All Seasons

All Seasons

Places to visit any time of year

Akiyoshidai meadows, winding road, distant mountain landscape. Cinematic
Chugoku

Akiyoshidai: Lunar Landscape of Jagged Rocks

Perched at 300 meters in the mountains of Yamaguchi, the Akiyoshidai plateau presents a breathtaking karst landscape of towering limestone formations, majestic cliffs and expansive grassy plains.

Yamayaki Festival
JFMAMJJASOND
Sado Gold Mine Easy walk
Chubu

Sado Mine: The Mountain That Bleeds Gold

Off Niigata, the Sado gold mine: frozen tunnels, the industrial ruins of Kitazawa and the giant gash of Dōyū-no-wareto. A spectacular, uneasy UNESCO site.

Quiet
Half-day
Mossy forest trail at Jinjoji Temple, Japan Some hiking
Chugoku

Jinjo-ji: Ancient Shrine Lost in the Mountains

Deep in the Japanese countryside, you sometimes stumble on places that seem frozen in time. Jinjo-ji temple, in Shimonoseki, is clearly one of them.

Quiet
Half day (allow extra time if you include mountain scenery walks and slow exploration of the garden and grounds)
Yayoi Kusamas captivating sunflower installation immerses visitors. Easy walk
Japan

The Psychedelic Yayoi Kusama Museum in Tokyo

The museum dedicated to the work of artist Yayoi Kusama, opened in 2017 in the heart of Shinjuku, offers a fun experience, sometimes psychedelic and clearly outside of time (and space!).

Quiet
~1h on site. 2-3h including travel within Tokyo.
Rusty Ferris wheel in overgrown abandoned amusement park under blue sky Haunting
Miyagi

Kejonuma: The Ferris Wheel Suspended in Time

A rusting Ferris wheel in the Tohoku countryside is all that remains of Kejonuma Leisure Land. Once a vibrant amusement park, it now stands as a haunting monument to a bygone era.

Difficulty
Risk
Abandoned black two-story house covered in graffiti beneath a bright blue sky Off the map
Japan

The Enigma of the Black House

Back after thrilling adventures, I stand before this house that seems straight out of a feverish dream. Its walls, blackened like the ashes of a fire, are covered with enigmatic messages traced in white or yellow. I waited, observed... then finally dared to enter.

Difficulty
Risk
Vibrant koi fish swims serenely in lush underwater paradise. Photogenic
Chubu

Monet’s Pond: Where Waterlilies and Koi Live Together

Crystal-clear water, waterlilies and koi carp: dive into Monet's Pond, a hidden gem in the heart of Gifu Prefecture.

Waterlily Bloom
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Aerial view of abandoned New Muroto Sky Resort concrete towers above Japan’s coastline Off the map
Kochi

New Muroto Sky Rest: Abandoned at the Summit

Discover the captivating mystery of the New Muroto Skyrest, an abandoned panoramic restaurant in Japan, between fallen ambitions and haunted folklore.

Difficulty
Risk
Dilapidated ropeway station overtaken by flourishing forest. Off the map
Kanto

The Abandoned Okutama Cable Car

Discover the haunting charm of the abandoned Okutama Ropeway in Tokyo, an atmospheric haikyo site where Japan’s past meets nature’s quiet reclamation.

Difficulty
Risk
Low-angle brutalist megastructure tower with weathered metal and stone against gray-blue sky Easy walk
Tokyo

The Arimaston Building: A Handcrafted Corps Buzié

The Arimaston Building, a unique architectural masterpiece in Tokyo, erected by Keisuke Oka with patience and passion over nearly 20 years.

Quiet
~15-30 min on site. Easy detour between Tokyo Tower, Shibaura and Shinagawa.
Scenic Wooden Dock on Tranquil Mountain Lake, Japan Easy walk
Okayama

Manabe-shima: Florian Chavouet’s Island

Manabe-shima, an original little island in the heart of Seto Inland Sea, is also known for its gangs of cats!

Quiet
Full day (or overnight if you want a slower island walk and photo time)
Tranquil Buddha Sculpture Garden, Hanibe Caves, Japan Easy walk
Chubu

The Terrifying Hanibe Caves

The Hanibe Caves harbour some mysterious creatures ... enter if you dare!

Quiet
1-2h on site. Half day round trip from Kanazawa.