What's your plan for summer vacation?
Here are 10 trip destination ideas for this summer.
WILLER TRAVEL offers a wide variety of buses from major cities to popular destinations.
Take a comfortable trip this summer by bus.
Oirase Gorge, Aomori
Nature
Photogenic
Hiking
Oirase gorge is the 14-km stretch of the Oirase River from Lake Towada to Mt. Yakeyama between Aomori and Akita prefectures. Lake Towada and the Oirase gorge are the most famous scenic spots of Towada-Hachimantai National Park.
Oirase gorge is designated and protected by the government as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and a Natural Monument and offers many attractions such as waterfalls, clear streams, and rocks.
Access
Take a highway bus from Toyko for about 10 hours and get off at Hachinohe. From Hachinohe Station, take JR bus to Yakeyama in about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Hakuba, Nagano
Nature
Photogenic
Accessible
Hiking
Hakuba Village, overlooking the Northern Alps, is one of the best highland resorts in Japan, with many spots where you can enjoy summer mountain activities.
Not only the natural wonders, such as Happoike, selected as one of the "36 Most Beautiful Places in Japan," but the new facilities like Hakuba Mountain Harbor and Hakuba Mountain Beach, which have spectacular views of the Northern Alps, are popular.
For those who want to enjoy nature, hiking at Tsugaike Nature Park, which is easily accessible by gondola & ropeway, is also recommended.
Access
It takes about 5 hours from Shinjuku to Hakubacho by highway bus. From Hakuba Station, you can take a local bus to Hakuba Happo, Tsugaike kougen (Tsugaike Natural Garden), etc.
Kamikochi, Nagano
Nature
Photogenic
Hiking
Kamikochi is a scenic mountain area located approximately 1,500 meters above sea level in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, and is designated as a national special scenic beauty spot and a special natural monument.
Visitors can enjoy the great outdoors in various ways, from casual trekking to authentic mountain climbing or staying at an inn and enjoying the starry sky.
Kappabashi Bridge, the symbol of Kamikochi, is an excellent viewpoint from which you can see the Hotaka mountain range, Dakesawa and Azusagawa River. It is easily accessible from the Kamikochi Bus Terminal, and the area around the bridge is lined with souvenir stores, restaurants, and hotels, attracting many tourists.
Access
Take a highway bus from Tokyo for about 5-7 hours, or from Osaka for about 7-8 hours, and get off at Kamikochi Terminal.
Karuizawa, Nagano
Nature
Photogenic
Accessible
Hiking
Karuizawa is easily accessible by highway bus from Tokyo in about 3 hours and is known as one of the best summer resorts in Japan.
Natural attractions such as Shiraito Falls and Mt. Asama, as well as a lot of art museums and excellent restaurants, are also popular among travelers.
Access
Take a highway bus from Tokyo for about 3 hours, from Osaka for 10 hours, and get off at Karuizawa Station. From Karuizawa Station, it is convenient to take a local bus to various tourist attractions such as Shiraito Falls and Usui Pass Observation Platform, etc.
Fuji Five Lakes, Yamanashi
Nature
Photogenic
Accessible
Hiking
Mt. Fuji area is a nature-rich resort easily accessible by highway bus from Tokyo. Around Mt. Fuji, which is registered as a World Heritage site, there are the "Fuji Five Lakes," created by past volcanic eruptions. Mt. Fuji can be seen from any of the lakes, and the reflection of the mountain on the surface of the lakes is particularly photogenic.
Visitors can also enjoy nature activities such as fishing, kayaking, and camping around the Fuji Five Lakes.
Access
Take a highway bus from Tokyo for about 2.5 hours, from Osaka for 11 hours, or from Nagoya for 4-8 hours, and get off at Kawaguchiko Station. It's a 10-minute walk from Kawaguchiko Station to Lake Kawaguchi. To tourist attractions such as Oshinohakkai and Fugaku Fuketsu Wind Cave, there are local buses from Kawaguchiko Station.
Shirakawago Village, Gifu
Nature
Photogenic
Accessible
Shirakawa Village(Shirakawa-go) is a tourist spot famous for its traditional Gassho-zukuri houses and was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage zone in 1995.
Most people visit there in winter, but we also recommend you to see it in its summer form. In deep mountains, Shirakawa Village will take your breath away with its beautiful vivid green of trees and rice fields, and you will be able to enjoy a different view of the village than in winter.
Access
Take a highway bus from Nagoya for about 3 hours and get off at the Shirakawago bus stop.
Amanohashidate, Kyoto
Nature
Photogenic
Accessible
Amanohashidate is one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, located in Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture. It is 3.6 km long and can be viewed from the top of the mountain as well as walked across.
Also, be sure to visit the boathouses of Ine, located about 30 minutes by car from Amanohashidate. Along the coast of Ine Bay, there are about 230 "boathouses," garage-like buildings used to protect boats pulled out of the sea, which are popular among photography lovers for their unique scenery as if they were floating on the sea.
Access
Take a highway bus from Kyoto Station for about 2 hours and get off at Amanohashidate bus stop.
Mt. Daisen, Tottori
Nature
Photogenic
Hiking
Mt. Daisen, the highest mountain in the Chugoku region, is 1709 meters high. The entire mountain area is designated as a national park, where visitors can enjoy authentic mountain climbing, easy trekking, and other attractions in nature.
There are also ranches around Mt. Daisen, and it is recommended to taste gourmet foods made from the milk of cows raised in the rich natural environment.
Access
Take a highway bus from Tokyo for about 12 hours or from Nagoya for about 7 hours, and get off at Yonago Station. It takes about 50 minutes by local bus from Yonago Station to Daisenji Temple.
Chichibugahama, Kagawa
Nature
Photogenic
Chichibugahama is a 1-km-long beach in Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture. It has become a popular tourist spot in recent years after becoming a hot topic on social networking sites for taking pictures like those of Bolivia's "Salar de Uyuni" at dusk when the tide is low.
The reflection in the tide pools is very photogenic and attracts many photography lovers. Be sure to check the dates and times when reflections are most likely to appear before visiting.
> Mitoyo Tourism and Exchange Authority
Access
Take a highway bus from Osaka for about 4.5 hours and get off at Mitoyo City Hall. From Mitoyo City Hall to Chichibugahama, it takes about 20 munites by taxi.
Takachiho Gorge, Miyazaki
Nature
Photogenic
Takachiho is a 1.7-km-long gorge located near the border of Miyazaki, Kumamoto, and Oita prefectures. The majestic rock formations and the emerald green surface of the water make it one of Kyushu's most mysterious sights.
The area is said to be the setting of a story written in an ancient book, and there are many spiritual spots associated with the myth.
The Manai Falls, the main attraction of the area, can be viewed from the boardwalk or approached by boat.
Access
Take a highway bus from Hakata Station for about 3.5 hours and get off at Takachiho Bus Center.