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An inlet of green rocky hills and clear sea

Scenery — 10 places

IslandIslands

Cross the sea, and time changes.

10 destinations

Cross the sea, and time changes.

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The islands of Matsushima Bay seen from a viewpoint

01

MATSUSHIMA

Matsushima

Miyagi

One of the Three Views of Japan. A bay of pine-crowned islands.

The Seto Inland Sea and a town seen from a mountaintop

02

SETOUCHI

Seto Inland SeaHiroshima / Okayama / Kagawa / Ehime / Yamaguchi / Hyogo · Chugoku

An inland sea enclosed by Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. An archipelagic seascape dotted with islands large and small, it forms the heart of Setonaikai National Park, one of Japan's first national parks, designated in 1934.

Seas / Islands / National parks

The vermilion great torii of Itsukushima Shrine standing in the sea at high tide

03

MIYAJIMA

MiyajimaHiroshima · Chugoku

Itsukushima (Miyajima), Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. The buildings and great torii of Itsukushima Shrine, built over the sea, were inscribed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1996. One of the Three Views of Japan.

Islands / Seas / World Heritage

An inlet of Naoshima and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea seen from high ground

04

NAOSHIMA

NaoshimaKagawa · Shikoku

Naoshima Town, Kagawa Prefecture. An island in the Seto Inland Sea where museums and outdoor works are scattered through the island's landscape. From its calm inlets and beaches, you look out on the Setouchi sea with its layered islands.

Islands / Seas

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

05

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

06

AMAMI

Amami Oshima

Kagoshima

Subtropical forests, and the sea in its inlets.

An emerald-green inlet surrounded by green forest

07

OKINAWA

Northern Okinawa IslandOkinawa · Okinawa

Okinawa Prefecture, around Nakijin Village and Nago City in the north of the main island. On both sides of the Kouri Bridge, which spans to Kouri Island, spreads a shallow emerald-green sea.

Seas / Islands

The white sand and islets of Kabira Bay seen through the trees

08

ISHIGAKI

Ishigaki Island & Kabira BayOkinawa · Okinawa

Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture. Kabira Bay, in northwestern Ishigaki Island, is known for its white sand, small green islands and a sea that changes colour moment by moment. It is a national Place of Scenic Beauty and part of Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. Swimming in the bay is prohibited; glass-bottom boats let you view the underwater world.

Seas / Islands / National parks

A white sand beach and the Miyako blue sea

09

MIYAKOJIMA

Miyako IslandOkinawa · Okinawa

Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture. Known for the white sand of Yonaha Maehama Beach and clear seas over coral reefs. The Irabu Bridge, opened in 2015, links Miyako Island and Irabu Island.

Seas / Islands

A river on Iriomote Island with mangroves reaching over the water

10

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