Japan off the radar
15 Hidden Gems in Japan Beyond the Tokyo-Kyoto Tourist Trail
Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka is the golden triangle 95% of visitors do. But Japan's character compounds when you step off it, Kanazawa's perfect gardens, Naoshima's contemporary art islands, Yakushima's primordial cedar forests, the Iya Valley's vine bridges.
Kanazawa
Edo-period castle town with Kenroku-en (one of Japan's three perfect gardens), restored geisha districts, and a contemporary art museum carved into a circle.
Naoshima art island
Tadao Ando architecture + Yayoi Kusama pumpkins on a small Seto Inland Sea island. Contemporary art pilgrimage.
Takayama
Mountainous Hida region — restored Edo-period merchant district, morning markets, hot springs. Easy Shinkansen + JR from Tokyo.
Yakushima
Primordial cedar forest on a southern island: UNESCO-listed; Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke landscape inspiration.
Iya Valley
Tokushima's secret valley. Vine bridges across a steep gorge, thatched-roof villages, Edo-period charcoal makers' descendants.
Koyasan
Mountain temple complex where you sleep in working Buddhist temples. Wake at 5am for morning prayer + vegetarian breakfast.
Shirakawa-go
UNESCO-listed gassho-zukuri thatched-roof villages in the Japanese Alps. Snow-covered winter is the famous image.
Nara's Yoshino mountain
The most-painted-in-Japanese-art cherry blossom mountain. 30,000 trees on the slopes.
Tottori sand dunes
Japan's only sand dunes, on the Sea of Japan coast. Combine with the Mizuki Shigeru manga road.
Tsumago + Magome
Two preserved Edo-period post towns on the Nakasendo trail. Walk the 8km between them through forest.
Sado Island
Off Niigata in the Sea of Japan — taiko drumming village, gold mine ruins, washtub fishing boats.
Iwate's Hiraizumi
UNESCO-listed Buddhist temples in northern Honshu. Pure Land paradise gardens.
Kurashiki Bikan district
Edo-period merchant canal area with traditional white-walled warehouses. Few foreign tourists.
Aomori's Hirosaki Castle
Northern Japan castle with one of the country's best cherry blossom displays.
Beppu hot springs
Kyushu's onsen capital: eight different 'hells' of colored hot water. Vastly more spectacular than Hakone.