Mountains, lakes & falls in Japan

Places in Japan of this type, by prefecture.

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• Bihoro Pass Hokkaido
  A pass whose 525 m viewpoint looks over Lake Kussharo and Mt. Iozan, with the Shiretoko range and the Daisetsu peaks far beyond. A sea of clouds can form before dawn in spring and autumn.
• Furepe Falls Trail Hokkaido
  A walking trail from the Shiretoko Nature Center to a clifftop viewpoint over the Okhotsk Sea. Furepe Falls, nicknamed 'Maiden's Tears', trickles down a sheer cliff.
• Himenuma Pond (Rishiri Island) Hokkaido
  A small pond ringed by primeval forest on Rishiri Island. A trail of about 1 km circles it in around 20 min, and on calm days Mt. Rishiri is reflected in the water.
• Kaminoko-ike Pond Hokkaido
  A small forest pond, 220 m around and 5 m deep, fed by about 12,000 tonnes a day of spring water said to come from Lake Mashu. The water stays at about 8°C and is so clear you can see fallen trunks and Dolly Varden trout on the blue bottom.
• Kushiro Marsh (Hosooka Observatory) Hokkaido
  A low hill on the east side of Japan's great wetland, looking over the winding Kushiro River and reed beds to the Akan peaks.
• Lake Kussharo & Mt. Io Hokkaido
  Lake Kussharo, 57 km around, is Japan's largest caldera lake. Nearby Mt. Io (Atosanupuri) steams from more than 1,500 vents, and a 5-minute walk from the rest house takes you right up to them.
• Lake Mashu Hokkaido
  A caldera lake ringed by steep cliffs, seen from rim-top viewpoints; its deep blue water is often hidden by drifting fog.
• Lake Onneto Hokkaido
  A forest lake below Mt. Meakan and Akan-Fuji whose colour shifts with the weather and light; a lakeside path leads to a rare hot-spring waterfall.
• Lake Shikaribetsu Hokkaido
  The only natural lake in Daisetsuzan National Park, at 810 m the highest in Hokkaido. It is about 100 m deep at its deepest, ringed by primeval forest, and home to Miyabe char found only here.
• Lake Shikotsu Hokkaido
  A caldera lake about 40 km around and some 360 m deep, the second deepest in Japan after Lake Tazawa. Underwater-window boats show the columnar rock and kokanee salmon below the surface.
• Lake Toya Hokkaido
  A round caldera lake with islands in the middle and an onsen town on its south shore; fireworks rise over the water on summer nights.
• Lake Toyoni (Heart Lake) Hokkaido
  A small lake about 1 km around and 18 m deep, ringed by old-growth forest. Seen from the air it is heart-shaped, hence the nickname 'Heart Lake', and northern pikas live in the woods around it.
• Momoiwa Viewpoint (Rebun Island) Hokkaido
  A viewpoint in southern Rebun Island facing Momoiwa, a huge rock shaped like a peach, and Neko-iwa offshore. Alpine plants grow around it, and the path to Moto-chi Lighthouse is part of the Momoiwa Observatory Course.
• Mt. Asahidake Ropeway (Daisetsuzan) Hokkaido
  A 10-minute ropeway climbs Mt. Asahidake to Sugatami Station, where a loop path passes ponds and steaming vents below the summit.
• Mt. Rishiri (Rishiri Island) Hokkaido
  A 1,721 m solitary peak rising from an island off Japan's northern tip, nicknamed 'Rishiri Fuji'. One of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains, it is climbed from near sea level, with a 360° panorama from the top.
• Mt. Usu Ropeway Hokkaido
  A ropeway that climbs to near the summit of Mt. Usu in about 6 minutes. Lookouts around the top station overlook Lake Toya, Showa-Shinzan and the craters, and the outer-rim lookout also takes in Mt. Yotei and the Pacific.
• Onuma Quasi-National Park Hokkaido
  Lakes Onuma, Konuma and Junsainuma spread below Mt. Komagatake, dotted with 126 islets. Bridges link the islands into walking trails, and sightseeing boats and lakeside cycling are popular.
• Oshinkoshin Falls Hokkaido
  A waterfall about 30 m high that splits in two partway down, so it is also called the 'Twin Beauty Falls'. It is one of Japan's 100 Waterfalls. Stairs lead up to the middle of the fall, where you feel the spray.
• Sarobetsu Mire (Sarobetsu Wetland Center) Hokkaido
  One of Japan's largest raised bogs. A barrier-free boardwalk of about 1 km loops out from the Sarobetsu Wetland Center; flowers such as Ezo-kanzo bloom in early summer, and Mt. Rishiri can be seen on clear days.
• Sarubo Viewpoint and Lake Toro Hokkaido
  A viewpoint over Lake Toro, the largest lake in Kushiro Marsh, and the four ponds around it, with a free telescope. Canoeing and bike rental are available in Toro.
• Shirahige Falls Hokkaido
  Groundwater seeps out between the rocks and falls about 30 m into the blue Biei River — a rare kind of spring-fed waterfall. In winter the white streams, snow and dark rock make a striking contrast.
• Shiretoko Five Lakes Hokkaido
  Five quiet lakes in a primeval forest, with the Shiretoko mountains behind. A free elevated boardwalk with an electric fence stays open even in bear season.
• Shiretoko Pass Hokkaido
  A 738 m pass at the top of the Shiretoko Crossing Road between Utoro and Rausu. Mt. Rausu is in view, and on a clear day you can see Kunashir Island.
• Shirogane Blue Pond (Biei) Hokkaido
  A pond formed by erosion-control works below Mt. Tokachi, its water a vivid blue among standing dead larch trees.
• Showa-Shinzan Hokkaido
  In 1943 a flat wheat field began to rise, and within about two years it became a 398 m mountain. Steam still rises from its red-brown slopes.
• Taushubetsu River Bridge Hokkaido
  A 130 m concrete arch bridge on the former JNR Shihoro Line, completed in 1937. It appears from Lake Nukabira around January as the water drops, starts to sink from about May and lies under the lake by summer.
• Tenninkyo Gorge Hokkaido
  A gorge in Daisetsuzan National Park lined with columnar-jointed cliffs formed by an eruption about 30,000 years ago. The 270 m Hagoromo Falls is here, and in early October red leaves frame the rock walls.
• Anmon Falls (Shirakami-Sanchi) Aomori
  Three falls (42 m, 37 m and 26 m) on the Anmon River in the Shirakami Mountains, reached by a gorge trail through beech forest.
• Hakkoda Ropeway Aomori
  A ropeway that climbs to the summit of Mt. Tamoyachi in the Hakkoda range in about 10 minutes, with alpine walks in summer and rime-ice 'snow monsters' in winter.
• Juniko Lakes (Aoike Pond) Aomori
  A group of 33 lakes and ponds in beech forest on the west side of the Shirakami Mountains. Aoike pond is known for its deep cobalt-blue water.
• Lake Towada Aomori
  A deep double-caldera lake on the Aomori–Akita border. Boats from Yasumiya cruise past its peninsulas and to Nenokuchi.
• Oirase Gorge Aomori
  A clear mountain stream with mossy rocks and small waterfalls, along a 14 km forest trail.
• Tsuta-numa Pond Aomori
  A pond in beech forest at the foot of the southern Hakkoda range, on a 2.9 km loop trail from Tsuta Onsen. Famous for autumn leaves glowing red at sunrise.
• Geibikei Gorge Boat Ride Iwate
  A flat-bottomed boat poled between 100 m cliffs, while the boatman sings a local folk song.
• Genbikei Gorge Iwate
  A 2 km stretch of the Iwai River cut into rocks, potholes, pools and small falls, just west of Ichinoseki. Known for 'flying dango' sent across the gorge in a basket.
• Kamabuchi Falls Iwate
  Clear water splits into many threads over a broad 30 m-wide rock. A 20-minute forest loop starts here, near Hanamaki Onsen.
• Kappabuchi Pool Iwate
  A clear stream behind Jokenji Temple in Tono, said in the Tono Monogatari folk tales to be home to kappa water imps. A small shrine to the kappa stands on the bank.
• Ryusendo Cave Iwate
  One of Japan's three great limestone caves, with lit underground lakes of very clear blue water. Over 4 km is known; part is open to visitors.
• Yakebashiri Lava Flow Iwate
  A field of black lava that poured down the northeast side of Mt. Iwate in the 1700s and still has almost no trees. A trail with a viewpoint crosses the rough rock.
• Akiu Otaki Falls Miyagi
  The whole Natori River drops about 55 m over a tuff cliff. A viewing deck sits behind the Otaki Fudo hall.
• Izunuma and Uchinuma Lakes Miyagi
  Shallow lakes in northern Miyagi covered with lotus flowers in summer and visited by huge flocks of geese and swans in autumn and winter.
• Mt. Kurikoma (Iwakagami-daira) Miyagi
  A popular peak on the Miyagi–Iwate–Akita border. From the Iwakagami-daira trailhead, the Central Course reaches the summit in about 1 hr 30 min.
• Naruko Gorge Miyagi
  A deep V-shaped gorge that turns red and gold in autumn, with trains crossing a bridge above.
• Rairaikyo Gorge Miyagi
  A gorge of the Natori River in Akiu Onsen town, with cliffs up to 20 m deep for about 1 km around Nozoki Bridge. Look down from the bridge to see a natural heart-shaped hollow in the rock.
• Zao Okama Crater Lake Miyagi
  An emerald-green crater lake that changes color with the light, near the top of Mt. Zao.
• Dakigaeri Gorge Akita
  A gorge on the Tamagawa River between Lake Tazawa and Kakunodate, with blue water, a red suspension bridge and a waterfall along a 40-minute trail.
• Hachimantai Summit & Dragon Eye Akita
  Easy trails over the Hachimantai plateau. In late spring the melting snow on Kagami-numa pond can form a ring like a dragon's eye.
• Hottai Falls Akita
  Three-stage falls dropping 57 m where lava from Mt. Chokai blocked a river. Visible right from the car park.
• Kawarage Jigoku (Hell Valley) Akita
  A barren grey-white volcanic slope where sulphurous gas still vents and nothing grows. It is counted with Osorezan and Tateyama among Japan's three great sacred sites.
• Lake Tazawa Akita
  Japan's deepest lake (423 m), with deep blue water and a golden statue of the legendary Tatsuko.
• Mototaki Fukuryusui (Spring-fed Falls) Akita
  A waterfall where water soaked into Mt. Chokai springs out across a 30 m-wide wall of mossy rock, about 50,000 tonnes a day.
• Mt. Chokai (Hokodate) Akita
  A 2,236 m volcano on the Akita–Yamagata border, nicknamed 'Dewa Fuji' and rising straight from the Sea of Japan. The Hokodate observatory at the fifth station looks over the sea and the V-shaped Naso Valley.
• Mt. Kampu Revolving Observatory Akita
  A grass-topped hill on the Oga Peninsula. Its revolving observatory turns once every 13 minutes, with 360° views over the Sea of Japan, the reclaimed Hachirogata plain and Mt. Chokai.
• Mt. Moriyoshi (Ani Gondola) Akita
  A 1,454 m mountain known for alpine flowers. The Ani Gondola rises to about 1,167 m in 20 minutes; in winter rime-covered firs form 'snow monsters', and in summer some 300 kinds of alpine plants bloom.
• Oyasukyo Gorge Daifunto Akita
  A V-shaped gorge 60 m deep where boiling water and steam shoot out from cracks in the rock wall, seen from a riverside path.
• Takedai Nature Observation Forest (Shirakami) Akita
  About 12 ha of old beech forest on the Akita side of the Shirakami Mountains, with an easy 1.8 km trail past mossy boulders and giant trees.
• Yasu-no-Taki Falls Akita
  A tall waterfall deep in the Ani mountains, reached by a walk of about 2 km through beech forest.
• Maruike-sama Pond Yamagata
  A small sacred pond of almost pure spring water, blue-green and about 11°C all year. Next to it, the clear Ushiwatari River flows.
• Mogami River Boat Ride (Mogamikyo Basho Line) Yamagata
  A traditional boat trip down the Mogami River gorge sung about by the poet Basho, with the boatman's songs and commentary; in winter the boats carry kotatsu heated tables.
• Mount Gassan Yamagata
  The main peak of the Dewa Sanzan, a broad sacred mountain with alpine flowers and an old pilgrim shrine at the summit, climbed in the short summer season.
• Tamasudare Falls Yamagata
  Yamagata's tallest straight-drop waterfall, 63 m high and 5 m wide, said to have been named by the monk Kobo Daishi about 1,200 years ago. Tall cedars surround it and a small shrine stands in front.
• Zao Snow Monsters Yamagata
  Trees covered in thick ice and snow stand like monsters on the slopes. Ride the ropeway to see them.
• Abukuma Cave Fukushima
  A limestone cave formed over about 80 million years, with about 600 m open to visitors on three levels of stalactites, stalagmites and rare cave shields; it stays 15°C all year.
• Goshikinuma Ponds Fukushima
  A string of small ponds in blue, green and turquoise, linked by an easy forest trail below Mt. Bandai.
• Jododaira and Bandai-Azuma Skyline Fukushima
  A 29 km mountain road over the Azuma volcanoes reaching 1,622 m; at Jododaira halfway along you can climb Azuma-Kofuji and walk round its crater rim.
• Kannonnuma Forest Park Fukushima
  A quiet pond with small floating islands that mirrors the surrounding trees and mountains. A 1.2 km path circles it, and it is a famous autumn-color spot.
• Lake Inawashiro Fukushima
  Japan's third-largest freshwater lake, called the 'heaven's mirror lake' for reflecting Mount Bandai; beaches and water sports in summer, wintering swans in winter.
• Mt. Bandai Fukushima
  A 1,816 m volcano praised as the 'treasure mountain'. Its 1888 steam explosion collapsed the north side, damming rivers into Lake Hibara, the Goshikinuma ponds and other lakes; the raw collapse wall faces Urabandai.
• Mugenkyo Ferry Fukushima
  A hand-rowed boat on the Tadami River, revived from the old ferry that villagers once used to cross. In summer the river is often wrapped in mist.
• Nakatsugawa Gorge Fukushima
  A gorge about 10 km long above Lake Akimoto in Urabandai, with waterfalls, rapids, cliffs and old-growth forest. A path leads from the rest house down to the riverbed.
• Oze National Park (Fukushima side, Ozenuma) Fukushima
  Lake Ozenuma, about 9 km around beneath Mt. Hiuchigatake, and the Oe Wetland, called the 'flower wetland' for its day lilies. From Numayama Pass it is about an hour's walk on boardwalks.
• Tadami Line No. 1 Bridge Viewpoint Fukushima
  A hillside lookout above the Tadami River where the JR Tadami Line crosses the No. 1 Tadami River Bridge, one of the best-known views of this scenic local line, in every season.
• To-no-Hetsuri Fukushima
  Tower-like cliffs carved by a million years of erosion along the Okawa River, crossed by a suspension bridge that lets you walk right up to the rock face.
• Fukuroda Falls Ibaraki
  A wide waterfall that drops in four steps down a rock face. In cold winters it freezes white.
• Hananuki Gorge Ibaraki
  A river valley in the hills of Takahagi. A walking path follows the stream past the Shiomi-daki suspension bridge, framed by maples in autumn.
• Mt. Tsukuba Ibaraki
  A sacred mountain worshipped as the body of the god of Tsukubasan Shrine. The summit looks out across the Kanto region.
• Ryujin Suspension Bridge Ibaraki
  A 375 m pedestrian suspension bridge, 100 m above a dam lake in the V-shaped Ryujin gorge, one of the longest of its kind in Japan.
• Tsukimachi Falls Ibaraki
  A 17 m waterfall near Fukuroda where you can walk behind the falling water without getting wet. Maples line the approach.
• Kanmangafuchi Abyss Tochigi
  A short gorge of the Daiya River formed by lava from Mt. Nantai. A riverside path passes a row of about 70 stone Jizo statues.
• Kegon Falls Tochigi
  A 97 m waterfall pouring out of Lake Chuzenji. An elevator takes you down to a viewing deck at the base.
• Kirifuri Falls Tochigi
  One of Nikko's three great waterfalls: two tiers (25 m and 26 m) with a total drop of 75 m. Its spray gave it the name "mist-falling falls", and Hokusai painted it.
• Lake Chuzenji Tochigi
  A lake at 1,269 m at the foot of Mt. Nantai, formed by lava. A summer retreat for foreign residents from the Meiji era, with sightseeing boats today.
• Mt. Nasu (Chausudake) & Nasu Ropeway Tochigi
  An active volcano at the heart of the Nasu range, still venting white steam. The ropeway climbs to the 9th station in about 4 minutes; the summit (1,915 m) is a 40–60 min walk from there.
• Mt. Ohira (Ohirasan) Tochigi
  A low mountain in Tochigi City with an old shrine at the top. The Kenshindaira lookout views the Kanto Plain, on clear days as far as Mt. Fuji.
• Oya Rock Formations (Otomeyama & Koshijiiwa) Tochigi
  Towering outcrops of Oya stone, shaped by nature and by people quarrying the rock, form a national Place of Scenic Beauty. The views near Oya Landscape Park are the most striking.
• Ryumon Falls Tochigi
  A broad waterfall about 20 m high and 65 m wide in Nasu-Karasuyama, with the JR Karasuyama Line crossing just above it.
• Ryuokyo Gorge Tochigi
  A gorge of the Kinu River between Kinugawa and Kawaji, cut through volcanic rock of white, green and purple, said to look like a dragon.
• Ryuzu Falls Tochigi
  One of the three great falls of Oku-Nikko, cascading 210 m over lava from Mt. Nantai. Near the bottom a rock splits the flow in two, said to look like a dragon's head.
• Senjogahara Marshland Tochigi
  A 400-hectare high marsh in Oku-Nikko under Mt. Nantai, with about 350 plant species. Boardwalks make an easy 2-hour hike.
• Yudaki Falls Tochigi
  Water from Lake Yunoko slides 110 m down a 70 m-high lava wall. One of the three great falls of Oku-Nikko, seen up close from a platform near the basin.
• Agatsuma Gorge Gunma
  A 2.5 km stretch of the Agatsuma River between steep cliffs, nicknamed the Yabakei of Kanto; a trail leads to the Shohorai lookout.
• Chatsubomigoke Moss Park Gunma
  Bright green Chatsubomi moss carpets an acidic stream in the Anajigoku hollow, on the site of a former iron mine. Three small falls are nearby.
• Fukiware Falls Gunma
  Called the 'Niagara of the East': the Katashina River pours into a long rock cleft about 7 m high and 30 m wide.
• Ichinokurasawa Gunma
  A sheer rock wall on Mount Tanigawa, counted among Japan's three great climbing walls. An easy paved road leads to its foot, which glows with autumn colour.
• Lake Haruna & Mount Haruna Gunma
  A caldera lake below the cone of Haruna-Fuji, loved by the painter Yumeji Takehisa; a short ropeway climbs the peak for wide views.
• Lake Nozori Gunma
  A lake 1,500 m up, ringed by 2,000 m peaks and called the lake in the sky. Over 300 kinds of alpine plants bloom along its shores from early summer to early autumn.
• Mount Akagi & Lake Onuma Gunma
  One of Gunma's three famous peaks, with a caldera lake ringed by forest, a lakeside shrine and huge azalea fields in early summer.
• Mount Tanigawa & Tanigawadake Ropeway Gunma
  A ropeway lifts you to about 1,500 m on Mount Tanigawa for alpine views, easy walks and the main trail to the summit.
• Onioshidashi Park Gunma
  A field of jagged lava left by Mount Asama's great eruption of 1783. Paths wind between the rocks with the volcano behind, and alpine flowers bloom among them from around May.
• Oze National Park (Gunma side) Gunma
  Honshu's largest high moor, crossed by long boardwalks; skunk cabbage blooms after the May snowmelt, followed by summer lilies.
• Ashigakubo Icicles Saitama
  One of Chichibu's three great icicle sites: a hillside of ice about 30 m high and 200 m wide, lit up on winter evenings.
• Minoyama Park Saitama
  A prefectural park on the 581.5 m summit of Mt. Minoyama above the Chichibu basin, with about 8,000 cherry trees, azaleas and hydrangeas, a night view and, on lucky mornings, a sea of clouds.
• Nagatoro River Boat Ride Saitama
  Ride a wooden boat down the river past flat rock terraces and small rapids.
• Nakatsukyo Gorge Saitama
  A 10 km gorge in Okuchichibu with cliffs up to 100 m high, best known for its autumn colours.
• Ranzan Valley Saitama
  A valley of rock terraces on the clear Tsuki River, ringed by red pines. It reminded a forestry scholar of Kyoto's Arashiyama, which gave the town its name; famous for autumn maples.
• Kameiwa Cave & Nomizo Falls Chiba
  A small Edo-period water tunnel in the hills of Kimitsu where morning light through the cave can form a heart shape on the water.
• Lake Kameyama Chiba
  The reservoir of Kameyama Dam, completed in 1981 as Chiba's first and largest multipurpose dam. Boat houses line the shore, and in autumn you can tour the colored hills by boat.
• Mt. Kano: Kujukutani Observation Park Chiba
  A viewpoint on Mt. Kano over ridge after ridge of the Kazusa hills, which can look like an ink painting at dawn, dusk or in morning mist.
• Mt. Nokogiri Chiba
  A quarried mountain with a cliff-edge lookout called 'Peek into Hell' and a giant stone Buddha.
• Oyama Senmaida Rice Terraces Chiba
  Small rice paddies step down a hillside in inland Kamogawa, kept by local farmers and a rice-field owner program.
• Yoro Valley & Awamata Falls Chiba
  A wooded valley of the Yoro River in the middle of the Boso Peninsula, with waterfalls, hot-spring inns and riverside paths; Awamata Falls is the best-known view.
• Hahajima (Mt. Chibusa) Tokyo
  Mt. Chibusa, about 463 m, on Hahajima, an island about 2 hours by boat from Chichijima. The trail makes a loop, and you may see the Bonin honeyeater (meguro), a bird found only on Hahajima.
• Hatonosu Gorge (Okutama) Tokyo
  A rocky stretch of the upper Tama River just below Hatonosu Station, crossed by a small suspension bridge with a riverside path toward Shiromaru Dam.
• Hossawa Falls Tokyo
  A four-tier, 60 m waterfall at the head of the Akigawa valley. An easy wood-chip path leads to the lowest 23 m drop.
• Lake Okutama Tokyo
  The reservoir of Ogochi Dam, completed in 1957 and still one of Japan's largest water-supply reservoirs, ringed by forested hills with cherry blossoms and autumn colors. A floating drum bridge crosses the lake.
• Mt. Mitake Tokyo
  A sacred mountain in western Tokyo with Musashi Mitake Shrine and pilgrim lodges near the top, reached by cable car.
• Mt. Takao Tokyo
  An easy mountain an hour from central Tokyo, with a temple, forest trails and a cable car.
• Todoroki Valley Tokyo
  The only valley left in Tokyo's 23 wards: a path of about 1 km follows the Yazawa River through dense woods, past a Kofun-period cave tomb and Todoroki Fudo temple.
• Lake Ashi Sightseeing Cruise (Hakone) Kanagawa
  Hakone's mountain lake, crossed by pirate-ship-style boats between Togendai, Hakone-machi and Moto-Hakone, near Hakone Shrine's lakeside torii.
• Lake Miyagase Kanagawa
  A dam lake in the eastern Tanzawa hills, the largest dam reservoir in the Tokyo area, with parks and sights spread over three lakeside areas.
• Mt. Oyama & Afuri Shrine Kanagawa
  A 1,252 m pyramid-shaped sacred peak, popular with Edo pilgrims. A cable car reaches Afuri Shrine's lower hall, with views over Sagami Bay.
• Owakudani Valley Kanagawa
  A steaming volcanic valley with Mt. Fuji views. Eggs boiled in the hot springs turn black.
• Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Field Kanagawa
  A wide field of silver grass on the slope of Mt. Daigatake in Hakone, green in spring and golden in autumn, crossed by a straight path of about 700 m.
• Shasui Falls Kanagawa
  A three-tier waterfall whose top drop is 69 m, hidden in cedar woods. The monk Mongaku is said to have trained under it.
• Bijin-bayashi Beech Forest Niigata
  About 3 hectares of slender beech trees, around 100 years old, on a hillside in Matsunoyama, Tokamachi. They sprouted all at once after the hill was cleared for charcoal in the 1920s, and their graceful shape gave the forest its name, "beauty forest".
• Hoshitoge Rice Terraces Niigata
  About 200 rice paddies spread like fish scales over a hillside in Tokamachi; in spring and late autumn the flooded fields mirror the sky, often above a sea of clouds.
• Imori Pond (Myoko Kogen) Niigata
  A small pond in Myoko Kogen that mirrors Mt. Myoko, circled by a 15-minute path; skunk cabbage blooms in spring.
• Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel Niigata
  A 750 m tunnel through the cliffs ends at a mirrored pool that reflects the gorge — an art installation.
• Lake Hyoko (Swan Lake) Niigata
  One of Japan's leading swan wintering sites and a Ramsar-listed wetland. Swans arrive in early October and stay until March, and at the peak in late November about 5,000 birds cover the lake.
• Lake Okutadami (Sightseeing Boat) Niigata
  A huge dam lake holding about 600 million tonnes of water, ringed by 2,000 m peaks. Sightseeing boats, including a paddle-steamer-style ship, cruise the lake for about 40 min.
• Mt. Yahiko (Ropeway and Summit Park) Niigata
  A 634 m sacred peak topped by the inner shrine (Gobyo) of Yahiko Shrine. A 5-min ropeway and the rotating Panorama Tower give views over the Echigo Plain, the Sea of Japan and Sado Island.
• Naena Falls Niigata
  A 55 m waterfall on the Seki River at the Niigata-Nagano border, falling over columnar basalt; its roar earned it the nickname 'earthquake falls'.
• Ryugakubo Pond Niigata
  A spring-fed pond in Tsunan where about 43,000 tonnes of water a day well up, renewing the whole pond daily. Dragon legends surround it, and you can take the water home.
• Sasagamine Highland Niigata
  A highland at about 1,300 m in Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park and the trailhead for Mt. Hiuchi and Mt. Myoko. It has a ranch, a campground and forest-therapy walking paths.
• Kurobe Gorge Railway Toyama
  An open-air mountain train that winds through Japan's deepest V-shaped gorge, over bridges and through tunnels.
• Shomyo Falls Toyama
  Japan's tallest waterfall at 350 m, dropping in four steps; in spring snowmelt a second fall, Hannoki, appears beside it.
• Sugisawa Cedar Forest Toyama
  A rare cedar forest growing on spring-fed flatland near the coast, the only one of its kind in Japan. Walking paths wind past clear streams, ponds and mossy trunks, and the nature center tower looks out to the Northern Alps.
• Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Toyama
  Cross the Northern Alps by cable car, bus and ropeway. In spring, walk between snow walls up to 20 m high.
• Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road Ishikawa
  A 33.3 km toll road through Hakusan National Park linking Hakusan City with World Heritage Shirakawa-go. Highlights include the Fukube Falls, viewing decks and walking trails; autumn colors peak in October.
• Ikeda Kazura Bridge Fukui
  A 44 m suspension bridge woven from vines, 12 m above the Asuwa River gorge. The wide gaps between the boards and the way it sways make for a thrilling crossing.
• Lake Kuzuryu Fukui
  A large reservoir formed by the Kuzuryu Dam in the mountains of Ono. The 266 m suspension bridge 'Yume no Kakehashi', built in 1967 as a prototype for the Seto Ohashi bridges, is a favorite autumn-color spot.
• Mikata Five Lakes & Rainbow Line Summit Park Fukui
  Five lakes of differing colours near Wakasa Bay. A cable car or lift from the Rainbow Line toll road climbs to a summit park overlooking all five.
• Oshozu Spring (Ono) Fukui
  A spring in Ono's old castle town, once used by the lords and still drawn by locals. Paper lanterns light it up in summer.
• Uriwari Falls Fukui
  A small waterfall and spring in a cool, green forest behind Tentokuji Temple, named for water said to be cold enough to split a melon.
• Aokigahara Forest Yamanashi
  A primeval forest of about 3,000 ha on the north-west foot of Mt. Fuji, grown on lava from the 864 eruption, with trees rooted over bumpy lava and lava caves. Marked trails and guided walks make it easy to explore.
• Fugaku Wind Cave & Narusawa Ice Cave Yamanashi
  Two lava caves in the Aokigahara forest that stay cold all year, with ice pillars inside. Each takes about 15 minutes to walk through.
• Hirogawara (Kita-dake trailhead) Yamanashi
  The trailhead at 1,529 m for Kita-dake, Japan's second-highest peak. Private cars are banned on the forest road, so visitors arrive by route bus or taxi; giant katsura, beech and Erman's birch turn colour here in autumn.
• Lake Kawaguchi Yamanashi
  The easiest place to see Mt. Fuji reflected in a lake, with a tunnel of red maples in autumn.
• Lake Motosu Yamanashi
  The deepest and clearest of the Fuji Five Lakes. The view of Mt. Fuji from its north shore appears on the back of the 1,000-yen note.
• Lake Shoji Yamanashi
  The smallest of the Fuji Five Lakes, known for the 'Kodaki Fuji' view in which Mt. Fuji seems to hold Mt. Omuro in its arms. A British visitor in the Meiji era praised it as the 'Switzerland of the East'.
• Lake Yamanaka Yamanashi
  A lake at 980 m on Mt. Fuji's northeast side, popular for water sports and fishing. From mid-October to February, sunsets can line up with the summit.
• Mt. Daibosatsu Yamanashi
  A 2,057 m peak among the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. The summit is wooded with no view, but the open grassy ridge below looks out to Mt. Fuji, the Southern Alps and Yatsugatake. An easy course reaches the summit in a little over an hour.
• Mt. Fuji 5th Station (Fuji Subaru Line) Yamanashi
  Trailhead of the Yoshida Trail at about 2,300 m. No climb needed: enjoy the views, Komitake Shrine and short walks.
• Mt. Mizugaki Yamanashi
  A 2,230 m granite peak crowned with jagged, saw-tooth rock pinnacles, the symbol of Hokuto City. A day hike (about 5.5 hours return) from the Mizugaki Sanso trailhead.
• Nishizawa Gorge Yamanashi
  A gorge trail past a chain of clear pools and falls, highlighted by the emerald five-tier Nanatsugama Godan Falls.
• Ojiragawa Gorge Yamanashi
  A clear stream from Mt. Kaikomagatake with emerald pools and stepped waterfalls. The first pool, Sengafuchi, is 15 min from the car park.
• Oshino Hakkai Yamanashi
  Eight clear spring ponds said to be fed by Mt. Fuji's underground water, with views of the mountain on clear days.
• Sanbuichi Spring Yamanashi
  A spring at the foot of the Yatsugatake range whose water was split three ways among farming villages in the Edo period, giving it its name.
• Saruhashi Bridge Yamanashi
  A wooden bridge with no piers, held up by layered beams from both cliffs, about 31 m above the Katsura River gorge.
• Seisenryo (Kiyosato Highlands) Yamanashi
  The symbol of the Kiyosato Highlands, founded in 1938: a lodge, dairy farm and forest trails at 1,400 m with views of Mt. Fuji, the Yatsugatake range and the Southern Alps. Famous for its Jersey-milk soft-serve.
• Shosenkyo Gorge Yamanashi
  A 5 km valley of granite cliffs and strange rocks, ending at a 30 m waterfall.
• Happo Pond (Hakuba Happo-one) Nagano
  A pond at 2,060 m on the Happo ridge above Hakuba, reached by gondola and lifts and then a 60-90 min hike, with wide mountain views and alpine flowers in summer.
• Inakura Rice Terraces Nagano
  About 780 terraced paddies climbing a valley in northeastern Ueda for about 3 km, from 640 m to 900 m, with views of the city and the Utsukushigahara plateau.
• Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park Nagano
  Wild Japanese macaques soak in a hot spring pool, often with snow on their heads.
• Kamikochi Nagano
  A high valley with a clear river, a wooden bridge and the Hotaka peaks. Private cars are not allowed.
• Kitayatsugatake Ropeway & Tsuboniwa Nagano
  A 100-person ropeway climbs to 2,237 m in about 7 min. At the top, a 30-minute trail loops through Tsuboniwa, a lava plateau with alpine plants, with views of the Japan Alps.
• Kitazawa Pass Nagano
  A pass in the Southern Alps used as a hiking base. It is the terminus of Ina City's Southern Alps forest road bus (Queen Line) from Todai Park.
• Kumoba Pond Nagano
  A small pond in Karuizawa, also called "Swan Lake", ringed by a walking path of about 1 km. Fresh greenery and autumn leaves reflect on the still water.
• Mishaka Pond Nagano
  A mirror-like pond at 1,500 m that inspired Kaii Higashiyama's painting 'Green Resonance'. The larch trees around it reflect in the water, turning gold in autumn. It is actually a farm reservoir built in the early Showa era.
• Nezame no Toko Gorge Nagano
  Box-shaped granite slabs carved by the Kiso River beside the old Nakasendo, linked to a legend that Urashima Taro settled here after returning from the sea palace.
• Obasute Rice Terraces Nagano
  Over 1,500 small paddies on a slope above the Zenkoji plain. A moon-viewing spot since the Heian period, known for the moon reflected in each field.
• Senjojiki Cirque Nagano
  A glacial cirque at 2,612 m in the Central Alps, reached by the Komagatake Ropeway, with alpine flowers in summer and autumn colours below Mt. Hoken. Mt. Fuji and the Southern Alps are visible on clear days.
• Shiga Kogen Nagano
  A highland in Joshinetsu Kogen National Park at 1,300–2,300 m, dotted with ponds, wetlands and hiking trails. Also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
• Shiraito Falls (Karuizawa) Nagano
  At the source of the Yukawa River, hundreds of streams of groundwater pour from a rock face 3 m high and 70 m wide like white silk threads.
• Amidagataki Falls Gifu
  A waterfall about 60 m high and one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls. It is named after Amida Buddha, said to have appeared to a monk of the Hakusan Nagataki temple at prayer here; a path leads close to the plunge pool.
• Ena Gorge (Enakyo) Gifu
  A lake formed about 100 years ago when Oi Dam blocked the Kiso River, lined with strange rock formations that can be seen from a sightseeing boat.
• Gandate Gorge (Gandate Park) Gifu
  Gandate is a 72 m high, 120 m wide cliff of columnar joints formed by lava from Mt. Ontake. From Gandate Park a path leads to Mitsudaki Falls; the park is the base for Hida-Osaka's more than 200 waterfalls.
• Hida Great Limestone Cave Gifu
  At 900 m, Japan's highest show cave, about 800 m long. Lights pick out straw stalactites, twisting helictites and other formations, and the cave stays around 12°C all year.
• Mt. Norikura (Norikura Skyline) Gifu
  A shuttle bus on the Norikura Skyline climbs to Tatamidaira at 2,702 m, Japan's highest bus stop. Alpine flower fields, mountain lakes and views of the Northern Alps.
• Sakaori Rice Terraces Gifu
  About 360 terraced paddies spread in a fan below Mt. Kasagi, built from the early Edo period with fine dry-stone walls, from 410 m to 610 m.
• Shinhotaka Ropeway Gifu
  Two ropeways carry you to 2,156 m in the Northern Alps, partly in Japan's only double-decker gondola, for a 360° mountain panorama.
• Tenku no Yuhodo (Gifu's Machu Picchu) Gifu
  A footpath above steep tea fields at about 300 m in the Kamigare hamlet of Ibigawa. Known as the 'tea fields in the sky' or 'Gifu's Machu Picchu', the slopes also grow a rare old local tea.
• Yoro Falls Gifu
  A 30 m waterfall at the top of Yoro Park, linked to a legend of a dutiful son whose water turned into sake; the nearby Kikusui spring is one of Japan's top 100 waters.
• Joren Falls Shizuoka
  A 25 m waterfall in the Amagi forest, falling over columnar-jointed lava into a deep blue pool, with wasabi fields just downstream.
• Kawazu Seven Waterfalls Shizuoka
  Seven waterfalls along an 850 m forest path in the Amagi hills, with a suspension bridge and statues from the story The Izu Dancer.
• Lake Hamana Shizuoka
  A large brackish lake joined to the sea, known for eel and cycling. At Bentenjima a red torii stands in the water at sunset.
• Mount Omuro Shizuoka
  A smooth, grass-covered volcanic cone in Ito. A chairlift goes up, and a path circles the crater rim with views to Mt. Fuji and the sea.
• Mt. Fuji Fujinomiya Trail 5th Station Shizuoka
  The starting point of the Fujinomiya Trail on the Shizuoka side, at 2,400 m, the highest 5th station of Mt. Fuji's trails. On a clear day you can see Suruga Bay and the Izu Peninsula.
• Nihondaira Yume Terrace Shizuoka
  A lookout on the summit of Nihondaira (about 300 m), designed by Kengo Kuma's office. A 200 m circular deck gives 360° views of Mt. Fuji, Miho no Matsubara, Suruga Bay and the Izu Peninsula.
• Okuoikojo Station Shizuoka
  A station on the Oigawa Railway Ikawa Line (Minami Alps Abt Line), on a spit jutting into Lake Sesso. Red bridges on both sides make it seem to float on the emerald lake; a lookout across the water shows the whole scene.
• Satta Pass Shizuoka
  The old Tokaido pass painted by Hiroshige in his Fifty-three Stations series. The viewpoint takes in Mt. Fuji, Suruga Bay and the expressway, highway and railway squeezed along the shore below.
• Shiraito Falls Shizuoka
  Hundreds of thin streams of Fuji spring water fall like white threads from a curved cliff.
• Sumatakyo Gorge and Yume no Tsuribashi Shizuoka
  A deep gorge in the upper Oi River with blue-green water. A narrow suspension bridge crosses a lake on a walk of 30–40 min each way.
• Adera Seven Falls Aichi
  Water from the Suyama plateau drops down a conglomerate fault cliff in seven steps, deep in a forested valley.
• Chausuyama Highlands Aichi
  Highlands around Mt. Chausu (1,416 m), Aichi's highest peak, on the Nagano border. Near the top of Mt. Hagitaro, 400,000 moss phlox plants carpet the slope in late spring.
• Chiiwa Gorge Aichi
  A 3 km gorge of flat riverbed rock and potholes. Further in is Chiiwa, a cave whose ceiling bears breast-shaped stalactites, and a natural stone arch near the summit.
• Korankei Gorge Aichi
  About 4,000 maples turn red along a river and a red bridge, lit up in the evenings in November.
• Mount Horaiji and Horaiji Temple Aichi
  A sacred mountain said to have been opened 1,300 years ago. 1,425 stone steps climb past an 800-year-old cedar to the temple.
• Yotsuya Senmaida Rice Terraces Aichi
  Stone-walled rice terraces climbing the slopes of Mt. Kurakake from 220 to 420 m, still farmed by about 20 households across some 400 paddies.
• Akame 48 Waterfalls Mie
  A chain of waterfalls along about 4 km of the Taki River gorge on the old Iga–Yamato border. A trail follows the stream past the main falls.
• Magose Pass (Kumano Kodo Iseji) Mie
  A pass on the Iseji route of the Kumano Kodo, where a stone-paved path climbs through a forest of Owase cypress.
• Maruyama Senmaida Rice Terraces Mie
  Terraced rice fields on a hillside in Kiwa, Kumano, still farmed today. A viewpoint and a walking course look over the terraces.
• Mt. Gozaisho and Gozaisho Ropeway Mie
  A 2,161 m ropeway from Yunoyama Onsen climbs 780 m to the top of Mt. Gozaisho in the Suzuka Mountains.
• Onitakura Cliff Mie
  A reddish rock wall about 300 m high and 500 m wide deep in the Kumano mountains, long a training ground for mountain ascetics. It can be seen from below, and a forest road leads close to the top.
• Osugidani Gorge Mie
  A remote gorge on the upper Miyagawa River, counted among Japan's three great gorges. The trail passes seven waterfalls and eleven suspension bridges. The full route is about 16 km and needs a night in a mountain hut.
• Biwako Terrace (Biwako Valley) Shiga
  A viewing terrace on top of Mt. Uchimi (1,108 m), five minutes up by ropeway. The Grand Terrace and cafés look down on Lake Biwa, and there is also a 220 m suspension bridge, the Sky Bridge.
• Lake Yogo Shiga
  A quiet lake in a mountain basin just north of Lake Biwa, beyond Mt. Shizugatake. Known as the "Mirror Lake", it keeps the legend of a heavenly maiden whose feathered robe was taken.
• Mt. Ibuki Shiga
  Shiga's highest peak (1,377 m), one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains. The Ibukiyama Driveway climbs to a car park near the top, and the summit is about 40 min on foot from there. The summit flower fields are a Natural Monument.
• Oku-Biwako Parkway Shiga
  An 18.8 km scenic road along the hills of north Lake Biwa, lined with about 3,000 cherry trees. The Tsuzurao-zaki Observatory looks out over the lake and Chikubushima Island.
• Omihachiman Suigo Boat Tour Shiga
  Boat rides through reed-lined waterways near Lake Biwa. The Omihachiman wetlands became Japan's first Important Cultural Landscape in 2005, and the reeds and water birds change with every season.
• Minoo Park & Minoo Falls Osaka
  A wooded valley just north of Osaka, where a riverside path leads from Minoo Station to a 33 m waterfall; known for autumn leaves.
• Mt. Kongo (Chihaya-enchi) Osaka
  The 1,125 m mountain on the Osaka-Nara border. The prefectural Chihaya-enchi park near the top is the highest point in Osaka, with views, fresh green in spring, autumn leaves and rime ice in winter.
• Genbudo Cave Hyogo
  Caves of neat hexagonal basalt columns formed by lava about 1.6 million years ago. Basalt (genbugan) is named after this place, and its rock led to the discovery of geomagnetic reversal.
• Mt. Maya Kikuseidai Hyogo
  A lookout at about 700 m on Mt. Maya, reached by cable car and ropeway. The night view over Kobe and Osaka Bay is counted among Japan's three best.
• Mt. Rokko (Rokko Garden Terrace) Hyogo
  The mountain behind Kobe, reached by cable car. The summit terrace has shops, cafés and a viewing tower over Kobe and Osaka Bay.
• Nunobiki Falls Hyogo
  A series of four waterfalls in a wooded valley just behind Shin-Kobe Station, reached on foot by a short mountain path.
• Tendaki Falls Hyogo
  Hyogo's tallest waterfall, dropping 98 m, reached by a 1.2 km trail along a gorge past smaller falls such as Meoto-daki and Tsuzumi-ga-taki.
• Tonomine Highlands Hyogo
  A plateau about 900 m up covered in silver grass, about 19 Tokyo Domes in size, with boardwalks. Used as a film and TV drama location.
• Dorokyo Gorge (Doro Hatcho) Nara
  A gorge of the Kitayama River where Nara, Mie and Wakayama meet. In the lower stretch, Doro Hatcho, sheer cliffs and huge rocks rise above calm cobalt-blue water.
• Mitarai Valley Nara
  A gorge in Tenkawa where clear water runs between huge boulders and waterfalls into emerald pools. A riverside path and suspension bridges let you look down on the falls.
• Mt. Wakakusa Nara
  A grassy hill of three rounded tiers behind Nara Park. A 30–40 min walk from the foot gates to the top gives a view over Nara, with Todaiji and Kofukuji below.
• Mt. Yoshino Nara
  About 30,000 cherry trees bloom up a whole mountain, from the lower slopes to the top over several weeks.
• Odaigahara Nara
  A plateau on the Nara–Mie border topped by Mt. Hidegatake (1,695 m). Heavy rain feeds the sheer Daijagura cliff, deep gorges and old forests of spruce and beech.
• Soni Plateau Nara
  A wide grassy plateau below Mount Kuruso that turns into a sea of silver pampas grass in autumn, golden at sunset.
• Tanise Suspension Bridge Nara
  A 297 m footbridge built by villagers in 1954, swaying 54 m above the Totsukawa River in the deep Kii mountains.
• Ichimaiiwa Monolith, Kozagawa Wakayama
  A single rock face about 100 m high and 500 m wide rising straight from the clear Koza River, seen from a roadside station opposite.
• Kumano Kodo Daimonzaka Wakayama
  A mossy stone-paved Kumano Kodo path lined with ancient cedars. It leads up to Kumano Nachi Taisha and Seiganto-ji.
• Kumano Kodo Nakahechi (Hosshinmon-oji to Hongu) Wakayama
  The final stretch of the main pilgrimage route to Hongu: 7.5 km of forest path and hamlets past small oji shrines, ending at Kumano Hongu Taisha.
• Oishi Highlands Wakayama
  A prefectural natural park straddling Kimino and Aridagawa. Silver grass covers the summit area at about 870 m, with a 360-degree panorama.
• Takinohai Falls Wakayama
  On a 200 m rock bed of the Kogawa, a tributary of the Koza River, the water has carved countless round potholes, with a waterfall in the middle.
• Kagikake Pass Tottori
  The best viewpoint on the Kofu side for the sheer south face of Mt. Daisen, at about 910 m. A carpet of beech forest spreads below the bare rock wall.
• Mt. Daisen Tottori
  At 1,729 m the highest peak in the Chugoku region, called Hoki Fuji for its cone shape; a stepped trail climbs through beech forest to Misen summit.
• Mt. Senjo Tottori
  A flat-topped peak of the old Daisen volcano ringed by Byobu-iwa, a columnar-jointed cliff over 100 m high. The Senjo Falls drop 109 m and 90 m, and Emperor Go-Daigo fought a famous battle here in 1333.
• Lake Shinji Sunset Shimane
  A brackish lake on Matsue's west side, famous for sunsets listed among Japan's 100 views and for its seven local catches such as shijimi clams.
• Oni-no-Shitaburui Gorge Shimane
  A 2 km V-shaped granite gorge carved by the Omaki River, full of cliffs, giant boulders and potholes. A barrier-free path runs its length, and the 45 m high, 160 m long "Koi" suspension bridge spans the valley.
• Tachikue Gorge Shimane
  A gorge of strange rock pinnacles on the Kando River, called the "Yabakei of San'in". A 2.6 km loop trail (about 40 min) leads to a lookout with a fine view.
• Hiruzen Highlands Okayama
  A highland resort in northern Okayama with Jersey cattle farms, a winery and a 29 km cycling road around the plateau.
• Ikurado Cave Okayama
  A 1,200 m limestone cave with a 90 m rise, on the upper Takahashi River. Inside are oddly shaped formations and a waterfall dropping from a 50 m shaft.
• Kanba Falls Okayama
  A 110 m tiered waterfall down a sheer cliff, reached by a 5-minute path through a park where wild monkeys live.
• Makido Cave Okayama
  A 450 m limestone cave lit by colour-changing LEDs. Highlights are the red Ryugu Bridge over the underground lake at the far end and the rice-terrace-like rimstone pools.
• Mt. Washuzan Okayama
  A hill at the tip of the Kojima Peninsula with two viewpoints over the islands of the Seto Inland Sea and the Great Seto Bridge.
• Okutsu Gorge Okayama
  A 3 km granite gorge on the upper Yoshii River near Okutsu Onsen, with potholes in the riverbed and a paved riverside path.
• Josei Falls Hiroshima
  A 126 m waterfall in three tiers on a rhyolite cliff in northern Miyoshi, the only fall in Hiroshima on Japan's Top 100 list.
• Mt. Misen (Miyajima) Hiroshima
  The 535 m sacred peak of Miyajima, reached by ropeway and a short hike, with halls founded by Kukai, giant boulders and Inland Sea views.
• Sandankyo Gorge Hiroshima
  A gorge of about 16 km in the western Chugoku mountains with deep pools, waterfalls and a short hand-rowed boat ride; famous for autumn leaves.
• Taishakukyo Gorge Hiroshima
  A limestone gorge of about 18 km in the Chugoku mountains, with the 90 m natural rock bridge Ombashi, a cave and the boat-plied Lake Shinryu.
• Akiyoshidai Plateau Yamaguchi
  One of Japan's largest karst plateaus, a wide grassland dotted with white limestone rocks, with walking trails and an observation deck.
• Akiyoshido Cave Yamaguchi
  A limestone cave under the Akiyoshidai plateau, over 11 km long, with about 1 km open to visitors. It stays about 17°C all year.
• Beppu Benten Pond Yamaguchi
  A spring-fed pond in the grounds of a small shrine on the edge of the Akiyoshidai karst, known for its emerald-blue water.
• Jakuchi Gorge Yamaguchi
  A forest gorge below Yamaguchi's highest peak where five waterfalls fall in a row; a 1.5 km trail climbs past them.
• Mt. Kasayama Yamaguchi
  A small 112 m volcano on the Hagi coast with a perfect little crater. A road climbs to a summit lookout over the Sea of Japan, and a forest of 25,000 wild camellias grows on its tip.
• Susa Hornfels Yamaguchi
  A seaside cliff of grey-white and black stripes, about 12 m high, formed by heat from magma some 15 million years ago.
• Amagoi Falls Tokushima
  Twin falls in Kamiyama: the 27 m "male" fall and the 45 m two-step "female" fall, reached by a valley path that passes several smaller falls.
• Awa Dochu Earth Pillars Tokushima
  Dozens of earthen pillars and curtain-like folds carved by rain from gravel layers about a million years old. Paths lead to viewpoints and the top of Hatogadake.
• Biwa Falls Tokushima
  A 40 m waterfall a short walk from the vine bridge.
• Iya Gorge, Peeing Boy Statue & Hinoji Gorge Tokushima
  A cliffside road high above the Iya River. A tiny statue stands at the very edge.
• Iya Kazurabashi Vine Bridge Tokushima
  A 45 m bridge woven from mountain vines, swaying 14 m above the river.
• Kashihara Rice Terraces Tokushima
  Over 500 stone-walled paddies on a steep slope 500–700 m up in Kamikatsu, little changed since an Edo-period map, with a rebuilt water mill.
• Koboke Gorge & Viewpoint Tokushima
  The wilder twin of Oboke, with rapids and rocks seen from a roadside viewpoint.
• Mt. Miune Tokushima
  A 1,894 m peak with a ridge of dwarf bamboo and wild azalea.
• Mt. Tsurugi Tokushima
  Western Japan's second-highest peak (1,955 m). A chairlift takes you most of the way up.
• Oboke Gorge & Sightseeing Boat Tokushima
  An emerald river cutting through rock cliffs. See it up close on a 30-minute boat ride.
• Ogawara Highlands Tokushima
  A gently sloping 120 ha plateau around 900 m up, with 15 wind turbines, pastures and wide views over Tokushima city. Hydrangeas turn it blue in early July.
• Okama Falls Tokushima
  A powerful 20 m waterfall deep in the mountains of Naka, one of Tokushima's finest. Especially beautiful in fresh spring green and autumn colours.
• Oku-Iya Double Vine Bridges Tokushima
  Two vine bridges side by side, deep in the forest of inner Iya.
• Shiozuka Highlands Tokushima
  A wide grassy plateau at 1,043 m that turns silver with pampas grass in autumn.
• Todoroki Falls Tokushima
  A 58 m waterfall in the upper Kaifu River that roars into a cave-like basin. Above it, a trail passes a chain of falls called the Todoroki 99 Falls.
• Honenike Dam Kagawa
  A stone-faced multiple-arch dam from the early Showa era, 145.5 m long with five arches, that looks like a European castle and still waters about 500 ha of farmland.
• Kankakei Gorge Kagawa
  A gorge of crags and cliffs on Shodoshima, shaped over about 13 million years. A 5-minute ropeway passes between the rock walls to a summit with views over the Inland Sea.
• Mannoike Reservoir Kagawa
  An irrigation pond built about 1,300 years ago and rebuilt in 821 by Kukai. It still supplies water to the rice fields of the Marugame plain.
• Mt. Shiude Kagawa
  A hill on the Shonai Peninsula tied to the Urashima Taro legend. About 1,000 cherry trees in spring and hydrangeas in early summer frame views of the Inland Sea islands.
• Nakayama Senmaida Rice Terraces Kagawa
  About 800 rice terraces of many sizes climb a steep valley in the middle of Shodoshima, fed by the spring water of Yubune.
• Yashima Plateau & Yashimaji Temple Kagawa
  A flat-topped mesa above Takamatsu, site of a famous Genpei War battle. On top are Yashimaji (Temple 84), viewpoints over the Inland Sea and the free Yashimaru visitor centre.
• Hijikawa Arashi Observation Park Ehime
  A hilltop lookout near the mouth of the Hiji River, built to watch "Hijikawa Arashi", a rare cold wind that carries fog down the river and out to sea on autumn and winter mornings.
• Mount Ishizuchi Ehime
  The highest peak in western Japan and a sacred mountain of old, climbed from the ropeway on the Saijo side or from Tsuchigoya on the Kumakogen side.
• Mt. Sekizen (Iwagi Island) Ehime
  The 370 m peak in the middle of Iwagi Island, nicknamed "Iwagi Fuji". In spring about 3,000 cherry trees along the road turn the mountain pink, and the summit lookout gives 360-degree views over the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
• Nametoko Gorge Ehime
  A 12 km gorge on a headwater of the Shimanto River where clear water slides over smooth granite beds, ending at the 80 m long Yukiwa Falls.
• Omogo Gorge Ehime
  A gorge at the southern foot of Mount Ishizuchi with very clear water, boulder-strewn riverbeds and two walking trails leading to falls and maple groves.
• Shikoku Karst Ehime
  A limestone plateau about 25 km long at 1,000-1,485 m on the Ehime-Kochi border, crossed by a scenic road through grassland and grazing cattle.
• Suiha Highlands Ehime
  A highland around the 892 m Suiha peak with 360-degree views over the Seto Inland Sea and the Shikoku Mountains. Rape blossoms cover it in spring and early cosmos from summer to early autumn.
• Great Cedars of Sugi Kochi
  Two giant cedars in Otoyo, said to be about 3,000 years old, joined at the base and known as the "husband-and-wife cedars". The southern tree is 60 m tall with a 20 m girth at the roots.
• Kanzaiko Rice Terraces (Yusuhara) Kochi
  Rice terraces stacked up a steep mountainside in Yusuhara. The writer Shiba Ryotaro is said to have compared them to the Great Wall of China.
• Nakatsu Gorge Kochi
  A gorge just off Route 33 in Niyodogawa town, where a walking path leads past stone pillars and pools to Uryu Falls through clear Niyodo Blue water.
• Niko-buchi Pool Kochi
  A waterfall basin on a tributary of the Niyodo River whose ever-changing blue made the term "Niyodo Blue" famous. Locals regard it as sacred, home of a serpent water god.
• Ryugado Cave Kochi
  A limestone cave in Kami city with a sightseeing route through stalactite chambers; Yayoi-period pottery was found near its exit.
• Shimanto River Chinkabashi (Submersible Bridges) Kochi
  Japan's 'last clear river', crossed by low bridges with no railings, built to go under water in floods.
• Tojin-daba Megalith Site Kochi
  A prehistoric site in the woods of the Ashizuri Peninsula, used from the early Jomon to the Yayoi period, with boulders 6–7 m in size. From the top of the rocks the Pacific stretches into the distance.
• Yanase Forest Railway Heritage (Myojinguchi Bridge) Kochi
  Eighteen bridges and tunnels of the former Yanase Forest Railway, which once carried timber through eastern Kochi, are Important Cultural Properties. Myojinguchi Bridge, a steel truss bridge from 1929, can still be crossed on foot.
• Yasui Gorge (Niyodo Blue) Kochi
  A gorge on a tributary of the Niyodo River whose clear blue water, called 'Niyodo Blue', runs past waterfalls and forest trails.
• Hiraodai Karst Plateau Fukuoka
  A grassy plateau scattered with white limestone rocks, one of Japan's major karst areas. Walk the trails or enter a show cave.
• Mt. Hiko (Hikosan) Fukuoka
  A sacred mountain about 1,200 m high on the Fukuoka–Oita border, one of Japan's three great centers of Shugendo mountain worship. The Hoheiden hall of Hikosan Jingu, rebuilt in 1616, is an Important Cultural Property and can also be reached by slope car.
• Tsuzura Rice Terraces Fukuoka
  About 300 stone-walled paddies on a hillside in Ukiha; red spider lilies line the ridges in late September.
• Kiyomizu Falls (Ogi) Saga
  A 75 m waterfall dropping straight down a cliff in Ogi, with a Kannon temple at its foot and carp restaurants along the stream.
• Mikaeri Falls Saga
  A waterfall in Ochi, Karatsu, best known for about 40,000 hydrangeas of 50 varieties that bloom along the path in June.
• Mt. Kagami (Kagamiyama) Saga
  A 284 m hill with a sweeping view over the Niji-no-Matsubara pine grove, Karatsu Bay and, on clear days, Iki Island. A 4 km winding road leads to the top.
• Todoroki Falls (Ureshino) Saga
  A three-tier waterfall about 11 m high, about 1 km from the Ureshino hot spring town. The park around it is good for a stroll after a bath.
• Warabino Rice Terraces Saga
  Rice terraces spread in a fan on the north slope of Mt. Hachiman. Their dry-stone walls reach 8.5 m, said to be the tallest in Japan.
• Doya Rice Terraces Nagasaki
  About 400 terraced paddies on Fukushima Island in Matsuura face the Genkai Sea. In the rice-planting season the flooded fields glow in the setting sun, drawing photographers from all over Japan.
• Nanatsugama Limestone Cave Nagasaki
  A cave over 1,600 m long formed in rock raised from the seabed about 30 million years ago. Inside, clear water flows and it stays about 15°C all year.
• Nita Pass (Mt. Unzen) Nagasaki
  A pass on Mt. Unzen with views of Heisei Shinzan. A ropeway climbs to Myokendake, and the slopes turn pink with azaleas in May and red in autumn.
• Onigi Rice Terraces Nagasaki
  Stone-walled rice terraces fill a horseshoe-shaped valley in the pottery town of Hasami. A viewing deck looks over the whole bowl.
• Daikanbo Lookout Kumamoto
  A 936 m peak on the northern caldera rim, about 400 m above the Aso valley, with a 360° view of the five Aso peaks and the Kuju mountains.
• Gokanosho Kumamoto
  A remote mountain area of Yatsushiro ringed by 1,300–1,700 m peaks, where Heike refugees are said to have hidden. Suspension bridges, waterfalls and old farmhouses sit among deep gorges.
• Kikuchi Gorge Kumamoto
  Clear spring water from Aso runs over falls and pools through broadleaf forest on the outer rim of the caldera. Easy walking paths line the stream.
• Kusasenri (Mt. Aso) Kumamoto
  A wide grassy volcanic crater with a pond and grazing horses, below the smoking Nakadake crater.
• Kyusendo Cave Kumamoto
  One of the largest limestone caves in Kyushu, about 4.8 km long, above the Kuma River. A 30-minute loop shows flowstones and stalagmites, and an exploration course goes 200 m into the cave in helmets and boots.
• Mt. Aso Nakadake Crater Kumamoto
  The active crater of Mt. Nakadake, reached by road almost to the rim. When open, you look down at an emerald-green crater lake with rising steam, bare lava rock and striped crater walls.
• Nabegataki Falls Kumamoto
  A waterfall about 10 m high and 20 m wide that falls like a curtain over a lava ledge from the eruption that formed the Aso caldera. You can walk behind it.
• Sensuikyo Gorge Kumamoto
  A valley at about 900 m on the north side of Mt. Nakadake and Mt. Takadake. In mid-May about 50,000 Miyama-kirishima azaleas turn the slopes pink.
• Shirakawa Spring Kumamoto
  The source of the Shirakawa River, where about 60 tonnes of 14°C water wells up every minute. You may drink it or take some home.
• Takamori Spring Water Tunnel Park Kumamoto
  A 2,055 m railway tunnel abandoned when digging hit an underground spring, now a park. Spring water pours from the rock inside, and a fountain makes water drops seem to dance.
• Ao-no-Domon Tunnel (Yabakei) Oita
  A tunnel cut by hand by the monk Zenkai over some 30 years until 1764, at the foot of the Kyoshuho rock peaks in the Yabakei valley.
• Chinda Falls Oita
  A wide waterfall on the Ono River, about 100 m across, with a second fall on a side stream; the painter Sesshu painted it in the Muromachi period.
• Hakusui Dam Oita
  A stone irrigation dam where water spills over the curved face in fine white sheets. You can view it from below and from above.
• Harajiri Falls Oita
  A 120 m wide, 20 m high waterfall that drops suddenly out of flat rice fields, cut into rock left by an Aso eruption 90,000 years ago.
• Hitome Hakkei (Shin-Yabakei) Oita
  A viewpoint in the Yabakei valley where eight rock peaks can be seen at once, hence the name "eight views at a glance". It is one of the best-known autumn-leaf spots in Kyushu.
• Inazumi Underwater Limestone Cave Oita
  A limestone cave formed some 300 million years ago and flooded by a huge eruption of Aso, so its stalactites now sit under clear water. Cave diving is also offered.
• Kokonoe Yume Otsurihashi Suspension Bridge Oita
  A 390 m pedestrian suspension bridge 173 m above a forested gorge, with views of the Shindo waterfalls and the Kyusuikei valley.
• Kuju Mountains and Chojabaru Oita
  The 'roof of Kyushu', with Mt Nakadake (1,791 m), the highest peak on Kyushu's main island; Chojabaru is the main trailhead with a visitor centre and a wetland boardwalk.
• Makinoto Pass Oita
  The highest point on the Yamanami Highway at 1,330 m and a trailhead for the Kuju Mountains. The viewpoint looks over Chojabaru.
• Mount Tsurumi and Beppu Ropeway Oita
  A ropeway climbs from 500 m to 1,300 m in under 10 minutes to the top area of Mt Tsurumi, with views over Beppu Bay and the city.
• Aya Teruha Suspension Bridge Miyazaki
  A 250 m footbridge 142 m above the Aya River gorge, looking over one of Japan's largest broadleaf evergreen forests; trails continue on the far side.
• Ebino Plateau Miyazaki
  A 1,200 m volcanic plateau on the Miyazaki side of the Kirishima mountains, with crater lakes and trails toward Mt Karakuni.
• Kunimigaoka Lookout Miyazaki
  A 513 m lookout above the Takachiho basin facing Mt Aso and the Sobo range, famous for seas of cloud on cold, clear autumn mornings.
• Lake Miike Miyazaki
  A deep crater lake at the foot of the Kirishima mountains, ringed by old forest with bird-watching trails and a view of Mt Takachiho-no-mine.
• Mt Mukabaki and Mukabaki Falls Miyazaki
  A 77 m waterfall pouring down a cliff between the twin rock peaks of Mt Mukabaki (831 m) near Nobeoka; the summit trail takes about 2 hours.
• Mt Takachiho-no-mine Miyazaki
  The main peak of the Kirishima mountains, said in the ancient chronicles to be where the gods descended to earth. The Heavenly Reversed Spear stands on the summit; two trails climb from the Takaharu side.
• Sakamoto Rice Terraces (Sakatani) Miyazaki
  About 200 rice terraces cut by villagers from 1928 at the foot of Mt. Komatsu. Hydrangeas in June, red spider lilies in September.
• Sekinoo Falls Miyazaki
  A waterfall about 40 m wide and 18 m high near Miyakonojo, seen from a suspension bridge, with a 600 m stretch of river potholes upstream.
• Sennin no Tanada (Daiicho Observatory) Miyazaki
  Terraced rice fields on the far slope of a valley in Shiiba, seen from Daiicho Observatory. In the morning they look like they are floating in a sea of clouds, and the view is also called the Machu Picchu of Shiiba.
• Takachiho Gorge Miyazaki
  Row a small boat under basalt cliffs to the 17 m Manai Falls, in a land of Japanese myths.
• Yaken Falls (Mt Osuzu) Miyazaki
  A 73 m waterfall sliding down a rock face on Mt Osuzu, one of more than 30 falls in the area, reached by a 30-minute forest walk.
• Jomon Sugi (Yakushima) Kagoshima
  One of the largest of the confirmed Yakusugi cedars on Yakushima. Estimates of its age range from about 2,000 to 7,200 years, and a viewing deck now stands close by to protect its roots.
• Kinsakubaru Primeval Forest (Amami-Oshima) Kagoshima
  A subtropical primeval forest on Amami-Oshima, thick with giant tree ferns and home to rare animals such as the Lidth's jay, a National Natural Monument. Visitors are asked to go with a certified eco-tour guide.
• Lake Ikeda Kagoshima
  Kyushu's largest caldera lake, 15 km around and 233 m deep, with cone-shaped Mt. Kaimondake behind it and flower beds along the shore.
• Maruike Spring Kagoshima
  A clear spring-fed pond in Yusui town where water from the Kirishima mountains wells up through the sandy bottom. Cherry trees and fireflies line the paths.
• Mizonokuchi Cave Kagoshima
  A huge cave in welded tuff, 14.6 m wide and 6.4 m high at the entrance and 209.5 m long. It was named a National Natural Monument in 2021, the first national designation in Soo City.
• Mt. Kaimon Kagoshima
  A 924 m cone-shaped volcano, known as Satsuma Fuji, and the symbol of Ibusuki. One of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains, its summit gives views of Kirishima, Sakurajima, Lake Ikeda and Yakushima.
• Ogawa Falls Kagoshima
  A 46 m waterfall that slides down a 60 m-wide cliff into an emerald-green pool, reached by a 1.2 km riverside path on the Osumi Peninsula.
• Okawa Falls (Yakushima) Kagoshima
  One of Yakushima's largest waterfalls, dropping 88 m off a cliff on the quiet west side of the island. You can walk close to the base.
• Sakurajima Kagoshima
  An active volcano that puffs ash almost daily, 15 minutes by ferry from Kagoshima city.
• Senpiro Falls (Yakushima) Kagoshima
  A waterfall of about 60 m where the Taino River pours down a huge granite slab and a V-shaped valley. It is one of Yakushima's best-known falls and is seen from a viewpoint at some distance.
• Shiratani Unsuikyo (Yakushima) Kagoshima
  A mossy rainforest of ancient cedars on Yakushima island — said to have inspired 'Princess Mononoke'.
• Sogi Falls Kagoshima
  A broad waterfall 210 m wide and 12 m high on the Sendai River, pouring over jagged rocks and known as the 'Niagara of the Orient'. A riverside park surrounds it.
• Yakusugi Land (Yakushima) Kagoshima
  A forest of ancient Yakushima cedars at 1,000–1,300 m, with marked trails from 30 to 210 minutes, an easier way to see the giant trees than the Jomon Sugi hike.
• Yunohira Observatory (Sakurajima) Kagoshima
  The highest point on Sakurajima open to the public, at 373 m on the north peak. The crater slopes rise right behind you, with the bay and city below.
• Asmui Spiritual Hikes (formerly Daisekirinzan) Okinawa
  A walking facility (formerly Daisekirinzan) in the forest at the foot of Asmui, the sacred place said to be the first created in Ryukyuan myth. You walk with an audio guide; the regular course takes about 60 min and the short course about 30 min.
• Kakinohana Hija Spring Okinawa
  A village spring in the woods of southern Okinawa, reached by a stone-paved slope. Water runs from the rock face into pools beside small rice fields.
• Urauchi River Cruise (Iriomote Island) Okinawa
  A 30-minute boat ride up a river lined with mangroves and subtropical forest on Iriomote, with a guide pointing out the wildlife along the way.

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