This submit could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. Please take a look at my privateness coverage and disclosure for extra info.

Share

Tweet

Pin

Final Up to date on 2nd July 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

Japan is a improbable nation the place outdated meets new and historic traditions meet leading edge expertise. It’s a rustic roughly the identical measurement as California with loads of historic temples, buzzing trendy cities, and every thing in between. And in case you’re trying to get off the crushed path? Listed here are one of the best hidden gems and secret spots in Japan.

Hidden gems of Japan

Kinosaki Onsen

By Erin of Neverending Voyage

Onsen cities are a uniquely Japanese expertise and excellent for a calming break soaking within the steaming waters of sizzling spring baths.

Kinosaki Onsen is right on your first onsen city. It’s underneath the radar for many guests to Japan, nevertheless it’s foreigner-friendly (with indicators in English, and unusually, tattoos are allowed) and solely 2.5 hours by practice from Kyoto or Osaka.

Staying in a ryokan (conventional inn) is a key a part of the expertise (Morizuya Ryokan is a good choice). You’ll sleep on a futon and revel in scrumptious multi-course meals served in your tatami mat room.

The ryokan gives a yukata (cotton kimono) and geta (wood sandals), which you put on to walk alongside Kinosaki Onsen’s picturesque canals and hop from one onsen to a different.

Kinosaki Onsen has seven public onsens, all included within the free move you get along with your lodging. All of them have a unique character—some are small and intimate, whereas others have a number of baths (and even saunas) to take pleasure in. Many have fairly backyard views.

Mandara-Yu is the oldest bathtub in Kinosaki Onsen, relationship again to 720 AD. Goshono-Yu, in a temple-like constructing, is among the most tasty onsens, particularly the stunning stone out of doors bathtub with a waterfall.

It’s important to familiarise your self with onsen etiquette earlier than your go to. You have to be fully bare and bathe totally earlier than entering into the bathtub. Public onsens are divided by gender.

Some lodges even have personal onsens out there for mixed-gender use, that are place to begin.

When you recover from any preliminary apprehension, it’s a splendidly enjoyable expertise.

Spring (often early April) is an particularly stunning time to go to Kinosaki because the cherry blossoms are in bloom alongside the canals. It’s a lot much less busy than Kyoto, so you’ll be able to benefit from the blossoms with out the crowds.

Naoshima Island

By Jonny of Backpacking Man

Naoshima Island, also called Naoshima Artwork Island, is among the most surreal locations to go to in Japan. Positioned within the Seto Inland Sea, it’s referred to as one of many foremost trendy artwork areas of Japan, with many unusual artwork sculptures to see outdoors, in addition to some up to date artwork museums.

Mush of those artwork areas got here from the Benesse Company and the must-visit museums when there are the Chichu Artwork Museum and the Lee Ufan Museum. When you go to throughout Spring, Summer time, or Autumn, the Setouchi Triennale up to date artwork pageant could also be on.

It’s simply not the artwork that makes Naoshima top-of-the-line locations to go to in Japan. It’s rural vibe, with laid-back seashores and a timeless really feel is one other aspect to the island that many guests miss out on if solely coming to see the artwork.

Probably the greatest methods to see Naoshima, particularly to see the randomly scattered artwork items dotted outdoors across the island, is to lease a bicycle.

You’ll be able to lease a bicycle from rental locations on the foremost port of arrival. Aside from Naoshima, there are a number of close by islands value exploring, though you’ll need extra time than only a day for a go to to those.

You’ll be able to keep in Naoshima at lodges and guesthouses, nevertheless it’s additionally simple to do as a really lengthy day journey from the cities of Okayama, Hiroshima, Osaka, and even Kyoto, because of the rail hyperlinks to achieve the ferry port for the island. When you do that you’ll be rushed although to see every thing.

Shirakawago

By Chloe of Chloe’s Travelogue

Shirakawago is among the best-hidden gems in Japan that worldwide guests have solely not too long ago travelled to. This tiny city with lower than 600 households is nestled deep contained in the mountainous Hokuriku area and tucked away from any highlight…till it turned a UNESCO World Heritage Website in 1995.

The quiet farm village’s most culturally precious property is the 300-year-old gassho-zukuri, conventional Japanese farmhouses with a thatched roof. With the Japanese Alps as a backdrop, they create a picturesque surroundings just like stunning cities within the Swiss alps.

Mountain farmers nonetheless stay in these heritage homes, making the whole village a dwelling museum. There are a couple of open homes and lodging for anybody fascinated by peeping in. Guests are requested to respect the privateness of residents in different houses.

Visiting Shirakawago is a singular cultural expertise at any time of the yr; nonetheless, one of the best time to go to is throughout the snow season.

In January and February, the city hosts Shirakawago Winter Gentle-Up Competition. When the whole village is illuminated at nightfall, the farmhouses coated in snow resemble the gingerbread homes from a winter wonderland.

Through the latest festivals, solely friends with tickets had been permitted to the village to keep away from over-tourism and to protect the cultural heritage. Ebook your ticket, transportation, and lodging properly prematurely to attend the pageant. Occasion particulars will probably be introduced within the early fall.

Takachiho Gorge

By Kenny of Knycx Journeying

Positioned in a small city in Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Takachiho Gorge is a lesser-known pure treasure to international vacationers. It’s lengthy been some of the common geological sights among the many locals due to its stunning surroundings and religious worth.

The easiest way to get to Takachiho is self-driving, for vacationers on a street journey to Mount Aso, Takachiho Gorge is about 50 kilometers away from the Aso and it takes about one hour to drive there.

Additionally it is potential to go to there by public transportation, because the city has numerous bus connections with the most important cities in Kyushu, like Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Miyazaki.

The spectacle is a slender passage of Gosake River. Each side of the rocks on the gorge had been crafted by means of a million-year strategy of volcanic actions.

On prime of the 17-meter cliffs are lush and dense inexperienced foliage and the Minainotaki waterfall that cascade to the river under, making a poetic and dreamy image that leaves guests in awe.

There are two methods to understand the gorge from completely different views. From above, take a stroll on the scenic paths on the sting of the cliffs the place guests can have an outline of the whole chasm and the encompassing panorama.

There are a few small diners with a desk on the terrace and a view of the river. The paths result in the Takachiho Gorge Boat Rental.

Descend to the floor of the river and row a ship to get into the gorge. Take a better have a look at the rock formation and listen to the rumbling sound of the waterfall – however watch out that you could be get moist in case you row proper within the falls.

Noboribetsu Onsen

By Kate of Adventurous Kate

If you wish to get off the crushed path in Japan, head to the island of Hokkaido. Wish to get even additional? Head to Hokkaido in winter. And searching for the final word Hokkaido winter gem?

Head straight to the city of Noboribetsu Onsen, a preferred spa city in Japan’s northernmost island the place the land bubbles with scorching sizzling water.

Begin your break day with a stroll by means of Jigokudani, or “Hell Valley,” a brief stroll north of the city middle. Right here the land is steaming with geothermal exercise, tendrils of smoke wafting up from volcanic craters.

Remember to stick with the wood walkways, and put on good winter boots if visiting in winter, as there may be just about all the time a layer of snow on the bottom right here!

Subsequent up, get your self a hearty seafood lunch. The stalls lining the streets are stuffed with the recent catch of the day. Cool down for some sushi or seize a chirashi don (bowl of rice with sashimi on prime). When you’re visiting in winter, attempt snow crab or sea urchin.

Lastly, it’s onsen time. Onsen Tengoku welcomes day guests and has loads of baths of various temperatures, with a big window overlooking Jigokudani from a distance. You’ll soak away each ache you’ve gotten from the hike! Remember to brush up on Japanese spa etiquette earlier than you go.

Whereas Noboribetsu Onsen is a well-liked spot to in a single day or spend the weekend, it additionally works properly as a day journey from Sapporo. Take the practice to the city of Noboribetsu (70-100 minutes) and swap to the bus taking you into city (10 minutes).

Magome within the Japanese Alps

By Vicki of Vicki Viaja

If you wish to escape to outdated rural Japan and expertise idyllic nature concurrently, Magome is likely to be the best place for you. The small village within the Japanese Alps is simply excellent for individuals who wish to escape the hustle and bustle of the massive metropolis of Tokyo for a short while.

Positioned a few 3-hour drive from Tokyo, Magome will be reached by bus or automotive.

Magome can also be a wonderful vacation spot for hikers. As a cease on the Nakasando Path, a preferred roughly 11-day climbing path by means of the Japanese Alps, Magome is taken into account some of the stunning locations you’ll move by means of whereas climbing.

Whereas (native) hikers could have found this peaceable place for themselves, Magome stays just about untouched by mass tourism.

The picturesque path that leads by means of the small village takes you alongside stunning outdated buildings and some ryokans. Since a couple of native tour buses ceaselessly come to Magome throughout the morning hours, it’s value staying in a single day to expertise the place’s magnificence with none vacationers.

To finish the expertise, it is strongly recommended that you just e-book a ryokan. This fashion, you’ll get the entire “Japan expertise” on this attractive place, with a full typical Japanese dinner and breakfast.

Stroll alongside the trail and uncover the sights of the place, such because the cemetery, which provides an incomparable view of the area’s nature.

If you wish to expertise extra of the native nature, you should use the following day to hike on the Nakasendo Path to the following cease, one other cute village known as Tsumago.

The Magome Tsumago Path is a straightforward hike that solely takes a couple of hours. When you’re fortunate, it’s possible you’ll even spot some wildlife alongside the best way, akin to Snow Monkeys.

Saiho-ji Temple

JBy ames Ian of Journey Gathering

Saiho-ji Temple in Kyoto is a small temple in Kyoto that’s usually known as Kokedera “Moss Temple” due to the attractive moss backyard there.

The location has been a temple since 749, nevertheless it wasn’t till 1339 {that a} backyard was added. It was initially a Zen sand backyard, however after it fell into neglect about 200 years and flooded, a moss backyard grew as a replacement.

The backyard is centered round a lake formed just like the Japanese kanji image for “coronary heart”. There are three tiny islands within the lake known as “Dawn”, “Sundown” and “Mist”, and a few small tea pavilions in between the bushes and moss.

This hidden gem takes some effort to see. The one strategy to go to is to submit a request for a reservation in writing (snail mail) one week to 2 months prematurely and embrace a particular return postcard for them to mail again to you.

They are going to designate the day and time and the return postcard then turns into your ticket. The simplest approach to do that is to ask your lodging supplier that can assist you and use their handle.

On the day of your go to, be sure you deliver the affirmation and the charge in money.

Whenever you go to, there’s a necessary pre-garden expertise on the temple, which can be chanting sutras, meditating, or copying the guts sutra (in kanji).

You might be then capable of wander the gardens for about an hour. There are over 100 sorts of moss within the gardens, and it’s a great, mystical place that few individuals get to see.

Nonbei Yokocho

By Catrina of 24 Hours Layover

Nonbei Yokocho – also called Drunkards Alley is among the finest hidden gems of Japan – positioned proper in the midst of Tokyo would you imagine!

Located out of sight simply behind the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing (Shibuya Crossing) you will see that this quirky and charming conventional space with a number of slender alleyways and lantern-lit streets that looks like a complete new world.

While Shibuya has modified drastically over time and is now one of many brightest and busiest neighbourhoods in Tokyo, it’s superb how one can nonetheless discover a small reminder of the outdated city amongst the again streets.

Nonbei Yokocho is unquestionably a stunning place to flee the crowds for the fortunate few who find out about this distinctive little spot. There are lots of little eating places and bars right here – some so small that they’ll solely maintain round 4 individuals without delay!

They’re stuffed with native individuals and these ‘yokocho’ (alleyways) in Tokyo are undoubtedly value a go to, if to not expertise the true Tokyo, then at the least to have a break from the crowds and expertise some of the hidden but genuine picture spots in Tokyo.

The bars are eating places have been right here in Nonbei Yokocho because the 1950’s – earlier than then this was dwelling to the Tokyu railway company Head Workplace.

Nonbei Yokocho might be essentially the most genuine ‘yokocho’ in Tokyo you’ll discover. It’s stuffed with character and is an absolute must-visit whenever you’re right here, making it top-of-the-line secret spots in Japan.

Journey tip: head right here within the night so you’ll be able to go contained in the small bars for a drink and to combine with the locals! Every of the bars have their very own distinctive ambiance and are very cosy! Observe that many of the bars are shut on Sundays and throughout the day!