Gokayama Gassho no Sato

This is a village situated in northern Gifu, and registered as a World Heritage Site. It is known as an area with one of the highest levels of snowfall, and due to this, the roofing of houses is set at a steep angle to deal with the snow fall. Some of these houses still exist nowadays, and are still in use.

This is one of the three Japanese gardens which was built by Maeda Tsunanori in 1676. Originating from the clan garden which was built at the outskirts of Kanazawa Castle by the Kaga clan, the park was named by Matsudaira Tadanobu who named it as such due to the six elements of spaciousness, tranquility, artifice, antiquity, water courses, and a magnificent view from the garden.The area also has been rated with 3 stars from the Michelin Tour guide, and is one of Japan's most splendid parks that can be enjoyed all year around due to the plum and cherry blossoms, autumn leaves and snow views.

This is a shrine whose construction date is unknown. It houses the God known as Okuninushi no MikotoMii no Kami. This place is also home to one of Japan's three Hadaka festivals (where a minimum amount of clothing, normally a loincloth) is worn, known as "Furukawa festival", which has been performed since the Edo era(1603-1868). The resonant sound of the drum rings out during the festival proceedings. There are many fans of the anime "Your name" who make the pilgrimage here in dedication to the anime piece.

This is an Onsen near Hida Takayama. It is a new onsen that is established in an historic castle town with traditional style buildings and the Takayama Festivals. The alps become completely awash with white snow during the winter, so taking a warm bath is ideal to warm the body whilst looking out at the snowy landscape.

This is a traditional bath in Kaga City. It boasts 1,300 years of history and was visited by prominent figures such as Akechi Mitsuhide during the Sengoku era(1467-1600), and Kitaoji Rosanjin and Yosano Akiko during the Meiji era(1858-1912). After the war it developed quickly into a recreational bath house. Soyu and Kosoyu are two of its famous public baths.　※Credit：石川県観光連盟

This is a traditional bath in Kaga City. It boasts 1,300 years of history and was known as an Onsen loved by Matsuo Basho. The spa town is located along the "Kakusenkei" valley of the Daishoji River, where you can enjoy the countryside landscape with its mountains, valleys and rivers.※Credit：石川県観光連盟

This is a plateau located at the foot of Mt.Kyogatake mountain range and extends to an altitude of about 400 to 700 m. It forms a gentle fan-shaped terrain, and the night sky is ideal for star gazing. In addition, visitors can enjoy seeing the dairy cattle grazing, barbecues, and outdoor baths etc.

This is Japan's only beach which can be driven along, with a length of 8 kilometers, situated in the western region of Noto Peninsula. The area is becoming popular as a driving spot to view the sunset, and various marine sports can also be enjoyed here.

This is a hot spring deep in Oku Hida. It is situated in the northern alps, and was admired by Shingen Takeda during the Sengoku era(1467-1600), as an onsen with the third most plentiful amount of spring water. The onsen is unique in that there is a free communal bath area with many different types of baths.

This is a temple of the Soto sect built in 1244 by Dogen. The temple is named after the Buddhas ShakanyoraiMirokubosatsuAmidanyorai, with the wish for eternal peace. It is situated deep in the forest of around 600 cedars, and there are around 200 priests here that strictly follow the buddhist teachings. The temple is also famous for being admired by Steve Jobs, who was famously a believer in God.

This is Japan's tallest waterfall at 350m, in the Tateyama mountain range. The name comes from the fact that a Priest named Hounen heard the voice that called "Shomyo Nenbutsu " from the sound of the waterfall.

This is a castle that was built by Shibata Katsutoyo in 1576. It is famous for being the oldest of the 12 castle towers (known as Tenshaku) There are around 400 Yoshino cherry plants planted in the nearby garden, which gives the castle its alternative moniker of "Kasumiga-jo", and the summer views of the cherry blossoms in full view are a particular highlight.

This is a temple of the Nichiren sect built in 1294 by Nichizo. At Hokuriku-honzan, visitors can also see the great cathedral of Noto district. During the Sengoku era(1467-1600), it flourished under the support of the Maeda Toshiie noble family. While the place is in a relatively hidden area, it has ten items of cultural importance such as the main hall, five-storied pagoda, Soshido hall (where a statue of the founder and buddha's teachings are kept) and Kyodo hall.

This is an Alpine route of the Tateyama Kurobe mountain range. As snow has to be cleared aside in the heavy mountain zone of Toyama in around March, visitors can see the spectacular snow walls in April and May, with a height of 15-20m.

This is a crater lake at altitude 2,405 meters formed by the volcanic activity of Tateyama volcano, in Murodo-daira. In Tateyama faith, the name has the meaning of "God's kitchen" and the pond's water ownership was bequeathed to Tateyama. For those practicing religion in this area, it became known as holy water.

Located at the southern part of the Hida mountain range, this is Japan's 5th tallest mountain at 3,180 meters. As the name suggests, the mountain has an unusual shape resembling a spear that is being cast to heaven. This has earned it the nickname of "Japan's matterhorn". The sunrise and sunset views with the sea of clouds below captures the hearts of many climbers.

This is the largest glacier valley in Japan at the southern part of the Hida mountain range. There is a stunning view between Mount Okuhogatake and Mount Maehogatake due to their height difference of about 1,000 meters. The area has become popular for autumn leaf viewing in recent years, and the trees, known for their "three stage" autumn leaves offer an interesting contrast to the surrounding rocky area.

This is a scenic spot with an altitude of 1500 m in the southern part of the Hida Mountain Range. It has many sightseeing spots such as Azusa RiverKappa BridgeMyojin PondTakesawa WetlandsTashiro Pond. As there are only a few such plains spread out in Japan to this extent, many tourists flock to this area to see the rare scenery. The area is also the habitat of the Japanese monkey, Char Fish, and Genji firefly.

This is a hidden away hot spring in the vicinity of Kamikochi in the west part of Nagano prefecture. It has always been well known as a place of healing, and it is said that one will not catch a cold if one enters the milky white water for three days. It is a secluded hot spring town with a quiet atmosphere, with several inns and places to eat around the local area.

This is a famous hot spring in Gero City. With 1000 years of history, it is named as one of Japan's three best onsen, by Hayashi Razan, a neo-Confucian philosopher. There were many times where the area was destroyed by floods of the Hida River, but it was restored each time, and there is a full onsen town along the river. Hoba Miso paste (made from Magnolia leaf) is a specialty product in this area.※Credit：下呂温泉観光協会