art and Nature Meet The Kiyotsu Gorge (Kiyotsukyo) in Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture is considered one of the three great gorges and is designated a natural monument of Japan. The gorge is 12.5 km in length and was carved out by the...
Refreshing Waterfalls to Beat the Heat There is something about waterfalls that captivates and beckons us to take a closer look. Perhaps it’s the sight and sound of falling water that refreshes and energises especially in Japan’s humid summer...
Mt. Yamizo 八溝山 – Nichirin Temple 日輪寺 . . Hiking Among Ibaraki Prefecture’s Ancient Forests The topography of Ibaraki is mostly made up of flat agricultural plains that produce a quarter of Japan’s piman (bell peppers) and hakusai (Chinese...
Vast Sea of Yellow Sunflowers In winter Tsunan Town, Niigata Prefecture has some of the heaviest snow falls in Japan. Come summer a small corner of the town (3 hectares to be precise) is transformed into a brilliant display of yellow sunflowers. The...
Mt. Mibudake 三峰岳 – Mt. Ainodake 間ノ岳 – Mt. Notoridake 農鳥岳 . . Exploring the Northern Minami Alps Claiming joint honours as the third highest mountain in Japan, Ainodake is regularly climbed in concert with Kita-dake and Notoridake...
Hidden Waterfall on the Outskirts of Tokyo One needn’t look far to discover pockets of nature in Tokyo with Hachioji City being a good example. Located only 40 km west of the city centre it contains the hugely popular hiking destinations of Mt...
How Not to Keep a Secret Spot Secret Habushiura Beach on Niijima is said to be the most beautiful in the Izu Islands and has long lured surfers looking to ride the best waves around. There’s a section of beach oddly named “Secret Point” in that just...
Fujimitoge Lookout 富士見峠展望台 – Mt. Miyatsuka 宮塚山 . . Niijima’s Highest Mountain Best Enjoyed from a Distance Having climbed the highest peaks on two of the Izu Islands namely Hachijo-fuji on Hachijo-jima and Mt. Tenjo on Kozushima, I thought why not...