Miyama cho - Kyoto

[Point of View]
- thatched roof houses
- Miyamacho Visitor Center
- Kitamura Restaurant(Soba)

[Getting there]
By car：
Approximately 90 minutes taking Route 162 from Kyoto Station.

[Personal Recommendation]
Access：★★★☆☆
Refreshment：★★★☆☆

Miyama cho, the traditional farming village at which 50% of people live in thatched roof houses ,is located at south of Kyoto city.




Panicum miliaceum

You can see lots of flower.


[Information]
【Miyama cho Visitor Center】　
〒601-0722
TEL 0771-75-1906
http://www.miyamanavi.net/

Nishizawa Keikoku Gorge - Yamanashi

[Point of View]
- Nanatsugama Godan no Taki Water Fall
- the other 7 water falls
- Konjac Store

[Getting there]
By car：
Approximately 90 minutes to Katsunuma Interchange Exit from Tokyo Station and 60 minutes the parking lot located in front of the entrance of Nishizawa Keikoku Gorge.
By public transportation：
Approximately 90 minutes by JR Kaiji Express, bound for Kofu, to Shioyama Station from Tokyo Station and 60 minutes by Yamanashi Sangaku Kotsu Bus to the entrance of Nishizawa Keikoku Gorge.

[Personal Recommendation]
Access：★★★☆☆
Refreshment：★★★★☆

Nishizawa Keikoku Gorge is the representative valley at which Nanatsugama Godan no Taki Water Fall, one of the Japan's 100 selected water falls, is located in Yamanashi Prefecture.
The water fall and the other 7 water falls are do

The granite rocks are erode by the stream through the ages and shaped into interesting formation. The color of the water is very beautiful as emerald.
Walking on the trail for 3 to 4 hours, you can find many scenic points as water walls, unique rocks, etc.

The entrance -> Nishizawa Sanso（Paved road) - 20minutes
-> Mie no Taki Water Fall -10分
-> Jinmen Cave -10分
-> Ryujin no Taki Water Fall -10分
-> Koiito no Taki Water Fall -5分
-> Teisen no Taki Water Fall -5分
-> Botai Buchi Chasm -25分
-> Nanatsugama Godan no Taki Water Fall -25分
-> Back to the entrance(gentle descendent) -100分

The water's color is beautifully blue-green。



Nanatsugama Godan no Taki Water Fall ,a beautiful five tiered waterfall.

There are many fruit farms surrounded Katsunuma Interchange.


[Information]
【Yamanashi City Mitomi Hall Tourism Building】　
TEL：0553-39-2121
Visitor's Guid：
http://www.city.yamanashi.yamanashi.jp/kanko/image/seeing/nishizawa.pdf

Mini Shirakami - Aomori

[Point of View]
- native bushs of beech trees
- nature trails(45 minutes trail and 90 minutes trail)

[Getting there]
By Airplane
Approximately 1 hours by airplane from Haneda to Akita Airport and get a car and drive to Mini Shirakami (It takes 120 minutes)

Or at Aomori Airport transfer to JR Tohoku Bus to Aomori Station(40 minutes) and secound transfer to JR resort shirakami to Ajigasawa Station(180 minutes), then get a taxi to Mini Shirakami(20 minutes)

[Personal Recommendation]
Access：★☆☆☆☆
Refreshment：★★★★★

You can enjoy one of the world heritage, Shirakami Sanchi.
The trails are not hard to walk and you can see many kinds of berries(Tochino-Mi, Bunano-Mi, etc..), trees and birds.

Even though the day we visited there was rain, the forest are very beautiful.

Shirakami Sanchi Brief description:
Situated in the mountains of northern Honshu, this trackless site includes the last virgin remains of the cool-temperate forest of Siebold's beech treesthat once covered the hills and mountain slopes of northern Japan. The black bear, the serow and 87 species of birds can be found in this forest.

It was very mysterious like god of mountain may live there.




Beautiful berries


We have enjoyed with rain.

A frog

Many kinds of mashroom grow freely.


[Information]
Mini Shirakami Kuromori Museam
TEL:0173-79-2009（closed from December to April）

Juniko Ponds - Aomori

[Point of View]
- Ao ike Pond
- Wakitsubo no ike Pond
- Japan Canyon

[Getting there]
By Shinkansen Super Express:
Approximately 4 hours by JR Tohoku Super Express Line from Tokyo Station to Akita Station and 120 minutes by JR Resort Shirakami Line to Juniko Station.Then catch a taxi or a bus to Aoike Bus Stop.
By Airplane
Approximately 1 hours by airplane from Haneda to Akita Airport and 40 minutes by Akita Kosoku Bus(Express bus) to Akita Station. Then transfer to JR Resort Shirakami Line to Juniko Station and catch a taxi or a bus to Aoike Bus Stop.
By Airplane(Odatenoshiro Airport) Most Recommended!!!
Approximately 1 hours by airplane from Haneda to Odatenoshiro Airport and 90 minutes by car to Ao Ike Pond.

[Personal Recommendation]
Access：★☆☆☆☆
Refreshment：★★★★☆

Juniko Ponds (12 ponds) is located west side of Shirakamisanchi mountain district, that is one of the world heritages in Japan, and near the Japan Ocean.
Among those ponds, Ao Ike Pond is most famous and beautiful pond, so many people had seen it once on TV or posters.

The pond 9 meter deep is mystic blue and everybody have been watching it for a long time.
The water is very clear, so you can see fallen beech trees at the bottom.

Although September was not best season to see because of many fallen leaves on its surface, the pond took our heart.
(Best season is Spring. Particulary April is less fallen leaves and you can see the pond very deep blue.)

Ao Ike Pond


Wakitsubo no ike Pond（Its color was light green.）

Native bushs of beech tree

A berry? I have no idea what it is, but it was beautiful.


Japan Canyon


[Information]
Juniko Visitor Center
TEL：0173-77-2138