Japan

Japan

Nobeyama Radio Observatory in the Japanese Alps: Pioneering Astronomy Research. Easy walk
Autumn

Nobeyama Radio Observatory

While I was driving around in Nagano, I noticed a huge parabolic antenna lost in the middle of the mountains.

Some crowds
2–3 hours (half-day if you want to see all antenna areas and take photos)
Tranquil Japanese alleyway at night with historic architecture, lush greenery, and a red bicycle. Off the map
Japan

16 Best Abandoned Places in Japan 2014

Here are my best 16 explorations of abandoned places in Japan in 2014.

Difficulty
Risk
Tranquil snowy night in Roppongi, Tokyo, with vibrant yellow bike covered in snow. Frosty
Japan

Snow Storm in Roppongi

The snow falls every year in Tokyo. Once. This year again, it's been snowing. But twice, violently, and the snow was going with a a strong and freezing north wind.

Tokyo Snowfall
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Tranquil beauty of Tottori Sand Dunes. Frosty
Chugoku

Tottori Dunes in the Snow

What about a walk along the Dunes of Tottori under snow?

Snowy Dunes
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Snowy Shirakawa-go: UNESCO village with enchanting gassho-zukuri houses in Japan. Luminous
Chubu

A Winter in Shirakawa-gō

The Shirakawa-go town is only illuminated on select evenings in winter so don’t go there without looking into it beforehand!

Winter Illumination
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Stone arch in Japans tranquil landscape, surrounded by lush greenery and rolling hills. Easy walk
Japan

Okinawa: From Naha To Nago

How can you spend so much time in Japan without ever touching ground in the Ryukyu archipelago? You can’t! This first part is set on the main Okinawa island.

Some crowds
Half day to 1 day (often used mainly as an arrival/base city)
Mount Shirane Easy walk
Autumn

Mount Shirane

After visiting the wonderful Yumi-ike Pond, it’s time to go to the Mount Shirane.

Busy
Half day (3–6 hours) if focusing on the crater viewpoint and short walks; full day if combining nearby ponds (e.g., Maruike Pond) and sunset views.
Tranquil autumn lake with colorful trees, snow-capped mountains, and clear blue sky. Crisp
Autumn

Nagano’s Autumn Cinnamon

Mostly know for his ski resorts, Hakuba's village is also a very nice place to be in the end of autumn. That's where took place 1998's Winter Olympic Games.

Autumn Foliage
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Tranquil autumn scene with boardwalk, birch trees, colorful foliage, and rolling hills. Some hiking
Autumn

Senjōgahara, The Marshland in Fire

In Nikko, when going beyond Lake Chūzenji and beautiful Ryūzu Waterfall, there is another splendid place to discover : the Senjōgahara Marshland (戦場ヶ原).

Some crowds
2–3 hours for the standard loop/boardwalk walk (overnight if attempting the longest trails).