Discover the serene beauty of western Japan, from the tranquil lakes of Okutama to the majestic mountains of Kyushu. Explore hiking trails, immerse yourself in hot springs, and experience the rich cultural heritage of Shugen-do ascetics.
In western Japan , this prefecture’s verdant natural spaces are the perfect destination for bringing together body, mind, and spirit. Taking the train through western Tokyo, the capital undergoes a gradual, but stark transformation. The high-rise city center and its busy streets give way to increasingly peaceful suburbs, before the train windows begin to frame rural, mountainous views.
It’s here, in places like Lake Okutama, where Tokyoites come for natural respite, for the cherry blossom in spring and fiery foliage in autumn, or to unwind all year round with lakeside hikes, bike rides, and hot spring baths—maybe even a spot of stand-up paddle boarding or canyoning in the rivers fed by the lake.The Okutama area and western Tokyo are easily accessible by train from central Tokyo, but thanks to Japan’s wider rail and air network so too is the great outdoors across Japan. That includes Kyushu, the westernmost of Japan’s four main islands, a place that is home to stunning natural landscapes, and also the perfect destination for bringing body, mind, and spirit together while quite literally bathing in nature.airlines in under two hours. A cosmopolitan city of around 1.65 million people, Fukuoka also serves as a jumping off point for exploring the neighboring Mt. Kubote (around 2,566 feet / 782 meters) and Mt. Inugatake (around 3,711 feet / 1,131 meters), roughly 50 kilometers to the east. This pair of peaks are especially stunning when repainted deep-red by maples and golden-yellow by gingko in autumn.Hiking the trails here, you’ll be following in the footsteps of the Shugen-dō ascetics, who trained and worshipped on the wooded Mt. Kubote from the 700s to the 1800s, using a complex mix of Shintō Mountain worship, Buddhism, and folk religion. Today, the peak is still topped by a small shrine, while the quiet pathways offer the chance to connect with nature like many ascetics who came beforeon the northwestern tip of the islan
Nature Hiking Japan Kyushu Okutama Hot Springs Culture Shugen-Do
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