It's worth checking out these private flower lakes, 1,000-year-old imperial baths, historic cities, and volcanic meadows!

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🤗 01 Hokkaido

Hokkaido offers a wide variety of activities throughout the yearThe mild climate of summer is perfect for exploring the emerald green hills and national parks.

Summer is the season when Hokkaido's lavender blooms, and Furano is a world-renowned lavender producer, known as the “Provence of the East” for its vast fields of lavender that resemble a purple carpet and are filled with a fragrant scent as the hills and plains become a sea of purple blossoms from early June to late August every year.

When the sweet and fragrant purple flowers are at their peak of bloom, you should come to Furano City and take a stroll through the Lavender Forest.

Biei Town, near the heart of Hokkaido, is located at the foot of the Tokachidake Lianfeng in Daisetsuzan National Park. The town's large fields of lavender, sunflowers, poppies, cosmos, and purple sage form a beautiful jigsaw puzzle.

Located in the southeastern part of the town, Aoike Pond was accidentally created when a dike was built to prevent mudslides during the eruption of Mount Tokachi.

The blue-colored lake is quiet and gentle, and its hue changes with the seasons and the weather, making it a perfect choice for photographers.

Lake Toya is located in the vast Shikotsu-Toya National Park, with stunning scenery as far as the eye can see. It is one of Hokkaido's famous hot spring resorts.

Changing into a yukata on a cool summer night and watching fireworks bursting into the night sky is one of the most memorable images of the summer.

Whether you want to enjoy the fireworks from your lakeside hotel's private bath, take in the view from an open-air bath, or board a boat to the center of the lake to see the fireworks up close, there are many ways to enjoy the fireworks.

In the second half of the 19th century, Japan ended its long period of closed-door policy and established the first ports of entry for trade, and Hakodate was one of them.

Enjoy the million-dollar night view from Mt. Hakodate. The night view of Hakodate is one of the world's top three night views, along with that of Victoria Harbor and Naples, Italy. You can see the harbor, ocean and mountains in the vicinity.

During the day, you can enjoy the beautiful star-shaped Western-style fortress, Gorenkaku, which is also known as “Star Fortress” because of the five-pointed star shape of this military fortress.

Designed by Keizaburo Takeda, Gorenkaku was the first Western-style fortress in Japan, influenced by the French military engineer Vauban.

Motomachi is located on the lower slopes of Mount Hakodate, overlooking Hakodate Bay. Inside the town, there are many well-preserved Western-style houses, former administrative offices and places of worship. The historical streets of Motomachi are simple and elegant, and are influenced by western style, and other scenery of Hakodate City will come into view.

● Visiting the White Lovers' Park to enjoy romance

In addition to touring the factory and seeing how chocolate is made on the assembly line, you can also make your own White Lovers Chocolate Cookies at White Lovers Park.

● Visiting Noboribetsu Jigokudani to experience the shock of nature.

The geothermal phenomenon in Hell Valley presents a smoking and erupting landscape, giving people a mysterious and powerful feeling. Visitors can stroll along the wooden walkway to enjoy this unique volcanic geothermal landscape, feel the power of nature, and experience “hell on earth”.

🤗 02 Sendai

Sendai is the capital of Miyagi Prefecture, the largest city in northeastern Japan, and an ideal base for exploring the Tohoku region.

Perhaps because of the literary master Lu Xun, Chinese people have always felt a sense of kinship with Sendai. After seeing the bustle of Tokyo, the well-preserved monuments and architectural treasures tell the story of Sendai's local samurai history, and you can immerse yourself in the beauty and history of Sendai!

Sendai has a cool and humid climate and is a green city by the sea, surrounded by mountains. The average annual temperature is 12°C, with a low of -3.2°C in January and a high of 28.2°C in August, making it ideal for a summer vacation.

Known as the “Forest Capital,” Sendai's main roads are lined with green trees whose leaves turn a bright golden color in the fall and are lit up with spectacular illuminations in the winter.

Take a boat trip to Songdo. Leave the coast, get on a boat, and savor the beauty of the picturesque Songdo Bay. The sunset and sunrise here are not to be missed, and the eight major scenic spots, such as the sunset at Xiondo, the evening bells at Seoinji Temple, the returning geese at Kasumigaura, and the twilight smoke of the salt kettle, are all very charming.

It is also famous for the fact that you can enjoy the different faces of Matsushima while standing on the island, and is listed as one of the “Three Views of Japan”.

Just 30 minutes from Sendai, Akiu is a peaceful place for relaxation with some of the best hot springs, hiking trails and views in Miyagi Prefecture.

Akiu Onsen has a history of 1500 years. Historically, both the Emperor and Date Masamune, a famous feudal lord in the feudal era, used to relax in the hot spring water here.

Akiu Onsen is known as one of the “Three Great Imperial Hot Springs of Japan,” and the water is a “sodium, calcium, and chloride spring,” which has warming and antiseptic properties that make the skin smooth and supple.

● Stay at Hidden Onsen Ryokan Saryo Souen

This hidden hot spring inn is worth taking the time to experience, as it is set in a 26,000-square-meter Japanese garden, and the inn itself is like a beautiful spot. The Japanese garden can be seen from the guest rooms, and guests can enjoy the mountain grasses and trees that change with the seasons. It is also a favorite spot for celebrities and artists to take pictures.

● Summer-only Sendai Tanabata Festival

The grand Tanabata Festival is held in Sendai at the beginning of August, and a fireworks display is held on the bank of the Hirose River behind Nishi Park. People dress up in delicate summer kimonos and stroll through the shopping streets filled with large, brightly colored handmade streamers.

● A must-try for meat lovers Roast beef tongue

🤗 03 Nagoya

Nagoya is rich in history and is home to three of Japan's greatest heroes of the Warring States period: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Nagoya Castle, Atoda Jingu Shrine, Tokugawa-en Garden, and other monuments are a record of the Warring States period, and Nagoya is not only a historical capital, but also a modern city that is unique among other cities.

“Nagoya Castle” was originally built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the castle, with its Tenshokaku, was the hereditary residence of the Tokugawa family for three generations, and is a nationally-designated historical site along with Osaka Castle and Kumamoto Castle, which are the three most famous castles in Japan.

The most famous feature of the castle is the golden dolphin, which was used to decorate the daikon as a fireproof charm and later became a symbol of power for the lord of the castle. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, Ninomaru Plaza features exciting performances by a team of Warring States warriors portraying Tokugawa Ieyasu, Oda Nobunaga and others.

The Tokugawa Museum of Art is a leading museum of samurai art and culture, with a collection of samurai-related artifacts that is perhaps the largest in Japan. The samurai artifacts are from the three oldest samurai branches of the Tokugawa Shogunate family.

Tokugawa-en is a beautiful classical Japanese garden, and a leisurely stroll through the grounds will delight you with a variety of elegant sights, such as a quaint rose garden and a majestic waterfall.

Nestled in a huge cedar forest, Atoda Jingu Shrine is surrounded by sunshine. As you walk among the trees and smell the fragrance of the leaves, you will forget all about modern life outside the shrine walls.

One of Japan's three major Shinto shrines, Atoda Jingu is the religious center of Nagoya and is believed to have been founded 1,900 years ago. The fertile Owari Plain has led the people here to view the shrine as a protector of agriculture, and many of the festivals and ceremonies here focus on farming.

A popular hot spring town with a thousand-year history, Gero Onsen has long been known as one of the best hot spring resorts in Japan. It is internationally famous and even attracted the famous actor Charlie Chaplin.

Stay at the Gero Onsen Yunoshima-kan, located on a hill overlooking the famous Gero hot spring area. The hotel offers a large public indoor hot spring bath and an open-air hot spring bath.

The minerals contained in the Gero Onsen spring water have restorative powers, so the statue of Kisaragi in the temple is also considered a symbol of healing. The hot spring water is said to be particularly effective in treating skin diseases and arthritis.

Located at the foot of the sacred Mt. Shirakawa, this traditional village was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, and is a postcard-perfect landscape with breathtaking views as far as the eye can see.

Ogi-machi in Shirakawa-go is the largest Happo-zukuri village in Japan. “The name Ogimatsu-zukuri is a very graphic name because the roofs of the houses resemble “clasped hands in prayer”.

Stroll through Kanazawa's Kanrokuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, along with Okayama's Korakuen Garden and Mito's Kairakuen Garden, where all the features of traditional Japanese gardens are brought to life: ponds, stone lanterns, waterfalls, rocky paths, bridges, streams, teahouses, and rockeries.

There are several museums within walking distance. These include the Kanazawa 『21st Century Museum of Art』, the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, the Kaga Yuzen Kaikan, and the Kanazawa Noh Museum of Art, where you can explore and experience the rich and diverse traditional Japanese culture in depth.

● Houraisen for the famous unagi sansho (three eel dishes)

This is one of the first restaurants that invented eel sansho, and one of the restaurants recommended by Taiwanese gourmet Tsai Lan; the local eel rice is famous and is a representative of Nagoya's specialties.

🤗 04 Kyushu

Kyushu is the third largest island in Japan and is famous for its Tonkotsu Ramen, various hot springs, varied mountains and quiet beaches.

With its modernity and slow pace of life, Kyushu is the perfect place to experience a slow and relaxing lifestyle. A leisurely trip to Kyushu is the best way to enjoy the magnificent nature, rich culture and delicious food.

Beppu is the largest hot spring resort in western Japan, with eight hot spring areas and about 3,000 outlets.

There are more hot springs than you can possibly visit. There are both open-air and indoor hot springs, each with a different quality of water, so there is something for everyone.

The stylish resort town of Yufuin, rich in hot springs, culture and scenic charm, is one of the most popular resort towns in Japan. There are many traditional Japanese inns and modern hotels, and an overnight stay allows you to better explore the town, which has many upscale cafes, souvenir stores and small museums.

The “Beppu Jigoku Tour” explores seven bubbling hellish hot springs, named after the mysterious and unpredictable hot springs in this area.

Boiling water rises violently from the earth's surface, revealing a constant stream of gases, iron oxide-rich steam and hot mud. Boil eggs and pudding in these natural hot springs and visit the “Crocodile Hell Hot Springs” to see the special “inhabitants” that inhabit the area.

From the beautiful beaches of Amami Oshima and the pristine jungles of Yakushima to the spectacular volcanoes of Sakurajima and Kirishima City, Kagoshima showcases Japan's wild beauty, and has been dubbed the “Naples of the East” because of its bays and pleasant climate.

Kagoshima boasts some of the best sea activities in Japan, including scuba diving, snorkeling and surfing on Amami Oshima and nearby islands.

One of Japan's most unusual hot springs, Nijijuku Onsen is known for its great seaside location and its sand steam (sunamushi) hot sand baths, which are said to have become popular more than 300 years ago.

You can listen to the sound of the tides along the coast, watch the evening sun set, and feel the heat of the hot springs as your body is slowly covered in sand. This treatment is said to open pores and improve circulation, as well as increase the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Explore Kumamoto's “Land of Fire” and escape the flashing lights of Akihabara and the hustle and bustle of Harajuku to the caldera of Aso, where you can enjoy a quiet and peaceful life. “Aso Kujyu National Park, one of the first national parks in Japan, is not to be missed by travelers who enjoy hiking, outdoor activities and hot springs.

A collapsed caldera on Mount Aso in the center of the park is Japan's most active volcanic area, with a diameter of more than 25 kilometers, and has the largest broken caldera in the world today.

The grasslands of Aso Caldera have long been loved by poets and artists, and are still an important tourist attraction in the area. Kusachirinohama” between Mt. Jodoshima and Mt. Ogatake is a well-known grassland.

The sky is reflected in the large ponds of the prairie, making it seem even more expansive, and the cows and horses grazing on the prairie make it seem even more relaxing. If you would like to enjoy a stunning mountain view without having to climb, why not go to Kusachirinohama, where you can see the Aso Gokudake at the foot of the mountain?

You can't miss Kamisekimi Kumanoza Shrine, the setting for the anime “Hotaru no Mori,” which is lush and green in the height of the summer season. Climbing up the path lined with nearly 100 lanterns, you feel like you've entered another world.

During your sightseeing in Kyushu, visit Takachiho Gorge in Miyazaki Prefecture and experience the baptism of nature, culture and history as you raft among waterfalls and volcanic gorges.

Takachiho Gorge is a columnar jointed gorge formed by the rapid cooling of ancient lava flows. Rafting through the gorge, you can look up at the Manabei Falls as it cascades down from a height of 17 meters, and savor the breathtaking beauty of nature.

Takachiho Shrine is also worth a visit, where you can enjoy a dance performance at the Kagura Night Festival.

● Observing traditional brewing techniques at Kagoshima's oldest shochu brewery

Satsuma Shuzo Meiji is located in Kagoshima City, and is best known for its old shochu brewery, Satsuma Shiranami. Here you can see the entire shochu production process. If you're a sake lover, you'll want to try it.

● Helicopter view of Aso Volcano

Aso Volcano has a stunning crater and lake, and the view from above is sure to amaze you, with staff available to help take photos in front of the helicopter after landing.