Kunozan Toshogu in Shizuoka enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu, the unifier of Japan. Perched above Suruga Bay, this ornate National Treasure shrine can be reached by ropeway or by climbing over 1,000 stone steps — offering both history and breathtaking views.

Tsubosaka Temple in Nara blends Japanese tradition with monumental Indian-style Buddha statues. Known as the “Temple of Healing,” it features a 20-metre Avalokiteshvara statue, a reclining Nirvana Buddha, and sweeping mountain views.

The Maple Yabakei Cycling Road offers a peaceful way to explore Oita’s river valleys, historic bridges, and carved stone tunnels. Even on foot, this former railway route delivers some of the most memorable scenery in the Yabakei area.

The Sado Gold Mine offers a rare look into Japan’s industrial past, with hand-dug tunnels, preserved machinery, and dramatic landscapes shaped by centuries of gold extraction.

From volcanic waterfalls to mountain pass views and autumn reflections at Kumoba Pond, a single day in Karuizawa offered a surprising range of scenery and quiet moments.

Misumi West Port is a Meiji-era harbour town where Western engineering, canals, and stone quays reveal an unexpected chapter of Japan’s industrial history.

A quiet stroll through a reconstructed village at Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba, where traditional thatched houses meet stunning views of Mount Fuji.