Lake Mashu in winter, enclosed by the snow-covered outer rim

Seasons — 26 places

WinterJapan in Winter

Snow and ice erase the sound from the landscape.

Photo: Kpravin2 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

26 destinations

Snow and ice erase the sound from the landscape.

FUJI

Mount Fuji

Yamanashi / Shizuoka

The mountain that draws this country's outline in a single ridge.

The Northern Alps glowing at sunset, reflected in the paddies

HAKUBA

HakubaNagano · Koshinetsu

Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture. A mountain resort of farmland and villages set against the three Hakuba peaks, including Mount Shirouma at 2,932 m. A base for skiing in winter, and for climbing and the highlands in summer.

Mountains / Snowscapes / Highlands

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

HAKONE

HakoneKanagawa · Kanto

Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture. The closest mountain resort to the Tokyo area, gathering Lake Ashi and Owakudani, both shaped by volcanoes, and numerous hot springs. Part of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Lakes / Hot spring towns / Mountains

Purple lavender fields spreading across a hillside

FURANO

FuranoHokkaido · Hokkaido

The Furano Basin, near the centre of Hokkaido, looking out to the Tokachi mountain range. Flower fields spread over the hills of Furano City and Nakafurano Town, and in July lavender turns the slopes purple.

Highlands

The vivid blue Shirogane Blue Pond lined with standing dead trees

BIEI

Biei

Hokkaido

Patchwork hills, and a blue pond.

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

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

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

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

OIRASE

Oirase Stream

Aomori

A green stream flowing out of Lake Towada.

MATSUSHIMA

MatsushimaMiyagi · Tohoku

Matsushima Town and surrounding areas, Miyagi Prefecture. A scenic spot where islands large and small float in Matsushima Bay, counted with Amanohashidate and Miyajima among the Three Views of Japan. A national Special Place of Scenic Beauty.

Seas / Islands

Mount Fuji across Lake Yamanaka from an autumn shore

FUJI GOKO

Fuji Five LakesYamanashi · Koshinetsu

Yamanashi Prefecture. The collective name for Lake Yamanaka, Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Sai, Lake Shoji and Lake Motosu, lined up along the northern foot of Mount Fuji. Each lake offers a view of Mount Fuji from a different angle, and they are included among the component parts of the World Cultural Heritage site "Fujisan".

Lakes / Mountains / National parks

The Jogasaki Coast and the Pacific seen from a pine-covered cliff

IZU

Izu & Jogasaki CoastShizuoka · Tokai

Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture. A sheer cliff coast formed when lava from the eruption of Mount Omuro reached the sea. One of the highlights of the Izu Peninsula Geopark, where a suspension bridge and walking trails look out over rugged rocks and sea.

Seas / National parks

BIWA

Lake BiwaShiga · Kansai

Japan's largest lake, covering about one-sixth of Shiga Prefecture. At Shirahige Shrine in Takashima, a great vermilion torii gate stands in the lake, creating a striking scene with the water as the morning sun rises.

Lakes

AMANOHASHIDATE

Amanohashidate

Kyoto

A road of pines spanning the sea.

The Seto Inland Sea and a town seen from a mountaintop

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

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

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

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

An emerald-green inlet surrounded by green forest

OKINAWA

Northern Okinawa Island

Okinawa

The Kouri Bridge, crossing an emerald sea.

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

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

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

KUSATSU

Kusatsu OnsenGunma · Kanto

Kusatsu Town, Gunma Prefecture. One of Japan's representative hot spring towns, where steam rises from the Yubatake at the centre of town. Known for its abundant flow of spring water, with ryokan and public baths lined up around the Yubatake.

Hot spring towns / Snowscapes / Highlands

Kegon Falls dropping down a cliff in fresh greenery

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

Nachi Falls

Wakayama

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