Jigokudani Monkey Park

Japan's northernmost island, celebrated for its vast natural landscapes and rich food culture. From the lavender fields of Furano to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage site of Shiretoko and world-class powder snow ski resorts, Hokkaido offers year-round tourism appeal complemented by acclaimed seafood and local cuisine.

A UNESCO World Natural Heritage island home to ancient Yakusugi cedars thousands of years old. The Jomon Cedar trek and Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine are known as inspirations for the forests in Miyazaki's 'Princess Mononoke.' Its vertical vegetation zones from subtropical to subarctic earn it the nickname 'Alps of the Ocean.'

One of Japan's premier mountain scenic spots at approximately 1,500m elevation in the Northern Alps. Views from Taisho Pond and Kappa Bridge reflecting the Hotaka Range are sometimes called 'Japan's Switzerland.' Private car restrictions preserve the natural environment, making it a popular base for mountaineering and trekking.

Japan's largest sand dunes stretching roughly 16km east-west and 2.4km north-south along the Sea of Japan coast. Natural formations including wind ripples and sand curtains have earned the nickname 'Japan's desert.' Activities like camel riding and paragliding are also available.

Japan's northernmost Honshu prefecture, boasting diverse attractions including the Nebuta Festival, cherry blossoms at Hirosaki Castle, Oirase Gorge, and the Shirakami Mountains (World Heritage). A culinary treasure trove of apples and Oma tuna, Aomori offers Tohoku's nature and culture year-round.

A mountain range spanning Nagano, Gifu, and Toyama prefectures in central Japan. Comprising the Southern, Central, and Northern Alps with numerous peaks exceeding 3,000 meters, it is celebrated as a mountaineering mecca. Featuring dramatic alpine scenery and rich alpine flora, it attracts over 2 million annual visitors as a premier trekking and mountaineering destination.