What do you think are some of the most beautiful scenic spots in Japan?

Kamakura, Nikko, Kyoto...

The Kii peninsula. So much to see.

Anywhere in the mountains away from people.

My gardens

I find most of Japan's famous spots very underwhelming. The best are in natural areas where people and the construction industry have yet to find.

Kodera River in Yamagata.

Yeah lots I love about Japan but scenic beauty is sadly harder to find, I cant remember how many hikes up to some "spectacular view" have been utterly disappointing, Japanese gushing around me & all I see is a LARGE VIEW of the mess below & trees up the mountains. I think most Japanese think seeing a lot = beauty, sorry I just cant

You learn you need to look through a telephoto sense to cherry pick the good bits.

I also hate going someplace only to see hordes there as well.

The natural places that aren't famous see few visitors are what do it for me, that or I just stay home in my yard & veggie patch!

Nikko, especially in the fall.

The Northern alps in winter. I shot this form a spot named in Japan top one hundred most photographed landscape https://flic.kr/p/dWiBs6

Depends on how you interpret "scenic", doesn't it? If it means a scene with no evidence of man's existence, then you're talking wilderness and wild seashores; if it means a scene that includes something man-made (even buildings) it can be just as attractive.

But for me, it's the gardens.

If you have the eye for them, some of the "scenic" spots in Japan are the subtle surprises. You can find them in a square meter of garden space surrounded by concrete, an alley pathway lined with stones along deep brown walls, or blankets of moss over undulating roots. Plumed grasses that bow in greeting as you pass.

Or lesser-known gardens and quiet residential streets in the posh areas of cities. Or a glimpse of a homeless man with a blue basin carefully hanging his washing from a branch.

Wild plants growing up stone walls and fallen leaves on paving stones of the pathways leading to the "underwhelming" views.

Even the hordes are beautiful. They move like rivers with an energy of their own. The ubiquitous telephone lines that criss-cross the alleyways like the work of a psychotic knitter or weeds that push their life force through the most forbidding cracks.

Tokyo's open-throated roar—akin to a fog-horn blast—playing pedal tone to random pizzicato horns. Three-beer laughter riffs over a siren’s yowl and bicycle-bell jangle.

You really don't need to look for Japan's scenic spots. If you open to them, they find you.

So true. The ability to see that is what makes a great photographer.

@John-San

Yes beautiful place all year round. The birth place of my wife and the place of my art studio where we lived for more than 10 years until my back could no longer deal with the heavy snow. Climbed and painted those Hakuba mountains and others so many times. Have some of them on my Kobe art studio walls. I love Kamakochi too especially in the autumn.

A true artist never needs to travel far from his studio or home to find something of beauty.

anywhere that hasn't been over developed for tourists gets my vote. If it's in a guide book, forget about it.

@philly1 - Absolutely great post !

Thank you, Kurobune.

Any temple or shrine compound. Never tire of those.

Shibuya crossing.

Kugenumakaigan. Best secret beach in Japan.

Itsukushima shrine in Hiroshima. https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Itsukushima_Shrine

Kumamoto Castle.

Eastern end of the Inland Sea, the coasts of Awaji and NE Shikoku around Naruto. Some industry stuck down a sound in Naruto but out of sight - otherwise no industry, just some aquaculture plus whirlpools, bays, beaches, hills forests and that consequential bridge, and brilliant sunsets. Unfortunately I missed out on a job at the university there and so am not able to live there to enjoy it.