Mountain Archives - Have Ya Seen Japan

Japan’s best rivers and lakes ranked by scenic beauty

Japan is the land of mountains, rivers, and lakes, so I thought I’d piece together my 5 favorite spots in Japan to enjoy views of the water.

Mt. Hiei or “Hieizan” is one of the strongholds of Buddhism in Japan, offering scenic views, historic temples, and tough hiking trails!

There are many reasons NOT to hike during the Japanese summer – it’s hot, it’s humid, and it’s damn difficult, so keep these tips in mind.

Mt. Hiei is easily my favorite hiking trail in Kyoto, not just for the challenging route, but also the perfect picnic spot at the summit!

Kyoto is easily Japan’s most scenic prefecture featuring stunning nature-city hybrid views. Here are Kyoto’s 5 most scenic picnic spots!

Few hikes come close to the breathtaking beauty of Kyoto’s Mt. Hiei route, but when hiking in winter, be prepared for a whole new experience!

I’ve hiked up Mt. Daimonji before in the hot days of summer, but this time we are doing a 360 and trekking through the icy trails of winter!

Kyoto did not see much snowfall last winter, but now, we are seeing the first signs of snow in 2025 in Kyoto’s mountains.

Standing at 599 meters tall, Mt. Takao overlooks the city of Hachioji in the western region of Greater Tokyo.

Kyoto is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Here are 5 of my most memorable viewing points across the prefecture!

Preserving the natural environment has always been a strong suit of the Japanese; that’s why the Otowa River Erosion Control Dam was built.

Located between Kyoto’s iconic Kiyomizu-dera temple and Shiga’s beautiful Lake Biwa, Mt. Otowa offers breathtaking scenery at the summit!