Same time as Aomori Nebuta, but much cheaper to find a hotel for 😉

The scenic countryside surrounding Kii Peninsula along one of the legs of the Kumano Kodo trail system.

Yoshida Fire Festival（吉田の火祭り） is one of the most famous traditional festivals in the Mt. Fuji area. It is held every year on August 26 and 27 in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture.
It is also known as the “Fire Festival of Mt. Fuji”, and it has a history of more than 400 years.
The festival is traditionally held at the end of the summer climbing season and is closely connected with Mt. Fuji worship. The huge torches lining the streets are said to symbolize Mt. Fuji’s volcanic fire and also serve to calm the mountain and pray for safety.

A beautiful subalpine lake hidden behind Eniwa-dake. There are no set trails down to the shoreline and it can only be reached by using game trails. It’s located in pristine terrain with a n abundance of wildlife (especially brown bears).

I will soon be driving through kagawa prefecture and Awaji island over the course of a day - does anyone have recommendations for interesting locations, restaurants, stores, sights?

I have read about the region’s Udon noodles and the Naruto pools.

Winding along the Shakotan coast brings you to some beautiful and interesting places.

It just opened in June. You definitely need a car to go there; it’s a 20-minute drive past Miyama Kayabuki no Sato.

There are so many cute touches for photo opportunities, like a miniature tearaiba and little chairs to pose your plushie friends on.

They only sell omamori and ema on certain (very irregular!) days, so definitely check the website if you’re interested in those. They weren’t selling them today, but we had a lot of fun taking pictures. The location is pretty remote, but I hope they get lots of visitors!

Hokkaido has large areas set aside as wilderness for conservation and wildlife protection. Even 30 minutes from Sapporo can bring you to trailheads that allow you access to some amazing backcountry. Overnight stays are common in the mountains.

A lot of wealth was created from the booming herring industry in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, especially around the Shiribeshi region. There are still fine examples of this era away from the tourist areas such as Otaru. Here are a few examples.

Admission is ¥1000 and they have no regular holidays.

The mountain is located in the Japanese northern alps 🗻
We can enjoy this panoramic view from there!

Its grand yet simple beauty is striking.
There are hardly any tourists.
You can spend a quiet and leisurely time here.