Mount Moiwa, Hokkaido Prefecture
Mount Moiwa is one of several small, forested mountains southwest of downtown Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. The mountain is a popular sightseeing spot known for its spectacular views of the city from its summit.
Spectacular view from the top of Moiwa.
Mount Moiwa is very popular with Japanese locals and those who love the wilderness. The best time to admire the scenery here is during the snowy season, when you step into the peaceful white snow land, you will fully enjoy the beauty of nature in the land of the rising sun. Visitors can choose to move to the top of Moiwa by cable car to be able to see the entire beauty of this mountain peak.
The beauty of Mount Moiwa when covered in white snow.
Visitors can choose to travel by cable car to reach the top of Moiwa.
Beautiful night view of Mount Moiwa.
Moiwa's night view is also stunning and welcomes visitors. You can see the city lights of Sapporo, home to about two million people, and the mountains stretching out into the distance.
Visitors can also visit Niseko Kanrosui, a natural spring that produces mineral-rich water in Moiwa. Kanrosui's water is created from snow and rain that falls from the mountain's summit. Over the decades, the spring's water has seeped through layers of lava and volcanic ash from the mountain before flowing into underground streams.
Image of Niseko Kanrosui natural hot spring on Mt. Moiwa.
Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture
Located a 2-hour bullet train ride from Tokyo, it is a favorite among locals for its quintessential Japanese landscapes of ice-capped mountains, lush green rice fields and lakes that reflect the sky like a mirror.
Tokamachi is covered in the green of lush green fields.
This place conquers tourists by the beauty of majestic nature.
Visitors coming here in winter also have the opportunity to participate in the most famous festival of the region, the Tokamachi Snow Festival. The festival was born from the concept of enjoying and overcoming the cold of the local people, who understand the harsh beauty of winter. The city will be decorated with snow sculptures crafted by the city's residents, creating a unique impression that you will not find anywhere else.
Tokamachi Snow Festival attracts many tourists to experience.
When in Niigata, visitors can enjoy local specialties such as delicious uonuma koshihikari rice, hegisoba noodles and Echigo beer. Don't forget to try local sake and buy some high-quality kitchenware from Tsubame-Sanjo, one of Japan's largest craft centers, as souvenirs.
Hegisoba noodles, a specialty dish of the Niigata region.
Kagurazaka District, Tokyo
This area is steeped in history and is one of the most popular tourist attractions. It was once a vibrant geisha district in Japan’s history, and its design is a mix of old and new, with French influences. It’s the perfect place for an afternoon of shopping, dining and strolling.
This neighborhood has a beautiful blend of ancient and modern features.
Kagurazaka means “hill of the gods”, so religious festivals are an integral part of the local tourist identity. On the main street are Zenkokuji Temple and Akagi Jinja, a shrine whose outer building was designed by one of Japan’s most famous architects, Kengo Kuma. In the summer, festival stalls and lanterns line the streets, and the whole neighborhood is filled with excitement for the bustling festival season to welcome visitors.
The stalls attract many visitors during the festival season.
The neighborhood is home to many famous, Michelin-starred restaurants.
Zenkokuji Temple is a popular spiritual destination near this neighborhood.
In addition, there are many high-end culinary services here, including Michelin-starred kaiseki (fine dining) restaurants that help visitors experience the culinary quintessence of Japan.
Traditional Japanese dishes that visitors can enjoy when coming here.
A snack that can make matcha lovers go crazy.
Jogashima Island, Kanagawa Prefecture
This is a beautiful island of Japan, located in the south near famous tourist spots like Kamakura and Enoshima, but Jogashima is often overlooked by tourists.
Walking along the rugged coastline, visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the ocean, watching the waves crash against the rocks. You will also encounter natural rock formations, resting cormorants, as well as majestic views of Mount Fuji.
The island is usually quiet, but comes alive in mid-January to February, when the park on the east end of the island is covered in daffodils.
Jogashima Island has a wild beauty, little known.
Walking on the rugged rocks on the beautiful beach, visitors can admire the vast, immense ocean.
Strolling along the coast, visitors can enjoy a beautiful view of Mount Fuji.
Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture
Located an hour by bullet train northwest of Tokyo, Takasaki is a friendly and historic city, making it a great base to experience traditional Japanese culture.
It is also a famous spiritual city with many Buddhist temples and shrines. While in Takasaki, visit the Daruma Temple and attend the famous Doll Festival. Visitors can also visit the Echigo-Yuzawa ski slopes and the famous hot spring town of Kusatsu.
Takasaki is a city with a long history and rich cultural traditions of Japan.
This is also considered a famous pilgrimage site for Buddhists.
Traditional festivals in Takasaki that visitors can experience when visiting this city.
Kusatsu hot spring is also a place not to be missed when coming to this city.
Visit Takasaki, you will be surprised to find that this is the "pasta city" of the cherry blossom country, with a series of traditional and modern Japanese noodle dishes, from ramen, udon, sabo to Italian spaghetti, all very famous here. Many restaurants make noodles with pure wheat from Gunma province. You should try once to enjoy the famous noodles in this city.
Takasaki's famous Ramen.
Japan is a beautiful and attractive country that attracts many tourists because of the beauty of traditional culture, majestic nature and modern civilization. Above are 5 destinations that are loved by Japanese people and suggestions for foreign tourists when coming to Japan.
Some useful notes for tourists when traveling to Japan:
- Time: To have a perfect trip, you should choose the time to travel that suits your interests. The best time to visit Japan is in the spring, when cherry blossoms bloom, dyeing the cities pink.
- Transportation: Japan has a very developed public transportation system, you can easily travel by train, Shinkansen bullet train or bus.
- Language: Japanese is the official language in Japan, however many people in tourist areas can communicate in English.
