Japan's Fantastic Views that You Must See in Your Life

Japan's Fantastic Views that You Must See in Your Life

Japan shows completely different scenery in each season

 

Beautiful cherry blossoms in spring, dynamic fireworks in summer, leaves turning into red, snows glowing in winter.
Japan has distinct four seasons and Japanese people enjoy changing seasons as each of them shows completely different views. People have been going out for adoring the beautiful scenery in each season, which has made the season important part of Japanese culture and created many traditions and customs.

 

Here is the list of Japan's beautiful scenery of four different seasons. You will see how Japanese people enjoy every season!

 

Spring

 

Nagoya Catsle (Aichi)

 

 

Over 1,000 trees of ten kinds of cherry blossoms are full bloom in Nagoya Catsle.

 

Kominato　Train (CHiba)

 

Starting from Goi station in Chiba, Kominato train runs through the beautiful canola flowers.

 

Mt. Fuji (Yamanashi)

 

 

 

Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan, offers a breath-takingly beautiful combination with cherry blossom trees.
This is why Japanese people have been admiring this mountain.

 

Himeji Catsle (Hyogo)

 

 

One of the World Heritage Sites, Himeji catsle. Its white wall makes a stunning contrast with the pink color of cherry blossoms.

 

Kawachi Fuji Garden (Fukuoka)

 

 

Kawachi Fuji(wisteria) garden was chosen for "Japan's 31 most beautiful places" by CNN in 2015.
Many different kinds of wisterias create tunnels with a beautiful gradation.

 

Hikone Catsle (Shiga)

 

 

 

A national treasure, Hikone catsle can be enjoyed the best in spring. Approximately 1,100 cherry blossom trees srround the catsle.
As well as during the daytime, cherry blossoms in Hikone catsle are beautiful at night.

 

Sanshun Taki-zakura (Fukushima)

 

 

Taki-zakura, or fall cherry blossom, is one of the three largest cherry blossoms along with Usuzumi-zakura in Gifu and Zindai-zakura in Yamanashi. It is 13.5m tall and 1,000 years old.

 

Even after damaged by the heavy snow and the great earthquake in 2011, Taki-zakura welcomes people with full bloom every year.

 

Gifu Park/Nagara River Zutsumi (Gifu)

 

 

In the park, Japan and China Friendship Garden offers a beautiful nightview with cherry blossoms.
Also, along the Nagara river that runs near the park, cherry blossoms are lined up for 1 km.

 

Hirosaki Park (Aomori)

 

 

Hirosaki park is known to be one of the top three cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan.

 

Hirosaki cherry blossom festival is held every year, and over two million people visit the park and enjoy the beautyful scenery. You should not miss the 300m of cherry blossom tunnel!

 

Goryokaku (Hokkaido)

 

Goryokaku is a star-shaped fort built in the middle 19th century. After it lost its military importance, it was turned into a public park in the 1910s.

 

More than 1,000 cherry blossoms are planted along the moats, which makes the fort the best cherry blossom spot in Hokkaido.

 

Summer

 

Omagari Fireworks Competition (Akita)

 

 

Omagari fireworks competition is known to be the most authoritative fireworks competition in Japan, which has over 100 years of history. Firework makers compete for prizes from the government.

 

Miyajima Water Fireworks Festival (Hiroshima)

 

 

 

Fire works festival is held every year in Miyajima, a World Heritage site. Bright, dynamic fireworks and the sylet of O-torii attract every single visitor.

 

Yurigahama (Yoron island, Kagoshima)

 

 

Yurigahama in Yoron island appears only during the low tide. The emerard green ocean and white sand never dissapoint you!

 

Miyako Island (Okinawa)

 

Miyako island is a famous beach resort in Okinawa, known for its beautiful beaches, abundant marine life, and various mairine activities.

 

You can also enjoy Okinawan culture and historical memorials from Ryukyu dynasty, which is the previous name of Okinawa.

 

Sunflower Fields

 

Sunflowers are perceived to be a symbolic flower of summer in Japan, and sunflower fields are the must-see view when you visit Japan during the summertime. Sunflower fields can be seen in several locations across the country, famous ones in Yamanashi, Hokkaido, and Kagawa.

 

The vivid panorama of blue sky and yellow sunflowers gives you an unforgettable memory in Japan!

 

Eiheiji-Temple Lantern Festival (Fukui)

 

Eiheiji-temple lantern festival is a simblic event of late summer which takes place in the late August every year.
About 10,000 papter lanterns are released into the Kuzuryu river. Floating lanterns into the sea or river is called "Toro-nagashi," and this activity is performed to mourn the souls of those who lost lives.

 

Fireflies

 

Viewing fireflies has been a popular activity of summertime in Japan. Although fireflies cannot be seen as many as they could be in the past, there are still several spots where you can see the spectacular view of fireflies.

 

Famous firefly viewing spots are Hakone, Tsukiyono Firefly Village, and Roman-no Mori Kyowakoku.

 

Sea Fireflies

 

 

These glowing life forms are umi-hotaru, or sea fireflies. However, they are notfirefly's cousins: they are ostracods, which is a kind of micro-crustacean known as “seed shrimp.” They emit light using the organic compound luciferase.

 

There are only a few spot where you can see sea fireflies: famous viewing spots are Awaji island in Hyogo and Seto sea near Okayama.

 

Mt. Fuji (Yamanashi)

 

Mt. Fuji shows different scneries depending on the season. Why don't you enjoy the mountain with the symbolic flower of summer?

 

Shirakami Sanchi (Aomori)

 

 

Shirakami Sanchi is a World Heritage Site in Aomori. This mountainious area holds a large scale of virgin forest of Siebold's beech.
The Blue Pond- one of the twelve lakes in Shirakami Sanchi- offers a stunning view.

 

Autumn

 

Kenrokuen Garden (Ishikawa)

 

Kenrokuen is one of the Japanese most famous gardens. It is next to Kanazawa Castle.
These are illuminated during the autumn nights.

 

 

Rikugien Garden (Tokyo)

 

Rikugien is also Japanese famous garden as well as Kenrokuen.

 

Eikando Zenrinji Temple (Kyoto)

 

Eikando Zenrinji is famous for autumn leaves, and it has another name "Eikando the Autumn Leaves".
About 3,000 trees turns red and yellow in mid November.

 

 

 

Scenery appears on the surface of the water on a sunny day.
The autumnal leaves season is an absolutely wonderful sight.

 

Kiyomizu-dera Temple (Kyoto)

 

Kiyomizu-dera is one of the most famous temples in Japan.
It is also a cherry blossoming spot and a landmark of autumn leaves.

 

Mt.Fuji from Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha (Shizuoka)

 

It is best place to take a picture of Mt.Fuji and Japanese traditional architecture.

 

Kurobe railway (Toyama)

 

Kurobe gorge is one of the leading V-shaped canyons in Japan.
The Kurobe gorge trolley train runs along the canyon, it is good for enjoying autumn leaves.
The picture was taken at the Unazuki Onsen station on the way.

 

 

 

Sagano Trolley train and Hozu-gawa River (Kyoto)

 

 

Sagano Trolley train and Hozu-gawa River is a good spot where you can enjoy autumn in Kyoto
The picture was taken from Hozukyo station.

 

 

Momiji-fune (Kyoto)

 

You can enjoy the autumn leaves of Arashiyama from the top of the boat.

 

 

red spider lily (Saitama)

 

At the beggining of autumn, many red spider lilys bloom.

 

 

Japanese cakes and green tea

 

Seasonal motifs are reflected in Japanese sweets.
Japanese sweets that you get with Matcha in the Japanese garden are exceptional.

 

 

Winter

Kinkakuji Temple (Kyoto)

 

During the winter, the contrast between gold and pure white is very beautiful.

 

Shirakawago (Gifu)

 

Shirakawago is a Japanese historic villages.
It is lighted up during winter, it is very fantastic.

 

Miyama-cho Town (Kyoto)

 

The photographer says that the accumulated snow is like a whipped cream.

 

Ginzan Onsen (Yamagata)

 

It is said that it is a model of "Spirited Away", a famous animation works in Japan.

 

Misotsuti-no-tsurara Icicle (Saitama)

 

It can be seen in the winterful season of January and February every year

 

Arashiyama (Kyoto)

 

When snow piles up on the bamboo section, a mysterious pattern emerges.
In Japan, the way snow is piled up like this is called "snow makeup".

 

 

Yokote Kamakura Festival (Akita)

 

We call something hollowed out with snow in a mountain shape "Kamakura".
Kamakura Festival is held every year in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture.
There are various kamakuras, from small ones that put candles to big ones that people can put in.

 

 

Akita dog and snowy field

 

Akita dog is a type of Japanese dog originating in Akita prefecture.
In Japanese children's songs, as the snow falls, "the dog runs around the garden with pleasure" is being sung.

 

 

Jigokudani Wild Monkey park(Nagano)

 

In the Jigokudani Monkey Park you can see the snow monkey entering the hot spring.

 

Liked the Japan's four different sasons?

 

If you visited Japan, which season and where would you visit?
Please share your thoughts with us!