The Amagi mountain range in Izu City is one of Japan’s most precipitous areas, with annual rainfall between 3,000 and 4,000 millimeters. This abundant rainfall feeds the springs that nurture Izu’s water wasabi. The beautiful landscape of the tatami-ishi style wasabi fields in this region, its rich ecosystem, and the skillful cultivation techniques have been recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System under the title “Traditional Cultivation of Shizuoka Water Wasabi.” This area boasts the largest cultivation area for water wasabi in Japan, with a history of over 250 years in wasabi farming. Please adhere to the rules when visiting the wasabi fields.
The townscape of the Josai district is woven together with temple and shrine architecture, traditional townhouses, and modern buildings. The building, constructed in 1917 (Taisho 6), is a two-story wooden structure featuring a dome at the front, with intricate decorations on the roof and windows. Each room has a fireplace made of different types of marble, and the building is registered as a cultural property by the national government. The café on the first floor is a lovely space, with walls made of traditional plaster and a high ceiling. Here, you can enjoy “Yōan Coffee,” named after Udagawa Yōan, a Western scholar from Tsuyama who is credited with coining the kanji characters for “coffee.” The townscape of the Josai district, which is a blend of temple and shrine architecture, traditional townhouses, and modern buildings, was selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 2020.
A daimyo (feudal lord) garden where you can enjoy the natural beauty of each season. This strolling garden was created by the second feudal lord of Tsuyama Domain, Mori Nagatsugu, who invited a landscape gardener from Kyoto. It was designed to resemble the Sentō Imperial Palace located within the Kyoto Imperial Garden. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of each season, including cherry blossoms in spring, water lilies in summer, autumn foliage, and snowy landscapes in winter. The garden is now open to the public for free and is visited by many people. In September 2002, it was designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty by the national government under the name “Former Tsuyama Domain Villa Garden (Shurakuen).”
There are three remote islands in Aichi Prefecture: Himakashima, Shinojima, and Sakushima, and they are known as islands that can be reached in a day trip from Nagoya. Himakajima is known as the “octopus island,” where octopus objects can be found throughout the town, and a variety of octopus dishes can be eaten. On the other hand, Shinojima Island is famous for tai and puffer fish, and is closely associated with the Ise Grand Shrine, as goheidai (salted tai) are offered to the shrine every year.
This festival, which was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016 with a history of 300 years, colored the nights of Chichibu with spectacular floats and fireworks. There are numerous legends about the origins of the festival, including that it is an annual meeting between the female deity of the shrine (Myoken Bosatsu = female deity of the Big Dipper and patron god of sericulture) and the male deity of Mount Mukou (Ryujin = male deity of water). Another legend has it that the festival is a way of returning the water that brought about a good harvest to the mountain (Mt Mukou). Fireworks and colourful floats brighten up the night in Chichibu.
A long-established brewery founded in 1753. The brewery was built over 200 years ago and is a nationally designated tangible cultural asset where is well worth to visit. The water which used rainwater that falls in the nearby mountains, soaks deep into the ground, it naturally filtered over a long period of time and gushes out into the city of Chichibu as underground water. You can bring your own bottle to take this famous water away from the shop. You also can taste several types of sake, there are many types of sake available, as well as amazake (sweet sake) and liqueurs in the shop.
The approach to the mountaintop shrine is paved with stone steps that pass through two rows of sugi (cedar) trees which are more than 350 years old. While making your way up to the shrine, make sure to pause at the magnificent five-story pagoda. The natural beauty is striking enough to have earned a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide Japan.
Ine, which is designated as one of the most beautiful villages in Japan. The village is notable for its funaya houses, which are built with space for storing a fishing boat.
Aizuwakamatsu’s old samurai residences evoke an image of a bygone warrior era, and the agrarian scenery of rice paddies against the background of Mount Bandai and the Iide Mountains captures the essence of Aizu’s landscape. Tsurugajo Castle, a symbol of the city, provides a wide view of the changing beauty of the seasons in Aizu Basin and the old castle town.
