Enchanting Graceful Beauty Forest: Elegant trees, warm sunlight, inviting exploration of majestic natural beauty.
Explore the elegant and enchanting beauty of the Graceful Beauty Forest, where sunlight bathes the beech trees in a warm, golden glow.

Bijin Bayashi: The Forest of Pretty Women

Where are these pretty women? In the forest of Bijin Bayashi! And they’re everywhere! Above, below, and all around you.

Where are these pretty women? In the forest of Bijin Bayashi (美人林)! And they’re everywhere! Above, below, and all around you. Will you succumb to their graceful forms, losing yourself in their radiant tresses?

autumn, forest, natural, nature, tokamachi

This beech forest at Tokamachi city, Niigata prefecture, is quite compact and can be visited in a morning. There’s a car park, an entrance, and a path running through the trees, which were planted about 90 years ago.

The most beautiful forest in Japan?

Rare bird species nest here and many birdwatchers come to study them. Keep your eyes peeled! They’re really worth a look, especially the Oriental dollarbird and the ruddy kingfisher.

autumn, forest, natural, nature, tokamachi

Some say this is the most beautiful forest in Japan. Others compare it with the Arashiyama bamboo forest. I won’t keep my favourite forest a secret from you though: it’s still Aokigahara (the famous suicide forest), much larger, mysterious and above all, as mossy as you could wish. But Bijin Bayashi is more joyful, colourful, and especially much better suited to strolling around. By the way, when you’re there, why not play a little game?

autumn, forest, natural, nature, tokamachi

A little game

Look around the forest for the views I’m showing you here. They’re all off the path, to the right, just before you reach the pond. Let’s start with Bandy Legs.

autumn, forest, natural, nature, tokamachi

Here’s Monkfish Moss.

autumn, forest, natural, nature, tokamachi

More difficult: Tintin’s Spider. If you find any of these, share your pictures in the comments!

autumn, forest, natural, nature, pond, tokamachi

Here’s the pond, with its reflections of the long legs of these beech-women. And a last little scene to discover: The Rooted Woman. A tree whose outsize roots vein the mossy ground.

autumn, forest, natural, nature, pond, tokamachi

This little game will take you less than twenty minutes. Maybe I should carry on with the idea in future articles – what do you think?  🙂

animal, autumn, fish, forest, natural, nature, pond, tokamachi

Incidentally, bijin means pretty woman and bayashi forest 🙂  So now you know! Niigata prefecture is off the tourist trail but count on me to introduce you to other cool spots. If you love forests, I’d also direct you to my article on The Giant Maple Tree of Oihara.

And for more awesome content about Japan, follow Jordy Meow on Instagram ! 🎵

Who Am I

Jordy Meow
This is me!

I am Jordy Meow, a French photographer based in Tokyo. I explore offbeat places in Japan.

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Pruned pine whispers calm, Old wood meets azure blue skies, Mountains hug the past. 切りそろえた松の静けさ 古木と青空、出会う 山々に抱かれた過去 #offbeatjapan #japan #traditionalvillage #woodenarchitecture #serenescenes #historicjapan #natureandheritage
Eternal blue mist, Torii guards the ocean's breath, Whispers from the past.永遠の青霧 鳥居が海の息を守る 過去からのささやき#ToriiSpirit #CoastalJapan #SacredSeas #VolcanicRocks #BlueDusk #offbeatjapan #japan
Scarlet sea of brush, Winding path through fire ablaze, Beneath blue whispers. ---紅色の絨毯、 火に包まれた道、 青空の下。---#HitachiSeasidePark #kochia #floralwonderland #vibrantjapan #offbeatjapan #naturelovers #japan
Winter's hushed embrace, Blue snow hides the sacred glow— Golden lights whisper. ---冬の静けさ 青い雪が隠す 金の灯の囁き---#wintersilence #japanesewinter #shintoshrine #snowymystery #sacredglow #goldenlight #offbeatjapan #japan
Quiet rabbit rests, Moss blankets dreams in sunlight, Echoes of the past. 静かなウサギ、 苔に夢を託し、 過去の声が響く。  #RabbitIsland #Ōkunoshima #NatureLovers #HistoricJapan #MossyDreams #OffbeatJapan #Japan
Orange leaves whisper, Midst shaded greens and shadows— Nature's secret glow.---オレンジの葉 緑と影の中— 自然の秘密の輝き。---#koyo #autumnleaves #forestvibes #naturephotography #offbeatjapan #japan #hiddenbeauty
Sunset paints the sky, Volcanic peak stands aglow— Nature's quiet grace. 日が沈む空、 輝く火山の頂— 自然の静かな恵み。 #offbeatjapan #japan #volcaniclandscape #sunsetglow #naturelovers #ruraljapan #hiddenbeauty #mountainmagic
Graffiti whispers, Youth dance in vivid colors— Tokyo's heart beats on. グラフィティはささやき、 若者が鮮やかな色で踊る— 東京の心が打つ。 #offbeatjapan #tokyostyle #harajuku #japan #streetart #urbanvibes #fashionexpression