Japan's three best views 日本三大夜景 と新日本三大夜景
Plus the three best night views
The Japanese are keen on rankings and have been for a long time. As early as the 17th century, the philosopher Razan Hayashi drew up a list of the "three views of Japan" (Nihon Sankei ), that is to say, the three most beautiful sites that all Japanese had to visit. Subsequently, other locations were added, and it is only natural that the "Three Views of Japan" was added to the "Three-night views of Japan."
However, this was soon no longer enough for some. At the "2015 YAKEI Summit" ("2015 Night View Summit") held in Kobe on October 9, 2015, the "Committee of New Three Best Night Views of Japan and 100 Night Views of Japan" ( non-profit association created in 2003) decided, according to the vote of 4,500 voters, to add to this list "the three new most beautiful night views"!
This unofficial list has therefore been added to the official list. But things could still change because this committee should vote again in the fall of 2018 to designate the "new night views"! So, maybe you should decide which are the most beautiful nightscapes in Japan. Here is the list to help you.
The three most beautiful night views
- Nagasaki seen from Mount Inasa (Nagasaki Prefecture)
Mount Inasa (333 meters) allows you to admire the ancient martyr city, which today shines with a thousand lights. We get there by cable car. A panoramic restaurant offering simple and inexpensive dishes allows you to enjoy the night landscape for longer.
Access :
Take the bus from Nagasaki station (1-2 buses per hour) to the Inasayama stop (15 min), then climb about 15 min to the top or take the cable car (5 min, from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm).
- Hakodate seen from Mount Hakodate (Hokkaido Prefecture)
Only 334 meters high, the Hakodateyama nevertheless offers a superb view of the city of Hakodate in Hokkaido. Do not miss to admire the landscape at the time of the "blue hour," that is, 30 min after sunset when the blue night sky magnifies everything it overlooks.
Access :
- direct bus (late April to mid-November), Hakodate Bus from Hakodate Station.
- cable car from Motomachi (5 min by tram from JR Hakodate station). A departure every 15 min from 10 am to 10 pm (9 pm from mid-October to the end of April).
Please note: the cable car is closed from October 9 to November 11, 2018.
- Kobe and Osaka Bay are seen from Mount Rokko (Hyogo Prefecture)
Mount Rokko (Rokkosan, 931 meters) is the highest point of the Rokko mountain range. It offers spectacular views, especially at sunset, of the cityscape of the Hanshin region, including the cities of Kobe and Osaka. The panorama of these two cities is sometimes nicknamed "a million-dollar view " about the daily electricity bill!
Access :
Take the Hankyu Kobe Line from Sannomiya Station (7 min) to Rokko Station. Then take bus No. 16 (10 minutes) to the cable car or bus from JR Rokkomichi station (15 min). The cable car ride takes 10 min.
To read: The most beautiful Japanese landscapes.
The Three New Most Beautiful Night Views (2015)
- Kobe (Hyogo Prefecture)
The city of Kobe was already part of the official list, but it was again chosen as one of the three new most beautiful night views. But this time, the recommended point of view, instead of Mount Rokko (which remains an excellent point of view), is that of Mount Maya (Mayasan, 702 meters) located north of the city.
Access :
Take bus 18 from Sannomiya subway station or Shin-Kobe station to Maya Cable Shita stop where there is the ViewlineYume-Sanpo line, which allows you to reach the top by funicular and cable car.
- Sapporo (Hokkaido Prefecture)
We stay in Hokkaido, but this time, we will admire the view of its largest metropolis (and the fourth in Japan): Sapporo. From the top of Mount Moiwa (531 meters), you can have a magnificent 360° view of the city.
Access :
Take the tram from Susukino station to the "Ropeway Iriguchi" stop (25 min). From there, take the shuttle to the station at the foot of the cable car (5 min).
See: Climbing Mount Moiwa
- Nagasaki seen from Mount Inasa (Nagasaki Prefecture)
Eh yes! The night view of Nagasaki is unbeatable!
To go further: Six mountains under 1,000 meters to climb.
