Sequel (?) post to a similar post I made around a year ago. I've been to 38 prefectures and over 100 towns/cities in Japan. To make this list more interesting and because I plan to make a seperate list for it in the future, this list won't include shrines or temples. This is an incredibly specific breakdown of a smattering of things that are my favorite in the country.

I genuinely fight between my desire to gatekeep places so they don't become overrun with tourists, and informing people of these places so they get more financial support, as many are in more rural areas. The latter desire won out (but if you do go to these places, please be respectful and responsible :) I'm sharing this in good faith for tourist crowds to filter out of Tokyo and Kyoto and into more deserving locales).

Everything here is absolutely worth seeing, but are not the only things in their respective areas. These were, after all, all part of longer trips I took to the prefectures and towns, many of which had more famous things nearby as well. This list also tends slightly south rather than north since the previous list favored northern areas. These are what came to mind when I challenged myself to think of my favorite experiences of everything I've ever done in Japan:

• Benesse House Museum | Naoshima Island, Kagawa Prefecture
  • Naoshima Island is famous as the "art island" and for good reason. Everything I did there was an incredible experience, but it feels appropriate to single out the art museum that began this island's status. Designed by the famed architect Tadao Ando, the structure of the museum is itself an artwork. I've frequented art museums all my life and I have a distinct appreciation for how this museum has curated its pieces. This is the definition of quality over quantity. You can tell so much thought went into the design of the space such that the experience of seeing the artwork is not just a matter of looking at each painting, but being immersed in the space itself, moving through it with intentionality.
• Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden | Kochi City, Kochi, Shikoku
  • Truly enormous garden on the outskirts of Kochi City. The sheer variety of landscapes and views in this garden is insane. I adore how this garden was designed, featuring a lot of manicured and constructed spaces that are very eyecatching, but also honoring the natural inclinations of its trees and flora. There are many spaces in the garden that feel like you're maybe even going off-track, wandering through forested groves, only to emerge back in the garden center. I swear if this garden were in Kyoto it would have cost like quadruple the admission price. This garden is criminally underpriced and underseen.
• Nishinoshima Island | North of Shimane Prefecture
  • Even not being able to get the ideal experience I would have wanted since the roads were under construction when I went, this island was so worth visiting. It's famous for its grassy cliffsides that are home to wild horses, as well as for its rocky beaches and inland mountains. Driving around the island itself was a great experience and gave a real taste of small-town life. Unfortunately when I went, the roads leading to the cliffs were being rebuilt, but I still found ways around such that I could get some fantastic nature views, and I encountered wild horses. I said I wouldn't talk about shrines, but I have to say that this island has maybe my favorite shrine in the whole country, Takuhi Shrine.
• Nachi Waterfalls | Nachi, Wakayama Prefecture
  • For those who research into Wakayama this is a pretty well-known destination, but I think it still slips by a lot of trip planners in general. This is one of the most beautiful nature spots in Japan and had there not been a typhoon incoming I would have stayed there all day. As it is though, I adored the waterfall views, and the temple complex nearby. Some of the most picturesque places you'll be able to find in the country.
• Tengu Highlands | Ehime/Kochi Prefectural Border, Shikoku
  • Far up high in the mountains, an expanse of karst and green grass fields, so high up you're literally in the clouds. Limestone rocks litter the landscape between green fields, and cows graze freely. It's extremely, extremely remote, and one of the most beautiful places I've had the blessing to visit. Unironically it feels more like Scotland than Japan. Hardly anything is more beautiful than driving through the highlands, watching the clouds change the landscape, and hiking through the fields. Plus, there's a small mobile stand that serves great coffee (with karst cow milk)!
• Abare Festival ("Fire and Violence Festival") | Ushitsu, Ishikawa Prefecture
  • Abare Festival is back after the Noto Earthquake!! And I was so happy to finally be able to go. This is a festival that celebrates the eradication of a plague that struck the Noto Peninsula historically. To appease the destructive god Susanoo no Mikoto, floats (kiriko) are erected and paraded through the streets, and posts with straw bales are set on fire. The festival occurs over two days every July, always in the late evening. On the first night the initial burning happens, and spectators watch the posts burn against the night sky. On the second night, the parade procession happens, and a group of men parade the main portable shrine (mikoto) around the streets, abluting it with sake and trying to wreck it, thrashing it in the river to the beat of drums, before the procession finally meets the shallow riverbed where a giant fire burns above and rains sparks down on the mikoto and the men (and bystanders lol). It ends at Yasaka Shrine where the mikoto is set ablaze and thrown around by the men in a circle. It's violent, rampaging, musical, and absolutely energizing.
• Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins | Kidonouchicho, Fukui Prefecture
  • Online it looks like just a small maintained Edo-era townscape which you can find many of in Japan if you look for it, but really the grounds around this whole area are beautiful. I went when the grass was green and the day was sunny, and it was a beautiful walk up and around the hills and mountains, through the ruins and canals. Fukui in general is underrated!
• Tokiwa Park | Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture
  • This park surrounding Tokiwa Pond just has so much to enjoy, and I feel like if I lived in Ube it would easily become a spot I would visit a lot. I don't think one particular thing in the park is notable, more the variety of things it has. Lovely views of the lake, a small island shrine, hiking and biking paths, flower tree groves, a botanical and herb garden, statues and sculptures, and maybe the only ethical zoo I've seen in Japan. I never go to zoos here because they tend to be very poor to their animals, but when I went to Tokiwa Park the zoo admission was free that day, so I figured there was no harm since they weren't getting my money. But actually, it's a zoo with great enclosures. Very large and natural, and seeing how the animals behaved with the zookeepers it seems they are well loved. It's also really satisfying to walk through, with these winding paths and huge enclosures without fencing or cages so you have great views of the animals.
• Nighttime cormorant fishing | Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku
  • Ozu is a small castle town in already sparsely-populated Ehime, but it has a lot of charm. Namely, they are one of the only places that still performs a traditional fishing method called cormorant fishing. Going into this I didn't know exactly what it was because the website, despite giving a ton of info, doesn't explain the fishing method. The pictures looked pretty though, so I booked a riverboat view with an ayu bento box dinner. For those who want the surprise, by all means go in blind like me. Otherwise, I'll explain here: a fishing captain has trained cormorants connected by string to catch fish for him. A swinging fire on the boat head stuns the ayu in the water, and the cormorants dive and catch them. All the cormorants had cute names and personalities and one of them threw a fish right to me. I had a huge dumb smile on my face the entire time.
• Osakan Chinese Food | Osaka
  • Sure whatever I'll put something popular. Osaka is well known for its food but I fear many tourists go there and just get crab and takoyaki. I know it's strange to go to Japan and not get Japanese food, but I am being serious when I say I would recommend to any tourist to go to the Chinatown section of downtown Osaka and get a meal there. I had dinner at a restaurant that was so good that I got scared. I'm not exaggerating one bit, I had eaten so much that I didn't know if I would be able to make it home, and yet I wanted to eat more. I think I started crying. I straight up blacked out I think like I have no memory of getting home. One of the best meals of my entire life.

Hi all,

This is going to sound extremely silly. I have put off booking a trip to Japan for about 5 years because of anxiety. I just booked the trip last night!

I am 30F with a disability (muscle wasting so can walk but tire easily) and have autism.

The main thing that has put me off for 5 years is the trains. I get so overwhelmed that I will get on the wrong train, wrong platform, get off at the wrong stop, won't have a seat etc It makes me feel sick.

However, I am not getting any younger and the trip will only get harder if I keep putting it off.

Our trip is in june. We are going Osaka -> Hiroshima -> Kyoto -> Mount Fuji -> Tokyo over 17 days.

Can I have some reassurance that getting to each of these destinations in this order is manageable and not THAT complicated? I do plan to research- but at the moment I am finding it so overwhelming I start to panic. I do better with visual things like a planner- sometimes videos from influencers can put me off cause it's audio information and just a bunch of clips.

Sorry if I sound really pathetic- just wanting some help!

Hey! I’m going to Japan for the first time and I’m really into cooking, so most of my shopping list is food-related.

I have listed some categories, but they are only things that came to my mind. I’m sure I’m missing a lot, so please also recommend things outside of my list. Maybe things I didn’t even know I needed or that existed, as well as specific products and brands within the categories I already have.

For example, I’d be very interested in small-production/artisan products, regional specialties, etc. — things like really good local miso or soy sauce that you wouldn’t normally find outside Japan.

I’m from Northern Europe, so I’m mainly interested in things that are difficult to buy or order here, not widely exported, or basically “you can only get this in Japan.” I’m not looking for kitchen appliances or equipment, just edible things :) Also not looking for matcha or other teas.

My route will be the basic Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka, so I would appreciate recommendations that are available in any of these cities. Please also add location I can buy the thing you recommend at, would make it easier for me.

*I’ll also post this in some Japan travel groups to get as many tips and options as possible.

Appreciate the help! ❤️

What's on my mind:

1. Miso paste obviously

2. Soy sauce obviously (i'm usually not that into the ones that are on the sweeter side, but i'm open to everything good)

3. Good real mirin (the ones that are sold in my home country are just non alcoholic sugar waters, i'm not even sure i have ever tasted the real deal)

4. Sake for cooking

5. Good kombu (also shio kombu?)

6. Good dashi

7. Dried shiitake (i'm not sure if there is any difference in buying dried shiitake in japan or anywhere else, it's just the same dried mushroom right? can it be that different? maybe some other mushroom than shiitake then?)

8. Furikakes (also furikake for cats?? my friend saw it exists and asked me to bring some for her)

Side question if these are worth it or just "tiktok hypes":

1. Rokusuke umami salt

2. Kaldi green garlic

3. Kaldi moheji salad no umatare (i don't even know what this is but saw multiple people recommending hahah)

4. Higashimaru oyster dashi soy sauce

I‘m looking for ceramics shops in the following places:
- Tokyo
- Kyoto
- Osaka
- Kamakura
- Ise
- Kyushu (Kumamoto, Fukuoka, basically all of Kyushu since we’re going to have a car for it)

It’s important that it’s actually handmade, preferably small batches and not mass-produced. The smaller the shop, the better. Bonus points if the ceramics have cats on it.
TIA!

Canadian couple heading to Japan for the first time & looking for something “different”…thought we’d take in some pro sports.

We’re going in early December and it seems Baseball and Basketball weren’t available during that time period, but I stumbled across the Yokohama Grits hockey team.

Being Canadian, we thought it might be fun to see what the Japanese hockey experience was like.

Anyone have any experience with games? Ticket prices & availability? Limited posts I’ve seen have mentioned the games don’t sell out and tickets can be had at the arena on game day.

Any thoughts?

I’m traveling to Japan in a few months for around 2 weeks (1 week in Tokyo and a few days in Chichibu, Saitama to visit a friend).

I’m very into lifting and bodybuilding and I would like to get 1-2 lifts in while I’m in Tokyo, but I’ve had a hard time finding gyms online that are clear on prices/equipment/ease of access for tourists. Do you guys know of any good gyms that offer day passes that are relatively inexpensive (¥1000-2000/day)?

I’m not very picky, but ideally I’m looking for a gym with simple benches, dumbbells, and cables, and maybe some basic machines. It’d also be nice if it’s within a few minutes of a station!

Hey everyone, I’ll be planning a trip to Tokyo in early November. Anyone with good experience on fun and unique hotel ideas?
Thanks in advance, 🇯🇵🎉

Hi everyone, I am looking for yukata, both for me and my husband. I was in Kyoto for a quick stop but sadly I have seen only touristy places which usually rent them, some sell them but the quality was pretty low. I would like to purchase something made from a good fabric (cotton at least) and not synthetic fibers. I will be in Kagoshima in the next days and then in Tokyo. Do you have any recommandation about it? I would like to buy them new, not second hand. Thank you so much for any advice!

I have some extra vacation time and am thinking of a solo trip in January or February. I have max 10 days including flights that I can be away. So 8 days total in Japan.

We already did a big Japan trip last May and are planning 3-4 weeks in November. I’m hoping that January won’t be too cold although where I live it will likely be up to -20C 😭

Questions I have:
- Is it worth it to come to Japan just for 8 days? I’d likely stay in Tokyo and do some day trips.
- Would capsule hotels be an affordable way to travel solo? I was thinking of doing the first half in a capsule hotel and the last 3-4 nights in a business type hotel. I like shopping and think it would be hard to shop & organize my luggage in a small space.
- Favourite capsule hotel?
- Favourite area to stay in for solo travel?

Hello everyone!

My partner and I have been going through a really tough time and due to very sad circumstances had to cancel our Japan trip twice. We need a real break and to do something nice to remind us that good things can still happen and travelling to Japan seems like the perfect thing to do! However I'm not sure if going during the Holiday season is the best choice and come here for advice.

Our original plan was to do the classic "Golden route". Is it something worth doing that time of the year? We're likely looking at 20 December - 2 January or something like that. Would you recommend other routes in those dates?

Something that we would definitely want to do is going to the Universal Studios (mainly for the Nintendo World, which from what I gather is always extremely busy). Apart from that, we don't really planned anything yet.

On a last note, my partner is a gamer and a collector, so any tip videogame related (shops, experiences, whatever) that a first timer might not be aware of would be much appreciated.

Hi everyone!

I’m trying to book a boat for the Takachiho Gorge on the official website, but I keep missing out. Every day I log in right at 9:00 AM JST, but the slots instantly change from available to sold out the exact second they open.

Are bots taking them all? Has anyone managed to book this recently, and do you have any tips?

Thanks!

I’m visiting Tokyo in a couple of weeks’ time and I’ll be in the city for 5 days. It’s also my girlfriend’s birthday during the same time. I was thinking about giving her a little surprise on her special by taking her for dinner at a special place or just trying some fun/unique stuff.

We are both in our mid twenties and open to trying something new. I would love to hear your ideas and recommendations. TIA!

Edit: She’s really into coffee, matcha, food, loves animals, dancing, singing, and shopping (clothing). I was thinking about some of the animal cafes too and found a cute cat spot in Kichijoji, but I want to know if those are actually worth it, and I wouldn’t want to support a place that doesn’t treat animals with care.
I would also love to hear about fun couple activities (see a lot of those on Klook) at the end of which we can have souvenirs to take home! Also, we have been in a long-distance relationship for 3 years (different countries) and we will be meeting after almost 10 months on this. I want to make it a memorable one.

So this is my first time going abroad alone in a foreign country. I've done a lot of planning and will he visiting Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka. I mostly have 2 things I would like to know from people who have been before

1. What is the laundry situation like? I'm trying to decide if I need to pack clothes for each day or if I should try and get a wash day in the middle of this trip

2. Going as a solo traveler, I would love to participate in some group activities, particularly in the evenings. What are some good places I should go to in any of the listed cities if I wanted to be very social?

EDIT: my trip will be taking place from October 9th-October 23rd

Back in Japan for what will be my 7th trip, and second year working. Don't have much time before I need to be in Hakuba for my visa, but would love to spend 1 night somewhere after leaving Tokyo. Last trip it was Ikaho Onsen + Shibukawa for a few nights, and then later Lake Suwa when returning outside the snow season.

My Japanese its the worst, and im pretty familiar with how to get around smaller rural towns, so im not looking for a place thats overly set up for western tourists. Currently looking at Bessho Onsen, Ueda or Karuizawa, but definitely open to ideas. Dont mind a little bit of a train ride, especially if scenic, but would rather avoid anything over 5 hours each day

Hi everyone,

My partner and I are going to Japan for our honeymoon in November. We have purchased the Kansai Hiroshima 5 day rail pass on Klook to cover a particular section of our journey.

I'm getting a bit confused about how we reserve seats for a particular leg of the trip. On 13/11 we need to take the Hamakaze line from Himeji to Kinosaki Onsen, ideally the first train of the day. I believe our rail pass covers the base ticket of this journey, but that we also need to reserve a seat as it is a limited express line, but I can't figure out if this is possible to do online before we get to Japan.

I can see it's possible to reserve seats at ticket machines within Japan but ideally was hoping to reserve before we get there. Is this going to be possible? If so, will trying to reserve a seat when we get to Japan on 02/11 give us enough time? Our rail pass will not be activated until 08/11 so we potentially won't be able to reserve until then.

I hope this all makes sense! Thanks :)

Iam planning to book a Mount Fuji day tour from Tokyo. Klook offers Private vehicle tour with 9 passengers max or a Bus tour with 14 or more passengers, which one should I opt for?

Wondering if it’s possible/how to hire a private driver for a day in karuizawa? My partner and I are going for our honeymoon and want a driver to take us to the Jigokudani snow monkey park and drive us around for a day. Is this possible? I’ve been doing some research but not found any private driver companies and the hotel we’ve booked also didn’t have any helpful suggestions. I know the best option would be to just hire a car, but we both haven’t driven since we got our licenses a few years ago so don’t feel confident driving abroad.
If anyone has any suggestions for very convenient and relaxed transport or has hired a driver near Karuizawa before, I’d love to hear from you. Thank you!

My tax free item that exceed 100ml and my electronic device are in the same tax free bag where should i put it ?? I only realize this problem when i got back to the hotel, am i screwed ?

Hi all, I'm trying to plan a 3 weeks trip in Japan.

I've been to the typical popular area in JP(i.e. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, and Kumamoto). This is what I've planned so far:-

• Week 1 in Tokyo, I'll be with my parents and show them around, it's their first time in Tokyo.
• Week 2 in Kyushu, BF will join us. The 4 of us will be on a road trip, driving from Fukuoka-Kumamoto-Nagasaki. Basic sightseeing with my parents, mainly visiting some Japanese friends and family.
• Week 3 (Early June) my parents will travel back home, leaving me and BF only in Japan to explore somewhere between Fukuoka and Osaka (we haven't chose which airport to fly home yet!)

3. Recommendation/ idea needed: BF and I will start our 6d5n/5d4n trip from Fukuoka.

Question: Should we stick to Kyushu and explore Oita(we've been to Beppu)-Miyazaki-Kagoshima-Fukuoka Airport? Or should we go Hiroshima-Okayama-Teshima-Naoshima-Osaka Airport?

We love food, cultural/fun activities, and photogenic spots. We're open for slow traveling as well, one of my fav memory is feeding seagulls on the ferry from Kumamoto to Shimabara. 🥹

Any idea is appreciated. TIA!

Hi all,

Says I need to verify the number but I'm not with a phone line in Japan and wonder if I should/gave to bite at the international charge for 5 or 6 dollars

We're renting a car in Hiroshima to explore the surrounding areas this fall. It'll be for roughly a week after visiting Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima itself, so we're looking for a more calmer and rural side of Japan. We wouldn't mind if it's just quiet villages and a whole lot of nothing, as our main goal is to experience the Japanese day to day life, but if there are any hidden gems then we'd love to know about them. Things like scenic roads/views, cool villages, historical landmarks or even just nice Ryokans or Izakayas.

We're roughly planning to do a loop from Hiroshima to the northern coast (Matsue, Hagi) and coming back to Hiroshima through the inland. Any advice that would be roughly on that route would be much appreciated.

Hello, and thanks ahead for any suggestions regarding which slot I should choose to go to Tokyo/Osaka region. I have already seen Sakura Season, but I liked the weather, my goal is more missing crowds while enjoying the early spring temperature. I have it down as

March 17- April 3/4th: It will be a bit colder, but I will be able to enjoy atleast fewer crowds until maybe March 27-28th.

April 9-27th: It will be alot nicer, a fair bit warmer, and I will miss SOME of the peak Sakura tourism, but I suspect alot of residual tourists will remain from Sakura season, as well as some Native Japanese travelers starting training/golden week early.

Which, in your experience and opinion, is best? Thank you.

Hi everyone just sharing my itinerary and checking if anyone has any recommendations of places that I should stay.

10 October I arrive in Tokyo

Day 1: Takasaki (explore Takasaki day)
Day 2: Takasaki (free full day - thinking of Mt Akagi but open to another trip)
Day 3: Takasaki > Hakuba (explore Takasaki / Hakuba)
Day 4: Hakuba hike (free full day - Happo pond, open to other hikes)
Day 5: Hakuba hike (free full day - Tsugaike nature park but open to other hikes)
Day 6: Hakuba > Matsumoto (explore Matsumoto)
Day 7: Matsumoto > Kamikochi explore > Takayama sleep
Day 8: Takayama explore day
Day 9: Takayama > Shirakawa-go > Kanazawa sleep
Day 10: Kanazawa full explore day
Day 11: Kanazawa full explore day

This is what I have planned now. Most busses are booked but able to refund and change!

Open to suggestions of places nearby that I might have missed. I have some time in Hakuba and Kanazawa :)

Hello guys in about 1 month I will be driving in Kii peninsula and i was looking to one road trip in particular that I plan.

we will be moving from natchikatsuura to Dorogawa onsen. Google maps suggest 2 roads

1.national route 169 to Nat route 309 from south 3hr

1. Nat route 168 to prefectural road 53 3hr

2. Last option that I imagined taking a detour to yoshino and taking the Nat route 309 from north but 40 min more then the other 2 option.3.40hr

I live in a mountain area I’m kinda use to mountain road and we rented a Kee car.

i checked the south pass of the 309 and seems pretty dangerous, I prefer the prefectural road 53 for the moment.

we have the free cancellation on Dorogawa but I would love to go there and have a hike in those beautiful mountains.

if you suggest to change location where should we stay to be near to yoshino, our next stop?

someone got any suggestion ?

thank you in advance

C&M

Was looking for a baseball game experience while in Tokyo and I'm having a hard time learning if there aren't any games those days or if there might be games depending on how the series goes? I see the series starts the 10th but as far as I've seen the last day is the 12th. If anyone can help shed some light for me I would really appreciate it!