Many people consider Japan as the ultimate destination in the world for travelers. It has gorgeous landscapes, incredible culture, and stunning modern cities. Its amazing range of outdoor activities will leave you exhausted and ready for a well-deserved rest. Wonderful hot spring resorts and relaxing traditional villages will help you with that. There are so many things you can do here, and it can be a bit overwhelming to see all the popular locations. However, I believe that it is ok to skip some popular locations on your first visit. That is because there is a great alternative. Japan off the beaten path spots is the thing that I have in mind.
If you visit less crowded but still magical places, you can feel a connection to nature and the history of the land. Go out and explore the country away from busy tourist spots. There you will find the views and experiences to be much better than you would expect.
Off the beaten path towns full of rich history, culture, and nature are all over Japan.. Many castles, shrines, temples, and hot springs also await you in remote areas. The fact that there are so many incredible places to explore makes it easy to understand why people decide to travel off the beaten path in Japan.
The idea of travel is to experience new places, meet new people, and leave behind old ways of thinking. However, traveling can be stressful and tiring, especially for those who are not used to it. This is amplified when you visit popular tourist locations for example Kyoto and Tokyo. This is because there will be hundreds of tourists at every popular spot almost all day. So why not visit less crowded Japan areas. You get all the positive aspects of travel, with many negative ones reduced or removed completely! I understand that some of you might say – but we will miss the popular spots! Sure this is technically true, but you will also see many less known, almost secret places in Japan.
In my opinion, visiting less known places is much more interesting. For example, imagine you visit a remote castle in the mountains of Japan next to a wonderful waterfall and a shrine. You will probably hear many cool stories and learn about them. While if you visit the popular temples in Kyoto, you will learn the things almost every tourist does. I am not saying you should skip Kyoto. But spend a day or two less there and instead go across Japan off the beaten path.
I spoke a lot about why you should go and visit more Japanese unpopular tourist destinations. It would be impossible to list them all, but here are some of the interesting Japan hidden gems.
Ryusendo Cave is located in the eastern part of Iwate Prefecture. People consider it a national natural monument. Inside the cave, freshwater forms underground lakes. All the visitors of Ryusendo Cave can enjoy breathtaking vivid blue and emerald green lakes. A fun fact about the cave is that its fourth lake is the deepest underground lake in Japan with a depth of 120 meters. Besides that, it’s also known as one of the most transparent lakes in the world. Paths through Ryusendo Cave are easy to navigate and if you have an adventurous spirit, exploring the cave will surely become one of the highlights of your trip to Japan.
Shibu Onsen is a small but cozy onsen town in the mountains of the Nagano Prefecture. You can stay in one of many local family-owned ryokans and enjoy good food and hot springs. A few interesting local attractions are also there. These include a monkey park, a local brewery, and hiking trails. A great option for tourists who love the outdoors.
Wisteria flowers are Japan’s second most famous flowers and their popularity is really close to the popularity of cherry blossoms. The Japanese name for the wisteria flower is fuji. One of the best places where you can view fuji flowers is the Ashikaga Flower Park. It’s in Ashikaga City. This park is popular in Japan and it’s the home of a 150-year-old wisteria tree. The park has a special atmosphere that can calm down your mind as you feel as if you had been transported into a kaleidoscope of colorful flowers. Wisteria flowers usually fully bloom at the beginning of May. If you are visiting Japan in late spring, make sure to put Ashikaga Flower Park on your must-visit list!
As I said, there is a lot to see and do in Japan, and you should try to see as much as you can while you are here. It will be hard to pick which exact spots to visit and which to skip. If you need help, check out our Japan travel planning guide!
As a visitor of Japan, you might be overwhelmed when you figure out that there are 47 prefectures. It might be hard to decide which one you should visit. Here are some underrated prefectures in Japan that we think you might find interesting.
Ishikawa Prefecture is a part of Japan’s most populated and largest island – Honshu. If you love places with rich cultural history, then this is the perfect choice for you. You can find traditional teahouses, interesting castles, and Edo-era towns. But, that’s not all! Ishikawa Prefecture can offer you a wide selection of delicious seafood.
Yamagata is one of Japan’s most beautiful prefectures. It is the most popular winter destination. However, Yamagata Prefecture can offer a lot during the rest of the year too. As a tourist, you can enjoy scenic mountain and ocean views. Hot springs across the prefecture are filled with rich history and culture. Just like in any other place in Japan, you can enjoy regional food and drinks. Besides that, an interesting fact about Yamagata Prefecture is that many people consider it the Japanese fruit kingdom.
Gifu is not well-known among foreign visitors, but its extensive forests, shrines, and castles make it the ideal place to escape into an authentic Japanese world. Although it’s a small prefecture in the Chubu region of Japan and it’s known to be a more rural area, it has a lot of attractive spots that are worth visiting. Some of the most popular regions in Gifu Prefecture are Shirakawa-go and Takayama.
Tokyo is truly a giant metropolis with many hidden gems to discover. In addition, its unique aspects make it stand out from other big cities around the world. This is why many people enjoy visiting Tokyo and spending some time just wandering around and exploring. If you embark on this off the beaten path Tokyo adventure, know that you will be able to enjoy many unique things. From cozy bars and restaurants tucked away in tiny alleys, to cool museums and parks that most tourists miss.
There are so many things to see in Tokyo so it is hard to list them all. If you are interested leave a comment and we will create a future blog post about hidden gems in Tokyo.
If you like less known places in Japan, make sure to check our blog post about Kaga Hakusan area
Or this one about Okinawa if you want to visit tropical islands: Getting to Okinawa – Ultimate Guide to Japan’s Top Summer Destination
