@erynonearth: Is this real, or is it something out of a Ghibli film? 🎍Just one hour northwest of Tokyo by bullet train lies Minakami, a quiet town in Gunma Prefecture that feels worlds away from the bustling cities Japan is known for ✨ Take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo Station and you’ll find yourself among hiking trails, tranquil hot springs, and rivers running past rice paddies and traditional farm houses. Minakami draws visitors escaping the city across all seasons, but summer is when the rice paddies are most lush, the rivers run high, and the mountains are clearest against the bright blue skies ⛰️ 📍 Minakami, Gunma Prefecture #ruraljapan #countrysidejapan #visitgunma #minakami #visitjapanjp