山・自然

Step off the shuttle bus at Tatamidaira (2,702m) and the world transforms: a sea of clouds stretches to the horizon, 3,000-meter peaks pierce the sky, and the air carries a purity that only exists above the treeline. This is Mount Norikura—a massive volcanic complex of 23 peaks, 7 lakes, and 8 plateaus at the southern […]

Tojinbo’s columnar joint sea cliffs exist at this scale in only three places on earth — here in Fukui, at Mount Kumgang in Korea, and along Norway’s coast. Formed by volcanic activity 13 million years ago, these pyroxene andesite columns rise 25 meters above the Sea of Japan and stretch for a full kilometer along

Located at the western edge of Asahikawa City, Hokkaido, where the Ishikari River winds through the mountains, lies Kamui Kotan. In the Ainu language, “Kamui Kotan” means “the place where gods dwell,” and this land has been revered as a sacred site by the Ainu people since ancient times. The Ishikari River flows as rapids

Located in the heart of Hokkaido within Daisetsuzan National Park, Sounkyo Gorge is a magnificent canyon formed by a massive eruption of Mount Daisetsu approximately 30,000 years ago. Stretching about 24 kilometers along the Ishikari River, the towering cliffs rise 100 to 200 meters high, overwhelming visitors with their sheer scale. The Ainu people called

Deep within the Shimokita Peninsula lies Mount Osore (Osorezan), one of “Japan’s Three Great Sacred Sites” alongside Mount Hiei and Mount Koya. Said to have been founded in 862 (Jogan 4) by the Buddhist monk Ennin (posthumously known as Jikaku Daishi), this spiritually powerful place boasts over 1,100 years of history. The temple grounds, permeated

Located in Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture, Nachi Falls stands as Japan’s tallest single-drop waterfall, plunging 133 meters with a waterfall basin 10 meters deep. Also known as “Ichi-no-Taki” (First Waterfall), this magnificent cascade has been revered as a sacred site of Kumano worship since ancient times and is enshrined as the sacred body of Hirou

As morning mist rises over Matsushima Bay, more than 260 islands emerge from the water like a mystical painting come to life. This breathtaking scenery, celebrated as one of Japan’s Three Most Beautiful Views (Nihon Sankei), has captivated visitors for over a millennium. More than 260 pine-covered islands dot the bay Matsushima is far more

Japan’s Iconic Active Volcano: Magnificent Natural Energy Mount Aso sits at the heart of Kumamoto Prefecture—an active volcano boasting one of the world’s largest calderas, still sending white plumes into the sky. With Mount Takadake (1,592 meters) as its highest peak, the five peaks of Aso overwhelm visitors with their magnificent presence. White smoke rising