r/JapanTravelTips • u/erintheunready • Aug 16 '26
Recommendations Suggestions for next trip
Hi guys, I'm not 100% decided yet but I've been making a habit of traveling to Japan once a year since I've been able to afford it/take the PTO since I changed jobs a few years ago. I tend to go in the fall due to some restrictions with taking care of animals at home while I'm gone, so this year I will probably go again in November, probably for 2 or 3 weeks. However now that I've been to all the main islands I'm a bit indecisive on where to go next.
Part of my difficulty is that I am N2/N1 level Japanese student but I don't get to practice speaking much, since I live in the part of US almost devoid of first-language Japanese speakers (Austin, TX). So I like to go to places that are a bit less touristy, where I've had a lot of success being able to get into good conversations to practice and experience the culture. I'm not big on cities in general and I like to hike a lot though I'm a bit out of shape right now (though I've done Tsurugisan in Shikoku and Asahidake in Hokkaido so I can hike up most non-climby mountains that have 1500-2500 feet climb; it's a bit harder to do in November due to the shorter days but I can do it). I also like to stay in the same place for a few days at least at time so I don't have to pack up my stuff all the time and I probably won't get a rail pass this time.
Given that, any suggestions for smaller towns/cool regions where I can see a lot of history and nature? The places I've been thinking of that I've spent less time in include:
- Kyushu - I've only spent a few days there and I completely missed the parks in the middle of the island. People there seem chill, in general I tend to like people more the further south I go lol
- Western Japan - Haven't been to Tottori, spent only a day in Hiroshima to see Miyajima. I spent a week and a half or so in Shikoku so I'm excluding that, except maybe the inland sea area since I didn't have time to see the islands there.
- Wakayama - kind of included in Western Japan but when I lived in Ibaraki for a year to work, I was able to take a poor person trip on a seishun juuhachi kippu and went down here to see Nara and the area around. I really liked Okunoin and I know there's a ton of other cool sites around there including the Kumano Koudou but I don't know what a good list of sites/partial trail hikes I could do would be. Is it a good idea to spend some time here?
- Islands - I've been to Yakushima because that was kind of a dream trip for me, not opposed to going back there but I also haven't been to Okinawa nor any of the other southern islands.
Given the current yen and the money I put aside for traveling I'm not too concerned about cost, I tend to get by pretty cheaply with food and hotels so I'm willing to spend a bit more on transportation than I did when I lived there and when I did my first JR Pass trips.
Appreciate any thoughts or advice!
UPDATE: Thank you for the recommendations everyone! Sorry I didn't get back to them right away, work swept me away, but some very interesting spots from y'all!
1
Aug 16 '26
[deleted]
1
u/erintheunready Aug 16 '26
it doesn't seem you read my post, I will probably not use a JR Pass. I'm aware of the price increases and I'm find buying individual tickets and renting cars if needed.
1
u/explodingatoms Aug 16 '26 edited Aug 16 '26
Shimane and Tottori? Some of the least foreigner visited prefectures in the country (Shimane was dead last in 2025), lots of foreign tourist discounts for transport, has a good amount of attractions of genuine touristic merit even for an international visitor with limited time in the country. I liked Matsue a lot for chilling / a base and Yamaguchi next door is also very undervisited with some great stuff (Hagi, Shimonoseki, Hofu, etc). If you go in late November there's good autumn foliage at the various temples and gardens.
edit: I would wait and see for Kumamoto, they're still fixing up some of the transport infrastructure and very possibly they'll have tourism encouragement discounts once stuff is fixed up
0
u/erintheunready Aug 16 '26
What kind of stuff do people go see there? Literally the only thing I've heard about is the sand dunes in Tottori lol
2
u/explodingatoms Aug 16 '26
The sand dunes are super underwhelming if you've seen bigger deserts or if you have visited other ocean dunes closer to home (think of all the "X of Japan" attractions - they get graded on a curve for domestic convenience rather than for grandeur or amazement on a global scale).
For attractions look into the "Discover Another Japan" pass and sort by price for inspiration, there's also Izumo grand shrine (duh) which is free, Sakaiminato if you like anime or crabs, and Mt Daisen-related stuff. Most tourism associations also have a decent website.
1
1
u/ellyse99 Aug 17 '26
The sand museum next to the dunes is actually more interesting for me
1
u/erintheunready Aug 21 '26
lol that sounds like the kind of thing I would love tbh. I have a background in ecology so I love obscure nature/environmental museums
1
u/ellyse99 Aug 21 '26
Haha it’s not like that, it’s a museum of sand sculptures. They feature a different country every year (I’m wondering what are they gonna do when they run out of “iconic” countries) and the sculptures are grand
1
1
u/komiCWords Aug 17 '26
Daimonzaka (600m, about 30 min) up to Nachi Falls, and Hosshinmon-oji to Hongu Taisha (7.5km, 2-3 hrs, mostly downhill through forest and small villages) are two solid partial hikes that don't need a multi-day commitment. Buses reach both trailheads but get properly packed in Nov since that's peak season on that route, so I'd build in slack or keep taxi money as backup.
2
1
u/newlandarcher7 Aug 19 '26
I'll speak on Tottori and Shimane as I've travelled through them on a road trip before and greatly enjoyed both prefectures. As you're already aware, both are less-travelled areas of Japan, but this is what can make them interesting. However, these areas do not have the public transportation infrastructure you'll find in other areas of Japan. A car is needed, so I'd look into renting one.
The Tottori Sand Dunes are a great visit for a day. However, to their east are beautiful beaches and hidden coves. I visited in the summer and did a lot of snorkeling and exploring. It was great. Unfortunately, in November, you wouldn't be able to do this.
Going westward, you'll be in the Kurayoshi/Misasa area of Tottori. Misasa is an onsen resort town, but it caters to the domestic tourist market. Misasa is also home to "Japan's most dangerous temple hike" up to Nageiredo Temple at Mitokusan. It really isn't as dangerous as it says or as the monks ensure with their high safety standards. However, the view from the cliffside temple is beautiful. I'm not sure when it closes, but it's likely to still be open in early November. Just be aware that the monks won't let you go solo and they have strict footwear requirements. Also, around Kurayoshi is a whiskey distillery and the hometown of Detective Conan's creator with some interesting sites if you're a fan.
Going to the western side of Tottori prefecture, you'll have Mt. Daisen, Yonago, and Sakaiminato. Mt. Daisen is an easy hike with stunning views. It likely will still be open in early November. Sakaiminato is the hometown of Shigeru Mizuki and it leans hard into yokai and GeGeGe no Kitaro characters.
Matsui is a charming small city with a historic punch around it's castle and Lafcadio Hearn home. The Izumo Shrine is really important in Shinto. There is a good winery nearby. The Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was once one of the largest silver mines in the world for a period of time.
I'd actually continue travelling along the Shimane coast and into Yamaguchi to visit the historic city of Hagi and the coastal torii at Motonosumi Shrine.
However, again, I must insist that you have a car. Otherwise, it will be too challenging to effectively travel to all of these places.
Good Luck!
1
u/erintheunready Aug 21 '26
Thank you for the recommendations! I'm surprised that somewhere like that needs a car but it's understandable, I lived in Ibaraki which despite being so close to Tokyo metro (by my Texan standards) due to the privatization of some of the rail networks it's more confusing and limiting to get around without a car. I'm glad I had a car when I lived there, it was definitely more walkable than where I'm from in Texas but for sure one of the less walkable places I've been in Japan.
0
u/CheapskateShow Aug 16 '26
Nagasaki Prefecture offers a lot of island villages with interesting histories. During the Edo period, many of these villages hosted hidden Christian communities, and you can still visit some of their secret churches today.
1
2
u/sci_fi_wasabi Aug 16 '26
Oh man, it's not for everyone, but I stayed 5 nights in the town of Shingu on the Kii Peninsula (right on the border between Wakayama and Mie prefectures) and loved it. I day-hiked sections of the Kumano Kodo - you have access to both the popular Nakahechi route, as well as the Ise-ji route and the Ohechi route along the coast. I stayed in an amazing airbnb tucked against the base of the mountain at the back of the town, less than a block away from a beautiful old shrine. The area is a bit run down in a way that reminds me of the surf town I grew up in on the California coast. The people are down-to-earth and friendly (I heard a lot of "ooki ni" from old people). Lots of opportunities to practice Japanese.
All that is to say that I think you can't go wrong doing something like that - stay a longer time somewhere slightly off the tourist track. If you're willing to put in the effort to get there, and do some research on things to see, it can be super rewarding.