The museum showcases the lifelong work of artist Itchiku Kubota (1917-2003), who revived the lost Muromachi-era tsujigahana dyeing technique for kimonos. Over 100 vibrant, nature-inspired silk garments form the “Symphony” series, displayed in a striking pyramid-like main hall of ancient cypress beams and a Gaudí-inspired coral stone wing.
The lake is the second largest of the Fuji Five Lakes in Yamanashi Prefecture, sitting at Mount Fuji’s northern base and renowned for its stunning reflections of the iconic peak, especially during cherry blossom season or autumn foliage. Formed by volcanic activity, it spans approximately 15.3 square kilometres at 833 meters elevation, supporting boating, fishing, and watersports.
The resort overlooks the largest Fuji Five Lake, nicknamed Swan Lake for its graceful birds, in Yamanashi Prefecture. Multi-level maisonette rooms feature wood or garden views, twin beds or futons, with mini kitchen in each room. Amenities include a bath (not onsen), kids’ games room, and BBQ area.
The resort nestles at Mount Fuji’s foothills by Lake Kawaguchi, blending Japanese tradition with modern comforts. Guests enjoy panoramic lake and Fuji views from spacious rooms. Onsite highlights include public onsen baths, sauna, restaurant, BBQ area, kids’ games room and free bike rentals (seasonal).
The pagoda is a striking five-story vermilion structure in Fujiyoshida City and serves as a peace memorial built in 1963 within Arakurayama Sengen Shrine grounds. Perched 400 steps up Mount Arakura, it honours fallen soldiers from World War II and earlier conflicts. Its Edo-period-inspired architecture frames breathtaking views of snow-capped Mount Fuji, especially amid 800 cherry blossoms in spring or autumn foliage.
It is a historic arch bridge spanning the Katsura River gorge in Ōtsuki City. Designated a Place of Scenic Beauty, it exemplifies the rare hanebashi cantilever design with beams anchored into cliff faces, eliminating central supports. Dating to the Edo Period as part of the Kōshū Kaidō highway, its elegant structure inspired ukiyo-e prints by Hiroshige and Hokusai. Legends claim monkeys bridged the chasm, earning its “monkey bridge” name.
The lake is the largest and highest-elevation lake among the Fuji Five Lakes, lies closest to Mount Fuji at 980 metres above sea level. Formed by ancient lava flows, its shallow waters support boating, fishing, windsurfing, camping, and paragliding. Stunning Fuji reflections grace its shores, especially during “Diamond Fuji” sunrises.
It is a historic hot spring resort, known as a “treasure trove” with 11 distinct spring sources and diverse mineral properties, some with skin-beautifying effects. Nestled in a picturesque valley within Nikko National Park, the area features numerous suspension bridges, over 70 waterfalls, and lush hiking trails ideal for autumn foliage viewing.
Nasu Safari Park offers an immersive drive-through experience with around 700 animals from 70 species roaming freely. Visitors can use their own car, rent one, or ride the special “Lion Bus” to see animals up close. A key highlight is feeding herbivores like giraffes and elephants, and even giving meat to lions and tigers through a protective mesh.
The museum is a beautiful stone building inspired by traditional English manor houses. It houses an extensive collection of 19th-century antique stained glass from Britain, filling the interior with vibrant, colourful light. Visitors can enjoy daily pipe organ and music box performances within its three chapels, creating a serene, medieval European atmosphere.
The Nasu Ropeway offers easy access to Mount Chausu (1,915 m), the highest and only active volcano in the Nasu mountain range. A four-minute aerial ride takes visitors to the 9th station, where panoramic views of the Kanto Plain and volcanic smoke are visible. From the top station, it is a roughly 40 to 50-minute hike to the summit. The scenery changes beautifully with the seasons, from spring azaleas to stunning autumn foliage.
Nasu Animal Kingdom is a sprawling theme park divided into the indoor “Kingdom Town” and the scenic “Kingdom Farm.” It offers immersive encounters with over 600 animals, including red pandas, capybaras, and Pallas’s cats. Visitors can enjoy spectacular bird-of-prey shows and feed farm animals while taking in panoramic views of the Nasu Highlands.
Nasu Highland Park is the largest amusement park in the northern Kanto region, nestled in the scenic landscapes of Tochigi. It offers over 40 attractions, including 10 roller coasters, making it a paradise for thrill-seekers and families. The park is uniquely pet-friendly, with specific rides and cafes designed for both visitors and their dogs.
The resort nestles at the foot of Mount Nasu within Nikko National Park. This serene retreat offers spacious apartments amid volcanic highlands, featuring barbecue areas, public onsen hot springs, and children’s facilities for family relaxation. Guests enjoy nearby hiking, cheese farms, and craft beers in this nature-rich escape.
The shrine dates to around 710 AD, founded when a fisherman caught a divine wooden statue in his nets, leading to its establishment under a sacred camphor tree. Renowned for its 2,000-year-old camphor tree – a National Natural Monument with a 23.9-meter trunk circumference – believed to grant longevity (one circumambulation adds a year to life). This power spot enshrines gods of fortune, health, and nature, drawing pilgrims via forested paths.
A vast 10,000-hectare highland at Mount Fuji’s southwest base in Fujinomiya City, it enchants with misty mornings, lush pastures, and dairy farms producing fresh milk and cheese. At 800-900 metres elevation, it offers stunning Fuji vistas, ranches for animal interactions, camping at Lake Tanukiko, hiking, zip lines, and cycling amid ranches like Fuji Milk Land.
This natural wonder captivates as one of Japan’s most beautiful waterfalls. This 150-metre-wide, 20-metre-high cascade resembles delicate white silk threads tumbling from a lava cliff, fed by pristine Fuji snowmelt in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage site and Natural Monument since 1936. Year-round scenic walks, bridges, and Mt. Fuji views draw visitors, with peak flow in spring and summer.
A modern replica built in 1959 atop Nishikigaura Mountain in Atami City, the castle mimics Momoyama-period architecture despite no historical predecessor. This five-story concrete tower serves as a panoramic observatory 160 metres above sea level, offering stunning 360-degree views of Sagami Bay, Atami coastline, and distant landmarks like Tokyo Skytree on clear days. Inside, museums showcase Edo-period artifacts, samurai armor, swords, and erotic ukiyo-e prints, with cherry blossoms blooming in spring gardens.
The resort complements the main Club Wyndham Sundance Izu-Kogen resort on Japan’s scenic Izu Peninsula, offering serene, spacious rooms with modern comforts like air conditioning, select kitchenettes, and refrigerators for a home-like feel. Guests indulge in relaxing onsens, saunas, and thoughtful amenities including a lounge, games room, and on-site restaurant serving breakfast and dinner.
The resort provides a serene escape on Japan’s Izu Peninsula, featuring comfortable rooms with modern amenities and stunning coastal views. Guests enjoy relaxing public onsens, sauna, spacious gardens, barbecue areas, games room, and an onsite restaurant, blending Japanese tradition with leisure.
The resort offers a coastal retreat along Atami Bay, blending Japanese tradition with modern comforts in elegantly appointed rooms featuring ocean views. Guests relax in a therapeutic public onsen with famed hot springs, enjoy gourmet dining highlighting local flavours, seaside barbecues, and amenities like a lounge, children’s room, games room, and pet-friendly options (conditions apply).
Echigo-Yuzawa Onsen Town thrives as a vibrant winter resort, just 80 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo. Famous for heavy snowfall and over 1,000 years of hot spring history, it boasts alkaline waters soothing muscles and skin in ryokans, public baths, and unique sake-infused onsens at Ponshukan.
Known as Yuzawa Museum of History and Folklore, the museum immerses visitors in the “Snow Country” world of Nobel laureate Yasunari Kawabata’s famous novel set in Yuzawa. Housed in a traditional keyaki wood gabled farmhouse, it displays artifacts from Jomon period sites, folk tools, and recreated rooms like heroine Komako’s.
The Echigo Sake Museum at Echigo-Yuzawa Station celebrates Niigata’s status as Japan’s top sake-producing prefecture. Housed in the CoCoLo Yuzawa facility, it showcases over 90 local breweries with interactive exhibits on brewing history, rice varieties, and Echigo toji master brewers. Visitors sample 100+ sakes at Kikizake Bansho, enjoy sake baths, and shop souvenirs like sake-infused sweets.
Futai Dam, often enjoyed as part of the scenic Futaiko lakeside area, is a rock-fill dam on the Kiyotsu River. Rising 87 metres, it forms an emerald-green reservoir sometimes called Lake Futai, framed by Naeba’s forested mountains that glow with autumn colors. The dam serves as the lower reservoir for the Oku-Kiyotsu pumped-storage power station and can be viewed from Naeba Dragondola and nearby scenic routes.
Naeba Dragondola is Japan’s longest gondola lift at 5,481 metres, connecting Naeba Ski Resort to Tashiro Ski Resort. Named for its dragon-spine-like path over mountains, it offers panoramic views of Lake Futai, valleys, and forests – vibrant with autumn foliage or winter snow. Popular for skiing access and year-round sightseeing.
The ski resort ranks among the nation’s largest, spanning 134 hectares with 24 varied runs for all skill levels. Connected by a 5.5 km gondola to Kagura Ski Resort, it offers 46 km of total skiing terrain, snow parks, and family activities.
The resort offers a cosy base for ski adventures at Naeba Ski Resort, just minutes away. This family-friendly property features spacious suites with panoramic mountain views, blending Japanese tradition and modern comfort, including heated floors and a laundry facility. Guests enjoy on-site dining with local cuisine and a lounge. It is located approximately 80 minutes from Tokyo by train.
A traditional Japanese Ryokan resort in scenic Nagano, blends Western and authentic Japanese styles across its 36 rooms. Guests enjoy indoor and outdoor onsens with natural hot spring water renowned for skin benefits, meticulously prepared meals featuring Shinshu specialties and seasonal local ingredients, and amenities like a cocktail bar, karaoke, gardens, and banqueting halls for up to 130 people.
