Southern Japan has a subtropical climate and is highly agricultural. Kyushu is home to many historical sites and preserves its natural beauty amid the bustling modern cities.
Kyushu is extensively mountainous with the volcanic terrain of the Kuju mountain range. Aso, is also on this island. Since volcanic activity in the region is substantial, you can expect a lot of onsen towns! The subtropical Kyushu lifestyle is perhaps most apparent in Kagoshima Prefecture, where Yakushima lies off the southern coast of the island. This is the rainiest place in Japan, with a local exaggerating that the area sees 35 days of rain in a month. In the Edo Period, much of the forest was harvested for cedar shingles.
The woods have since recovered from the logging. In , some areas were declared a Natural World Heritage Site. Anime fans might recognize the forests of ancient trees. East of Kyushu is the similarly subtropical island Shikoku. With 18, square kilometers spread over 4 prefectures, the Shikoku landscape varies in each cardinal direction.
Mountains undulate in the south while lowland plains stretch along the pacific coast, perfect for agricultural practices. Shikoku is perhaps best known as home to several haiku masters and for its many Buddhist temples. The island has a 1,kilometer pilgrimage route, with 88 temples along the way. Can you imagine living next door to these cultural legends?
And what better way to experience Japanese lifestyle than to engage in its traditions first-hand? Photo by Arjan Beeftink on Flickr. If you move to Shikoku, you could visit quaint attractions on the island such as Nagoro, the Valley of Dolls. This place is quite the ghost town, with a population of 37 humans and dolls. Ayano decided to retire in her childhood village after living in Osaka for so long.
Without much to do, she decided to plant seeds. When nothing sprouted, she thought that scarecrows might help. She then fashioned a doll after her father. Later on, she made dolls to resemble the villagers who either passed or moved away and set them in their most meaningful places. The dolls scattered around town has attracted many tourists, to the delight of Ayano. From the north, south, and center, the 4 primary islands of Japan have unique experiences to offer. Honshu is the largest island, with many of the greatest cities in the world.
The northern Hokkaido has a distinct dialect that sets itself apart from the rest of the country. Meanwhile, the southern islands of Kyushu and Shikoku have subtropical climates that promise a lifestyle close to nature. But once you have a general idea of the lifestyles each island offers, you can easily adjust and make the most of your stay there! Motto Japan, the community platform to support foreigners with the foundation for life in Japan, including Japanese study, job opportunities, and housing service.
Near Kamakura. Enoshima is a small touristy island connected to the mainland by bridge, and a short train ride west of Kamakura.
It is a popular beach destination for city dwellers, and its beaches can become crowded with swimmers and sunbathers in the summer. There are a variety of attractions on the island, including a shrine, park, observation tower and caves, as well as an aquarium on the mainland just off the island.
Rishiri Island and Rebun Island are two small islands near the northern tip of Hokkaido. They are part of the Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park and offer beautiful hiking trails, coastal sceneries, alpine flowers and small fishing villages. Rishiri island has a dormant volcano , Mount Rishiri, at its center which can be climbed.
Tashiro Island , informally known as "Cat Island", is a small rural island off the coast of central Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture. There are more cats living on the island than humans, and the cats are mostly found around Nitoda Port on the southeastern side of the island.
The island is only accessible by ferry , and there are limited public facilities. Matsushima Bay has over small islands covered by pine trees, and is celebrated as one of Japan's three most scenic views. A good way to enjoy the bay is by sightseeing cruise, while some islands like Oshima and Fukuurajima can be accessed by bridges that connect to the mainland.
Niigata Prefecture. Sado Island is one of the largest islands in Japan off the coast of Niigata Prefecture.
It used to serve as a destination for political exiles until the Edo Period and visitors can still see the influence and remnants of the culture and religion left behind by some of the exiled. Sado Kinzan , a former gold mine on the island that is now open to the public, used to be the most productive mine in Japan.
Other attractions on the island include scenic views from various lookouts, sightseeing boat cruises and museums. Kagawa Prefecture. Naoshima is an island in the Seto Inland Sea known for its modern art museums, architecture and sculptures. One of Naoshima's iconic art installations is a giant yellow pumpkin by artist Kusama Yayoi that can be found along the coast. There are a number of places to stay at, one of which is the Benesse House which is a modern art museum and resort hotel designed by architect Ando Tadao.
Okayama Prefecture. Inujima is a small island off Okayama in the Seto Inland Sea. The island used to be an industrial site producing granite blocks in the feudal age and later, a later was home to a copper refinery. These days, visitors can explore the ruins of the refinery as well as view modern art projects that Inujima has become known for. The islands have been used as the setting for rural islands in movies, and visitors can explore the quaint villages and visit some of the tourist attractions like shrines and caves.
The islands can be navigated on foot or by rental bicycles. Shodoshima is the second largest island in the Seto Inland Sea. The island is traditionally a producer of soy sauce and now also known for its olive plantations. Shodoshima is also home to the beautiful Kankakei Gorge , a movie village and many other attractions.
Teshima is a rural island in the Seto Inland Sea. Its main attraction is the Teshima Art Museum , which is an architecturally provoking installation in itself, as well as other permanent artworks spread out across the island. Cycling is a popular means of experiencing the Shimanami Kaido , a kilometer long toll road, as there is a cycling route which traverses the six islands between Onomichi and Imabari.
In addition to the scenery, the islands offer other attractions such as temples and museums, as well as minshuku and camping grounds for those who prefer a multi-day trip.
Hiroshima Prefecture. Miyajima is a small island less than an hour outside the city of Hiroshima , accessible by ferry only. The island is closely related to its key shrine, Itsukushima Shrine , and both shrine and giant torii gate are built over water. Other attractions include wild deer, Daisho-in Temple , Mount Misen , the island's highest mountain which offers great views of Hiroshima and the Seto Inland Sea , and an aquarium.
Gunkanjima , formally known as Hashima Island, is an abandoned island located about 20 kilometers or a 50 minute boat ride from Nagasaki Port. The island served as a coal mine until when the mines were closed and everyone left, leaving the island frozen in time.
Visitors can visit the island by joining a sightseeing tour. Aoshima Island is a small island south of Miyazaki City. There is a shrine at the center of the island and a geological phenomenon that can be seen at low tide: natural formations of perfectly straight rows of basalt rock known as the devil's washboard "Oni no Sentakuita".
The island is accessible on foot via a bridge from the mainland. Sakurajima is one of Japan's most active volcanoes , rising out of the Bay of Kagoshima, a short ferry ride away from central Kagoshima. The former island turned into a peninsula in a big eruption in that connected it to the mainland of Kyushu.
Kagoshima Prefecture. Yakushima is a subtropical island south of Kagoshima that is covered by an extensive cedar forest and contains some of Japan's oldest living trees.
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