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10. Takachiho Gorge (Takachiho-cho)
Takachiho Gorge truly is a live version of Japanese art. The gorge has one-hundred-meter-high walls of basalt rock which rise above the blue-green waters of the Gokase River. The slate-grey vertical cliffs are adorned with moss and overgrown with trees which creates an atmosphere magical enough to have inspired the birth of legends. Part way along the narrow channel, the Minainotaki waterfall cascades down from above giving Takachiho Gorge an even more bewitching and mythical appeal.
Practical Information: You can enjoy the sight of this incredible piece of nature in Japan by foot or by boat. To see the splendor on foot, walk over the one-kilometer long pathway along the cliff tops then step out onto the wooden observation platform by the waterfall. To navigate the gorge by boat involves a bit of rowing and takes about half an hour. Small, three-person, rowboats are available for hire for around 2000 yen from the southern end of the gorge. It’s a popular way to see the stunning gorge scenery, so get there early, or you’ll miss the boat. If you arrive at Takachiho Gorge by car, expect to pay 500 yen for an all-day parking space.
9. Tottori Sand Dunes (Tottori Sakyu)
The last thing most people would relate with Japan is a desert-style landscape. But Japan does have one region which is covered by shifting sands and is such a popular tourist attraction it’s visited by over two million people a year. The Tottori Sand Dunes are an eighteen square mile coastal dune formation in Japan’s Tottori Prefecture which is continually changing shape depending on which way the wind blows. This mini-Sahara, which stretches along the Tottori shoreline for almost six miles, is over a mile wide in places and even has its place in Japanese cinematic history.
Practical Information: There are several great ways to see the Tottori dunes and which one you choose depends on your energy levels and sense of adventure. If wading across sand sounds too strenuous, try the ski-lift-style cable ride. It lasts for five minutes, and you get some incredible views of the dunes from above for just 200 yen.
To explore the dunes on foot, and to save your regular footwear, rent a pair of boots from any of the souvenir shops nearby. Lockers can be rented to stow your personal belongings and keep them safe from being lost in the desert sands.
Don’t skip checking out the sand museum or the souvenir shops. There are interesting sand-related exhibitions, and you can get sand inspired chocolate souvenir bars to take home.