Kanto

Kanto

Subterranean flood water diversion channel with towering concrete columns and dramatic lighting. Some hiking
Saitama

G-Cans : Japan’s Underground Temple

Some crowds
Half day (tour itself is very short; only ~10 minutes inside the main tank, but include travel time and pre-tour video/exhibition).
Captivating rock sculptures resembling human forms in Habushiura Natural Park. Easy walk
Izu Islands

Niijima: The Island of Lava Cascades

Some crowds
Full day for the main viewpoints + sights (or 1–2 days if pairing with nearby Shikinejima)
Discover the raw beauty of Oshima Islands volcanic landscape with Mt. Miharas dramatic crater. Hard hike
Izu Islands

Oshima and its Black Desert

Oshima is the largest island in the Izu peninsula. It has an active volcano surrounded by black desert... the only desert in Japan!

Some crowds
Full day (plan 6–9 hours). The crater loop is relatively quick, but crossing/looping around the black desert can take much longer than expected and can make you miss the last boat.
Tranquil sunset at Oarai Isosaki Shrine in Japan, with iconic torii gate. Lively
Ibaraki

Oarai Shrine: Ocean Gateway

Oarai Shrine is also known as Kamiiso no Torii, the Gateway of the Sea God. It was established in 856 but rebuilt in 1690.

New Year Sunrise
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Enchanting Nomizo Waterfall and Cave in Chiba, Japan: A breathtaking natural wonder. Easy walk
Chiba

Nomizo Falls: The Heart of Light

6.30am and Nomizo is quick to reveal itself. Little by little, a streak of light is emerging. Pretty impressive.

Busy
2–3 hours (half-day trip from Tokyo, especially if visiting at sunrise)
Tranquil scene of nature reclaiming historic structure at Futtsu Park in Japan. Off the map
Chiba

Futtsu Park

Futtsu has something special to offer (who’d have thought it!) – a park on a small narrow peninsula. By stretching things a little (6 kilometres anyway), you can reach the seaport of Yokosuka on the other side and make a complete tour of Tokyo Bay.

Difficulty
Risk
Forgotten beauty of Nichitsu Village: nature reclaiming Japans abandoned mining community. Haunting
Saitama

Nichitsu Ghost Town

The abandoned tin-mining village, about 50 km from Chichibu in Saitama, can also be reached from Kofu in Yamanashi.

Difficulty
Risk
Exploring abandoned Western Village ruins in Tochigi, Japan: urban adventure with three women. Haunting
Tochigi

The Abandoned Western Village in Japan

Exploration of the abandoned Western Village in Japan with three girls who enjoyed pretending to be part of a western movie.

Difficulty
Risk
Enchanted forest with majestic giant tree in Chiba, Japan, exuding mystery and tranquility. Wistful
Autumn

The Giant Maple Tree of Oihara

It’s still early and I leave Tokyo before sunrise. I take the long tunnel and the Aqua-Line bridge to the other side of Tokyo Bay, then follow a small mountain road that loses me somewhere in the heart of Chiba prefecture.

Autumn Foliage
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