Travel Japan | Why Japan is Even More Beautiful Than You Think!

Situated in between the towering cliffs of southern Niigata prefecture travelers will come face to face with one of Japan’s Top 3 gorges, Kiyotsu Gorge.

The natural scenery alone is enough to let your jaw drop to the floor. Clear blue waters and panoramic views already turn a trip to the Kiyotsu Gorge into a life changing experience, however, the area has even more to offer.

Access to the gorge is safe through the Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel. The tunnel runs for 750 meters through the gorge and has four viewpoints to enjoy. The walk is completely flat, allowing travelers of all ages to appreciate the immense beauty of the natural wonder.

Travel Tip: The tunnel is very close to the parking lot; no hiking is needed. Soba noodle restaurants and a hot spring village are also in close proximity. So take advantage of the opportunity, and get some well-deserved pampering.

A lush green plateau on the Nagano prefecture side of the Northern Japanese Alps, Kamikochi offers some of Japan’s most spectacular mountain scenery with minimal hiking effort. Most visitors just hover around Kappabashi (Kappa Bridge) and for good reason. 

For one, the bus stop is just nearby. But more importantly, here you get to take in the grand view: a wooded riverbank surrounded by a fortress of mountains, where the autumn blushes in shadows of yellow, orange and red. 

This picturesque gorge in the mountains of Aomori is one of Japan’s top autumn destinations. The 9km-long trail from Ishigeo to Nenokuchi at the mouth of Lake Towada is breathtaking – not that it’s a strenuous hike but because of the gorgeous scenery all along the way. 

The gushing Oirase stream snakes through a blazing red and orange forest studded with moss-covered boulders, with multiple waterfalls feeding into the running water. It’s the Japanese autumn at its best.

The sprawling Mifuneyama Rakuen Park in Saga prefecture was created more than a century ago in 1845, but since then, teamLab has taken it into the future with edgy, immersive digital art that changes the way we interact with nature. 

At night, the forest truly comes to life as the digital art brings a sense of enchantment to the forest. 

As a whole. The grounds now look like an enchanted forest after dark, with different exhibits scattered across the property. There’s a surreal projection of a silent waterfall in a secluded part of a jungle. 

A rolling garden of azalea shrubs pulses with lights as if the plants were breathing. In the darkness of the night, trees take on an otherworldly glow, holographic carp swim across a lake, digital flowers bloom on rocks while strokes of calligraphy appear like a painting in formation across a sacred boulder. It’s magic and there’s nothing quite like it anywhere in the world. 

Otherwise known as the Golden Temple, Kinkakuji is a Zen Buddhist temple covered in gold, perfectly contrasted against the lush forest and situated in the middle of traditional Kyoto. In fact, the temple is so beautiful that a young monk attempted to burn it down in 1950, inspiring Yukio Mishima’s famous novel ‘The Temple of Golden Pavilion’. 

First, you walk along a path to see the temple and its reflection before you eventually see it close up, so be prepared for multiple photo ops. Head there in the early morning or late afternoon for smaller crowds and less glinting from the gold leaf. 

Loving Japan? Check out the Kyushu Seven Star, Japan’s first Luxury Train, and see The Land of the Rising Sun in Style. 

Japan’s crown jewel and arguably the most beautiful place in the country, Mt Fuji is a must for any visitor. There are plenty of vantage points to see the grand mountain, but the views from Arakurayama Sengen Park, which boasts the majestic Chureito Pagoda, and from Lake Kawaguchi best capture its beauty. 

Lake Kawaguchi, one of the Fuji Five Lakes, has glorious views of Mt Fuji, especially in winter when the sky is mostly clear and you can see the volcano’s reflection in the water. 

Designed and constructed by the Starchitect Tadao Ando, who looked to create something beautiful out of loss and grieving. Ando designed Sapporo’s circular Makomanai Takino Cemetery around a giant 13.5m tall statue of the Buddha, allowing his head to peek out from the top of the artificially built hill. 

The color of the industrial concrete used to create the artificial hill perfectly contrasts with the lavender surrounding of the cemetery, and covers the Buddha’s body. The only way for visitors to see the full sculpture is by entering the hollow 40 meter hill through a dark tunnel. Once you reach the natural light at the end of the tunnel, you’ll get to see the ever graceful Buddha seated right before you. 

Himeji is perhaps Japan’s most famous castle. Also known as the White Heron, Himeji Castle is a giant, stark white structure that has miraculously survived even after seeing war and natural disaster. 

Himeji Castle dates all the way back to the 17th century but was restored in 2015, allowing visitors inside to admire the refurbished architecture. If you are planning to travel Japan, this is one location that can’t be left out of your to-do list!

Located off the coast of the Kagoshima prefecture, travelers will find the stunning Yakushima, a true natural paradise. 

The best way to take in the small island is through multi-day treks: you will feel the absurdities of modern life wash away as you hike the moss-covered dirt tracks in search of the Yakusugi, Japan’s oldest surviving trees, more than 1,000 years old. 

Travelers have a wide range of travels catering to different experience levels, from easy one hour hikes, to 20-hour overnight explorations. 

Japan’s most breathtaking Gorge, Takachiho Gorge in Miyazuki, is said to be most beautiful when seen by water. Rent a small rowing boat and take a romantic adventure down the calm Gokase River. 

Travelers can easily take in the natural wonder as they travel down the calm waters surrounded by lush maple trees and the dramatic 17m tall Minai-no-taki waterfall. 

However, if you are looking to explore this beautiful area by land, the gorge is still stunningly beautiful from above – hikers can walk along the 1km Takachiho Promenade for a landscape view, best enjoyed during the summer illumination or the vermillion autumn foliage. 

Korakuen in Okayama, situated along Kenrokuen in Kanazawa and Kairakuen in Mito, is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, a traditional honor it has held since the 19th century. 

The stunning, rolling landscape, covering approximately 144,000 square meters, is a fine example of traditional Edo period (1603-1868) beauty. 

Fun Fact: The garden was damaged by war and natural disasters in the past, it has consistently been restored based on historical illustrated maps. 

The garden is picturesque during all four seasons, boasting large lawns, ponds, plum and cherry trees and Japanese cranes. Oh, and don’t forget about the grand view of the Okayama Castle in the background, it’s the icing on the cake when visiting this beautiful location.

The pilgrimage routes were developed as a way for people to move between the sacred areas on the Kii Peninsula. At the center of this religious area are the three Kumano shrines: Hongu Taisha, Hayatama Taisha and Nachi Taisha, collectively known as Kumano Sanzan.

In addition to linking the shrines to one another, the trails serve another purpose, linking the Kumano Kodo area to Kyoto, Koyasan (the headquarter of Shingon Buddhism), Yoshino and Omine (centers of Mountain Worship) and Ise (Japan’s most important shrine).

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