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A forest of tree ferns at Kinsakubaru wrapped in mist

Scenery — 11 places

ForestForests

Listen closely to a thousand-year forest.

11 destinations

Listen closely to a thousand-year forest.

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Taisho Pond reflecting autumn forest and the Hotaka range

01

KAMIKOCHI

Kamikochi

Nagano

The rock peaks of Hotaka, and the clear waters of the Azusa River.

Snow-capped Mount Asama beyond the streets of Karuizawa

02

KARUIZAWA

KaruizawaNagano · Koshinetsu

Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture. A highland summer retreat on the southeastern foot of Mount Asama (2,568 m). Developed as a villa area since the Meiji era, it is surrounded by quiet nature, from forest paths to Shiraito Falls.

Highlands / Forests / Waterfalls

The Shiretoko range reflected in the first of the Shiretoko Five Lakes

03

SHIRETOKO

ShiretokoHokkaido · Hokkaido

The Shiretoko Peninsula at the eastern tip of Hokkaido. Recognised for an ecosystem in which nutrients carried by drift ice link the sea to the forests and mountains, it was inscribed as a World Natural Heritage site in 2005. The Shiretoko Five Lakes, sheer coastal cliffs and pristine nature home to brown bears and deer remain.

Seas / Forests / Lakes

Mount Oakan and a sightseeing boat crossing Lake Akan

04

AKAN

Lake AkanHokkaido · Hokkaido

A caldera lake at the heart of Akan-Mashu National Park in Kushiro, Hokkaido. Akanko Onsen lies on its shore facing Mount Oakan, and the lake is known as home to marimo, a Special Natural Monument.

Lakes / Hot spring towns / Forests

A pine-covered islet on Lake Towada

05

TOWADA

Lake TowadaAomori / Akita · Tohoku

A caldera lake straddling Aomori and Akita prefectures. With a maximum depth of 326.8 m, it is deep, and its peninsulas and capes form an intricate shoreline. It is also the source of the Oirase Stream.

Lakes / Forests / National parks

The Oirase Stream flowing through fresh green forest

06

OIRASE

Oirase Stream

Aomori

A green stream flowing out of Lake Towada.

Yakushima's mountains covered in deep forest, with a river flowing into the sea

07

YAKUSHIMA

YakushimaKagoshima · Kyushu

Yakushima Town, Kagoshima Prefecture. Home to Mount Miyanoura (1,936 m), the highest peak in Kyushu, with forests of Yakusugi cedars over a thousand years old and moss-covered ravines. In 1993 it became one of the first areas in Japan inscribed as a World Natural Heritage site.

Islands / Forests / Mountains

An inlet of Amami Oshima and the blue sea seen from high ground

08

AMAMI

Amami OshimaKagoshima · Kyushu

The main island of the Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture. Subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests, mangroves and a sea of intricate inlets spread across the island. In 2021 it was inscribed as part of the World Natural Heritage site "Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island".

Islands / Seas / Forests

A river on Iriomote Island with mangroves reaching over the water

09

IRIOMOTE

Iriomote IslandOkinawa · Okinawa

Taketomi Town, Okinawa Prefecture. The second-largest island in Okinawa Prefecture after the main island, most of it covered by subtropical forest. Vast mangrove forests spread at the river mouths, and the Iriomote cat lives here. Inscribed as a World Natural Heritage site in 2021.

Islands / Forests / Seas

Kegon Falls dropping down a cliff in fresh greenery

10

NIKKO

Nikko & Kegon FallsTochigi · Kanto

Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture. At Kegon Falls, water flowing out of Lake Chuzenji plunges straight down a 97 m cliff. Counted with Nachi Falls and Fukuroda Falls among Japan's three great waterfalls, it is a signature landscape of Nikko National Park.

Waterfalls / Lakes / Forests

Nachi Falls dropping in a single strand down the rock face

11

NACHI

Nachi Falls

Wakayama

A 133 m drop. A waterfall as an object of prayer.