Mitokuyama Sanbutsuji Temple - Tottori

[Point of View]
- Nageiredo temple (national treasure)
- Jizodo temple , Monjudo temple (national important cultural properties)
- Misasa Hot Springs

[Getting there]
Approximately 90 minutes from Narita Airport to Tottori Airport by airplane, and 90 minutes to the entrance of Mitokuyama Sanbutsuji Temple by car. Or 20 minutes from Tottori airport to Tottori JR station by shuttle bus and 50 minutes to Kurayoshi by JR Tottori Liner and then 40 minutes by bus.
To misasa hot springs, it takes 15minutes by bus.

[Personal Recommendation]
Access：★★★★☆
Refreshment：★★★★☆

The temple is located on the top of Mt.Mitokuyama(900 meters altitude) where is in the center of Tottori prefecture.
It takes 60 minutes from the entrance to the Nageiredo hall by foot. The road is pretty treacherous because they are very steep and precipitous slopes. So trekking shoes are definitely required or you will be asked to put Warajis(sandals made from straw rope) on.
On the way to the top, you can see many temples.

YOU CAN NOT ENTER THE MOUNTAIN BY YOURSELF. YOU NEED A COMPANY.

It was a very tough experience to climb up to the top but once I reached the temple, I forgot tiredness. Nobody is able to go into the mysterious temple. How it was build, who build, what it is for are still unknown.

A lot of footmarks on rocks.

Cliff in front of Monju temple.


Monju temple.

Nageiredo temple.





[Information]
miasa onsen kyokai 0858-43-0431
mitokuyama santokuji 0858-43-2666

Ametaki - Tottori

[Point of view]
- Amataki (rain waterfall)
- Karoichi fisherman's warf

[getting there]
Take an air way to Tottori Airport from Narita. It takes one and half hour. My recommendation from the air port to anywhere is a car. One hour to Karoichi and Amataki by car.

[personal reccomendation rate]
Access：★★★☆☆
Hearing：★★★★☆

Amataki is registered in 100 greatest waterfalls in Japan. You can go on the floor of the waterfall and look up the 4 meter wide and 40 meter height beautiful water falling.
It surrounds by small valley covered with mossy green carpet.

At Karoichi, you can enjoy lots of fresh seafood, especially big crabs in winter
And oysters in summer.

Rain waterfall in rainy day. All trees and mosses were moisten and seemed to have a good time for refreshment.


It says this water fall is for beautiful woman:)

Beautiful moss.


Crabs!



[Information]
Karoichi
0857-38-8866

Hondoji temple - Chiba

[Point of View]
- the garden at Hondoji temple
- stone-paved approach from Kitakoganei Station

[Getting there]
By public transportation:
Approximately 10 minutes by the JR Yamanote Line from Tokyo Station to Nishi Nippori Station and about 28 minutes by the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line to Kitakoganei Station. Then a 10 minute walk to Hondoji temple.

[Personal Recommendation]
Access：★★★★☆
Refreshment：★★★★☆

In early December, I took a day off to meet one of my friends, Koji who I get along with well.
He brought me to Hondoji temple because he loves nature too and the temple is famous for its seasonally blooming trees and flowers and the beautiful coloured leaves.

It was a good day!
The maple and ginkgo leaves turn a beautiful deep red, yellow, and orange in autumn.
Besides this, you can enjoy cherry blossoms and multi-hued hydrangeas at the temple in other seasons.

The blanket of leaves looked like a colourful carpet.

Anywhere at the temple would be picture-perfect.







[Information]
Hondo tempple
047-341-0405（only in June and November）
http://www.hondoji.com/

Akiu Otaki waterfall - Miyagi

[Point of View]
- Akiu Otaki waterfall
- Akiu Otaki waterfall botanical garden
- Akiu Onsen hot springs

[Getting there]
By public transportation:
Approximately 100 minutes by JR Tohoku Shinkansen Express Line from Tokyo Station to Sendai Station and about 60 minutes by Miyagi Kotsu Bus to Akiu Otaki.

[Personal Recommendation]
Access：★★★★☆
Refreshment：★★★★☆

Akiu Otaki waterfall and Akiu Otaki Hot Springs attract many visitors.

This location is one of the 100 listed waterfall tourist spots in Japan, and many waterfall fanatics go there to see one of the three big Japanese waterfalls, called the The Fukuroda no Taki waterfall in Ibaragi, Kegon no Taki waterfall in Tochigi, Nasu no Taki waterfall in Wakayama.)

Though fast streams dropping water from great 55 meter heights, you can hear the booming sound of water crashing below.

There are two view spots: One is a scenic overlook at the top and the other is at/in the basin.

From the overlook you can see everything.
Although the place is not really close to the waterfall, you still feel the spray.

To reach the basin you walk down the steps for 5 minutes to a nearby car park. It is a very pleasant walk enjoying the sound of water falling.

On a slightly different topic, I recommend having a traditional japanese lunch at the restaurant next to the overlook.
They are fastidious about using fresh ingredients.
Their boiled tofu is not just boiled, it is served with a lot of vegetables and grated Japanese radish.

Akiu Otaki waterfall

You can see a lot of water splash.

The restaurant I recommend.

Boiled Tofu with a lot of vegitable.

Okutama Umisawa Keikoku Gorge - Tokyo

[Point of View]
- Mitsugama no Taki Waterfall
- Nejire no Taki Waterfall
- Oh Taki Waterfall

[Getting there]
By public transportation:
Approximately 90 minutes by JR Chuo Line from Tokyo Station to Ohme Station and 35 minutes by JR Ohme Line to Okutama Station. Get a taxi to Umezawa Gorge Entrance(10minutes)

[Personal Recommendation]
Access：★★★★☆
Refreshment：★★★★★

The entrance is located at the end of the street in front of American Camping Village. You can see three waterfalls on compassable way taht takes 90 minutes by walk. As It has some steep slant, It's not for the experienced climber though.
Each waterfall has each view and different atmosphere. The Nejire no Taki Waterfall is srounded by rocky hillside and make an echoing sound of water's falling.You can feel some sprit.

The entrance.

Trees are beautiful in deep autumn: greens, yellows, reds, oranges, every shade between.


The interlocked roots make stairs.

The Mitsugama no Taki Waterfall.

The Nejire no Taki Waterfall.

Beautiful mosses and greens.

The Ohtaki Waterfall. The blue jacket is ours.




[Information]
Okutama Visitor Center
0428-83-2037
0428-83-2152

Mount Akagi - Gunma

[Point of View]
- Fureai no Mori

[Getting There]
By car:
Approximately 3 hours from Tokyo Station taking Kanetsu Highway to Maebashi InterChange and 30 minutes taking Route Route 4 to.

[Personal Recommendation]
Access：★★★☆☆
Refreshment：★★★☆☆

Mount Akagi is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan. Fureai no Mori's natural trails are easy to walk for families.
You can enjoy the gentle descent sliding way that length is 380 meters.

A walking trail

Trees are tinged with red

Play on a slide!

A tiny stream

Pine cones

Both adults and children can enjoy the slide.



[Information]
Maebashi Kanko convention center
Phone:027-235-2211

Kuroyama Santaki Water Falls - Saitama

[Point of View]
- Tengu taki
- Otaki & Metaki

[Getting there]
By car：
Approximately 2 hours from Tokyo Station taking Kanetsu Highway to Tsurugashima InterChange and 20 minutes taking Route Route 407 to.
By public transportation：
Tokyo Station -> 17 minutes(Tikyo Metro Marunouchi Line) -> Ikebukuro Station-> 44 minutes(Tobu Tojo Express Line) ->Sakado Station -> 18 minutes(Tobu Ogoko Line) -> Ogoko Station -> 25 minutes(Kawagoe Kanko Bus) -> Kuroyama Bus Station -> 15 minutes(by walk) -> Kuroyama Santaki Water falls

[Personal Recommendation]
Access：★★★☆☆
Refreshment：★★★☆☆

Kuroyama Santaki ("The Three Waterfalls of Black Mountain") is a small tourist attraction situated in the hills. The waterfalls are selected as one of Japan’s 100 Fine Waterfalls.The largest is the Tengu waterfall with the height of 20 meters. Being a little away from the other two waterfalls, it flushes down gallantly in a straight form. The name “Tengu” derives from the legend that a tengu used to lived in this holy mountain.
The Otaki and Metaki waterfalls compose one staircase waterfall in a zigzag flow. The Otaki has 10 meters in height and the Metaki 5 meters. Each has the plunge pool and flows down in unity. The Otaki Waterfall has a firm appearance while the Metaki Waterfall looks elegant.


The Otaki and Metaki waterfalls

Metaki waterfall

Tengu waterfall


Reddened berries

Grilled trout



[Information]
【Ogose cho Visitor Center】
049-292-6783

Miyama cho - Kyoto

[Point of View]
- thatched roof houses
- Miyamacho Visitor Center
- Kitamura Restaurant(Soba)

[Getting there]
By car：
Approximately 90 minutes taking Route 162 from Kyoto Station.

[Personal Recommendation]
Access：★★★☆☆
Refreshment：★★★☆☆

Miyama cho, the traditional farming village at which 50% of people live in thatched roof houses ,is located at south of Kyoto city.




Panicum miliaceum

You can see lots of flower.


[Information]
【Miyama cho Visitor Center】　
〒601-0722
TEL 0771-75-1906
http://www.miyamanavi.net/

Nishizawa Keikoku Gorge - Yamanashi

[Point of View]
- Nanatsugama Godan no Taki Water Fall
- the other 7 water falls
- Konjac Store

[Getting there]
By car：
Approximately 90 minutes to Katsunuma Interchange Exit from Tokyo Station and 60 minutes the parking lot located in front of the entrance of Nishizawa Keikoku Gorge.
By public transportation：
Approximately 90 minutes by JR Kaiji Express, bound for Kofu, to Shioyama Station from Tokyo Station and 60 minutes by Yamanashi Sangaku Kotsu Bus to the entrance of Nishizawa Keikoku Gorge.

[Personal Recommendation]
Access：★★★☆☆
Refreshment：★★★★☆

Nishizawa Keikoku Gorge is the representative valley at which Nanatsugama Godan no Taki Water Fall, one of the Japan's 100 selected water falls, is located in Yamanashi Prefecture.
The water fall and the other 7 water falls are do

The granite rocks are erode by the stream through the ages and shaped into interesting formation. The color of the water is very beautiful as emerald.
Walking on the trail for 3 to 4 hours, you can find many scenic points as water walls, unique rocks, etc.

The entrance -> Nishizawa Sanso（Paved road) - 20minutes
-> Mie no Taki Water Fall -10分
-> Jinmen Cave -10分
-> Ryujin no Taki Water Fall -10分
-> Koiito no Taki Water Fall -5分
-> Teisen no Taki Water Fall -5分
-> Botai Buchi Chasm -25分
-> Nanatsugama Godan no Taki Water Fall -25分
-> Back to the entrance(gentle descendent) -100分

The water's color is beautifully blue-green。



Nanatsugama Godan no Taki Water Fall ,a beautiful five tiered waterfall.

There are many fruit farms surrounded Katsunuma Interchange.


[Information]
【Yamanashi City Mitomi Hall Tourism Building】　
TEL：0553-39-2121
Visitor's Guid：
http://www.city.yamanashi.yamanashi.jp/kanko/image/seeing/nishizawa.pdf