As the land of the rising sun makes its yearly colour palette change from that of spring to early summer, travellers won’t want to miss the opportunity to be inspired by the glorious sites around the picturesque Japan, seen in its most vivid colours.

In Kofu City, a popular local restaurant in the Yamanashi prefecture will leave you spoilt for choice with its great variety of menus. While the names of the menus – Tsukeko, Mimi – might leave you slightly dumbfounded, a safe choice is Yamanashi’s speciality dish – the Yocchabare hot pot.

Kofu City is also commonly known as a jewellery town. If you’re looking for crafts to bring home, take a trip down to the crystal museum where crystals, jewellery and many other gemstones are displayed for sale.

You might even consider making an original piece of jewellery as a souvenir.

After a day of activity, head to one of the best spa areas in Yamanashi, the Isawa hot spring.

Stay over at a traditional inn where the rooms boast a lovely view of tea houses and gardens near the legendary hot spring called the ‘white drop spa’.

The next day, apart from visiting Mount Fuji, take a circle bus from Fuji Yoshida station that runs around the neighbouring region of the magnificent Mount Fuji for yet another adventure. Stop at Yamanakako Lake,  and Oshino Hakkai (8 Ponds) because of the surrounding ponds that are likened to the sea. Well-known for its breathtaking scenery created by the Fuji spring water, the bus trip also allows stops at the less commonly known Okama and Deguchi (exit) pond.

Yet another exciting place to be in is the Noto Peninsula, in the Ishikawa prefecture, which is an hour’s flight from Tokyo.

Stop by the picturesque Nanao Bay where one is able to watch the traditional method of black mullet fishing used since the Edo era, though commercial fishing ceased in 1996.

The town of Nanao is a port that has been the centre of the Noto Peninsula since ancient times. At the end of the Civil War, Toshiie Maeda built a castle to rule the town, with temples below the castle.

Known as Mountain Temples, a total of 16 temples remain, lining approximately 2 kilometres of the road.

Chourei-ji is the only temple Toshiie built in the Noto Peninsula and the 420 year old family temple is great for exploring and an exquisite vegetarian meal.

Nanao’s past as a port town can also be experienced at Cedar Street which offers visitors shops selling candle clocks and kimonos and freshly grounded tea served the same way since 1933.

If you’re looking for a place to be pampered, several luxurious inns are available near the Wakura hot spring, which has 1200 years of history.

Ranked among the best 100 hotels in Japan is Kagaya, a representative inn in the spa town which was established in 1906. Renowned for providing the highest quality of food and its legendary open air hot springs with the view of the Japan Sea, Kagaya is also famous for its unique brand of Kagaya service.

After a culturally enriching experience in the town of Nanao, jump aboard a local bus to Wajima, yet another port town of tradition located at the tip of Noto peninsula.

With 1200 years of history, the Morning Market has a great variety of food for one to savour. From hatahata (sandfish) to Sakura shrimp, to tasty Kogomi (wild vegetables), which one can eat at a truly affordable price.

Stroll down the market to a shop that antique lovers can’t resist - Shuukodou. It contains rare finds such as  Imari porcelains which date back to the Tenmei era.

There’s also the Washima-ya home store, with Wajima lacquer ware. Established in the Edo era, the shop sells a variety of luxurious gold lacquer and traditional lacquer work which make good souvenirs.

Be sure to also try popular Bavarian cream which is served in Wajima lacquer ware at the shop and created by an internationally active pastry chef.

To end off the trip in Noto, visit Sosogi beach  to catch Noto’s traditonal performing art, Gojinjo drumming.

It originated as a defence mechanism when Noto was under attack. The locals wore masks and beat the Jin drums loudly to force the invading army to withdraw – a practice still undertaken, this time with the sea and the rocks in the background, createing a powerful performance.

For a change of scenery, take the local bus to the culturally rich Tsuruoka, which used to be a castle town of the Shounai district. Based on the Chidoukan, a feudal school in the Edo era, Tsuruoka has long been known for its enterprising spirit.

Visit a store established in the early Meiji era, and tuck into childhood snacks such as the Kara Kara cracker, made of flour and sugar and with a surprise toy in the middle. 

You can also experience what it’s like to harvest vegetables at a restaurant in a 120 year old house in the suburb of Shonai Pain and have a taste of rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves for the Boy’s Festival and other assorted dishes, including Mousou soup, black pork and the local speciality of Shounai – trout cooked in a starchy sauce.

Next head to Sakata, a port town of Shounai inYamagata. Those who love the great outdoors will enjoy Tobshima which is located 39km northwest of Sakata. Traveling to Tateiwa and Arasaki alone will be wonderful with approximately 10,000 birds in the area and one of the top 100 shores in Japan.