My Top 30 Favorite Places in Japan
(A List in Pictures)
30.09.2001 - 08.10.2012
BGM: 花咲く旅路 (Hanasaku Tabiji) by Yuko Hara
I had a really tough time narrowing this list down to just thirty, since everywhere I go in Japan seems to make my jaw drop in one way or another. But these particular places carved their permanent marks into my soul, like notches on a pilgrim's walking stick. I guess they wanted me to tell you about them. They're listed in order from north to south, the way you'd see them on a map (or as they say around here, "from east to west"). If this blog inspires some of you to come see Japan with your own eyes, then I've done my job properly. (Don't let me down, Folks).
So without further ado:
1. Otaru, Hokkaido （北海道小樽市）
Hand-blown antique glass float
2. Sapporo, Hokkaido （北海道札幌市）
City lights of Susukino district
3. Noboribetsu Hot Springs, Hokkaido (北海道登別温泉）
Steaming hot Oyunumagawa River flowing from volcanic Oyunuma Crater Lake
4. Matsushima, Miyagi (宮城県松島市）
Islets of Matsushima Bay
5. Ginzan Hot Springs, Yamagata （山形県銀山温泉）
This old hot springs village was used as a backdrop for part of NHK's mega TV hit "Oshin!"
6. Kusatsu Hot Springs, Gunma （群馬県草津温泉）
Flowing with the rhythm of the "Yumomi Dance"
7. Mt. Nasu Volcano, Nasu Kogen, Tochigi （栃木県那須岳）
Nothing like hiking up a still-smoking active volcano!
8. Yamatsuri, Fukushima （福島県矢祭町）
Crossing the Ayunotsuri Bridge over the Kuji River
9. Daigo, Ibaraki （茨城県大子町）
Fukuroda Falls in the heat of summer
10. Toride, Ibaraki （茨城県取手市）
Kokai River Sunset
11. Asakusa, Tokyo （東京浅草）
Asakusa Kannon Temple
12. Shinjuku, Tokyo （東京新宿）
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
13. Ueno, Tokyo （東京上野）
Scrumptious offerings for cheap along Ameya Yokocho shopping street
14. Chukagai (Chinatown), Yokohama, Kanagawa （神奈川県横浜市中華街）
Festive lanterns near the main shrine
15. Kamakura, Kanagawa (神奈川県鎌倉市）
Kamakura Daibutsu (Big Buddha)
16. Enoshima, Kanagawa （神奈川県江ノ島）
The Iwaya Caves
17. Echizen Kaigan Coast, Fukui （福井県越前海岸）
A pit-stop on the way to Tojinbo Pillar
18. Obama, Fukui （福井県小浜市）
Closeup of some sand on the main beachfront
19. Nagahama, Shiga （滋賀県長浜市）
Lake Biwa from Kogan Doro Road, Takatsuki Village, Nagahama
20. Hikone, Shiga （滋賀県彦根市）
The outer moat of Hikone Castle, drenched in blooming sakura cherry trees
21. Shigaraki Town, Koka City, Shiga （滋賀県甲賀市信楽町）
Shigaraki no Sato, part of the Shumei Natural Agriculture complex
22. Higashiyama, Kyoto (京都府京都市東山）
Yasaka Pagoda as seen from the base of Ninenzaka Slope
23. Arashiyama, Kyoto （京都府京都市嵐山）
Chikurin bamboo forest near Tenryuji temple
24. Kobe Port, Hyogo （兵庫県神戸湾）
We wanted to ride it but didn't know where it went.
25. Osaka City （大阪市）
Even the food down this street was delicious!
26. Naruto, Tokushima （徳島県鳴門市）
The catwalks under this bridge will give you a view of the Naruto whirlpools -if your timing's good!
27. Iya Village, Tokushima （徳島県祖谷町）
The Yoshino River rushing through Iya Valley, with the Katsurabashi vine bridge in the distance
28. Dogo Hot Springs, Matsuyama City, Ehime （愛媛県松山市道後温泉）
Duelling mikoshi floats for the Dogo Hot Springs festival
29. Beppu City, Oita （大分県別府市）
The skin-soothing mud of Beppu
30. Kita Kyushu, Fukuoka （福岡県北九州市）
Nogita Beach in winter
Posted by GenkiLee 11.10.2012 09:08 Archived in Japan
