Nature on the International University of Japan campus

When you think of nature-filled destinations across Japan, you may think of towering mountains, tree-filled forest areas, or pristine beaches. Yes, all of those places are beautiful, but I have one place that might surprise you that is great for a little nature fix. It's the International University of Japan campus here in Minamiuonuma, and it's a great place to study for anyone who likes wide open spaces and stunning scenery.

The International University of Japan campus is surrounded by nature

One of the nature-filled spots I love most by the IUJ campus is Mount Botan. The entrance to the trailhead is right behind the university buildings, and it's an easy hike to the top – even for kids. I loved this photo of the mountain from the campus grounds, covered in a soft mist.

Hard to believe that this kind of view sits right behind a university campus!

I think what I like most about the campus here is that it's honestly stunning year round, and every season makes it look so different. During spring, for instance, the cherry blossom trees on the grounds add some lovely pops of pink everywhere. The sakura tunnel in particular is a really popular spot for the graduating classes to take some photos to remember their time here from.

This beautiful sakura lane is a popular photo spot with graduates – and honestly, it's not hard to see why! Also, you never really have to contend with crowds!

Because the area is so rural and surrounded by nature, it's not uncommon to encounter a range of wildlife on the campus grounds. Snakes are seen fairly regularly at certain times of year, and there have even been bear warnings posted up for students to take heed of – thankfully, I've never encountered one of those yet, even from a distance. I have however seen these little cuties on more than one occasion...

It's not uncommon to encounter wildlife on the campus grounds, given its rural location.

Winter is the hardest season here for many students, because of the snow. The campus itself has a shuttle bus which runs to places like Urasa Station and some shopping destinations like the Aeon Mall in Muikamachi, but other than that it's quite isolated. This part of Japan gets referred to as yukiguni, or snow country, and it's not hard to see why in this wintery campus shot.

A regular winter day in Minamiuonuma – grateful to have clear sidewalks and roads to drive on!

If you're a nature lover, I think this is a really great place to visit – even if you're not a student there, the campus grounds are open for anyone to explore. I love taking my children there to play in the wide open fields, because there's no risk of cars zooming past...although to be honest, you don't really get much of that in Minamiuonuma anyway!

What are university campuses like in your home country? Do they tend to be situated in more urban locations?