Top Beautiful & Photogenic Views in Japan: Mt. Fuji, Shirakawa-go, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, and More

• Table of Contents
• Japan's Most Beautiful Places "Japan's Three Views"
• Famous beautiful places to visit in Japan

Japan's Most Beautiful Places "Japan's Three Views"

The "Three Views of Japan" are widely known as the most breathtaking views in Japan . They were first introduced in the early Edo period by Confucian scholar Hayashi Shunsai in his book "Nihonkoku Jisekiko," and Matsushima(Miyagi), Amanohashidate (Kyoto), and Miya Island(Hiroshima) were selected. The Three Views of Japan are still visited by many tourists from both within Japan and abroad today, and can be said to be the three most iconic landscapes in Japan.

Here we will provide detailed information about each of the Three Views of Japan.

Matsushima(Miyagi)

Photo courtesy of Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Strategy Division

Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture boasts a magnificent view of Matsushima , dotted with approximately 260 Koshima Island , and the Pacific Ocean. If you want to enjoy the scenery, we recommend Shidaikan, Matsushima's most famous observation point.

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Amanohashidate (Kyoto)

Photo courtesy of Another Kyoto Media Library

Amanohashidate, located in Miyazu in northern Kyoto Prefecture , is a special scenic spot with over 5,000 pine trees growing on a sandbar measuring approximately 3.6 km in length and 20-170 m in width . It got its name from the landscape that looks like a bridge spanning the heavens, and has been featured in songs and haiku poems since ancient times.

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Miyajima(Hiroshima)

Miya Island , located in Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture , has long been worshipped as the "Island of the Gods" and is counted as one of Japan's three most scenic spots. Its biggest attractions are Itsukushima Shrine, a registered World Heritage Site, and the large vermilion torii gate that stands out in the sea, which harmonizes with the deep blue sea and deep primeval forest, creating a picturesque sight.

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Famous beautiful places to visit in Japan

In addition to the Three Views of Japan, Japan has many other beautiful tourist destinations known worldwide. They have a wide range of attractions, from spectacular views created by the majestic nature to temples, shrines, and gardens that evoke history and culture. Here we will introduce a carefully selected list of classic spots that are recommended for first-time visitors.

Mount Fuji(Shizuoka and Yamanashi)

Mount Fuji, at 3,776m above sea level, is the highest peak in Japan, and its beautiful symmetrical shape has made it a sacred mountain that has attracted worshippers since ancient times. Its majestic form has been depicted in numerous works of art, including ukiyo-e and literature, and continues to fascinate people. If the weather is good, it can be seen from Tokyo and Yokohama, and the spectacular view from the window of the Tokaido Shinkansen is also popular.

Shirakawa(Gifu)

Shirakawa , located in Shirakawa Village, Ono District, Gifu Prefecture , is a Gassho-style village that retains a strong resemblance to Japan's Hara landscape , and was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Gokayama in 1995. The gabled thatched roofs are a unique architectural style suited to areas with heavy snowfall, and in winter, when combined with the blanket of snow, it creates a fantastical sight.

Ranzan Bamboo Grove (Kyoto)

The Bamboo Grove Path in Kyoto, Arashiyama, is a popular tourist spot for both domestic and international tourists as one of Japan's most representative landscapes . Along the approximately 400-meter path that runs from Nonomiya Shrine, past the north gate of Tenryu-ji Temple, to Okochi Sanso Villa, rows of well-maintained bamboo tower as if they are covering the sky, inviting walkers into a fantastical world.

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