When people think of Japan they usually picture a technologically advanced mega city. It may be
true for the heavily urbanized areas of the country, but two thirds of the nation is covered by
hills and forested mountains. There are many natural sights all over Japan like the drift ice off
the shores of Hokkaido in the winter or the gorge of Takachiho. There are laws in place to
protect and preserve these places from being overly developed. Otherwise places like Lake
Mashu would not be one of the clearest lakes in the world. The most famous of these natural
monuments is Mount Fuji, which is the symbol of Japan. Nature has produced amazing sites in
Japan through hundreds and thousands of years. Sometimes the natural formation of the land
has been so majestic that people believed a deity resides in them. One good example is Nachi
Waterfall in Kumano. It can be seen from the Nachi Taisha Shrine, which is part of the Kumano
Kodo. It is said that the deity of the waterfall is enshrined at the nearby shrine.
One of the best places to see nature is in Hokkaido because it developed at a much later time
compared to the rest of Japan. This can be confirmed by Shiretoko where much of the area
remains undisturbed and is protected as a UNESCO World Natural Site. You can also find Lake
Akan, which is known for the marimo algae and Lake Toya the former host site for the G8
Summit. Aside from the mountains, volcanoes, capes, coasts, beaches, gorges, caves,
marshlands, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and bays, there are these unique places that are in a
category of their own.
Kansai | Hyogo | Himeji
Mount Shosha
Mount Shosha is home to Engyoji and was one of the filming sites for “The Last Samurai.”
Kyushu | Kumamoto | Aso
Mount Aso
Mount Aso is located at the center of Aso-Kuju National Park in Kumamoto and Oita, which lies roughly in the center of Kyushu.
Chugoku | Hiroshima | Miyajima Island
Mount Misen
Mount Misen is a sacred mountain with the highest elevation of over 500 meters above sea level in Miyajima.
Chugoku | Yamaguchi
Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan and has been worshipped as a sacred mountain. The perfect cone shape of the mountain is iconic of Japan.
Tohoku | Iwate | Hiraizumi
Geibikei Gorge
Geibikei Gorge is located to the west of Ichinoseki and is one of the 100 best landscapes of Japan.
Shikoku | Tokushima | Iya Valley
Oboke Gorge
A scenic geological valley with sightseeing cruises and varies outdoor activities located at Shikoku Island, Japan.
Hokkaido | Jozankei
Jozankei Valley
The Jozan-kei-onsen Hot Spring is located to the southwest of Sapporo in a ravine situated upstream along the Toyohira-gawa River.
Hokkaido | Sounkyo
Sounkyo Gorge
Sounkyo Gorge is situated at the foot of Mt. Daisetsu-zan, which is called the "roof of Hokkaido."
Kanto | Saitama | Chichibu
Nagatoro
Nagatoro is a city surrounded by beautiful nature with a river going through the center of the area.
Chubu | Toyama
Kurobe Gorge
Kurobe Gorge is a forested ravine located in the mountains of the Northern Japan Alps and has the steepest gorges in Japan.
Chubu | Nagano | Ina
Tenryu-kyo Valley / Tenryu-gawa River Rafting
The Tenryu Valley, situated on the southern tip of Ina Basin in Nagano, is a valley created by the erosion of rocks located in the Ina area over the years.
Kyushu | Miyazaki | Takachiho
Takachiho Gorge
A naturally formed scenic area located in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.
Chubu | Yamanashi | Mt Fuji
Bat Cave, Ice Cave & Wind Cave
The Bat Cave, Ice Cave, and Wind Cave were created through the past eruptions of Mount Fuji.
Tohoku | Iwate
Ryusendo Cave
Ryusendo Cave, which can be found in the foothills of Mt. Urera-san at the east of Iwate, is one of the three largest limestone caves in Japan.
Chugoku | Yamaguchi
Akiyoshido Cave
Akiyoshido Cave is famous in Japan for being the country’s largest cave and the second largest cave in all of Asia.
Okinawa Islands | Okinawa | Southern Okinawa
Gyokusendo Caves
With a total length of five kilometers, Gyokusendo Cave is the longest of the many caves in the south of Okinawa Island and the second longest cave in the entire country.
Kanto | Tochigi | Nikko
Kegon Waterfall
Kegon Waterfall is listed as one of the three most beautiful falls in Japan along with Nachi Waterfall in Wakayama Prefecture and Fukuroda Waterfall in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Kansai | Wakayama | Kumano
Nachi Waterfall
Nachi Waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls located in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
Chubu | Shizuoka | Izu Peninsula
Kawazu Seven Waterfalls
Kawazu Seven Waterfalls was the setting for the famed short story “Izu no Odoriko.”
Hokkaido | Sounkyo
Ginga & Ryusei Waterfalls
Waterfalls located in the Sounkyo Gorge and are in the top 100 waterfalls in Japan list.
Hokkaido | Akan National Park
Lake Akan
A crater lake within Akan National park; known for being the home of marimo.
Hokkaido | Lake Toya
Lake Toya
Lake Toya, which is situated in the southwestern part of Hokkaido, belongs to Shikotsu-Toya National Park.
Tohoku | Aomori | Towada
Lake Towada
The largest caldera lake in Honshu; located on the borders of Aomori and Akita prefectures.
Kanto | Kanagawa | Hakone
Lake Ashi
Lake Ashi is a caldera lake that was formed 3000 years ago from the last volcanic eruption of Mount Hakone.
Chubu | Yamanashi | Mt Fuji
Fuji Five Lakes
The Fuji Five Lakes can be found on the northern base of Mount Fuji and was formed by previous eruptions.
Chubu | Nagano
Lake Suwa
Lake Suwa is situated almost right in the center of Nagano. Sitting at an altitude of 759 meters.
Chugoku | Shimane | Matsue
Lake Shinji
Lake Shinji is situated in the northeast of Shimane, surrounded by the Shimane-hanto Peninsula on the north, the Izumo Plain on the west and the Matsue Plain on the east.
Hokkaido | Akan National Park
Lake Mashu
Located in the Akan National Park and is known for having the clearest water in the world.
Kanto | Tochigi | Nikko
Lake Chuzenji
Lake Chuzenji is located in the mountains near Nikko at the foot of Mount Nantai and is beautiful around the autumn season.
Hokkaido | Shiretoko
Shiretoko Five Lakes
A collection five small bodies of water that were formed long ago when Mount Io erupted.
Hokkaido | Akan National Park
Lake Kussharo
The largest caldera lake in the Akan National Park; a popular recreational area.
