This is a wetland area in Niigata prefecture. From around October to March, around 6,000 swans migrate across this landscape, for which this area is famous. There are also around 100 other different types of birds that inhabit this area. This area was created around 400 years ago, and was so called due to its shape resembling the gourd fruit.
This is an Onsen in the eastern part of Niigata prefecture. The water contains sulphur and is good for the skin, so is often known as an Onsen where "one can become beautiful". In the local town, there are numerous trendy cafes as well as traditional manju shops (manju is a bun with a yeast filling), Sake shops, sushi restaurants and traditional Izakaya.
This is an old bath house in Aizu-Wakamatsu city. It has 1,300 years of history, and developed as an inner parlour house of the city during the Edo area(1603-1868). The place is famous as an area where the Vice President of Shinsengumi, Hijikata Toshizo healed wounded soldiers during the war. Geisha are still active around the town today.※Credit:旅と温泉の無料写真素材 おんふぉと http://on-photo.com/
This is a small group of lakes of which there are more than 30, in the area of Ura Bandai, north of Mount Bandai. There area has swamps of various colors such as green, red, and blue which are colored as such due to the influence of the volcanic water quality and the surrounding plants and algae. Visitors can also enjoy boat rowing in the Bishamon Swamp.
This is a area in southern Aizu which is an Edo-era(1603-1868) village which is "half agricultural, half residential". There are numerous thatched roof traditional houses which give the feeling of having travelled back in time to the Edo era. There is also a specialist "Spring onion Soba" shop where one uses spring onions to eat soba instead of chopsticks.
This is Japan's fourth largest lake, situated in central Fukushima. The place is home to swans and swallowtail birds which are designated national treasures. There is a large camping area here, with Mount Bandai in the background, where visitors can enjoy various marine activities such as water boarding and water skiing.