I live up in Northern Japan. My family house... the one I've stayed at in the past, anyway, is located up in the mountains. It's really isolated and surrounded by nature.
[There isn't really anyone who goes to visit there.]
The academy though is a little different. It's still surrounded by mountains, but I feel it's just a little more forest-y. The town is nearby though, so it doesn't feel desolate or anything. Most of the streets are cobblestone, and the whole area is well kept.