World Heritage Site: Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is 3,776 meters high and is the highest mountain in Japan, situated in the southeast part of Yamanashi at the border of Shizuoka. With unrivaled magnificence and a beautiful cone shape, Mount Fuji has often been selected as the subject of paintings and literature. It is world famous as a symbol of Japan. At the foot of Mount Fuji are Fuji-Goko (Fuji’s Five Lakes), Aoki-ga-hara-jukai (a sea of trees that is dark even during the day), and Kitaguchi-Hongu Fuji-Sengen Shrine (which was constructed to calm the eruption of Mount Fuji). The Fire Festival of Yoshida, held at the end of the summer as a ritual for closing the climbing season for Mount Fuji, is one of the three most peculiar festivals in Japan. Mount Fuji has long been the center of mountain worship of ancient Japan.

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The sightseeing center of Kyoto, preserving a variety of architecture and gardens, as well as many cultural masterpieces.

The eastern part of Kyoto’s city center is called Higashiyama, located at the west end of the Higashiyama Mountain Range. As early as the middle of the 14th century, many shrines, temples and aristocrats’ villas were built in this area, where a variety of architecture and gardens, artistic and cultural masterpieces such as paintings and crafts were created. Many artistic activities such as ‘ikebana’ (flower arrangement), the tea ceremony and Noh performances flourished and developed in this area as well. There are many masterpieces of historic architecture still in existence today, which attract many visitors and tourists from every corner of the world.In the southern part of the Higashiyama district is the famous Kiyomizu-dera Temple, built halfway up a steep cliff with its main hall projecting over a steep precipice. Yasaka-jinja Shrine, built around the 7th century, is also well known as the central site for the Gion-matsuri Festival that is held in summer.

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A historic old port town with a modern feel. The excitement of the Nebuta-matsuri Festival can be felt throughout the year. The city of Aomori is located at the base of the Tsugaru-hanto Peninsula, and is the political, economic, and cultural center of the prefecture of which it is the capital. Aomori has a history as a port town, but is continuing to develop as a modern city.The Nebuta-matsuri Festival in summer features huge lanterns, and is one of the biggest festivals in the Tohoku region. The festival attracts lots of people, from inside Aomori and from other places. Nebuta warrior figures are on display at the Nebuta-no-sato Museum in the southern suburbs of the city and at Wa Rasse near JR Aomori Station. These figures have lights inside, and are made by sticking paper on wood and wire frame. They enable you to enjoy the mood of the festival throughout the year.

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