At Mt. Oe, where the legends of Shuten Doji remain, you can see beautiful seas of clouds as autumn turns into winter. At the foot of Mt. Oe, due to the big temperature difference between night and day Yura river basin, it is said that fog readily forms, and the fog that builds up between the mountains looks like a sea of clouds, and so it is called the “sea of clouds.” You can see the sea of clouds in early morning from November to December. Situated at the eighth station on Mt. Oe, Onitake Inari Shrine is a famous spot for viewing the spectacular sea of clouds.
This is a magnificent winter natural object created by spring water frozen by the winter cold where appears near the headwaters of the river. Some viewpoints such as seen from suspension bridges, while it illuminated, it can be enjoyed by variety of perspectives. Please be careful when you moving by car while the road were freezing over.
River boating down the Arakawa River in a Japanese-style boat manned by a skilled Sento-san (boatman) is one of the best ways to truly experience Japanese nature. You get to watch the mountainous scenery while the boat hits occasional rapids – it’s almost like rafting. In the winter, slow and calm rapids offer you a relaxing experience. The boats in the winter are equipped with kotatsu, which keep you warm while you enjoy the famous Iwadatami.
Hitsujiyama Park, a popular spot in the spring is about 500 meters away from Seibu Chichibu station, a terminal station in Chichibu. Since the park is built on a hill, you can view the city of Chichibu. In the spring, 10 different shibazakura (moss phlox) come in full bloom and paint the ground in various shades of pink.
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.
Furthermore, you can see a variety of landscapes formed by the unique climate at the “Yabakei,” a scenic spot with rocky peaks.
Sightseeing points to take in are the scenic beauty of Takachiho Gorge, the “mosaic forest” of Morotsuka Village, with its mix of evergreens and deciduous trees, and the peaceful tea plantation landscape of Gokase.
Numerous temples and shrines attest to the region’s long history, including Manpukuji—a Chinese-style Zen temple founded by the monk Ingen, who is often called the father of sencha. With generations of tea culture everywhere in evidence, a walk through Uji’s landscape can aptly be called “a walk through 800 years of tea history.” Across the Uji region, the history and culture of tea production have shaped the natural setting. The land is divided into tea fields, tea factories, and wholesaler districts, each with a distinctive character. The fields themselves form sweeping, verdant vistas that curve across the foothills.
Located in the Nishi-Chugoku Mountains National Monument, ‘Hikimikyo’ shows a variety of beautiful valleys, such as many strange rocks and waterfalls.
The visual appeal of Onomichi has been likened to “a miniature garden straight from the middle ages.” It is a city where historic temples and shrines—some containing national treasures—line the winding streets, and whose higher slopes give views that look out across the sprawling coastal landscape. Notable artistic figures have also found Onomichi’s scenery captivating: novelist Shiga Naoya (1883-1971) stayed at a residence not far from the LOG, and director Ozu Yasujiro’s 1953 masterpiece Tokyo Story begins here. In fact, the town’s aspect has changed very little from the views recorded in the film’s opening scene.
