Mt. Fuji is undoubtedly one of the most famous mountains in the world. It's not that tall, but it's symmetric shape rising from a surrounding area which is practically at sea level is definitely impressive. However, as a tourist attraction, Mt. Fuji is remarkably difficult to get good views of. Often, the mountain is obscured by clouds or haze. I've gotten the best views in winter or early spring. The left shot was taken from Lake Yamanaka (Yamanakako), one of 5 lakes surrounding Mt. Fuji. The right shot was taken from almost directly overhead on a flight to Okayama. Mt. Fuji is also difficult to get to from Tokyo by car because one must use the famous (or infamous) Chuo Freeway or Tomei Expressway to get there. Both roads are frequently plagued by traffic jams tens of kilometers in length. Best advice: go early. Tolls will amount to about $30 roundtrip.
CLICK HERE TO SEE MT FUJI vidoe
NIKKO
Nikko is a small city at the entrance to Nikko National Park. It is most famous for the Toshogu, Japan's most lavishly decorated shrine complex and mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Nikko has been a center of Shinto and Buddhist mountain worship for many centuries, and Nikko National Park continues to offer scenic, mountainous landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys and hiking trails.
Nikko and the area around Lake Chuzenji, in particular, are well known for their beautiful autumn foliage (koyo). The best times to view the leaves depends on the elevation and year: For Yumoto and Lake Chuzenji it is usually mid October and for central Nikko early to mid November. Nikko is located along Japan's Romantic Road.
YUKUSHIMA ISLAND
Since 1993 Japan has had a number of sites listed by The World Heritage Convention (the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage). This organisation aims to protect the world's important cultural, natural, and composite heritage from destruction or loss. More than 150 countries are part of the Convention and Japan has made a number of recommendations over the years and there are 11 sites that are recoginsed by UNESCO (United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).
The 11 sites include historic monuments of Kyoto, Nara and Nikko, the Genbaku Dome in Hiroshima, Himeji Castle, the villages of Shiragawa and Gokayama, the Shirakami mountains, Itsukushima Shrine, Buddhist monuments in the Horyu-ji area and Gusuku sites and properties of Ryukyu. Another one of the 11 sites is Yakushima, an island on the southern tip of Kyushu which is home to several endemic species of plants and animals and the famous Yakusugi giant cedar tree.
Most visitors to Yakushima go to see the 107 square kilometers (41 square miles) of land, from the western shore to the mountain tops, which was listed as a World Natural Heritage Site in December 1993. Within this 41sq. mile plot of land, extending up to 1,600 meters high (5,249 feet) is a coniferous forest which is home to the famous Yakusugi and some of the world's other oldest trees. The Yakusugi is a type of cedar and the most ancient examples on the island are thought to be between 3,000 - 3,500 years old. One tree, known as the Jomon Sugi, has a diameter of 16.4 meters, which some people believe would make it 7,200 years old. This is one of Yakushima's main symbols and people travel from thousands of miles just to see this and the other Yakusugi trees in the forests.
Yakushima is a good place for hiking, being a mountainous island with more than 30 peaks of 1,000 meters or higher. In the middle of the island, Mt. Miyianoura rises to 1,935 meters (6,360 feet), higher than any mountain in Kyushu. The peaks even get snow during the winter, with Yakushima being the southernmost location for snowfall in Japan. In the summer, waterproof clothing is essential for those venturing into the forests as the average rainfall is high throughout the year.
There are a few hotels on the island, including one large 'resort style' complex, but the rest of the accommodation is basic and functional. There is very little accommodation on the trails themselves, so be warned! If you plan to hike overnight, be prepared to sleep in mountain huts, often without anybody in them and with very little in the way of facilities.
You can spend days hiking over the island or just a few hours on some of the shorter trails. A small part of the island known as Yaku-sugi Land has some less strenuous paths. Tour buses and taxis go from the town of Ambo on the east coast to Yaku-sugi Land - the entrance fee is 300 Yen and you are free to wander along the different paths among the various marked trees. The best time for hiking is during the summer, although the coastal remain warm for most of the year. Camping is possible at a few places in the mountains and around the coast. Getting there:
There are three ways to get to Yakushima - by plane, ferry or hydrofoil. You cannot fly from directly to Yakushima from Tokyo, but there are flights from most major cities in Japan to Kagoshima, where you would need to change to a commuter plane at Kagoshima airport for the short 40 minute flight to Yakushima Island - you should be able to book a seat within Japan that includes the flight from Kagoshima to Yakushima. If you don't want to fly then you can take the hydrofoil from Kagoshima or Miazaki - the journey takes about 90 minutes, but there is limited luggage space. If you are carrying a lot of luggage with you and don't mind a slower trip then take the ferry from either Kagoshima or Miazaki (this takes around 4 hours).
Table of Contents
MANY NATURAL PLACES IN JAPAN
MT FUJI
Mt. Fuji is undoubtedly one of the most famous mountains in the world. It's not that tall, but it's symmetric shape rising from a surrounding area which is practically at sea level is definitely impressive. However, as a tourist attraction, Mt. Fuji is remarkably difficult to get good views of. Often, the mountain is obscured by clouds or haze. I've gotten the best views in winter or early spring. The left shot was taken from Lake Yamanaka (Yamanakako), one of 5 lakes surrounding Mt. Fuji. The right shot was taken from almost directly overhead on a flight to Okayama. Mt. Fuji is also difficult to get to from Tokyo by car because one must use the famous (or infamous) Chuo Freeway or Tomei Expressway to get there. Both roads are frequently plagued by traffic jams tens of kilometers in length. Best advice: go early. Tolls will amount to about $30 roundtrip.
CLICK HERE TO SEE MT FUJI vidoe
NIKKO
Nikko is a small city at the entrance to Nikko National Park. It is most famous for the Toshogu, Japan's most lavishly decorated shrine complex and mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.Nikko has been a center of Shinto and Buddhist mountain worship for many centuries, and Nikko National Park continues to offer scenic, mountainous landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys and hiking trails.
Nikko and the area around Lake Chuzenji, in particular, are well known for their beautiful autumn foliage (koyo). The best times to view the leaves depends on the elevation and year: For Yumoto and Lake Chuzenji it is usually mid October and for central Nikko early to mid November.
Nikko is located along Japan's Romantic Road.
YUKUSHIMA ISLAND
Since 1993 Japan has had a number of sites listed by The World Heritage Convention (the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage). This organisation aims to protect the world's important cultural, natural, and composite heritage from destruction or loss. More than 150 countries are part of the Convention and Japan has made a number of recommendations over the years and there are 11 sites that are recoginsed by UNESCO (United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).
The 11 sites include historic monuments of Kyoto, Nara and Nikko, the Genbaku Dome in Hiroshima, Himeji Castle, the villages of Shiragawa and Gokayama, the Shirakami mountains, Itsukushima Shrine, Buddhist monuments in the Horyu-ji area and Gusuku sites and properties of Ryukyu. Another one of the 11 sites is Yakushima, an island on the southern tip of Kyushu which is home to several endemic species of plants and animals and the famous Yakusugi giant cedar tree.
Most visitors to Yakushima go to see the 107 square kilometers (41 square miles) of land, from the western shore to the mountain tops, which was listed as a World Natural Heritage Site in December 1993. Within this 41sq. mile plot of land, extending up to 1,600 meters high (5,249 feet) is a coniferous forest which is home to the famous Yakusugi and some of the world's other oldest trees. The Yakusugi is a type of cedar and the most ancient examples on the island are thought to be between 3,000 - 3,500 years old. One tree, known as the Jomon Sugi, has a diameter of 16.4 meters, which some people believe would make it 7,200 years old. This is one of Yakushima's main symbols and people travel from thousands of miles just to see this and the other Yakusugi trees in the forests.
Yakushima is a good place for hiking, being a mountainous island with more than 30 peaks of 1,000 meters or higher. In the middle of the island, Mt. Miyianoura rises to 1,935 meters (6,360 feet), higher than any mountain in Kyushu. The peaks even get snow during the winter, with Yakushima being the southernmost location for snowfall in Japan. In the summer, waterproof clothing is essential for those venturing into the forests as the average rainfall is high throughout the year.
There are a few hotels on the island, including one large 'resort style' complex, but the rest of the accommodation is basic and functional. There is very little accommodation on the trails themselves, so be warned! If you plan to hike overnight, be prepared to sleep in mountain huts, often without anybody in them and with very little in the way of facilities.
You can spend days hiking over the island or just a few hours on some of the shorter trails. A small part of the island known as Yaku-sugi Land has some less strenuous paths. Tour buses and taxis go from the town of Ambo on the east coast to Yaku-sugi Land - the entrance fee is 300 Yen and you are free to wander along the different paths among the various marked trees. The best time for hiking is during the summer, although the coastal remain warm for most of the year. Camping is possible at a few places in the mountains and around the coast.
Getting there:
There are three ways to get to Yakushima - by plane, ferry or hydrofoil. You cannot fly from directly to Yakushima from Tokyo, but there are flights from most major cities in Japan to Kagoshima, where you would need to change to a commuter plane at Kagoshima airport for the short 40 minute flight to Yakushima Island - you should be able to book a seat within Japan that includes the flight from Kagoshima to Yakushima. If you don't want to fly then you can take the hydrofoil from Kagoshima or Miazaki - the journey takes about 90 minutes, but there is limited luggage space. If you are carrying a lot of luggage with you and don't mind a slower trip then take the ferry from either Kagoshima or Miazaki (this takes around 4 hours).