There are several sites in Japan that inspire and fascinate visitors. From historic castles and eye-catching flower displays to unique landscapes that appear to have been plucked from another nation, these are 16 most beautiful places in Japan that you must see to believe.
Mount Koya
Mount Koya, in Japan, is a very special place. It’s where Shingon Buddhism started. This type of Buddhism was created over 1,200 years ago by a very important person named Kobo Daishi. He is one of the most famous religious figures in Japan.
The main temple of Shingon Buddhism is called Kongobu-ji. It’s located at the top of Mount Koya, surrounded by beautiful forests. But that’s not the only temple there. In fact, there are more than 100 temples around Mount Koya!
What’s really cool is that some of these temples let people stay overnight. So, if you ever visit Mount Koya, you could actually sleep in a temple! Imagine waking up in such a peaceful and historical place. That would be an amazing experience, wouldn’t it?
Noto Peninsula
The Noto Peninsula is a beautiful part of Japan. It makes up the northern half of a place called Ishikawa Prefecture. This area is known for its stunning coastlines and untouched farmland. It’s a real treat for the eyes!
But there’s more to do than just look. The peninsula is a great place for outdoor activities. You can go fishing, take a swim, or even camp under the stars. It’s a perfect spot for an adventure.
One of the main places to visit on the peninsula is Wajima City. Even though it’s a popular tourist spot, it’s not a big city. In fact, less than 30,000 people live there. But that’s what makes it special. It gives you a chance to see what life is like in a small Japanese town.
Shikoku Island
Shikoku is the fourth largest island in Japan. It’s found to the southwest of a bigger island called Honshu. The two islands are connected by bridges, making it easy to travel between them.
Shikoku is famous for something really special. It’s home to the 88 Temple path. This path was created by a famous monk named Kobo Daishi. It’s one of the most important pilgrimages in Japan. People who are looking for spiritual growth often visit these temples.
But that’s not all! Shikoku is also a beautiful place to visit. It has amazing coastlines that will take your breath away. There are also mountains to climb and rivers to explore.
Kiso Valley
The Nakasendo path is a very old road in Japan. It’s one of just five roads that were built during the Edo period. This road connects two big cities, Edo (which is now called Tokyo) and Kyoto. It goes right through a place called the Kiso Valley.
Back in the day, people used to walk this long road. Because the journey was so long, there were towns along the way where travelers could stop. They could rest, eat, and sleep there. These towns are called post towns, and you can still see them in the Kiso Valley today.
Now, you can walk a part of the Nakasendo path. It takes you through mountains and thick forests. You can also visit the old post towns, which have been kept in good condition.
Shodoshima
Shodoshima is a beautiful island in Japan. It has a climate similar to the Mediterranean, which means it has mild temperatures. This makes it a great place to visit!
The island is known for its beautiful beaches and amazing coastlines. There are also resorts where you can stay and relax. But one of the coolest things about Shodoshima is its olive orchards. Yes, they grow olives there!
Shodoshima is the second largest island in the Seto Inland Sea. It’s also a host for the Setouchi Triennale, a big art festival. Artists from all over come to display their work. You can even find pieces of art from past festivals scattered around the island.
Kenrokuen Garden
Kenrokuen Garden is a special place in Japan. It’s known as one of the “three most beautiful landscape gardens” in the country. This garden is filled with pretty bridges, paths to walk on, teahouses, trees, and flowers. It’s like a picture come to life!
The garden used to be part of Kanazawa Castle. But in the late 1800s, it was opened for everyone to enjoy. And there’s always something new to see at Kenrokuen Garden. In the spring, you can see plum and cherry trees in full bloom. And in the fall, the leaves on the maple trees turn into a rainbow of colors.
Matsumoto Castle
Matsumoto Castle is a very old castle in Japan. It’s one of the few that are still in their original form. The castle was first built in 1504. Then, in the late 16th and early 17th century, it was made bigger. Now, it’s in its final shape.
One of the most special things about Matsumoto Castle is its main keep. A keep is the strongest part of a castle. The main keep of Matsumoto Castle has three turrets and is painted in black and white. Because of its color, it’s often called Karasu-jō, which means Crow Castle.
Nachi Falls
Nachi Falls is a very special waterfall in Japan. It’s the highest one in the country with a single drop. The water falls down from a height of 133 meters, or 436 feet. That’s taller than a 40-story building!
Right next to the waterfall is a beautiful temple called Nachi Taisha Shinto. This temple is about 1,400 years old. Can you imagine that? It was built a long time ago to honor the spirit of the waterfall. In Japan, they call these spirits “kami”.
But Nachi Taisha Shinto isn’t the only religious place near the waterfall. There are many other Buddhist and Shinto monuments around it.
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
Toyama City and Omachi Town are two places in Japan. They are connected by a path called the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. This route is really cool because you can travel on it in different ways. You can take a ropeway, a cable car, or a trolley bus. And no matter which one you choose, you’ll get to see amazing views of the Tateyama Mountain Range.
But the best part of the journey is the road between two places called Bijodaira and Murodo. Every year, from April to May, this road is surrounded by snow walls that are 20 meters high. That’s as tall as a six-story building!
The Blue Pond
The Blue Pond, or Aoiike as it’s called in Japan, is a really special place. It’s located in Hokkaido Prefecture. What makes it special is its blue color. It’s so blue that it almost looks like something from another world!
There are tree trunks sticking out of the water, which add to the pond’s unique look. But did you know that the Blue Pond is actually man-made? It was created to help protect the area from mudflows. These mudflows can happen because of the nearby Mt. Tokachi volcano.
Hitachi Seaside Park
Hitachi Seaside Park is a beautiful place in Japan. It’s especially famous in the spring. That’s when the park is filled with baby-blue flowers called nemophilas. These flowers bloom all over the park, making it look like a sea of blue!
Every April, something amazing happens. More than 4.5 million nemophila flowers bloom in the park. They cover fields that are as big as 470 acres. That’s about 355 football fields!
But the beauty of Hitachi Seaside Park doesn’t end in spring. In the fall, the park’s round bushes, called kochia or bassia in English, change color. They turn from green to a bright red. This creates another stunning view in the park.
Gokayama
Gokayama is a special place in Japan. It’s part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means it’s really important. Another town called Shirakawa-gō is also part of this site.
Both Gokayama and Shirakawa-gō are known for their old farmhouses. These houses are called gassho-zukuri. They have roofs made of thatch, which is like dried grass. These roofs are designed to handle a lot of snow. This is important because it snows a lot in these towns.
Gokayama is not as easy to get to as Shirakawa-gō. Because of this, it’s usually quieter and less crowded.
Tottori Sand Dunes
The Tottori Sand Dunes are a cool place in Japan. They’re in a place called Tottori Prefecture and are part of the Sanin Kaigan National Park. These sand dunes are the biggest in the country. They stretch for about 16 kilometers along the coast of the Sea of Japan.
What’s really interesting is that the shape of the dunes changes a lot. This happens because of the tide and the wind. Sometimes, the dunes can be up to two kilometers wide and 50 meters high. That’s as tall as a 15-story building!
One of the fun things you can do at the Tottori Sand Dunes is ride a camel. This makes the place feel like a magical desert.
Sagano Bamboo Forest
The Sagano Bamboo Forest is a magical place in Arashiyama. Arashiyama is a part of Kyoto, which is a city in Japan. This forest is filled with tall bamboo trees. When you walk through it, you can see the sun shining through the green bamboo stalks. It’s a beautiful sight!
But the Sagano Bamboo Forest is not just pretty to look at. It’s also amazing to listen to. When the wind blows, it makes the bamboo stalks sway. This creates a unique sound that you won’t hear anywhere else.
Nishinomaru Garden
The Nishinomaru Area is a beautiful garden in Japan. It has a great view of the Osaka Castle tower and the stone wall around its moat. A moat is like a big ditch filled with water that surrounds a castle.
This garden is really special because it has more than 600 cherry trees. In the spring, these trees bloom with beautiful pink flowers. This is called cherry blossom season. The garden also has 95 different types of apricot flowers.
During the peak of the cherry blossom season, the garden becomes a popular place to visit. At night, they even light up the garden. This makes the cherry blossoms look even more beautiful.
Aogashima Volcano
Aogashima is a small tropical island in the Philippine Sea. Even though it’s far away, it’s actually managed by the city of Tokyo in Japan. This island is the most remote one in a group of islands called the Izu archipelago.
What’s really cool about Aogashima is that it’s home to not one, but two volcanoes! The whole island is a big volcano, and there’s a smaller volcano right in the middle of it.
But that’s not all. Aogashima is also a village. It’s the smallest village in Japan, with only about 200 people living there.
