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Not only are there festivals and beaches that you can enjoy in summer in Japan, but Japan also has other attractive places to discover! As you know, Japan is a country that is rich in beautiful nature. As so, there are plenty of sites that you can visit and enjoy every season!
Places to Enjoy Summer in Japan
In this article in the Summer in Japan Series, we list 10 places to go in summer in Japan, including 5 stunning waterfalls and 5 gorgeous flower gardens located in different prefectures across the country.
What are they? Where are they? And how interesting are they? Let’s explore together!
5 Stunning Waterfalls in Japan
If you desire cool weather and love the beauty of nature. Trekking to experience forests and the majesty of waterfalls might be the way to meet your desire. In this article, we gathered a list of Japan’s most beautiful waterfalls you can travel to and admire the beauty and scenery of the surrounding forests in the summer. Let’s get you to the top 5 at once.
5. Naena Waterfalls – Niigata
Naena Waterfall is a beautiful waterfall located in Niigata prefecture. The waterfall’s water comes out of a cliff with a strange arc shape and falls from a height of 55 meters, causing a loud crash. As so, this waterfall has another name, the Earthquake Waterfalls. Here you can also admire the beautiful landscape of the mountain forest that changes colors according to different seasons.
4. Hirayu Waterfall – Gifu
Hirayu Waterfall is located in the Hirayu Onsen area, which is a famous vacation resort in Japan. With a height of 64 meters and a width of 6 meters, this waterfall has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 most beautiful waterfalls. Here you can enjoy nature’s scenery and beauty every season, especially during the winter when the lights are lit up around the waterfall to enhance its beauty.
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3. Ginga Waterfall and Ryusei Waterfall – Hokkaido
Ginka Waterfall and Ryusei Waterfall are located in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido prefecture. Ginga Waterfalls is 120 meters high. It has been called Milky Way Waterfall because the water that flows down from the cliff looks like a small line crossing together to look like white threads. Ryusei Waterfalls next to it is 90 meters high, which is known as the Meteor Waterfall because the water that flows from the cliff when exposed to sunlight looks beautiful as a star falling from the sky. Both waterfalls are also known as couple waterfalls.
2. Kegon Waterfall – Tochigi
Kegon Waterfall is a 97-meter-high waterfall in Nikko National Park, Tochigi prefecture. It is the second most beautiful waterfall after Nachi Falls in Wakayama Prefecture. The water of this waterfall is out from Lake Chuzenji.
Even Kegon Waterfall is a popular spot in autumn, but you also can enjoy it in summer! If you would like to see a breathtaking combination of Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Waterfall view, you can take a ropeway from Akechidaira Plateau to Akechidaira Observatory.
1. Nachi Waterfall – Wakayama
Nachi Falls is Japan’s tallest vertically flowing waterfall that flows from the evergreen forest with a height of 133 meters. It is located in Wakayama Prefecture on Mount Nachi, where a Buddhism temple called Seiganto-Ji Temple, and a Shinto shrine name Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine, are located. This waterfall is worshiped as the place of the Shinto gods.
You can also experience the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route, one of the world’s oldest pilgrimage routes, which has been certified by UNESCO, but it may require a bit of strength because you have to climb the stairs to experience the beauty of the mountain scenery by climbing 267 steps. Another enjoyable activity of this shrine is the Nachi Torch Festival, which is held every 14th of July yearly. This traditional baptism ceremony decorates the place with torches and makes shaped like Nachi Falls. During this period, the stone steps from the shrine leading to the waterfall are full of white-robed priests carrying torches to perform the tradition.
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Where Is Your Recommended Waterfall in Japan?
Have you ever been to the waterfall on the list? Or you may have been somewhere else? Where is your recommended waterfall in Japan? If you have, share it with us at @guidablejapan on Instagram.
Photo Credit: Canva.com
5 Gorgeous Flower Gardens in Japan
However, if you love the beauty of nature and colorful scenery more than anything, flower gardens might suit you better! Here are some of Japan’s beautiful flower gardens across the country that you can visit and enjoy during summer!
5. Hamamatsu Flower Park – Shizuoka
The Hamamatsu Flower Park is a botanical garden located in the area of Lake Hamana in Shizuoka prefecture. This park is about 30,000 square meters large and houses 3,000 species of plants. You can enjoy seasonal flowers and greenery throughout the year. During summer, hydrangea blooms and creates bright and vivid-lined paths in the garden along with Japanese irises in purples and yellows, and the whole park is dyed in a colorful and dazzling view.
Not only the outdoor garden, but Hamamatsu Flower Park also has indoor exhibits, which is a large greenhouse called the Crystal Palace. The large fountain in front of the Crystal Palace is shown every 30 minutes, in which melody plays, and the water dance! If you would like to take the Ferris wheel in the park, you can go deeper inside the park and find the Children’s Plaza, which has many different kinds of playground equipment provided for visitors who come as a family! You can see more information here.
4. Higashizawa Rose Park – Yamagata
Higashizawa Rose Park is one of the largest rose gardens in Japan, which is located in Murayama city, Yamagata prefecture. This park was selected as one of Japan’s 100 Selected Scent Landscapes by the Ministry of the Environment in 2001.
Higashizawa Rose Park has an area of around 7 hectares and contains 750 different kinds of beautiful flowers. The best viewing period is between June and September.
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3. Kuju Hana Koen – Oita
The Kuju Flower Park is located at the southern base of the Kuju Mountains in Oita prefecture. It is far from Kurokawa Onsen, which is one of Japan’s famous hot spring towns, located in the middle of Kyushu.
It’s a large and attractive park with around 49 acres covered with three million plants of more than 500 different types, such as lavender, salvia, blueberries, pink moss, tulips, sunflowers, and poppies. Here, you can enjoy the seasonal flowers, which take turns to bloom for most of the year, except winter. Also, you can enjoy gorgeous views of flowers with the Kuju Mountain in the background on clear days.
Within the park, there is a greenhouse that exhibits tropical plants such as begonia and souvenir shops selling scented or plant products. Also, you can taste fresh vegetables grown in the Kuju Highlands in the buffet restaurant with a special menu recommended for you! For more information, you can see from here.
2. Saika No Sato – Sasaki Farm – Hokkaido
Saika no Sato – Sasaki Farm is the largest flower garden in Hokkaido prefecture. Here you can enjoy the beauty of colorful flowers such as poppies, lupins, and especially lavender which blooms from July to early August. At that time, the garden is painted purple from the lavender combined with a view of Tokachidake mountain and Ashibetsudake mountain. Moreover, you can take some lavender back home at 700 yen per bag.
1. Hitachizawa Seaside Park – Ibaraki
Many tourists might be familiar with Hitachizawa Seaside Park because this garden is a very famous sightseeing spot where you can enjoy the beauty in any season. In summer, the park is decorated with blooming poppies, roses, zinnias, and sunflowers.
In August, there is an event which is called Kochia Light Up. The Kochia bushes are decorated by the rainbow colors LED lights. The lights are combined with music to create a fascinating experience! For more information, you can see from here.
Where Is Your Favorite Flower Garden in Japan?
Have you ever been to the flower garden on the list? Or you may have been somewhere else? Where is your favorite flower garden in Japan? If you have, let share it with us at @guidablejapan on Instagram.
However, this list of the places in this article is only a part of the interesting places in Japan that you can enjoy during summer! If you have any place to suggest to us, send a message and let us know at @guidablejapan on Instagram.
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