10 Natural Wonders - Japan Edition

In no particular order, here are 10 awe-inspiring, natural wonders, found in Japan that should be on your bucketlist in 2023:

1. Tottori Dunes - Located outside the city center of Tottori in Tottori Prefecture, Japan. The sand dunes were created over thousands of years, as sand from the nearby Sendaigawa River was washed out to sea and eventually redeposited along the coast by the ocean's currents. Today, the movement of the tides and the coastal winds continuously shape the sand dunes and provide an ever changing landscape.

2. The Fuji 5 Lakes - The Fuji Five Lake (富士五湖, Fujigoko) region lies at the northern base of Mount Fuji about 1000 meters above sea level around the lakes Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Yamanakako, Shojiko and Motosuko. It is one of the best places to view Mount Fuji from a close distance and a good base to climb the mountain.

3. Yakushima - despite being a small island, boasts several key features including impressive mountains which rise to nearly 2,000 m, and an outstanding gradient from the high peaks of the central core down to the seacoast. It is also covered by an extensive cedar forest that contains some of Japan's oldest living trees. 

4. The Jigokudani Monkey Park (地獄谷野猿公苑, Jigokudani Yaen Kōen) offers visitors the unique experience of seeing wild Japanese Macaques, also known as snow Monkeys, bathing in a natural hot spring. Because of the very steep cliffs and the steam coming off the springs, ancient people called this valley ‘Jigokudani (Hell valley)’ .

5. At 350 metres in height, Shomyo Falls is the tallest waterfall in Japan.

6. Kabira Bay is located on the north coast of Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Renowned for its white sands, turquoise waters and dense vegetation, the bay forms part of the Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park.

7. Mount Aso (阿蘇山, Asosan) is an active volcano in the center of Kyushu which most recently erupted in 2021 and 2016. Aso's ancient caldera ranks among the world's largest, with a diameter of up to 25 kilometers and a circumference of over 100 kilometers. In the center of the caldera stand the mountain's active volcanic peaks, including Mount Nakadake, whose spectacular crater is at times, accessible to tourists throughout the year.

8. Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido is home to the Ainu, indigenous people who have a deep respect for nature. It is a vision of untamed and epic wilderness with wild bears roaming in deep green forests, volcanoes, natural hot springs (onsen) and popular ski areas.

9. The peninsula has been designated as Ise-Shima National Park for its natural beauty and cultural importance. It is located in southern Mie Prefecture and consists of the cities of Ise, Toba and Shima and the town of Minami-Ise. Ise-Shima National Park encompasses an expanse of ria coastline with numerous inlets and an archipelago; it also has a heavily forested inland area.

10. Japan’s Mt. Fuji is an active volcano about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. Commonly called “Fuji-san,” it’s the country’s tallest peak, at 3,776 meters. A pilgrimage site for centuries, it’s considered one of Japan’s 3 sacred mountains, and summit hikes remain a popular activity

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