I’ll give you ideas on going beyond the traditional Tokyo to Kyoto route and getting away from the crowds. I’ll introduce you to some favorite hidden gems from my travels in Japan, from the stunning Iya Valley in Shikoku to the horse culture of Tokachi to the snow-capped Japanese Alps and the wild coastline of Tohoku. These places live in the shadows of Japan, which few international visitors know about.
Overtourism in Japan
According to the Japan Tourism Agency, the number of visitors to Japan has returned to pre-pandemic levels, with over 17 million people visiting between January and September 2023. The downside to these visitors is that they tend to flock to all the same cities; Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. These cities are phenomenal; however, they are crowded. The influx of tourists also brings increased petty crime, waste management issues, noise pollution, and overcrowding, which can negatively affect the environment and disrupt the lives of locals.
Tourists in Japan also tend to flock to Mt. Fuji. However, so many people climbed the iconic Mt. Fuji, queues were at the top, and the environment was damaged .
Image by Jason Goh at Pixabay
This has led the Japanese Tourism Agency to create measures to ease this overtourism. They recently designated 11 locations across the nation as “model tourism destinations “, hoping to encourage overseas visitors to explore beyond metropolitan areas while in the country.
In that vein, I too have identified a few of my favorite Japan off-the-beaten-path destinations! Finding unique travel experiences and lesser-traveled regions in the world is my specialty. After extensive trips to Japan, I have always enjoyed these smaller villages, and lesser-known prefectures to the more popular ones.
I hope you can experience a more tranquil, less populated side of Japan that immerses you further into its unique Japanese culture.
Add These Hidden Gems to Your Japan Itinerary
I haven’t been everywhere in Japan, but I have been to each of the places listed below. Some are more hidden than others, but all of them are great options to add to any Japan itinerary so that you can be sure to experience the slower, lesser-known side of Japan in addition to places like Tokyo and Kyoto. Actually – I also provided an off-the-beaten-path Tokyo neighborhood in this list!
Some of these destinations are very specific areas within a prefecture, and some are larger regions you can travel through that are less traveled as a whole. Thanks to Japan’s incredible transit options – all of these lesser-known destinations are accessible by public transit. Isn’t that incredible?!
Map of Japan Off the Beaten Path Recommendations
Tokachi – Hokkaido Prefecture
We’ll start at the northernmost part of Japan – Hokkaido. Most people stick to Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido prefecture. Tokachi is an area of southeastern Hokkaido surrounded by national parks. It felt like the Midwest of Japan with its landscapes dotted with small farms. The largest city in Tokachi is Obihiro, where I was based during my visit.
Tokachi’s rural landscapes
Things to do in Tokachi off the Beaten Path
Let’s be real – simply by going to Tokachi, you are far off the beaten path. Very few international visitors ever visit here, which means it feels untouched in a way.
It’s worth spending a day or so just checking out Obihiro with its lovely parks and the Obihiro City Museum. Plus, since Obihiro is famous for its food, be sure to try “buta-don” (pork rice bowl), a local specialty. Also, try “katsu-don” (breaded pork cutlet over rice) at one of the city’s many restaurants.
If you like mixology or Japanese Whiskey, then make sure you stop at A Glass Shot Bar. You’ll meet the owner and award-winning bartender there, who mesmerized me with his mixology skills and techniques. We could only communicate through Google Translate and a few props.
If you are looking for something unique, Banei Horse Racing is the only race of its kind in the world and takes place in Obihiro. Large draft horses race on a special course in a 200 m straight line while pulling an iron sled that weighs up to 1 ton. And to make it even more special, spectators can run and cheer on the side of the course with the horse.
This is also a great chance to experience more of the Ainu indigenous culture that exists in Hokkaido. The local Obihiro Ainu culture preservation society is starting to offer tourists cultural experiences to better understand the original Japanese history.
Make sure you get out into the rural areas that Tokachi is famous for via a cycle tour through the agricultural countryside . You can experience Tokachi’s uniqueness with all five senses as you meet farmers, walk through the fields, and taste the local produce, all while traveling by bike.
Don’t miss your opportunity to soak in a rare moor hot spring in Tokachi. Tokachigawa Onsen is a “moor hot springs” with a high content of organic substances, including plants. Its high levels of organic plant matter give the water a brown and red color, and it is known to leave the skin feeling soft and smooth.
Draft horses
Ainu share their cultural dances
Banei horse racing
Try Buta-Don in Obihiro
A Glass cocktail bar
Biking through Tokachi rural backroads
How to Get to Tokachi
The Tokachi area can be accessed from Tokyo or by public transport from Sapporo.
Fly from Tokyo to Tokachi-Obihiro Airport. It takes 30 minutes by car or 40 minutes by bus to Obihiro Station from the airport. It takes around three hours from Chitose Airport or Sapporo Station to reach Obihiro Station by train.
Tohoku Region
The Tohoku region comprises the six northernmost prefectures on Japan’s main island: Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Sendai, Yamagata, and Fukushima. Very few foreign visitors wander off the beaten path to Tohoku, so you’ll enjoy being an anomaly.
The area boasts great natural beauty and an abundance of natural resources, such as delicious fresh seafood. There are many sights to see, like the most beautiful cliffs in Japan, the marvelous scenery of the Ria coastline, the sheer abundance of the world’s third-largest fishing grounds, and more.
I visited Tohoku to check out Japan’s newest long-distance hiking route, the Michinoku Coastal Trail, a 1000+ km trail. The paved roads and forest trails tie together a region that joined in harmony to rebuild after the 2011 East Japan earthquake and tsunami. It’s a great addition to Japan’s other ancient pilgrimage routes. Needless to say – there’s plenty of adventure in Tohoku along the coastal trail!
The rugged Kitayamazaki Cliffs in Tohoku
Things to do in Tohoku off the Beaten Path
One of the best hikes from the long-distance Michinoku Coastal Trail is the Urato Islands of Matsushima Bay. The islands have not been developed as a tourist destination, and visitors can enjoy the traditional tranquil Sanriku island scenery. In addition, the bay offers stunning scenery consisting of oddly shaped rocks eroded by the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Take a boat to see them up close!
For a real challenge, hike the Kitayamazaki Cliffs. The 200-meter-tall sheer cliffs boast the most powerful coastal beauty of any coastal landscape in Japan. This was my favorite hike as part of the Michinoku Coastal Trail!
In addition to hiking sections of the coastal trail, you can also bike it in many areas, such as the area around Rikuzentakata City. You can pedal through rice fields and untouched coastlines – a real hidden gem in Tohoku.
You can’t spend time in Tohoku without paying homage to the 2011 tsunami that devastated the region. To learn more about the disaster and, most importantly, the resiliency of the people in the region – stop at the Iwate Tsunami Memorial in Rikuzentakata City .
L’OreoleTanohata restaurant is literally hidden, tucked in between the trees and cliffs of the Rias Coast. At lunchtime, L’OreoleTanohata is a popular restaurant opened by a Japanese chef (French-trained) who is passionate about local resources and aims to develop the local food culture. Dishes that bring out the goodness of the ingredients themselves without unnecessary seasoning convey the richness of the land.
Check out Soma City where the trail begins. You can explore the Nakamura Shrine and try some delicious Soma beef Menchikatsu here. It’s beef that is deep-fried on the spot when ordered! The hot and juicy menchikatsu is rich and full of flavor!
Enjoy getting in the water at Jodogahama Beach and Sanriku Fukko (reconstruction) National Park . Stop in at the visitor center and walk along the boardwalk to view the stunning white rocks in the sea. The water is a beautiful turquoise and perfect for kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, or swimming! I took a kayak tour, allowing us to get up close to the unusual rock formations.
Hiking Rias Coast
Beef Menchikatsu
Michinoku Coastal Trail
Matsushima Bay
Michinoku Coastal Trail
Jodogahama Beach
Iwate Tsunami Memorial
L’OreoleTanohata
L’OreoleTanohata restaurant
If you are looking for a stunning place off the beaten path to experience cherry blossom season, plan to go to Hitome Senbonzakura along the Shiroishi River in the southern part of Miyagi Prefecture. Here you’ll find 8 kilometers of cherry blossom trees along the river embankment, creating a stunning landscape with a majestic snow-capped Zao Mountains backdrop.
How to Get to Tohoku:
Tohoku Shinkansen is a bullet train that connects Tokyo with Aomori at the northern tip of Honshu. The Tohoku Shinkansen is operated by JR East. You can utilize the JR Pass for this train.
Yanaka Neighborhood Tokyo
Considering Tokyo is the most popular place for tourists, it’s hard to find hidden places in Tokyo – but it is possible! Welcome to the Yanaka neighborhood.
This historic neighborhood located in the Taito ward of Tokyo, Japan is known for its traditional, old-world atmosphere. It is popular to visit if you want to experience the ‘old Tokyo’. Luckily, not many tourists want to see Old Tokyo – they’d rather stick to the glitzy areas.
Yanaka is also known for its large population of stray cats. Some locals and organizations have taken steps to care for these cats, making it a popular destination for cat lovers like me!
Yanaka Neighborhood Tokyo
Things to do in Yanaka off the Beaten Path
Take a food tour in Yanaka from Arigato Food Tours and hit many of the areas listed below. I did this last time in Tokyo and fell in love with the neighborhood. Plus – I learned so much about Japanese food and restaurants that I could utilize as I traveled throughout Japan!
Wander the Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street. The pedestrian-friendly shopping street is lined with small shops, cafes, and restaurants. It’s a great place to explore and try traditional Japanese snacks and souvenirs.
The Yanaka cemetery is a resting place for many historical figures and a peaceful area with cherry blossoms in spring and colorful foliage in autumn. Take a walk through this beautiful space full of 7000 gravesites, and stone paths, and soak in the peaceful atmosphere.
Nezu Shrine: A Shinto shrine with beautiful vermilion gates, a pond, and a well-manicured garden. It’s a serene spot for visitors to explore.
Participate in a tea ceremony. The first floor of Gallery Okubo is filled with antique tea utensils and pottery. However, wander upstairs and you’ll find a unique little tea room. Here you can experience an authentic Japanese tea ceremony. The best part is that they utilize antique teapots and cups, and they change in each season.
Scai the Bathhouse : This contemporary art gallery is housed in a renovated public bathhouse and features various contemporary art exhibitions. If you like contemporary art – you’ll definitely want to stop here.
Antique Tea Cup
Tea Ceremony
Food Tour
