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Honshu
The soul of Japan — where urban thrills meet cultural wonders and legendary landscapes.
All photos shown below were taken by me. Please do not use them without permission.
Tōhoku — Japan’s wild and unspoiled side
Located north of Honshū, Tōhoku is made up of six prefectures: Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima. This region is shaped by mountains, deep forests, hidden temples, and snowy winters.
Less touristy than other parts of Japan, it offers an authentic glimpse into rural life — where timeless traditions meet breathtaking landscapes.
When it comes to autumn scenery, Tōhoku is hands down my favorite place in Japan. From fiery forests to mist-covered peaks, every valley seems to craft its own version of kōyō, the season of red leaves.
The rich variety of colors, the stillness of the surroundings, and the genuine feel of the villages make it a truly magical destination at this time of year.
Tōhoku also carries a calm, almost timeless atmosphere. From waterfalls tucked away in the woods to mountaintop shrines with sweeping views, the region invites you to slow down, to listen, to just take it all in.
A quieter Japan — powerful in its simplicity, and deeply soothing.
When blanketed in snow, Tōhoku turns into a true fairytale landscape.
Frozen waterfalls, silent mountains, and villages hidden beneath layers of powder create a world that feels frozen in time.
It’s also the perfect season to relax in traditional inns with natural hot springs, often tucked away in remote, peaceful locations.
January and February are ideal months to enjoy this unique winter escape.
Tōhoku remains one of Japan’s most genuine and untouched regions.
Whether you discover it through its autumn forests, snow-covered villages, or quiet landscapes, it offers a truly memorable experience — far from the crowds, rich with real emotion.
Kantō – Between Tradition and Modernity
Located in central Honshū, the Kantō region includes seven prefectures: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi, and Ibaraki. It’s the beating heart of modern Japan, where buzzing cities meet ancient temples and unexpected landscapes.
Perfect for discovering a Japan that is dynamic, accessible, and deeply cultural.
Tokyo is a visual whirlwind — a surge of adrenaline and creativity. With its flashing neon lights, lively districts, and nights that never sleep, the city perfectly embodies the bold spirit of modern Japan.
But that electric energy isn’t just felt at street level.
At dusk, Tokyo becomes a sea of light — vibrant and mesmerizing. The city offers breathtaking viewpoints where you’re left speechless before a dense, glowing, endlessly alive skyline.
And yet, even at the heart of this vast urban sprawl, Tokyo surprises with quiet moments and deep traditional roots — a balance found nowhere else in the world.
Tokyo isn’t just concrete and neon. When autumn sets the trees ablaze or spring paints the city pink, a whole different side emerges. The seasons are a show in their own right — fleeting, beautiful, unforgettable. Even in the capital’s heart, nature finds time to shine.
Just one or two hours from Tokyo, you’ll find landscapes you’d never expect.
Japan has a real passion for flowers — each season has its stars, and everyone eagerly awaits their return. In spring, cherry blossoms meet fields of bright yellow rapeseed. Farther out, soft lavender-blue hills steal the spotlight.
A fleeting yet magical spectacle — absolutely worth the trip.
Autumn in Japan is an explosion of colour. And even around Tokyo, it’s a visual feast. Glowing forests, waterfalls framed by fiery maples… and of course, the iconic ginkgo-lined avenues, their golden leaves carpeting the ground.
It’s breathtakingly beautiful — deeply Japanese — and something locals look forward to every year as a sacred rendezvous with nature.
Chūbu & the Japanese Alps – Between Mountains and Preserved Villages
Located between Tokyo and Kyoto, this region brings together nine prefectures: Yamanashi, Nagano, Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Gifu, Shizuoka, and Aichi.
It’s a land of contrasts — with snow-capped peaks, historic villages, local craftsmanship, and stunning views of Mount Fuji. A true playground for lovers of nature, tranquillity, and authenticity.
When cherry blossoms bloom, Japan becomes pure magic. Whether set against a majestic mountain or at the base of the country’s most iconic peak, every viewpoint becomes a unique spectacle.
The contrast between eternal snow, blooming fields, and soft pink petals gives spring an almost unreal intensity — a moment many dream of experiencing at least once in their lives.
Less well-known than other regions, Nagano prefecture hides some of Japan’s most spectacular mountain landscapes.
With fiery forests, rugged peaks, peaceful lakes and protected national parks, autumn here reveals a striking palette of colours.
A land of raw nature and intimate horizons — a quiet, grand, and deeply calming side of Japan.
In the very heart of Chūbu, some mountain villages offer a true escape from time — where winter turns everything into a snow-covered fairytale. Snow-draped rooftops, soft lights, silent forests, and frozen valleys: it’s one of Japan’s most breathtaking and untouched faces.
A place where authenticity meets raw beauty — and which draws wide-eyed visitors from around the world every year.
Japan’s fourth largest city, Nagoya, is often underestimated — and yet it’s full of unexpected spots with surprising aesthetics.
From spectacularly designed bookstores to futuristic architecture and glowing urban settings, the city reveals a creative, contemporary side of the country.
With a little curiosity, you’ll discover far more than you expected.
Kansai & Chūgoku – Cultural cradle and living memory of Japan
This vast region stretches from Kyoto to the western edge of the country and includes eleven prefectures: Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hyōgo, Shiga, Wakayama, Mie, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tottori, and Shimane.
Here lies the traditional heart of Japan — with ancient temples, feudal castles, spiritual paths, and vibrant cities.
A captivating blend of history, cuisine, and emotion — best experienced through the rhythm of the seasons and each new discovery.
Walking through the streets of Kyoto feels like opening a door into another time. From the endless red torii gates of Fushimi Inari to the peaceful alleys of Gion, watched over by the graceful Yasaka pagoda, it feels as though the past never left. Every detail — the wooden beams of old houses, the soft evening light on cobblestones — tells a story. It’s a city that moves you, calms you, and fascinates. A place you come to searching for something — without knowing exactly what — and yet always end up finding it.
One autumn walk in Kyoto is enough to understand why so many fall in love with the city. As maples blaze in red, orange, and gold, temples blend into a glowing, almost surreal landscape. Moss-covered steps, stone lanterns, forgotten statues in the woods — everything feels like it belongs to another world: quiet, untouched. Every step is a discovery, every turn a suspended moment.
In this season, Kyoto isn’t just beautiful — it’s unforgettable.
Just steps away from Kyoto, the rest of Kansai reveals a different side of the Japanese spring. In these quieter valleys, cherry trees blanket the mountains in an almost otherworldly pink. You’ll find temples nestled between forest and sky, wrapped in silence, surrounded by thousands of blossoms. Here, far from the crowds, hanami takes on an almost spiritual quality. A quieter, wilder Japan — breathtakingly beautiful. The kind you don’t expect… and never forget.
Honshū is the backbone of Japan — an island with a thousand faces, where every region composes its own melody. From sparkling metropolises to shrines lost in the mist, from snow-capped volcanoes to flower-lined shores — everything here invites discovery. You’ll find the thrill of modernity, the strength of tradition, and that unique ability to elevate the everyday through the changing seasons. Honshū is a journey within the journey — a subtle balance between intensity and serenity, between the pulse of the moment and the poetry of the eternal.