Ishigaki Island

A small island in the Yaeyama archipelago, Okinawa. The village of red-tiled roofs, coral stone walls, and white sand paths is selected as a national Important Preservation District as an original Okinawan landscape. Water buffalo cart tours and star sand beaches are highlights of Okinawa tourism.

Pacific islands belonging to Ogasawara, Tokyo. Their ecosystem, evolved uniquely as oceanic islands never connected to a continent, is registered as a World Natural Heritage Site. Whale watching and diving in the transparent 'Bonin Blue' sea are popular. The 24-hour boat journey from Tokyo adds to the allure of remoteness.

A cultural city in Hokuriku that flourished as the castle town of the Kaga domain, where tradition and modernity coexist at Kenroku-en Garden, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, and Higashi Chaya District. The 2015 Hokuriku Shinkansen dramatically improved access from Tokyo, triggering a tourism surge.

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.

A UNESCO World Natural Heritage archipelago roughly 1,000km south of Tokyo. Called the 'Galapagos of the East,' the islands are a treasure trove of endemic species. Accessible only by a 24-hour ferry, this remote paradise is popular for whale watching and diving.

The largest island in the Sea of Japan, off the coast of Niigata. Sado Kinzan gold mine was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024, and unique traditions like tub boats and Noh theater persist. Also known for the reintroduction of the crested ibis (toki), it blends nature and history.