Nature

Japan's nature spots range from subarctic forest in Hokkaido to subtropical coastline in Okinawa, and the country's mountainous geography means dramatic scenery is rarely far from a train line — gorges, waterfalls, volcanic craters and cedar forests sit within day-trip range of most major cities. What distinguishes a Japanese nature spot from a generic viewpoint is usually the degree of care taken with access: a maintained boardwalk through a marsh, a funicular up a gorge, a designated photo point at a waterfall, because these places have been visited by hikers and pilgrims for centuries rather than discovered recently.

Before visiting, check the season deliberately rather than assuming year-round access. Many mountain trails and alpine routes close for snow between November and April or May; conversely, some of the country's best-known gorges and forests are built around a single autumn-foliage or fresh-green window a few weeks long. Bring cash for parking and small admission fees at prefectural and national parks, and expect mobile signal to drop away from the trailhead.

Nature spots concentrate most heavily in Hokkaido's national parks, the Japan Alps spanning Nagano, Gifu and Toyama, the volcanic belt running through Kyushu (Aso, Kirishima, Sakurajima), and the Tohoku region's beech forests and gorges. Coastal and island nature — sea cliffs, coral reefs, subtropical forest — is concentrated in Okinawa and the smaller islands off Kagoshima and Shizuoka.