Top photography destinations and scenic landscapes
Top photography destinations and scenic landscapes
Most photogenic spots and landscape destinations
A genuinely photogenic destination offers more than one good shot: it has the light, the composition and enough variety of conditions to reward repeat visits at different times of day and year. The destinations photographers return to tend to be ones where the landscape itself does most of the work.
The locations here range from iconic, heavily photographed landmarks to less obvious landscapes that reward the effort of finding the right angle and the right hour. Some are best at sunrise, others under stormy skies or the long light of late afternoon. Local guides and photography tour operators often know precisely when and where the light works best.
Timing and scouting separate a forgettable photo from a genuinely strong one and arriving early often matters more than the gear in the bag.
Lists by region
City
New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
Skyscrapers of Manhattan crowd together in a dense skyline visible from several boroughs. The Empire State Building has served as a photography landmark since 1931. Visitors can photograph the skyline from Top of the Rock or a rooftop bar. The Staten Island Ferry offers a free water level view of the harbor.
Mountain in Japan
Mount Fuji
Japan's highest peak and sacred volcano
Japan's tallest peak rises in a near perfect cone above the surrounding lakes and forest. Snow covers the summit most of the year except for a short summer window. Visitors can photograph the mountain reflected in Lake Kawaguchiko on clear mornings. Cherry blossoms frame the peak at several spots each spring.
Island in Japan
Miyajima
Torii in the sea, deer and Mount Misen
Itsukushima Shrine's vermilion gate appears to float when the tide rises around it. At low tide, visitors can walk across the exposed sea floor to touch the gate. Photographers can capture the torii glowing at sunset from the shoreline promenade. Deer wander freely along the paths leading to the shrine.
Shrine in Kyoto
Fushimi Inari-taisha
Thousands of torii gates up a Kyoto mountain
Thousands of vermilion torii gates form a tunnel up the hillside at Fushimi Inari Taisha. Merchants and worshippers have donated these gates since the Edo period. Visitors can photograph the gates from the lower path before the incline grows steep. Small fox statues along the way represent messengers of the harvest god.
Forest in Kyoto
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Kyoto's famous bamboo lane in Arashiyama
Tall bamboo stalks lean overhead along the path through Kyoto's Arashiyama Grove. Wind passing through the stalks creates a sound once named among Japan's cherished acoustic scenes. Visitors can photograph the green corridor early in the morning before crowds arrive. A nearby monkey park offers a hillside view over the city.
Village in Japan
Shirakawa-go
Thatched gassho farmhouses in the Hida mountains
Steep thatched roofs cover the farmhouses of Shirakawa-go in Japan's mountain valleys. Builders designed these roofs at a sharp angle to shed heavy winter snowfall. Visitors can photograph the village lit up during a limited winter illumination event. A hillside viewpoint overlooks the full village and surrounding rice fields.
Garden in Japan
Ashikaga Flower Park
Giant wisteria trellis and winter light show
Purple wisteria vines drape over a long tunnel walkway at Ashikaga Flower Park. One wisteria tree here has grown for more than 150 years across a huge trellis. Visitors can photograph the blossoms lit up during an evening illumination event. Peak bloom usually falls in late April through early May.
City in Japan
Furano
Lavender fields and powder snow in Hokkaido
Rows of purple lavender stretch across Furano's hillside farms each July in Hokkaido. Farmers first planted the crop here in the 1950s to supply the perfume industry. Visitors can photograph the striped rainbow fields at Farm Tomita during peak bloom. Snow covers the same slopes in ski season each winter.
Town in Japan
Fujikawaguchiko
Lake town with Mount Fuji views and onsen
Lavender fields bloom each summer along Lake Kawaguchiko's shore in Fujikawaguchiko. Oishi Park frames Mount Fuji behind rows of purple flowers from June to July. Visitors can photograph the lake, lavender and mountain together from the park's walking paths. Swan boats cross the lake within the same view during summer months.
City in Japan
Fujiyoshida
Fuji's sacred trailhead with the pagoda view
A five story pagoda frames Mount Fuji in one of Japan's most photographed views. Chureito Pagoda sits on a hillside above Fujiyoshida, reached by a long stone staircase. Visitors can photograph the pagoda and mountain together during cherry blossom season each spring. Autumn maple leaves offer a second bright framing later in the year.
Country
Bhutan
Himalayan monasteries, dzongs and trekking trails
Tiger's Nest Monastery clings to a cliff face 3,000 feet above Bhutan's Paro valley. Monks built the temple complex in the 1600s around a cave used for meditation. Visitors can photograph the monastery through pine trees during the steep hike up. Prayer flags strung along mountain ridges mark the trail throughout the country.
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