Japan isn’t just about tech and cities. It has still managed to preserve some of the stunning natural and historical structures valuable to the world. Here are 12 of them that you should see ASAP.
1. Sagano Bamboo Forest, In Arashiyama
https://500px.com/photo/105765935/the-bamboo-forest-by-peter-stewart
On CNN, it was referred to as One of the most beautiful groves on Earth. The Ministry of the Environment included the Sagano Bamboo Forest on its list of “100 Soundscapes of Japan”.
2. Fields Of Shibazakura
https://500px.com/photo/152673597/two-mountain-by-quan-doan
About 800,000 Shibazakura or moss flox bloom in an expansive site at the base of Mt. Fuji.
3. Hitachi Seaside Park
https://500px.com/photo/86263409/kochia-by-totomai-martinez
https://500px.com/photo/99596107/the-blue-universe-by-hiroki-kondo
Covering an area of 190 hectares, the park features blooming flowers around the year. The park has become known for its baby blue-eyes flowers, with the blooming of 4.5 million of the translucent-petaled blue flowers in the spring drawing tourists. In addition to the annual “Nemophila Harmony”, the park features a million daffodils, 170 varieties of tulips, and many other flowers.
4. Wisteria Tunnel At Kawachi Fuji Gardens
https://500px.com/photo/71085805/flower-and-samurai-3-by-tristan-joe-emoto
Wisteria is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family. Kawachi Fuji Garden is home to an incredible 150 Wisteria flowering plants spanning 20 different species. The garden’s main attraction is the Wisteria tunnel that allows visitors to walk down an enchanting tunnel exploding with colour.
5. Natadera Temple In Winter
https://500px.com/photo/73872897/winter-in-natadera-by-anderson-sato
The Natadera Temple is the head temple of the Shingon Sector and was established in A.D.717 by Priest Taicho with cedar trees and camellias over few hundred years old inside this 231,000 m2 area.
6. Blue Pond In Hokkaido
https://500px.com/photo/43607410/blue-pond-by-hiroaki-sawada
It’s an artificial pond created when a dam was erected to protect the region from mudflows that might occur from the nearby volcano on Mt. Tokachi. The blue color of the pond has not been fully explained but is attributed to the presence of aluminum hydroxide in the water that reflects the shorter wavelength blue light the same way the earth’s atmosphere does.
7. Koya-San
https://500px.com/photo/129284965/great-stupa-by-dean-wormald
Koya-san or Mount Koya is the most important site in Shingon Buddhism, a sect that has been practiced in Japan since 805 when it was introduced by Kobo Daishi.
8. Fushimi Inari-taisha
https://500px.com/photo/67487073/famous-torii-of-fushimi-inari-shrine-by-maurice-dudley
Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan. Since early Japan, Inari was seen as the patron of business, and merchants and manufacturers have traditionally worshipped Inari. Each of the torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha is donated by a Japanese business. First and foremost, though, Inari is the god of rice.
9. Nakasendo Walk
https://500px.com/photo/94518235/old-town-on-nakasendo-by-kevin-kelly
The Nakasendo trail linked Kyoto to Tokyo during Japan’s feudal period. It was the road through the mountains travelled by feudal lords and their retinues, samurai, merchants, and travelers.
10. The Pagoda Of Seigantoji And Nachi No Taki Waterfall
https://500px.com/photo/118933787/seiganto-ji-pagoda-on-a-rainy-day-by-hugo-tremoliere
Seiganto-ji Temple of the Blue Waves, is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. In 2004, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to a legend, it was founded by a monk from India. The temple was purposely built near Nachi Falls, where it may have previously been a site of nature worship.
11. Chureito Pagoda And Mount Fuji
https://500px.com/photo/153102043/japan-beautiful-landscape-mountain-fuji-and-chureito-red-pagoda-with-cherry-blossom-sakura-by-sakarin-sawasdinaka
The Chureito Pagoda is possibly one of the most photographed pagoda in Japan. Not because it has a particularily great notoriety but rather due to the fantastic view of mount Fuji in the background.
12. Jigokudani Monkey Park (Nagano)
The steaming springs set in a snowy mountain may be scenic, but travelers come here to see something else – the hot spring monkeys.
Sources: 500px.com, wikipedia.org