Though regarded by Japanese as one of the nations's top culinary hotspots, Niigata is waiting to be discovered by foreign travelers.

Enjoy a peaceful walk strolling through Shirakami Sanchi. The most famous lake of the Juniko features a cobalt to azure looking blue - depending on the lighting, known as Aoike.

The Akeno Sunflower Festival happens every summer in Hokuto City of Yamanashi. Visitors can enjoy soft serve topped with sunflower seeds while enjoying as much as 600,000 sunflowers spread out in a field as far and wide as the eye can see.

Nakafurano, Hokkaido has many different Lavender Fields that each contain hundreds of lavender flowers among other types of flowers. It's also the perfect place for getting that perfect summer photo.

The fourth largest island of the Okinawan Islands, Miyakojima has a laid back vibe on the island. And summer is one of the best times to relax especially under the sun on one of the white sand beaches. There are a ton of acitvities to do in Miyakojima including snorkeling, swimming, bicycling, but people can also enjoy just laying out as well!

Summer is a great time for firework festivals in Japan. Japan annually holds firework festivals in different areas including the Kumano Firework Show, the Sumida River Fireworks Festival in Tokyo that attracts about a million people a year, and the Nagaoka Firework Festival that is said to be one of the largest in Japan!