Nature Spots in Japan

Area

Japan
- Japan
- Hokkaido / Tohoku
  
  Hokkaido
  
  Aomori
  
  Iwate
  
  Miyagi
  
  Akita
  
  Yamagata
  
  Fukushima
- Kanto
  
  Ibaraki
  
  Tochigi
  
  Gunma
  
  Saitama
  
  Chiba
  
  Tokyo
  
  Kanagawa
- Koshinetsu / Hokuriku
  
  Niigata
  
  Toyama
  
  Ishikawa
  
  Fukui
  
  Yamanashi
  
  Nagano
- Tokai
  
  Gifu
  
  Shizuoka
  
  Aichi
  
  Mie
- Kinki
  
  Shiga
  
  Kyoto
  
  Osaka
  
  Hyogo
  
  Nara
  
  Wakayama
- Chugoku
  
  Tottori
  
  Shimane
  
  Okayama
  
  Hiroshima
  
  Yamaguchi
- Shikoku
  
  Tokushima
  
  Kagawa
  
  Ehime
  
  Kochi
- Kyushu / Okinawa
  
  Fukuoka
  
  Saga
  
  Nagasaki
  
  Kumamoto
  
  Oita
  
  Miyazaki
  
  Kagoshima
  
  Okinawa

Category

Travel / Tourism

Nature

ALL
- All categories
- Mountain
- Coast / Beach
- Waterfall
- Lake
- Plateau
- Valley
- Sea
- Island
- Cave
- Special Terrain
- River
- Pass
- Cape
- Wetland / Marshland
- Rock
- Whale Watching
- Peninsula
- Dune
- Other Natural Terrain

Mt. Takao

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Hachioujishi Takaomachi

This is popular as a mountain that can be reached from the city in just one hour. Having received three stars as a sightseeing location from the Michelin Guide, it is visited by approximately 3 million people each year who come primarily for viewing colorful fall foliage or to hike in the warmer months. It’s an easy mountain to access for both children and inexperienced visitors with a cable car in addition to the various well-maintained hiking paths. It’s famous for tororo soba and shops also sell souvenirs associated with tengu (a long-nosed goblin in Japanese folklore). There is also a monkey park, wildflower garden, and observatory, and in the summer season the beer garden near the summit is popular. An onsen (hot springs) lies just in front of Takaosanguchi Station.
Meguro River

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Setagaya Ward Meguro-ku, Shinagawa-ku

The Meguro River is a Class B River that flows through Tokyo’s Setagaya City, Meguro City and Shinagawa City before flowing out into Tokyo Bay. Around 4 km of the River’s course is lined with cherry trees, and as a result it is visited by large numbers of tourists during the spring cherry blossom season. In winter, the River is lit up spectacularly with special illuminations; the Meguro River thus receives a great many visitors throughout the year. Many fascinating shops and fashionable restaurants are located near the River, which are popular with people of both sexes and all ages. All in all, the Meguro River is a great place for a stroll.
Otaru Canal

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Otarushi Minatomachi

Otaru Port played an important role as a gateway in the development of Hokkaido. During the late Taisho period small boats called “barges” were used to unload ships, but as the amount of cargo increased, the “Otaru Canal” was constructed so the barges could enter the warehouses directly. There are 63 gas lamps along the cobbled pathway and at night the lights create a nostalgic atmosphere. The warehouses along the canal are wooden frame and stone constructions kept in their original state, currently used as restaurants, etc.
Shirogane Blue Pond

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kamikawagumbieichou Shirogane

Depending on the time of year and the angle that you view it from, the water of Shirogane Blue Pond may appear either blue or green. Surrounded by ancient trees (including Japanese Larch), and with the sunlight creating magical effects on the water’s surface, this is a very popular place for taking photos. In winter, the Pond is illuminated, creating an even more mysterious effect. The Pond receives very large numbers of visitors on weekends and during the Golden Week (roughly April 29 to early May) holiday period, so it’s best to allow yourself plenty of time to get there.
Oyasukyo Daifunto

4.5

88 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Akita Pref. Yuzawashi Minase Aratokoro

Oyasukyo is a famous spot in Kurikoma Quasi-National Park, in Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture. Located in a valley at 60 meter elevation, this hot spring is set apart by the boiling water and steam bubbling forth from bare rock. With its well-maintained trails, you can get a close look at the layers of bedrock holding back intense natural heat, with cracks letting out clouds of steam and hot water. It's also famous for its fall leaf viewing, and its popular sightseeing spot equipped with parking areas.

国道（大噴湯の案内板あり）から急な階段を降りていき、渓流沿いに整備された遊歩道をしばらく歩いていくと、湯煙が突然目に入ってきました。さらに近づいてみると、渓流の壁面の岩盤の隙間から、もの凄い勢いで湯が水平方向に噴出していて驚きました。壁面から出ている光景など見たこともありません。壁面から水平に噴出した湯が遊歩道まで達している箇所もあるので、そこを歩いて通り抜けた時は熱々でした。また、硫黄臭が...
Miho no Matsubara Pine Grove

Travel / Tourism

Shizuoka Pref. Shizuokashi Shimizu-ku Miho

"Miho no Matsubara is a scenic area located on the Miho Peninsula in Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City. It is famous for a roughly 7km long stretch of beach that is lined with around 30,000 pine trees, and because of its association with the famous Legend of Hagoromono (""Feathered Robe""); there is one particular pine tree, called the ""Hagoromo no Pine Tree,"" on which, according to the legend, a celestial being who had been flying over the beach hung her feathered garment so that she could bathe in the sea. Miho no Matsubara's beautiful scenery has made it the subject matter of countless paintings and poems over the centuries, including Utagawa Hiroshige's ""Famous Views of the Sixty Noted Provinces"" and ""Pine Groves of Miho in Suruga Province."" In 2013, the Miho no Matsubara pine groves were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the ""Fujisan, Sacred Place and Source of Artistic Inspiration"" World Heritage site."
Heart Rock

4.0

114 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kagoshima Oshima-gun Tatsugocho Akaogi

干潮の時を狙っていきました。駐車場はわかりにくいですが、混んでいなかったのでスムースに停められました。混んでいるときは車の出入りすら苦労するかも。ハートロックのビーチはきれいでした。パラグライダーで見学する人もいました。思っていたより小さい潮だまりです。
Sandanbeki Cave

4.0

54 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Wakayama Pref. Nishimurogunshirahamachou 2927-52

This is a cave formed by years of sea erosion and is set into one of the famous sheer cliffs of Japan, the Sandanbeki cliff. It is a spot for invaluable study of fossilized ripples of stone caused by waves and currents, and rock crevasses surging with the tide. It is said that this cave was the hideout for the Kumano navy ships in the Genpei War during the Heian Period. Inside the cave is a restored Kumano navy barrack, and it enshrines Japan’s largest bronze benzaiten deity of water, the Muro-dai-benzaiten.

This cave is a bit scary but interesting place. Entrance fee is ¥1300. 夜の観光も行っている日がありました。足湯はやっていませんでした(ご時世？)。千畳敷から徒歩20分程です。エレベーターで洞窟まで降りるのですが、中は滑りやすいため注意して歩きました。
Nachi Waterfall (Hiro Jinja Shrine)

Travel / Tourism

Wakayama Pref. Higashimurogunnachikatsurachou Nachisan

This betsugu (associated shrine) of Kumano Nachi Taisha honors the deity of the Nachi-no-Taki waterfall. Boasting Japan’s largest uninterrupted drop of 133 meters, the waterfall is 13 meters wide and has a plunge basin with a depth of 10 meters. It is lit up a night during New Year’s Eve and is one of Japan’s top three waterfalls. Close to the waterfall is a viewing area where visitors can drink water from the plunge basin which is said to be water for longevity.
Okunoshima Island

Travel / Tourism

Hiroshima Pref. Takeharashi Tadanoumichou

A small island four kilometers in circumference located within the boundaries of Setonaikai National Park. Known as Rabbit Island due to the 1,000 wild rabbits which inhabit it, Okunoshima is visited by large numbers of domestic and international tourists seeking to be soothed by the sight of these cute bunnies. There are also many rabbit-themed statues on the island which make for popular photo spots. At the same time, the island was the location of a poison gas plant operated by the former Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, and today many remnants of the army's facilities still stand. The Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum presents materials from that time period in an effort to convey to current generations the terror of war and the importance of peace.
Tsurumidai

4.0

82 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Akanguntsuruimura Shimosetsuri

Tsurumidai is a bird-feeding station that every year, between November and March, is visited by large numbers of Japanese Red-crowned Cranes. The Cranes are fed twice a day, in the morning and around 2:30 p.m. Originally, the Cranes were fed by the teachers and students of the local elementary school. When the school closed down, Ms. Tome Watanabe, who lived nearby, decided that she would keep feeding the Cranes, and has continued to do so since then, which is another reason for Tsurumidai’s fame. Sometimes, nearly 200 Cranes can be seen.

Visited on a sunny but very cold day in late March and the snow has melted. There were perhaps 5-6 cranes. Feeding has stoppped here but I saw a field of cranes feeding themselves on fresh crops...
Lake Tanzawa

4.0

67 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kanagawa prefecture Ashigami-gun Yamakita cho

This artificial lake is in Yamakita Town, Ashigarakami County, Kanagawa Prefecture. There are parks around the lake and in autumn it is a great place to view the gorgeous changing colors of the leaves. In addition to fishing for trout and black bass, it's a popular leisure spot for boating, cycling, and camping. It's been selected as one of the top 50 picturesque spots in Kanagawa, as well as one of the top 100 reservoirs for its great scenery.

小田急新松田駅から富士急湘南バスで終点の西丹沢ビジターセンターへ行き、十数分ほどあたりをブラブラした後、来たバスにそのまま乗って丹沢湖バス停で降りました。車窓から色づいた山々の紅葉や中川の流れを満喫できました。丹沢湖周辺は景色の良さもさることながら、開放感がありつつもコンパクトにまとまっているという点が非常に気に入りました。商業施設が乱立しなかったおかげで、廃業してしまった店舗が目立たず...
Amanohashidate

Travel / Tourism

Kyoto Miyadushi Monju

Located in Miyazu Bay on the Sea of Japan on the north side of Kyoto, Amanohashidate is considered one of the three most beautiful views in Japan together with the islands of Matsushima and Itsukushima. A 3.6 kilometer long sandbar 20 to 170 meters wide separating Miyazu Bay from the inland Sea named Asokai north to south, Amanohashidate is covered with some 8,000 pine trees. Due to its seeming appearance as a bridge to the heavens, it came to be called Amanohashidate (“Bridge to Heaven.”). Many people come to see the uncanny shape of this popular sight, which was formed naturally over thousands of years.
Kiyotsu Valley Tunnel

4.0

40 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nigata Pref. Tokamachishi Koide

This walking tunnel is in Joshinetsu Kogen National Park in Tokamachi. It opened as a tourist location in October of 1996 as a place where you can safely see Kiyotsu Gorge, one of Japan's three largest gorges. There are three viewing platforms along the 750-meter long tunnel with a panorama station at the deepest part. Here you can appreciate the country's beautiful natural gorges and columnar jointing topography designated as a National Natural Monument. No matter the season, be it the new sprouting leaves of spring, the verdant greens of summer, the crimson colors of fall, or the fresh snow of winter, lots of tourists come to enjoy the ever-changing beauty of the gorge. The tunnel is closed from mid-January to late March.

越後妻有「大地の芸術祭」の折に訪ねた。清津川を挟んで切りたった岸壁が続く大峡谷「清津峡」、日本三大峡谷の一つに数えられているそうだ。そこに穿たれた遊歩道トンネルがアートスペースになっている。途中に見晴し所や説明パネルに加え、見応えのあるアート作品も展示されているが、圧巻はトンネルの終点となるパノラマステーション。半鏡面仕上げのステンレスがトンネルの壁面天井に貼られ、足元は水が張られて鏡のように外の...
Ikeyama Suigen (Spring Source)

4.5

82 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Kumamoto Pref. Asogunubuyamamura Tajiri 14-1

This spring water was selected as one of Japan’s top 100 waters. With the Mt. Juku range at its source, each minute it pumps out 30 tons of water and many people come to draw from it. The water temperature remains around 13 degrees throughout the year. It is water representative of the Aso area, with a mild taste.

We walked from the other side of hills on a very sunny day...we finished about 1 gallon of water when we finally got there... We passed several herds of cows gazing and it was scary because they...
Nagannu Island

4.0

120 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Okinawa Pref. Shimajiriguntokashikison Maejima

This small island is about 20 minutes from Naha by boat. You can enjoy snorkeling, diving, and other marine activities. The white sands of the beach, formed from coral fragments, stand in beautiful contrast to the emerald green of the sea. Showers and bathrooms are available as well, allowing you to enjoy the pristine natural surroundings to the fullest.

Short ferry ride which is good. Beach is clean and water crystal clear. If you enjoy snorkeling and marine life, this is not the right place. You will only see dull and dying corals with little...
Shiraito Falls

Travel / Tourism

Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture

The result of underground water welling out of bare rock, Shiraito Falls has a thin stream of water almost like a strand of silk with beautiful lines of water and white spray falling down. The refreshing sight is one of Karuizawa’s representative sightseeing spots. In the winter, icicles are artificially created using water gushing forth from the waterfall, producing a fantastical atmosphere.
Mt. Daikanbo

Travel / Tourism

Kumamoto Pref. Asoshi Yamada

A 936 meter high mountain located on the highest peak of the outer rim of the north crater of Mt. Aso. In ancient times, it was called Tomigahana (the nose looking into the distance), but the great author Tokutomi Soho dubbed it Daikanbo (great overviewing mountain) after being moved by the magnificent view. The mountain offers a sweeping view of the five peaks of Mt. Aso, the Kuju Mountain Range, and the Aso Caldera. The controlled burns conducted in spring are held on an impressive scale.
Fukuroda Falls

Travel / Tourism

Ibaraki Pref. Kujigundaigomachi Fukuroda 3-19

One of Japan’s Top Three Waterfalls, the Fukuroda Falls in Kuji County, Ibaraki Prefecture, are 73 meters wide with a 120-meter drop over the tributaries and rapids of Kuji River. Also called “Shido-no-taki” because the falls break over four levels of rocks or because Saigyo Hoshi suggested visiting in each of the four seasons. Its icy visage in winter and the leaves of fall make for particularly inspiring views. The old lookout deck and the new one built in 2008 offer you different views to enjoy.
Lake Suwa

Travel / Tourism

Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture

Lake Suwa, the largest lake in Shinshu, has a circumference of about 16 kilometers. Here you can enjoy lengthy walks and jogging as well as pleasure cruises and boat trips on the lake. From autumn through to winter keen anglers can fish for wakasagi (a variety of smelt). The Lake Suwa Fireworks Festival, one of Japan’s largest firework displays, is held at the lake in summer with an incredible 40,000 fireworks lighting up the night sky. The huge fireworks display unsurprisingly attracts huge numbers of people each year.