A snowy and frozen lake in Hokkaido with the reflection of the late winter sky on the partially thawing surface, capturing the peaceful theme of travels and walks through Japanese nature.

View of Nature in Japan

Background Slideshows

Windows into Japanese Scenery

These background slideshows (BGSSs) feature photographs of Japanese landscapes, waterscapes, and cityscapes, accompanied by classical music. Walking in the field, seeing nature, and relying on sensibility, we take a photograph. Each slideshow captures impressions of travels and walks across various regions from Hokkaido to Kyushu.

A selected BGSS can be left playing on loop in the background, like ambient music.

Start a slideshow of snow-covered trees with Bach’s Goldberg Variations, Aria.

One Snowy Day (4:35)

Start a slideshow of snow-covered Shinjuku Gyoen with Couperin’s Les baricades mystérieuses.

One Snowy Day 2 (3:40)

Start a slideshow of snow-covered watersides with Liszt’s Consolation No. 2.

One Snowy Day 3 (3:28)

Start a slideshow of winter bare trees and early spring pond with Bach’s Air on the G String, and Grieg’s Last Spring.

From Winter to Early Spring (11:24)

Start a 3D-cubic-rotation slideshow with Fauré’s Piano Quintet No.2, Mov. 3.

Cherry Blossoms (9:42)

Start a slideshow of Ariake Sea waterbirds with Fauré’s Pavane.

Spring in the Tidal Flat (6:04)

Start a slideshow of vigorous spring growth with Bach’s The Well-tempered Clavier, Book 1, Nos. 1-12.

Fresh Green Leaves (58:38)

Start a slideshow of Hokkaido's summer set to Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, Mov. 1.

Summer in the North (8:17)

Start a slideshow of lush summer greenery with Bach’s French Suite No. 5.

Summer Leaves (32:05)

Start a slideshow of the Lake Biwa's lakeside with Ravel’s Sonatine, 2. Mouvement de menuet.

Summer Shower (3:56)

Start a slideshow of Hiraizumi's temples with Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, Mov. 2.

Autumn Colors at Temples (7:42)

Start a slideshow including Mt.Fuji’s distant view with Widor’s Organ Symphony No. 5, Mov. 5. Toccata.

Autumn Sky (6:24)

Start a slideshow of deepening autumn colors with Bach’s Cello Suites, Nos. 1 & 3.

Autumn Leaves (54:08)

Start a slideshow of Hokkaido's snowfield with Bach’s organ work, O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß.

Snowfield (5:04)

Start a slideshow of rain-washed scenery with Satie’s Trois gymnopédies.

Rainy Days in Three Seasons (11:42)

Start a slideshow of tidal flat twilight set to Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte.

Sunset in the Tidal Flat (6:24)

Start a year-round waterside slideshow with Liszt’s Un sospiro.

From One Early Summer to the Next (7:58)

Start a slideshow of Osaka and Matsumoto castles with Haydn’s Cello Concerto No.2, Mov. 2 Adagio.

Spring and Autumn Castles (5:27)

Start a combined music slideshow of 9 peaceful ones.

The Calm (9 BGSSs, 1:08:33)

Start a combined music slideshow of three original ones for Japanese seasonal transitions.

Leaves in Three Seasons (3 BGSSs, 2:24:52)

Start a combined musical slideshow of the snow-covered urban nature.

Snowy Days (3 BGSSs, 11:44)

Start a combined musical slideshow of sunlight reflections on the water.

Beads on the Water (8 BGSSs, 58:54)

Japan's Geographical and Climatic Background

Formation of the Island Arcs

The rich diversity of Japanese nature is shaped by both ancient and recent geological history.

The core of the Japanese archipelago formed 10 to 20 million years ago at the boundary between the Eurasian continent and the Pacific Ocean. The island arcs are convex toward the ocean and highly mountainous as results from back-arc basin formation, extensive volcanism, and tectonic uplift.

While the Japanese islands were repeatedly connected to the Asian continent during past ice ages, they were separated around 15,000 years ago.

Temperate Climate

The current climate and vegetation are predominantly temperate. However, they vary significantly due to the elongated chain of the islands, the steep topography, the seasonal monsoons from both the continent and the Pacific, and the surrounding ocean currents (see "The Little BGSS Book").

✦ Notes

This section contains 18 BGSSs and 4 BGSS books. Please select and click the photo below.

• BGSS: BackGround SlideShow

• UD: Photo flipped Upside Down (indicated by a small "UD" mark in the bottom right corner of the slideshow)

• For the individual slideshows of "Beads on the water", please refer to "Miscellaneous".

• For details on the background music, please refer to "BGM List".

日本の自然像

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(To be updated)