Natural Wonders & Landscapes Map

Yakushima

Ancient cedars, mossy forest and waterfalls

8.8

Jomon Sugi, an ancient cedar tree, may be over 2,000 years old on this Japanese island. Moss-covered forests here reportedly inspired the setting of a well-known animated film. Visitors can hike for hours through dense forest to reach the tree. Waterfalls and hot springs dot the island's mountainous, rain-soaked interior.

Highlights:

🐒 Spot Yakushima macaques and deer along forest trails
🌳 See Jomon Sugi, Japan’s legendary 7,000-year-old cedar tree
🌲 Hike through the ancient cedar forests of Shiratani Unsuikyo

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Fuji, Hakone, Izu and volcanic islands

8.8

Fuji Hakone Izu National Park surrounds Mount Fuji with hot springs and volcanic lakes. Lake Ashi, formed inside an old volcanic crater, offers some of the clearest reflections of Fuji. Hakone's hot springs draw on the same volcanic activity that shaped the mountain. Boats and cable cars carry visitors between the park's scattered viewpoints.

Highlights:

🥚 Explore volcanic vents and black eggs at Owakudani
♨️ Relax in Hakone’s renowned hot spring baths
🗻 Climb iconic Mount Fuji for sunrise views

Shiretoko National Park

Brown bears and drift ice in Hokkaido

8.3

Drift ice piles along this Hokkaido coastline each winter, carried down from the Sea of Okhotsk. Brown bears forage along the shoreline once the ice retreats in spring. Boat tours can cruise close to the ice-covered cliffs in February. Waterfalls along the peninsula's coast freeze solid through the coldest months.

Highlights:

♨️ Hike to Kamuiwakka Hot Falls and soak feet
🛥️ Take a wildlife boat cruise to see bears
🌲 Walk the scenic Shiretoko Five Lakes boardwalk

Kamikochi

Clear river valley beneath the Hotaka Range

8.5

Kamikochi sits at roughly 1,500 meters inside Japan's Northern Alps. The Azusa River runs crystal clear beneath the valley's jagged peaks. Taisho Pond formed suddenly in 1915 when a volcanic eruption dammed the river. Private cars are banned, so buses carry visitors into this protected mountain valley.

Highlights:

🍂 Admire autumn foliage along Kamikochi’s forest trails
🗻 Hike to Myojin Pond surrounded by sacred mountains
🌉 Walk the scenic Kappa Bridge overlooking the Azusa River

Nikko

Tokugawa shrines, waterfalls and hot springs

8.6

Toshogu Shrine holds the elaborate mausoleum of a founding Japanese shogun in the mountains. Carved details cover the shrine's gates, including the well-known sleeping cat and monkeys. Visitors can walk the cedar-lined approach before reaching the main halls. Kegon Falls nearby drops close to 100 meters into a volcanic lake.

Highlights:

💦 Admire the majestic Kegon Falls viewpoint
🌉 Cross the striking vermilion Shinkyo Bridge
⛩️ Visit the ornate Nikko Toshogu Shrine complex

Hokkaido

Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood

9.3

Lake Mashu in eastern Hokkaido is often ranked among the clearest lakes on Earth. Thick fog frequently hides the crater lake from view for days at a time. Drift ice pushes down from the Sea of Okhotsk and blankets the Shiretoko coast each winter. Steep, forested peaks surround much of the region's undeveloped interior.

Highlights:

🚤 Explore historic Otaru Canal and its shops
🏂 Ski or snowboard in world-famous Niseko resorts
💧 Visit the spectacular Shirogane Blue Pond

Kyushu

Volcanoes, onsen and tonkotsu ramen

8.4

Kyushu holds some of Japan's most active volcanic terrain, including Sakurajima and Mount Aso. Mount Aso's caldera ranks among the largest in the world, spanning an entire town inside its rim. Steam rises constantly from hot spring towns scattered across the island. Subtropical beaches line the southern coast near Kagoshima and Miyazaki.

Highlights:

🕊️ Explore historic Nagasaki Peace Park memorial
🥾 Hike scenic trails at Mount Aso volcanic caldera
♨️ Relax in Beppu’s famous hot spring baths

Daisetsuzan National Park

Japan's largest national park, in Hokkaido

8.3

Daisetsuzan is Japan's largest national park, covering a wide volcanic plateau. Locals sometimes call it the roof of Hokkaido for its high central peaks. Autumn color here tends to arrive earlier than almost anywhere else in Japan. Hot springs dot the base of the mountains, fed by ongoing volcanic activity.

Highlights:

♨️ Soak in natural hot springs at Asahidake Onsen
⛰️ Hike to Mt. Asahi summit, Hokkaido's highest peak
🚠 Ride Asahidake Ropeway to scenic Sugatami Plateau

Kerama Shoto National Park

Kerama blue seas, coral and whales

8.4

Water here reaches such clarity that locals call it Kerama Blue, visible from the air. This Japanese park's coral reefs surround a scattered chain of small islands. Divers can explore reef walls just offshore from several of the beaches. Sea turtles nest on quieter stretches of sand within the park.

Highlights:

🐢 Spot sea turtles while diving around Tokashiki Island
🛶 Take a scenic glass-bottom boat tour over turquoise waters
🤿 Snorkel among vibrant coral reefs and tropical fish

Chūbu-Sangaku National Park

Northern Alps peaks, snow walls and onsen

8.5

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route crosses this Japanese park through a famous snow corridor. Walls of plowed snow rise over 15 meters on either side of the road each spring. Visitors can walk between the towering white walls before they melt away. Cable cars and trolley buses carry travelers across the mountain pass.

Highlights:

♨️ Soak in natural hot springs surrounded by mountain scenery
🏔️ Climb Mount Hotaka or Mount Yari for panoramic views
🥾 Hike through the dramatic alpine landscapes of Kamikōchi Valley

Aso-Kuju National Park

Giant caldera, active volcano and highlands

8.1

Mount Aso's caldera ranks among the largest in the world, spanning over 100 kilometers around. Active vents inside the crater still release steam and sulfur smoke today. Visitors can ride a cable car close to the crater's edge when conditions allow. Grasslands filling the wider caldera support cattle grazing much of the year.

Highlights:

🐎 Ride horseback across the grasslands of Kusasenri Plateau
🥾 Hike the Kuju Mountains for sweeping views of lush valleys
🌋 Peer into Mount Aso’s active volcanic crater and feel the heat

Bhutan

Himalayan monasteries, dzongs and trekking trails

8.5

Bhutan's government says the country absorbs more carbon than it emits each year. Gangkhar Puensum here is considered the tallest unclimbed mountain on Earth. Bhutan bans mountaineering above 6,000 meters to respect local spiritual beliefs. Dense forest still covers more than 70 percent of the country.

Highlights:

🌄 Admire Himalayan panoramas from Dochula Pass’ 108 chortens
🎉 Join a colorful Buddhist festival at Punakha Dzong
🏔️ Hike to the cliffside Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Paro

Iya Valley

Vine bridges, deep gorges and mountain hot springs

7.8

The Iya Valley cuts a steep, V shaped gorge through the mountains of Shikoku. Vine bridges, woven from local vines and reinforced steel, once provided the main crossing over the river. Legend says defeated warriors fled here after a 12th century civil war. Thatched roof farmhouses still dot the remote hillsides today.

Highlights:

♨️ Relax in the soothing hot springs of Oboke
⛰️ Hike Mount Tsurugi, Shikoku’s second highest peak
🌉 Cross the historic vine bridges swaying above river

Okinawa Island

Reef beaches and Ryukyu Kingdom heritage

8.4

Coral reefs ring this southern Japanese island chain in shades of turquoise and blue. Kerama Islands nearby hold some of the clearest water in the region. Divers can spot sea turtles feeding along the shallow reef edges. Traditional Ryukyu culture still shapes the islands' food, music and architecture.

Highlights:

🏖️ Relax on white sands of Emerald and Zanpa Beaches
🏯 Explore historic Shuri Castle, former Ryukyu Kingdom palace
🐋 Visit Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, home to whale sharks

Kusatsu-Onsen

Steaming hot water field and bath hopping

8.1

Kusatsu produces more hot spring water than any other town in Japan. At its center, the Yubatake channels scalding volcanic water through wooden chutes to cool. Steam and a strong sulfur smell hang over the town's central square. Workers once stirred the water with long paddles in a ritual called yumomi.

Highlights:

🌿 Relax in open-air baths at Sainokawara Park
🎍 Watch a traditional Yumomi hot water cooling show
♨️ Admire the steaming Yubatake hot spring field in the center of town

Furano

Lavender fields and powder snow in Hokkaido

8.1

Furano's lavender fields bloom into vivid purple rows each July. Farms here line the hills in neat, color coded strips of flowers. Nearby Biei adds a patchwork of wheat, potato and flower fields to the scenery. The same slopes turn into powder snow ski runs once winter arrives.

Highlights:

🎿 Ski on Furano’s world-class powder snow slopes
🏡 Stroll through charming Ningle Terrace craft village
💜 Visit vibrant lavender fields at Farm Tomita

Noboribetsu

Steaming hell valley and nine spring types

8.5

Jigokudani (Hell Valley) steams with sulfurous vents across this Hokkaido hot spring town. Volcanic activity below feeds dozens of onsen baths throughout the area. Visitors can walk boardwalks close to the bubbling, mineral-stained ground. Snow monkeys sometimes soak in nearby hot pools during the coldest months.

Highlights:

🐻 Meet Japanese macaques at the Noboribetsu Bear Park
🌋 Walk through the steaming volcanic valley of Jigokudani
♨️ Soak in natural hot springs at Noboribetsu Onsen resort

Takachiho

Rowboat gorge and shrines of Japanese myth

7.1

A narrow gorge cuts through basalt cliffs formed by ancient lava flows in Kyushu. Manai Falls drops nearly 17 meters into the gorge's green water below. Visitors can paddle rowboats along the gorge beneath the towering rock walls. Shrines nearby honor myths said to have originated in this valley.

Highlights:

⛩️ Visit Amano Iwato Shrine, said to be the cave of the sun goddess
🛶 Walk through the mystical Takachiho Gorge and row a boat on its river
🕺🏻 Watch the Takachiho Kagura night dance performance at Takachiho Shrine

Bavaria

Alps, castles, beer gardens and old towns

8.6

Zugspitze, Germany's tallest peak, rises above the Bavarian Alps near the Austrian border. A cable car climbs nearly 2,000 meters to reach its glacier capped summit. Konigssee, a narrow alpine lake nearby, sits surrounded by sheer limestone cliffs. Its still, clear water is often compared to a Norwegian fjord.

Highlights:

🚗 Drive the scenic Romantic Road through medieval towns
🍺 Join Oktoberfest in Munich and raise a stein with locals
🏰 Explore Neuschwanstein Castle, the fairytale icon of Bavaria

Fuji

Mountain views, paper mills and fresh shirasu

7.7

Mount Fuji rises as a nearly perfect symmetrical volcanic cone above the surrounding plains. Its last eruption occurred more than 300 years ago, in the early 1700s. Thousands of pilgrims still climb its slopes during the short official summer season. Snow caps the summit for most of the year, framing classic postcard views.

Highlights:

🌸 Enjoy plum blossoms and Fuji views in Iwamotoyama Park
🏞️ Take a relaxed walk along the Fuji River
🏮 Explore the historic Tokaido post town of Yoshiwara

Maldives

Coral atolls, lagoons and overwater villas

9.2

Bioluminescent plankton light up the shallows around Vaadhoo Island after dark. The glowing waves earned the beach the nickname Sea of Stars. Visitors can wade in at night to watch the water spark with each step. Coral atolls elsewhere in the chain draw divers to their drop-offs.

Highlights:

🌌 Watch a glowing beach at night on Vaadhoo Island
🦈 Snorkel with reef sharks and manta rays at Hanifaru Bay
🏝️ Stay in an overwater villa surrounded by turquoise lagoon

Niseko

Hokkaido powder snow and four linked resorts

8.2

Powder snow falls here in some of the heaviest volumes recorded in Japan. Cold air crossing the Sea of Japan drops fine, dry snow through winter. Skiers can ride multiple linked resorts across the same mountain range. Onsen baths nearby offer a hot soak after a day on the slopes.

Highlights:

🚵‍♀️ Explore mountain biking trails in Twin Peaks Bike Park
🧗‍♂️ Take a thrilling zipline ride at Hanazono Resort
🎿 Ski or snowboard on world-class powder snow

Kagoshima

Volcano views, samurai history and black pork

7.7

Kagoshima sits directly across the bay from Sakurajima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes. Ash from regular eruptions occasionally dusts the city's streets. Ferries cross the bay constantly, connecting the mainland to the volcano's base. Hot sand baths near Ibusuki use heat drawn straight from the ground.

Highlights:

🌄 Watch city and volcanic views from Shiroyama Observatory
🌋 Take ferry to active volcano Sakurajima and explore trails
🏯 Tour Sengan-en garden with views of Sakurajima volcano

Karuizawa

Cool highland resort at the foot of Asama

7.5

Karuizawa sits at a cool, high elevation beneath the volcanic peak of Mount Asama. Japanese nobility and foreign missionaries turned it into a mountain retreat in the 1880s. Thick forest and quiet lakeshores still define much of the surrounding countryside. Shiraito Falls nearby spreads water thinly across a wide, curved rock face.

Highlights:

💧 Visit Shiraito Falls and admire its delicate cascades
🛍️ Shop at Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza’s upscale outlets
🚴‍♀️ Cycle through the forested paths of the Kyu-Karuizawa area

Shodoshima

Japan's olive island with a tidal sandbar

7.8

Angel Road, a sandbar, appears twice daily between this Japanese island and a smaller islet. Couples walk across at low tide, believing it grants good luck. Olive groves cover much of the island's hillsides, a rarity in Japan. A cable car climbs Mount Kankakei for views over the Seto Inland Sea.

Highlights:

🌊 Cross Angel Road’s mystical sandbar at low tide
🌿 Visit Shodoshima Olive Park and see the iconic windmill
🚡 Walk the breathtaking Kankakei Gorge and ride the ropeway

Izu

Shuzenji hot springs, wasabi and Amagi hikes

8.1

The Izu Peninsula juts into the Pacific south of Tokyo, shaped by volcanic activity. Hot springs bubble up across the region, feeding hundreds of traditional bathhouses. Jagged sea cliffs and rock formations line much of its rugged coastline. On clear days, Mount Fuji is visible rising beyond Suruga Bay.

Highlights:

🌸 Walk the Path of Bamboo along Shuzenji's river
💧 Hike to the stunning Joren Waterfall
♨️ Relax in the healing waters of Shuzenji Onsen

Naruto

Whirlpools, bridge walks and ceramic art

7.1

The Naruto Strait churns into some of the largest tidal whirlpools on Earth. Currents here can spin at speeds up to 20 kilometers per hour. Sightseeing boats can pass close to the swirling water for a full view. The Onaruto Bridge above offers a glass-floored walkway looking straight down at the strait.

Highlights:

🖼️ Visit Ōtsuka Museum of Art and see lifelike art reproductions
⛵ Take a sightseeing boat to experience the vortexes up close
🌊 Watch the powerful Naruto whirlpools from the Onaruto Bridge promenade

Beppu

Steaming hot springs and colorful Hells

8.1

Beppu produces more hot spring water than anywhere else across all of Japan. Its famous jigoku (hells) are boiling ponds colored by different mineral deposits. One pond glows a striking cobalt blue from dissolved silica. Steam rises constantly from vents scattered across the city's hillsides.

Highlights:

🏖️ Try a traditional sand bath at Beppu Beach Sand Bath
🌋 Watch the spectacular steam vents rise at Umi Jigoku
♨️ Bathe in the famous Beppu hot springs known as “onsen hells”

Kurokawa Onsen

Riverside bath hopping in a Kumamoto valley

8.8

Riverside hot spring baths sit tucked between thatched-roof ryokan in this Japanese mountain town. Steam rises from the outdoor pools even as snow falls in winter. Visitors can buy a pass allowing entry to several different baths in one visit. Wooden walkways link the inns along the narrow river gorge.

Highlights:

🏮 Enjoy seasonal lantern festivals lighting the village
👘 Stroll the charming streets in traditional yukata robes
♨️ Use the wooden pass for onsen hopping across baths

Yufuin Onsen

Lakeside onsen town below Mount Yufu

8.4

Steam rises off Lake Kinrin's surface on cold mornings in this Japanese hot spring town. Mount Yufu's twin peaks stand behind the lake as a backdrop. Visitors can soak in outdoor baths with direct views of the mountain. Small shops and ryokan line the streets leading toward the lake.

Highlights:

🌅 Take a morning walk around tranquil Lake Kinrin
🛍️ Stroll along Yufuin’s picturesque Yunotsubo Kaido shopping street
🛀 Bathe in a private open-air onsen with mountain views

Mount Fuji

Japan's highest peak and sacred volcano

This near-perfect cone rises 3,776 meters above the plains near Tokyo. Snow covers its upper slopes most of the year, framing classic photographs. Climbers can summit during the short official season from July to September. Lake Kawaguchiko nearby offers a mirrored view of the peak below.

Highlights:

🚣‍♀️ Explore Lake Kawaguchi with stunning views of Mount Fuji
🚠 Take a scenic ride on the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
🌄 Climb to the summit for sunrise views and achievement

Extraordinary natural wonders and scenic landscapes