A town surrounded by the Central Alps on the west, the Southern Alps on the east, and two Alps. In spring, Takatookohiganzakura in Takato Castle Ruins Park is called the most beautiful cherry blossoms beneath the heavens.
In Kyoto by the Sea, enjoy the varied scenery that shows how people have lived harmoniously with nature. Two of the finest examples are the Amanohashidate sandbar, which is one of the Three Views of Japan. Another feature to watch for is the fusion of Japanese traditions with those from the West, such as the brick buildings of Maizuru’s former naval base and silk heritage areas like the Former Bito Family House on Chirimen Street (chirimen is a high-quality kimono silk) in the town of Yosano.
The Eight Views of Totomi are themes often used in traditional art, such as haiku, ukiyo-e paintings, and 31-syllable poems known as tanka. One of these views is the sunset as seen from Bentenjima Island in Lake Hamana.
In the middle basin of the Oi-River, the Oi-River Railway, a steam locomotive, runs between the fresh green tea garden and the magnificent Oi-River. At Kawanehon Town there is a tea garden located over 500m above sea level and is called the “tea-producing area in the sky”, here you can see a magical landscape filled with fog.
The clear stream Miyagawa and its tributaries flow everywhere in the town, and in Taiki-cho, where the spring water is beautiful, natural sweetfish, natural eels, mitten crabs and endangered species inhabit here.
Containing 48 different kinds of moss, Hiyo Moss Garden is one of the most famous moss gardens in Japan. Hiyo Village is a beautiful hamlet with shrines, old traditional homes, and of course the mosses and cedar trees of the Moss Garden.
The rice terraces of Tagarasu create a rustic scene surrounded by the sea and mountains. At every turn, the coastline offers new panoramas of natural beauty.
You can not only enjoy the magnificent view of Mt.Asama, but also the beautiful scenery of the rice and buckwheat fields. Additionally through out the town there are traditional buildings. The seasonal photogenic scenery will move your heart.
Shiga Kogen is the largest snow resort in Japan and located in the centre of Joshin’etsu Kogen National Park. ‘Yudanaka Shibu Onsen Resort’ has a large source of hot spring water and a history of 1,300 years. ‘Kitashiga Kogen’ is one of the prominent heavy snowfall areas, where traditional food culture such as haya-soba remains. Experience the attractions that coexist with nature, like globally popular the “Snow Monkey Park.”
It is a plateau of Mt. Asama to the north, Mt. Yatsugatake to the south, and the Chikuma River in the center of the Saku Basin. There are many natural hot springs that overlook the magnificent Mt. Asama, whose ambience changes depending on the place, time, and season. It takes pride in the beautiful starry sky with a refreshing climate and a high rate of sunny weather throughout the year.
