Japan

Japan

Traditional Japanese bathhouse with wooden tubs, natural light, and serene ambiance in Tokyo. Easy walk
Adachi

Tokyo Sento with Stéphanie: Takara-yu

Just follow me and we'll take a bath together, along with my friend Stéphanie. She’s become the ambassador for sento – public bathhouses – so we'll let her choose a good one for us.

Some crowds
2–3 hours (including changing, washing, soaking, and cooling down)
Mount Osore Some hiking
Aomori

Osore-san: Highway to Hell

We march towards the entrance of Mount Osore under the crazy heat.

Some crowds
Half day (about 3–5 hours on site, plus transit); Full day if doing it as a day trip from Aomori/Hachinohe
Kochia Bushes in Full Bloom at Hitachi Seaside Park, Japan. Vibrant
Autumn

Hitachi Seaside Park in Autumn

I am not always fair with Ibaraki Prefecture. I always say that there is not much to it besides the occasional haikyo, but it actually does have its charms.

Autumn Cosmos
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Exploring the abandoned beauty of Gunkanjima, Japans haunted Battleship Island. Haunting
Japan

Gunkanjima: Photos & Stories

Abandoned in 1974, the Battleship Island (Gunkanjima) turned into the Ghost Island and soon became one of the most famous spot for urban exploration.

Difficulty
Risk
Majestic Guardian Rock Formations: Ebisu & Daikoku in a Coastal Setting. Easy walk
Hokkaido

Ebisu Iwa & Daikoku Iwa

Turn your head to the right and there’s a surprise: the handsome rocks of Ebisu and Daikoku basking in the Sea of Japan.

Quiet
1-2 hours (or a short stop on a Shakotan Peninsula / Otaru day trip)
Mount Fujis Serene Tea Fields: Captivating Beauty Easy walk
Chubu

Green Tea Fields at Mount Fuji

You can visit a very pleasant spot very near Mount Fuji to appreciate the fields of green tea. Best to go in spring, early in the morning.

Some crowds
Half day (3–5 hours) for sunrise/early-morning photos and a visit to a nearby tea farm; Full day if combining with Hakone.
Winter scene in Roppongi, Tokyo with snow-covered branches and crimson berries creating enchanting beauty. Luminous
Japan

The Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

I have been taken short notice once again by the early bloom of the cherry trees and I had to figure out an urgent day to wander the Tokyo streets and find nice scenes.

Cherry Blossom Peak
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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
235+ Adventures to explore
Wooden cat sculpture with raised paws at Unrin-ji Temple entrance in Japan Yamaguchi Exploring abandoned Western Village ruins in Tochigi, Japan: urban adventure with three women. Tochigi Octagon Tunnel Kumamoto Stone path lined with red-bibbed Jizo statues at Kongōrin-ji Temple in Japan Japan Turquoise cove and rugged limestone cliffs on Miyako Island under a bright blue sky. Okinawa Browse All → Every adventure in one place