The port of Kobe may be best known for it’s greatest export, Kobe beef, but there is so much more to this city than just happy cows. A metropolis nestled between the sea and the mountains a little ways West of Osaka, it proved to be much more approachable than many of Japan’s other big cities. Even in just a weekend I came away very impressed, and glad to have put it on my list.

Koinobori, or carp streamers, are hung each year at the beginning of May, leading up to Children’s Day, the final holiday on the Monday after Golden Week. They are a symbol of strength and perseverance, able to withstand the wind, but also act as a decoration of the season. Add in the backdrop of the iconic Tokyo Tower, and you’ve got something special.

Japan’s cherry blossom trees, also known as sakura, tend to bloom right around the beginning of April each year. This makes for a tourist rush as everyone, from locals to international visitors, try to catch the magical time before it fades. Finding places that are off the beaten path in smaller cities can make the season much more manageable. Odawara is just such a place.

Making a site dedicated to the history and lore of Mt. Fuji would be enough in itself. Yet, the architects of this World Heritage Centre decided to go a step further. The building happens to be a beautiful, modern masterpiece, paying tribute to the adjacent mountain while also providing an excellent viewing platform, unobstructed by skyscrapers or crowds.

Waterfalls, valleys, mountain ranges and rock formations are all natural points of beauty. By themselves they are worth visiting and appreciating. However, when you add modern art to the picture, the attraction’s value goes up exponentially. Kiyotsu Gorge’s tunnel was renovated in 2018, with four decorative installations throughout that interact with, or complement the landscape.

From the parking lot at the top, the view of the falls was totally obstructed by the haze of humid, rainy air. However, I trusted the process of this journey. An elevator ride down and a short tunnel walk later, and the real majesty of this scenic location came into focus. The true lower viewing point was lush, with cliff walls made up of beautiful rock formations, well worth the trip to experience one of Nikko’s main attractions.

Another one of Japan’s mysteries formed in or around a hot spring town, the Blue Pond’s water contains sulfur and aluminum from the rivers that feed it. Yet, what makes it blue isn’t the minerals themselves, it is the way the light refracts against those minerals and our eye catches the color. This difference between the human eye, and a camera’s sensor was fascinating.

Sometimes ‘for the gram’ isn’t so bad. The flower parks that have been meticulously planted and cultivated in otherwise remote parts of Hokkaido don’t have to exist. They are a different type of tourist destination - not one of culture, or history, or of the Earth’s own making. Human hands arranged these fields, and the result is still absolutely gorgeous.

Otherworldly is the best term to describe the Noboribetsu Jigokudani Valley, otherwise known as “Hell Valley.” The hillside walls look straight out of the Martian landscape, while the valley floor is a mixture of turbulent steam, sulfur, and other pale or charred rocks. This site is preserved, a spiritual feeder for the surrounding villages’ hot spring baths.

There are parade floats, and then there are Japanese parade floats. Held annually at the beginning of August, Aomori’s Nebuta Matsuri is a grand celebration of myths and legends. What if you aren’t able to be there for the festival itself though? Aomori has you covered with a museum dedicated to showcasing the wonderful works of art that are emblematic of the city’s culture.

While the official name for this archeological find is the San'nai-Maruyama iseki Special Historical Site, the significance of it comes from its age. This particular site is dated to around 3,900 to 2,900 BC. Yeah, that’s 5,000 years ago! It is the largest such site to be discovered in Japan, a glimpse into a different kind of human civilization.