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The First-Timer's Japan Guide

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All Places Stories

Park & Garden

Rainbow Line Summit Park

A hilltop park above the five lakes of Mikata in Fukui, reached by lift or cable car, with terraces looking over the lakes and Wakasa Bay.

Mihama · Fukui

Area & Points of Interest

Engetsu Island

A small island off Shirahama in Wakayama with a round hole worn through its middle, which the setting sun passes into around the equinoxes.

Shirahama · Wakayama

National Park

Takachiho Gorge

A gorge in Miyazaki where cliffs of columnar rock rise from the Gokase River, with a waterfall that can be reached by hired boat.

Takachiho · Miyazaki

All Places Stories

Park & Garden

Rainbow Line Summit Park

A hilltop park above the five lakes of Mikata in Fukui, reached by lift or cable car, with terraces looking over the lakes and Wakasa Bay.

Mihama · Fukui

Area & Points of Interest

Engetsu Island

A small island off Shirahama in Wakayama with a round hole worn through its middle, which the setting sun passes into around the equinoxes.

Shirahama · Wakayama

National Park

Takachiho Gorge

A gorge in Miyazaki where cliffs of columnar rock rise from the Gokase River, with a waterfall that can be reached by hired boat.

Takachiho · Miyazaki

National Park

Yakushima Island

Subtropical island with ancient cedar forests and moss-covered landscapes that inspired Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke, designated Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Yakushima · Kagoshima

National Park

Shikotsu-Tōya National Park

Spanning 993 square kilometers in Hokkaido, this national park features volcanic caldera lakes, including Shikotsu and Tōya, along with hot springs and mountain areas.

Niseko · Hokkaido

National Park

Bandai-Asahi National Park

This national park spanning three prefectures offers majestic mountains, forests, lakes including Japan's fourth largest, and hot springs popular in autumn.

National Park

Shiretoko National Park

UNESCO World Heritage site on Hokkaido's remote peninsula with steep cliffs, ancient forests, and wildlife including brown bears and sea eagles.

Shari · Hokkaido