日本10大奇葩之地 | 你绝对不敢相信它们真的存在！
01 Tottori Sand Dunes: Japan’s Desert Hey everyone, welcome to @Stepabreath A desert in Japan? I know, a lot of you might be skeptical. But believe it or not, in Tottori Prefecture, the hometown of Detective Conan, there’s actually a desert. Even the airport here is named the Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport. So if you’re tired of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, why not come chill out at the Tottori Sand Dunes? Thousands of years ago, sand gathered on the Tottori coast. Pushed by the sea breeze and ocean currents, it eventually formed this small desert, about 16 km long and 2.4 km wide. But due to changing currents and nearby plants creeping in, the desert is actually shrinking. That’s why this is the only place where a desert is being protected. The frequent rain in Tottori makes the slopes of the dunes incredibly steep, up to 40 degrees. And over 2 million tourists visit every year. With a 40-meter-deep basin and a 50-meter-high dune, it creates a huge natural barrier. But once you climb to the top, the stunning panoramic view of the ocean will blow you away. Golden dunes and the blue sea… It’s like they’re locked in a passionate embrace. The wind and sand work together, carving out these beautiful, wave-like patterns. Besides the views, you can ride camels, take a horse-drawn carriage, or go sandboarding. They even offer paragliding lessons here. The most spectacular sights at the dunes usually appear in the morning or evening. The low sun casts clear shadows on the dunes, and that golden or reddish glow is just stunning. Back in the 1960s, Japanese author Kobo Abe used the Tottori Sand Dunes as the setting for his novel, “The Woman in the Dunes.” It was later adapted into a film and got an Oscar nomination. Right next to the dunes, there’s also a Sand Museum. The museum showcases incredible works of art made entirely from sand and water. As early as 1955, the Tottori Sand Dunes were designated a national natural treasure. Today, it’s part of the San’in Kaigan National Park. The park is also recognized by UNESCO as a Global Geopark. Compared to deserts in other countries, Tottori’s is tiny, like, super tiny. But hey, it’s all about proportion, right? Besides playing in the sand and looking for Conan, you’ve got to try the local food and hot springs. If you’re tired of the big city lights, the Tottori Sand Dunes might just be the perfect getaway for you. It’s a place of fire and water. Wanna experience it for yourself? 02 Maishima Plant: The Fairytale Incinerator A whimsical color scheme… a golden, spherical tower… a cartoonish vibe… Don’t be fooled, this is no amusement park. is that this is actually a garbage disposal plant. That’s right. This is the Osaka Maishima Incineration Plant, and it cost 60 billion yen to build.
the rule of “zero pollution” is strictly followed. It was designed by the famous Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Hayao Miyazaki’s idol. You can even see hints of Gaudí’s influence in it. The plant’s motto is “Technology, Ecology, and Art, all in one.” That’s why it looks like a fairytale castle, with its dreamy exterior, vibrant colors, and unique design. The Osaka Maishima plant is built on an artificial island in Osaka. It’s known as the most beautiful garbage disposal plant in the world. And it’s also the most eco-friendly and sophisticated. Especially this giant claw, it’s six meters in diameter and can grab nearly ten tons of trash at once. It’s basically the world’s largest claw machine. The Maishima plant operates 24/7. It can process 900 tons of regular trash and over 100 tons of bulky waste every day. All of this is built on a foundation of super strict and detailed trash sorting. And it’s highly automated. That’s why a plant of this size only needs about a dozen employees. This landmark tower you see is actually the plant’s chimney. But have you noticed? Despite burning so much trash, there’s absolutely no white or black smoke coming out of the chimney. This shows that throughout the incineration process, The exhaust gas from burning trash goes through three filtration stages before reaching the chimney. This minimizes the production of dioxins. That’s why the sky above the plant always looks clean and clear. Solid waste is dewatered, fully burned, and deodorized, and finally discharged as granular material. It’s only 1/15th of the original weight and 1/20th of the volume. As for bulky waste, it needs to be shredded first. During this process, non-ferrous metals are separated and sold. All the electricity for the entire plant is generated from burning trash. They even sell the surplus electricity to the power company. This alone generates 1 billion yen in revenue annually. So, the Maishima plant is a self-sustaining facility. It doesn’t need any government funding or subsidies. The excess heat is even used to warm the water in swimming pools. However, this clean, cute, and whimsical plant, even though it was built on an uninhabited island, faced strong opposition from local residents at the beginning. Later, as environmental monitoring data was made public, people realized the plant didn’t harm the local environment at all. In fact, it added a touch of fairytale magic. Now, over 10,000 tourists and students visit each year. The Maishima plant has become a star educational base for science popularization. Especially its processes for trash sorting and efficient, pollution-free disposal. It helps many children understand what environmental protection is, and the details behind it. Believe it or not, the construction of this plant is closely related to Beijing. When the plant was being planned, Osaka was bidding for the 2008 Olympics against cities like Beijing. The Maishima area already had many sports facilities that could be used for the games. So, if they had won the bid, the sight of such an artistic incineration plant would have undoubtedly boosted Osaka’s charm. Although Osaka lost the bid to Beijing, it was left with this dream-castle-like incineration plant. It was completed in April 2001 and has been in operation ever since, showcasing the world’s most advanced waste disposal technology. If you get a chance to visit Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, you should definitely check out the Maishima plant. Just remember to book your visit in advance! 03 Manhole Art: The Galleries Underfoot We’re all familiar with manhole covers. They’re like those heavy, clunky iron lids on the street. Stepped on by countless people every day, but never really noticed. But in Japan, a manhole cover is an expression of community identity. It’s a unique form of public art displayed on public utilities. It’s even become a captivating sight right under our feet. Japan’s manhole covers are designed in all sorts of ways, featuring flowers, birds, fish, cartoon characters, city logos, local products… …and even scenic spots or historical stories. The creativity is so impressive that even the British Museum couldn’t resist collecting a Japanese art manhole cover. So, why did Japan turn manhole covers into works of art? Well, modern water supply and sewage systems weren’t very popular in Japan at first. The cost of installing these underground systems was seen as too expensive for communities outside the big cities. To draw attention to these costly sewage systems, and to raise awareness about these expensive projects, a high-ranking government official had a brilliant idea in 1985. He allowed and encouraged municipalities to design their own manhole covers with local flavor. These designs could reflect local industry, culture, and history, while also beautifying the streets. With design competitions and publications, municipalities across Japan began to compete to create the best manhole cover designs. They even established a special manhole cover society. Later, a manhole cover festival was created. These once-clunky iron lids have now been turned into all sorts of merchandise: art pieces, accessories, pencils, stickers, books, and even cookies, mooncakes, and candies. For manhole cover enthusiasts, these collectible manhole cards with GPS coordinates are super popular. Currently, in 95% of Japanese cities, there are over 19,000 artistic manhole covers. But actually, less than 1% of them have these gorgeous, colored designs. In Japan, a 40kg designed manhole cover, not including the frame, costs about $585. And these hand-painted artistic ones? The price nearly doubles to over $900. Imagine, a manhole cover costing over $800. No way they could be all over the streets. But even if they’re few, they’re significant. For example, the colored cover of a tea-picking girl in Kikugawa, Shizuoka, fully reflects the region’s tea planting and harvesting seasons in spring and summer. Beyond their colorful surface, the manufacturing process is also incredibly meticulous. Heavy summer rains can often pop the covers off. So, new covers must undergo pressure tests. A cover includes the main plate, frame, hinges, and a lock. There’s also an attached ladder to ensure that even if the cover comes off, no one will fall in. More than half of Japan’s manhole covers are produced here, at Hinode. The factory has over 4,000 cover templates. Aluminum templates are pressed into sticky sand to form sand molds. 70% of the material used is scrap metal collected locally. After the scrap metal is melted in an electric furnace, other materials like magnesium and sulfur are added to create strong and durable ductile iron. Then, the purified molten metal is manually poured into the molds by workers. The speed and volume of the pour affect the quality of the final product. After the cover cools and the sand mold is broken, it’s polished. The margin of error for the edges before and after polishing is only 0.2mm. The polished cover is then evenly coated with black paint to prevent rust. After drying, workers can assemble the covers and ship them to distribution centers. For the colored covers, the work is also done by hand. It’s like they’re using bottles of ketchup or mustard, carefully filling the grooves with colored resin. It takes a worker about an hour to paint one cover. After drying for a day, the painted cover is ready for use. It’s truly amazing. The craftsmanship of Japanese manhole covers is so exquisite. But this artistic expression isn’t limited to just Japan. In Berlin, Germany, a group called Raubdruckerin, uses manhole covers to print T-shirts. Others use them to create “storm prints.” And street artists in Reykjavik, Iceland, are making similar manhole cover prints. Finally, one last point. Japan’s unique manhole cover culture is a charming reminder that the mundane can be exciting. You might often find yourself looking up for a purpose, making yourself busy, tired, and even a bit lost. But you should never forget to look down. Because only by looking down can you find the beauty in the everyday. 04 Kamikatsu: The Zero-Waste Miracle If you travel to Japan, one thing that might surprise you is the trash situation. There are no public trash cans on the streets of big cities. Everyone takes their trash home to dispose of. But when it comes to taking “zero waste” to the absolute extreme, it’s not the big cities leading the way. It’s a small, pristine town nestled in the mountains. By the Katsuura River, amidst lush rice paddies and forests on Shikoku Island, lies the town of Kamikatsu, just an hour’s drive from Tokushima. It has fewer than 1,700 residents. But over the past few years, it has constantly been making headlines around the world. Because this town has an incredibly ambitious plan: to achieve zero waste by 2020. Simply put, that means no incineration, no landfills. 100% of jejich odpadu je recyklováno a znovu použito. It’s hard to imagine. Is that even possible? Kamikatsu is a typical Japanese rural town. The terraced fields are used for growing rice. And its prized leaves are sold to restaurants across the country. More than half of the population is elderly. Decades ago, the town spent a lot of money to build an incinerator. But a lot of the trash had high water content, so they had to use extra fuel to burn it. Government monitoring detected dioxins and other harmful substances, posing serious health and safety risks to the residents. As a result, both incineration and landfills had to be completely stopped in Kamikatsu. Transporting the trash to nearby big cities for disposal was another expensive social cost. So everyone had to brainstorm to find the lowest-cost way to handle their trash. The main goal was to be as eco-friendly as possible while reducing waste. In 1995, the local government started providing financial aid to residents. 97% of households bought electric composters for their food scraps. But what about the trash that couldn’t be processed at home? That’s where the Zero Waste Declaration came into play in Kamikatsu, starting in 2003. Government officials found recycling companies for them, companies that would make new products from recycled materials. The catch was that residents had to sort their trash meticulously. At first, there were only 9 categories. As more recyclers came on board, the number of categories has grown to 45. Of course, the process wasn’t smooth sailing. At home, residents can only sort into about 10 categories. Then, they have to wash and dry the items before taking them to the sorting center for more detailed separation. But this is very time-consuming. Who would want to spend so much time on trash? But the sorting center, converted from the old incinerator, eventually changed everyone’s lifestyle. The most important mantra for waste disposal there is: “If it’s useful, it has value.” “If it’s sorted, it’s a resource.” Plus, this optimized way of handling waste is better for residents’ health. Because the sorting center requires more detailed separation, communication is essential. And because of that, the sorting center has also become a new hub for community interaction in town. Besides that, the more attention paid to sorting, the higher the market price for these materials. Selling finely sorted trash brings in 2.5 to 3 million yen annually. This revenue, in turn, helps fund further waste management efforts. It’s clear they’ve become obsessed with recycling. In 2017, Kamikatsu started providing cloth diapers to local families. And disposable items like paper towels and chopsticks were banned. For everyday items that are no longer needed, the town has set up a “Kuru-kuru” shop, or circular shop. People can drop off or take items for free, like clothes, dishes, and other miscellaneous things that are still usable. A similar circular shop has even popped up in Malaysia. Everyone agrees that it’s not just about recycling used goods, it’s about spreading goodwill. Besides the circular shop, a craft center brings residents together to make exquisite dolls and souvenirs from discarded materials, giving these old items a new, higher value. As 2020 approached, Kamikatsu had already achieved over 80% of its zero-waste goal. Of course, reaching 100% still faces a major hurdle: some manufacturers. They continue to use non-recyclable materials in their products. So, Kamikatsu began pressuring these companies, insisting that product design should follow circular economy principles, where all materials can be reused or recycled. They also suggested that manufacturers should provide a plan for how to handle their products at the end of their life. This led to the creation of a “Zero Waste Accreditation” program. Shops in town are starting to stop stocking non-recyclable products. No matter the difficulties or obstacles, Kamikatsu is determined to achieve its great goal of 100% recycling. Such a small town in the mountains, yet it’s become a global focus. Now do you get it? 05 Cat Islands: Paradise Ruled by Felines Do you love adorable cats? Do you want to visit an island full of them? Tashirojima, in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, is a world-famous kitty paradise. Hundreds of carefree cats live all over the island. As you walk around, you’ll see cat-themed things everywhere. Some houses are even built to look like cats. Tashirojima is also known as “Manga Island.” The cat-shaped lodges, designed by famous manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori, are available for tourists to rent for camping from April to November. The island’s fishermen have long revered cats as deities. They used to predict the weather for fishing based on the cats’ behavior. They even built a cat shrine, where they offer canned tuna to a “maneki-neko” or lucky cat. But what Tashirojima is most famous for is the story of the cats saving people. It’s said that on the day of the 2011 earthquake, the cats meowed loudly, guiding people to the cat shrine for safety. And sure enough, when the tsunami hit, only one person on the island died. Today, the residents and cats have returned to their peaceful lives. The cats stroll around lazily all day. And the island has produced quite a few cat celebrities. The most famous is a black and white cat named Droopy-Eared Jack. His permanently droopy left ear and listless expression give him a cool, aloof vibe. But in reality, he’s the one who always slowly walks away hungry, or just stares blankly as his friends eat fish. But Droopy-Eared Jack is magical. They say if you touch his head, you’ll have good luck for a whole year. During holidays, Tashirojima gets pretty lively. The cats not only get more treats, but they also have more friends to play with. Besides Tashirojima, another island in Fukuoka, Ainoshima, is also one of the world’s famous cat islands. You can enjoy hanging out with the kitties to your heart’s content there. And the natural scenery on Ainoshima is also stunning. Also in Fukuoka is Ainoshima, which has the largest cat population in Kyushu. There are over 300 cats on the island. On the way to Ainoshima, you’ll also pass by Umashima. It’s Japan’s smallest inhabited cat island. There are also many other famous cat islands in Japan, like Okishima in Lake Biwa and Aoshima in Ehime Prefecture. As everyone knows, Japan is a nation of cat lovers. They created the Maneki-neko, Doraemon, and Hello Kitty. And they also have many little kitty paradises. If you love cats, you definitely shouldn’t miss these islands. 06 Ōkunoshima: From Poison Gas to Rabbit Paradise This was once one of the deadliest islands in the world. For a time, it completely disappeared from maps. But today, it’s become a famous home for rabbits—Rabbit Island. The reason Rabbit Island became so well-known is all thanks to a tourist from Hong Kong, who filmed this scene of being chased by rabbits for food. Ever since the video of this “rabbit stampede” went viral, Rabbit Island quickly became famous worldwide. Rabbit Island’s real name is Ōkunoshima. It’s a small island in the Seto Inland Sea, part of Takehara, Hiroshima. The island has rolling hills and lush trees, with an area of only 70 hectares. In 1934, it was designated as part of the Setonaikai National Park. Hundreds, even thousands, of wild rabbits live on the island. Almost every day, tourists come to visit and feed them. Some buy pre-made rabbit food, others bring cabbage, leafy greens, and carrots. The little rabbits look super cute and cuddly. And as long as you have treats, they’ll swarm you. But really, they just want the food in your hand. When you run out of food, they’ll turn and leave in a heartbeat. Also, the rabbits’ wildness varies in different parts of the island. Near the pier, they’re not afraid of people. The farther away you go, the more skittish they are. Speaking of which, you must be wondering, on such a deserted island, why are there so many rabbits? Well, it all goes back to World War II. Because of its secluded location, Ōkunoshima was perfect for hiding military operations. Starting in 1929, it became a production base for the Japanese army’s chemical weapons. That’s why Ōkunoshima was also known as “Poison Gas Island.” Since the gas factory was a military secret, the island was just a blank space on Japanese maps at the time. After Japan’s surrender, Ōkunoshima was uninhabited for a long time. The rabbits used for gas experiments were abandoned along with all the gas facilities. With no natural predators, these rabbits multiplied rapidly and became the island’s only residents. Of course, another story says the test rabbits were all destroyed. Later, people brought 8 healthy rabbits to the island, and they’ve been breeding ever since, now numbering in the hundreds or thousands. Today, 150,000 tourists from all over the world visit Rabbit Island every year. Most visitors take the JR line to Tadano-umi Station, and then take a ferry from Tadano-umi Port to Rabbit Island. You can also buy rabbit food where you buy the ferry tickets. There’s only one resort on the island. A free shuttle bus from the resort waits at the pier. You can also carefully ride a bike around the island, enjoying the beautiful scenery as you go, and feeding these adorable island overlords. Ōkunoshima is perfect for a day trip for couples or families. So, what do you think? Wanna go? 07 Henn na Hotel: Served by Dinosaur Robots This is the world’s first robot hotel. There are almost no human staff. And you don’t need a room key to get in. The front desk is staffed by a robot and a dinosaur. It feels like you’ve walked into Jurassic Park. Whenever a guest approaches the front desk, the dinosaur’s sensors detect them. Then it roars and dances to welcome you. Guests can then choose to speak with the dinosaur in Japanese, English, or Chinese. Following the dinosaur’s instructions, you check in using the tablet system at the front desk. Finally, you complete check-in with a facial recognition scan. Next, a luggage robot will carry your bags and guide you to your room. You just need to use the facial recognition system to open the door. No need to carry around a pesky room key. Inside, the room looks pretty much like any other hotel. But the highlight is the cute little robot in the room. You can use voice commands to control the lights, TV, and other things. The radiant panel air conditioning is also known as the most eco-friendly and energy-efficient AC. It uses electromagnetic waves to directly exchange heat between your body and the AC unit. Actually, in the beginning, to cut even more costs, the hotel didn’t even have TVs or minibars in the rooms. But they had to add them back in due to customer complaints. To be honest, if it were all Chinese tourists, they probably wouldn’t even need the TV. WiFi is enough, and the room rates could be even lower. The robot hotel also has trash robots, robot vacuums, and a robotic arm for luggage storage. Even the fish swimming in the lobby tank are battery-powered robot fish. This robot hotel is Japan’s unique “Henn na Hotel,” which literally means “Strange Hotel.” It first opened in Nagasaki in 2015. Now, there are several new locations around Tokyo. Tourism in Japan has surged in recent years. And the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were expected to bring in a huge number of visitors. But with Japan’s low birth rate, robot hotels seem to be a way to prevent its service industry from collapsing. For the past few decades, Japan has been trying to integrate service robots into its shrinking and aging workforce. Compared to the dire aging society in South Korea, in Japan, from automated factories to vending machines, to in-home helpers and robot hotels, it’s clear that Japan’s innovation is driven by a sense of crisis and necessity. While robots can’t do everything humans can, they can take over many repetitive, mindless tasks, freeing up the limited human workforce for more creative jobs. This saves costs and benefits everyone. That’s the true meaning of social and technological progress. So, what do you think of this interesting robot hotel? Wanna give it a try? 08 Kusatsu Onsen: Japan’s #1 Hot Spring Today, let’s go relax a bit. We’re going to soak in the world’s most acidic hot spring. They say its water can dissolve a six-inch iron nail in just ten days. And a one-yen aluminum coin will disappear after a week in it. This is Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture, ranked number one in Japan for 15 years straight. When people think of Gunma, the only thing that comes to mind
What really gets visitors is probably the five consecutive hairpin turns on Mount Akina from “Initial D,” and Lake Haruna, where Jay Chou and Anne Suzuki had their date. But actually, the most famous thing in Gunma is Kusatsu Onsen, known as one of Japan’s three great hot springs. With a flow rate of 4,000 liters per minute, Kusatsu is Japan’s largest hot spring. The Yubatake, in the center of the town, is the symbol and source of Kusatsu Onsen. With a strong sulfur smell and steam, the hot spring water flows through wooden troughs, into a small pool below, and is eventually piped to the many nearby inns and bathhouses. Because of Kusatsu’s strong acidity and water temperature of up to 90°C, the traditional “Yumomi” performance was born. “Yumomi” involves female workers in traditional attire who use long, 1.8-meter wooden planks to stir the water rhythmically while singing. This cools the water down without diluting it, bringing the temperature to a comfortable 42°C for bathing. The highly acidic water is said to help treat many illnesses, and it’s especially famous for its beauty benefits. So, how do the Japanese do an onsen day trip? They usually check into their hotel around 3 PM and immediately go for a soak. Then they put on a yukata and go for a stroll, have dinner, and come back for a second soak. Have a little drink at night, then sleep. The next morning, they wake up, soak again, and then check out. You can see they’re really focused on enjoying the onsen. There are over 100 hot springs in Kusatsu. The water isn’t just for bathing. It’s also used in elementary schools, welfare centers, and public pools, as well as for heating streets and many homes. In the town, there are many public bathhouses that locals frequent. And there are also foot baths for tourists. These are all free. No matter how cold it is, when you come to Kusatsu Onsen, you’ll immediately feel a boundless warmth. 09 North Safari: The “Death Waiver” Zoo In winter, Hokkaido is covered in snow. And tourists are having a blast with dog sledding. This is Hokkaido’s super popular and world’s most dangerous zoo. As you enter this interactive zoo near Sapporo, called “North Safari Sapporo,” you’ll see a lot of liability waiver signs. They basically say that if you get injured inside the park, it’s completely your own responsibility. Seeing signs like that, would you still dare to go in? The park has three zones: the “North Safari,” the “Dangerous Zone,” and the “Dangerous Forest.” Experiences you can’t get in a regular zoo, you can find them all here. The park has small animals like monkeys, rabbits, ponies, goats, and penguins. Visitors can feed and pet them. You might even get to interact with lion cubs, tiger cubs, and bear cubs. That’s why it’s also called Japan’s most hands-on zoo. Besides the cute animals, there are also many dangerous beasts. They’re all in the most popular “Dangerous Forest” area. To enter the Dangerous Forest, visitors first have to sign a “death waiver.” You agree to be responsible for your own safety and promise not to cause any accidents. Once inside, kangaroos might attack you for food. Porcupines might chase you. And tigers, black bears, piranhas, and crocodiles might bite you. Especially the six-star danger-level crocodile area. The sign there says it all: “If you fall, you will die. The crocodiles are waiting for you below.” Also, the snack bar in the zoo offers bizarre foods like deep-fried geckos. Interested visitors can try them all. According to the zoo’s general manager, after the bear park near Jozankei Onsen closed down, he and his friends built this safari park. The main concept is zero distance between animals and humans. Currently, the park houses over 120 species of animals. Here, you can fully experience how wild animals live in their natural habitat. A special reminder from the world’s most dangerous zoo: Here, you might get scratched, bitten, or even injured. Parents must keep a close eye on their children. Enjoy the close encounters with the animals together. The zoo is not responsible for any accidents in the park. 10 Lovers’ Lighthouse: Romance Reborn In this segment, let’s take a look at the story of saving abandoned lighthouses with a theme of love. As we all know, Japan is an island nation. Lighthouses are a very distinctive feature along its coasts. Since ancient times, lighthouses have been a symbol of light and hope on the vast, dark sea. Some say a lighthouse is a goddess of light shining on the sea, bringing warmth and confidence to sailors far from home. In the past, lighthouses were navigational aids for the Japanese. But now, they’re imbued with more cultural significance. Today, lighthouses have also been turned into tourist attractions, becoming romantic destinations for lovers. Japan’s lighthouses began with trade with China. About 1400 years ago, during the Tang Dynasty, Chinese merchant ships frequently traveled between China and Japan. But at night, on the vast sea, it was hard for ships to find their way. So, Japan built a lighthouse on Misaki Island in Kyushu. The earliest lighthouses were just a high platform with a lantern made of oil paper, burning rapeseed oil. During storms, they would burn firewood. Light at night, and smoke signals from burning wood during the day. This was the prototype of Japan’s earliest lighthouses. It’s said there are over 3,000 lighthouses in Japan. With changing times, especially the development of GPS technology, the role of lighthouses for navigation has been gradually overlooked. So, the Japanese found a new way to develop their tourism value. The Inubosaki Lighthouse in Chiba is a famous attraction. The pure white lighthouse stands on a cliff. Visitors need to buy a ticket to enter. This is the earliest place in Japan to see the sunrise. So it’s very crowded on New Year’s Day. The Japanese believe that seeing the sunrise on New Year’s Day brings good luck. Inubosaki Lighthouse is also a great place to watch the sunset. The vast sea allows for a full view of both sunrise and sunset. This lighthouse uses the largest fresnel lens, and it’s also listed among the world’s 100 most famous lighthouses. In addition, the Soya Misaki Lighthouse in Hokkaido is famous for being Japan’s northernmost lighthouse. When traveling in Hokkaido, seeing the northernmost lighthouse has become a must-do for tourists. Also, some of the older wooden lighthouses have been rebuilt, while others are preserved. A “lighthouse tour” in Japan has become a very popular travel itinerary. The Japanese love their lighthouses, but they can’t escape the crisis of obsolescence. In the last decade, over 30 lighthouses have been decommissioned. Many Japanese are very sad about this, and are trying to find ways to give them new meaning. There’s a group in Japan called the “Romanticist Association.” This group specializes in finding tourist spots related to love. And lighthouses are one of their main targets. In 2017, the association launched a “Lighthouse of Love” project, which has brought many near-derelict lighthouses back to life. The Echizen Misaki Lighthouse in Fukui Prefecture was named a Lighthouse of Love, attracting many couples to visit. Subsequently, the association designated 10 more as Lighthouses of Love, boosting local tourism and attracting a large number of visitors. Izumo Taisha Town in Shimane is a famous spot for lovers. The Japanese widely believe the local shrine is a god of matchmaking. So young people love to visit and pray for a good match. Watching the sunset here is romantic and warm. Besides preserving lighthouses by giving them a romantic meaning, Japan also redesigns them based on local legends. While keeping the original round shape, they are redesigned and preserved through sculptures and other means. In Kagawa, there’s a lighthouse called Megiko Port Lighthouse. To save it from being scrapped, the area redesigned it based on the local legend of “Onigashima” (Demon Island), transforming it into a demon holding a lantern. The lighthouse became an instant hit and a new local tourist attraction. Additionally, places like Yokohama and Kyoto are restoring ancient lighthouses. Japan has also designated November 1st as Lighthouse Day. In Japan, the lighthouse is also a cultural symbol. There’s even a term, “lighthouse girls,” referring to women who have a special love for lighthouses. They love lighthouses, not only traveling to them but also blogging about them and collecting lighthouse-related souvenirs. Besides the efforts of private groups, the Japan Coast Guard is also working to promote lighthouse culture. They hope to turn lighthouses into cultural bases, building museums and parks around them. This not only effectively preserves lighthouse culture but also turns them into hubs for cultural dissemination. If you like lighthouses too, why not take a trip to Japan to see them? Travel deeper, learn more. Leave a comment if you have questions, and feel free to share and like. Finally, don’t forget, the next video will be even more exciting. This is @Stepabreath
日本10大奇闻异事，柯南故乡的沙漠？600亿的垃圾场？需要签“生死状”才能进的动物园？你不知道的日本旅行地标！
这期视频咱们深入探索10个你闻所未闻的日本奇境目的地。准备好，从致命兔岛，可爱的猫岛到童话垃圾场，刷新你的世界观，让这些地方彻底刷新你对日本旅行的认知！
一个把公共设施玩成艺术的国家，连井盖都价值连城。一座从地图上消失的“毒气岛”，如何变成兔子天堂。全球第一家机器人酒店，服务员竟然是恐龙？等等等等……
跟随我们的镜头，一起发现那些隐藏在热门旅游路线之外的、真正有趣又有料的日本奇境。无论你是深度旅行家，还是奇闻爱好者，这期内容都将为你打开新世界的大门。
你还可以点击下列时间戳，快速了解你最感兴趣的地方：
00:00 10个刷新你认知的日本奇葩目的地
00:09 1. 鸟取沙丘 (鳥取砂丘 / Tottori Sand Dunes)
02:11 2. 舞洲垃圾处理厂 (舞洲工場 / Maishima Incineration Plant)
05:27 3. 艺术井盖 (デザインマンホール / Japanese Manhole Art)
09:12 4. 上胜町 (上勝町 / Kamikatsu) – 零垃圾小镇
13:16 5. 猫岛 (猫島 / Cat Island) – 田代岛 (田代島) 等
15:20 6. 大久野岛 (大久野島 / Ōkunoshima) – 兔子岛
17:41 7. 机器人酒店 (変なホテル / Henn na Hotel)
20:01 8. 草津温泉 (草津温泉 / Kusatsu Onsen)
21:56 9. 北海道最危险动物园 (ノースサファリサッポロ / North Safari Sapporo)
23:52 10. 恋爱灯塔 (恋する灯台 / Lovers’ Lighthouse)
👉 订阅「行影步离」https://www.youtube.com/@Stepabreath，与我们一同探索世界旅行地理奇观！
👍 如果你喜欢这期内容，请一定点赞、分享，并留言告诉我们哪个地方最让你震惊！
#日本 #日本旅游 #世界之最 #行影步离 #日本自由行
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⇲ 更多視頻專輯 ⇲⇲⇲
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2024新年旅行4K（北京+慕田峪长城+厂甸庙会前门天坛+颐和园+地坛庙会+南锣鼓巷）→ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcL774tWk56jP2tUg71tKaxs
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2023十一旅行4K（平谷+薊州古城+天津濱海+天津五大道）→ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcLLpjPE7prK5NrvzldBCQtj
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2023暑假旅行4K（秦皇島+泰國曼谷+芭堤雅+清邁）→ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcJsw2g5VU3omAay-v7FgnRE
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【行影步離】 ⇲ 國際版全集 → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcIjSEckSf1EPwxavMR8AAFS
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【行影步離】 ⇲ 國際版分區專輯 ⇲
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→ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcKu_HFPUEyR37SYC9C3h9N3 → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcJJk6yroZEWZp4yPfUVuEY8 → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcKIBmM1AClw1iAdhkMIztsw → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcJka9RXJGvsHlho6UtzwuZR → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcLJSJJ85Z5GdEgfMGhV6Wkc → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcKZbPbKrcUN0XIa5xrKj8ck
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【行影步離】 ⇲ 國際版分類專輯 ⇲
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→ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcLrDNyPvFIRBfOD529QphBd → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcIqZSlkQj8QXOVXCn8guWAL → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcKxprkbCXiU_XAlLmZ9JFSC → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcLlkQeH1DhtlA0NCYj8-8MC → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcKQilv8jvYru-ytVFwd8z9K → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcIPHNdsuDi_1yNviE7FEGOh → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcLRbikNzhfvLobBSnljVhwB → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcIP_Yp6zBhUH2IX-G-ZNTmf
→ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcIBpOSTPS4e_I4my1ekMVGB → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcIl4edn9wGzNCUUjY7zn4LL → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcKMJ1bDn2CDbJEPNbHCtj4Q → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcLyjDLGTKXp_7sucyDklFx6 → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcLXCYeQTF2HYqmqRQ3UeWtI → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcLvk0zIreTxWnM-tdou8dXw → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcKDbWYrqb6ZZn443YDWcXL_ → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcLK0b6_CNR0uKM1Y2hHcJzP
→ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcK1ZH_3CIPnvFEy5Ayb9eUw → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcKFjoPATHrMElq50WScHUaX → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcJIiB_MSHvuRIy4veYE0pPT → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcIkoZKxFFGiaPJIhJy_7KtZ → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcKdZ_vQ8h9TnokbXSfOTm15 → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcLj8-tkn49fKVZpOjUlsvqv → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcJJb4xw79zLwSmPgZ7Cc-aO
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【行影步離】 ⇲ 國內版全集 → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcJpwrjWy06pyyFJnLgp7nqg
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【行影步離】 ⇲ 國內版自駕游專輯 ⇲
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→ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcKsNFt7Lmkjqcsjyid2nqCb → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcInQBxyyjmzFRFCL0a2i4Hk → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcIGJrvmYQYCNBw2Sjz7x8qg → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcLSP1x7lxIzekGTWWKG8d07 → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcIG2sOWnAFaDeB2ALSc3afA → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcKBWzfu-GZkslXxzmMBx9-2 → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcKgLVOV0jgaH9CBt1GtVlso → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcK_fwMfbPgXmJ-nIMqAQXI9
→ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcIfFfZXEAro6gUqlT5ua4H0 → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcLLHGPur1AaphcvvFSlaDUO → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhCF5hqehTcJguHnBG27JbW3kIgMhFewG
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