Scenery — 6 places

SnowSnowscapes

Into a white world without sound.

Photo: kkawamura / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0

6 destinations

Into a white world without sound.

The Northern Alps glowing at sunset, reflected in the paddies

HAKUBA

Hakuba

Nagano

Beyond the fields, the Northern Alps rise like a white wall.

TATEYAMA

Tateyama & MurodoToyama · Hokuriku

Tateyama Town, Toyama Prefecture. At Murodo-daira, the heart of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route at 2,450 m, the crater lake Mikurigaike holds blue water. Snow walls of Yuki-no-Otani in spring, alpine flowers in summer, autumn leaves in autumn.

Mountains / Lakes / Snowscapes

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

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

MASHU

Lake MashuHokkaido · Hokkaido

Teshikaga Town, Hokkaido. A lake enclosed by steep caldera walls, with no rivers flowing in or out. Known for its deep blue surface, Kamuishu Island floating in the lake, and frequent fog.

Lakes / Snowscapes / National parks

KUSATSU

Kusatsu Onsen

Gunma

A town of hot spring steam rising from the Yubatake.