Due to its position in the far south east of Japan, Miyazaki was largely undeveloped for most of Japan's history and as such is home to some beautiful untouched landscapes and national parks, as well as natural locations that tie into Japan's earliest mythology. Miyazaki City, the prefecture's capital, tends to be a little overlooked when considering what Miyazaki as a whole has to offer.

The region of Tajima, which refers to northern Hyogo prefecture, offers a completely different face to that of southern Hyogo, which comprises of big city names such as Kobe where many skyscrapers and vivid colors of neon lights characterize the province. On the contrary, this part of Hyogo is full of nature, history and boasts of premium quality hot springs.

Soni Highlands is a valuable landscape where we can see kayaba even today. It is because the village of Soni maintains that grassland. For a long time, this has been a task for March season. But this season it is on schedule for February.

Autumn is indeed a great time to visit Japan! There are a lot of hidden gems here in Osaka for a soothing hike in search of Momiji (autumn leaves). These two recommended hiking courses left me with unforgettable memories.

Hailing from the small town of Newcastle under Lyme in the UK I was delighted to learn that we are twinned with an area in Japan which shares the same name: Shinshiro (literally ‘Newcastle’ in the Japanese language). I want to highlight to two main spots of natural beauty we visited in the Shinshiro area: Chiiwakyou Cliff and Atera no Nanataki Falls.

Nearly two million people live in Fukushima. The majority of the prefecture – the third largest after Hokkaido and Iwate – was untouched by radiation, while many areas that were impacted have reached levels below what is reported in many cities around the world. Visitors need not worry about eating the produce or drinking the water. The bigger concern is whether everything Fukushima has to offer can be packed into a single trip!

With alpine flowers in bloom from July to August, autumn-colored leaves adorning the trees from September to November, and the crisp frosty air to delight in from December to March, Utsukushigahara is a choice destination throughout the four seasons.

The ultimate reason to why the area of Hiruzen is so cool compared to other parts of Western Japan is the altitude of where this place is located along with all the mountain ranges and dense forests which help block off rays from the sun.

Visiting Okinawa? Here are my 5 tips for an awesome snorkeling and beach adventure on Ikei Island.

Sado, the largest island in Japan, is usually a quiet, peaceful island. But every year for the three-day Earth Celebration (EC) in August, the island transforms into a lively, international hub. Presented by world-renowned taiko drumming ensemble Kodo, EC is a music festival that brings performing art talents together from within and outside of Japan.

In the land of the rising sun, fireflies are the image of summer. Many cities throughout Japan even host firefly viewing festivals, where locals and visitors alike are welcome to marvel at the beautiful flashes of light that these insects use to either attract a mate, signal distress, or warn off predators.

Fukui prefecture, originally referred to as the Echizen region, is home to both energetic and delicate landscapes of Japan. Here I would like to introduce you to some stunning sceneries which the fusion of Fukui’s unique climate and historical aspects combine to create.