Japan may be famous for bustling destinations like Tokyo and Osaka, but there’s a whole lot more to the country than busy, hi-tech, and ultra-modern cities. Nestled inside the country’s many regions are villages that rank among the prettiest in the world. In fact, Japan even has a non-profit organization known as The Association of the Most Beautiful Villages that recognizes beautiful villages across the country and helps preserve them. The organization, which began in 2005, originally listed a total of seven villages that have now grown to include over sixty, and here are some of the most beautiful ones that are well worth a visit.

10 Tsurui

A 30-minute drive from the Kushiro Airport in Hokkaido, the tiny village of Tsurui transforms into a magical land with the passing of each season. Come spring, when cherry blossom trees blossom in Tsurui, the nearby Kushiro Marsh sees flocks of rare Japanese red-crowned cranes flying around. Those visiting Tsurui in the summer will find a spectacular contrast of lush greenery, in autumn, the green village transforms into a sea of red and yellow, and over the winters, all of Tsurui is covered in a thick blanket of snow.

Related: 10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Japan During Spring

9 Kitashiobara

Kitashiobara offers the best of both worlds: the sea and the mountains. The village of 3,000 residents is nestled between two mountains and is surrounded by three great lakes: Akimoto, Onogawa, and Hibara. While winters in Kitashiobara are particularly cold, the snow-covered village is a wonderful sight in the cold weather. Autumn, too is a great time to visit Kitashiobara when the mountains are covered in blooming maple trees. With museums, ski slopes, fishing ponds, and temples, however, Kitashiobara is splendid all year round.

8 Biei

The region of Hokkaido itself is famous for its snow-covered mountains, crystal blue waters, and lush greenery. Of all the many towns in Hokkaido is Biei, a village filled with rolling hills that are covered in meadows of blooming flowers and crops that are grown in a neat patchwork design. Those who’ve already soaked in the sight of hills covered in rows of lavender, sunflowers, and poppies can then visit Biei’s Blue Pond and take in its vivid blue water and white birch trees.

7 Minamioguni

Minamioguni is a village that sits on the foot of Mount Aso in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture. The Japanese village is unique in that the town center is entirely built around the Tanoharu River. In fact, several rivers flow through Minamioguni, making even something as simple as a walk through the village a breathtaking activity. Several waterfalls are sprinkled throughout the village and as a result, there are plenty of onsens in Minamioguni that make use of Mount Aso’s natural spring water.

Related: Unwind & Relax In Japan: The Best Onsens To Soothe Your Soul

6 Ojiro

Ojiro is the Japanese word for small rice paddies, and true to its name, Ojiro is a village flanked by tall mountains and rice terraces. Located in the Hyogo Prefecture, Ojiro is an excellent place for those who want to explore the natural beauty of Japan, where the Tajima cattle freely grazes on Ojiro’s mountains. Besides the terraced rice fields filled with water, the mountains of Ojiro are a sought-after destination for camping in the springs and summers and for skiing during the winters.

5 Matsuzaki

Matsuzaki is an old port town on the Izu Peninsula that is mostly only accessible by bus. The charming coastal village is filled with stunning beaches, hot spring spas, temples, and historic buildings. The beauty of the village of 6,500 inhabitants goes up a notch during spring when the cherry blossom trees bloom, and visitors can stroll along the Naka River, which is flanked by pastel pink sakura. Matsuzaki's rice terraces that overlook Mount Fiji are also a spectacular sight, especially when they light up with candles in the evenings.

4 Sai

Sai is a tiny village that overlooks Tsugaru, a strait located between Honshu and Hokkaido. In terms of natural beauty, the village of Sai offers unbeatable views of large mountains, coastlines, and the blue sea. The best way to explore Sai is to rent a car and drive up to the mountains, take a ferry ride and go around Sai through the sea, or walk to the many rocks and coves along Sai’s coastline. The only thing to keep in mind, however, is that few in Sai speak English, so a little bit of Japanese will go a long way in communicating with locals.

3 Totsukawa

Located deep inside the Kii mountain range of Nara, almost all of Totsukawa is hidden in the mountains. While this makes Totsukawa a hard destination to reach, the village and its residents live unlike any other town in Japan, harmoniously coexisting with nature. Tours take visitors through several trails, waterfalls, and gorges in the mountains, and locals are happy to give a taste of the Totsukawa life to willing tourists with farm stays, local food, and workshops with resident craftsmen.

2 Ine

A small fishing town located outside Kyoto, Ine, has been called the Venice of Japan by many. The bit about Ine that pulls visitors from around the world is its funaya, boathouses with garages built into the waters of the sea, and residential quarters on the top. Around 200 funayas stand along Ine’s bay, and some of them have been turned into inns for guests to spend a night in. Visitors can also take water taxis or boat tours that offer picturesque views of Ine from the bay.

1 Tsumago

Tsumago is one of the sixty-nine post towns that connected present-day Tokyo with Kyoto during the Edo period. In 1968, locals began to preserve the town of Tsumago, which to date remains one of the best-preserved post towns in all of Japan. Power lines and electric wires in the town have been concealed to help visitors get a taste of what feudal Japan actually looked like, and cars are prohibited inside Tsumago. Tsumago’s wooden house-flanked streets, ancient waterfalls, and cozy ryokans are best explored on foot.