Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, Nanto
The remote mountain villages of gassho-style houses in Shirakawa-go and Gokayama on the
Hida highlands were registered as cultural heritage sites in 1995. They blend in with the nature of each season; fresh green leaves in spring, tinted leaves in autumn and snow in winter.
 The roof of this multi-layered structure has an impressive slope of 60 degrees to allow the heavy snow to slide off easily.
The observatory at the site of Ogimachi Castle is a popular spot from which to view
Shirakawa-go Ogimachi village, which is open to the public, offering an opportunity to learn about how people lived long ago. Many tourists visit here specifically to see the water-discharge exercise performed on the last Sunday in October every year.
In Gokayama, we recommend a visit to Ainokura Village where 24 houses stand against a background of mountains, and Suganuma village with houses that were built during the Edo era.
Well worth a visit as well is the Iwase house which is the largest gassho-style house in Gokayama with five floors and an interior constructed of zelkova wood.
Yakushima Island, Kyushu
Enjoy the unspoiled richness of nature on a mysterious island where time stands still.
Yakushima is a round-shaped island of which one-fifth is registered as a natural heritage site. There are as many as six mountain peaks over 1,800 metres high, giving the island the name — the Alps on the Ocean.
 The bedrock of the island is granite; one of main features of this area is that temperature and seasonal changes are the largest on Earth. It is possible to see plants from both subtropical and cold temperate zones here; it also rains so much that it is said that ‘it rains 35 days of the month’ here.
The range of flora is very wide, from coral reefs to alpine plants. Among the animals, there are those that display traits unique to Yakushima, such as the Yaku monkey and Yaku deer.
The term ‘Yaku sugi’ (Japanese cedar), the symbol of Yakushima, is used only for cedar trees over 1,000 years old. Those growing in the area covered by clouds and mist sometimes extend roots even from the leaves and stalks and form themselves into strange shapes.
Apart from this, there are many other good sightseeing spots. While Shiratani Unsuikyo lets you take a walk in the Yaku sugi forest, Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen is where you can bathe in a spa right next to the sea.
You can see the deep blue ocean spreading out to the horizon from the Yakushima lighthouse. From here you can spot the beautiful sandy beach Sango-no-hama known for its star-shaped sand.
If you want to experience canoeing or forest bathing, Yakushima Island is the ideal destination for your holiday.
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