Japan is not only about huge cities with tall buildings and a countless number stores. Of course, visiting places like Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto is a great way to explore one side of Japan. However, some of the most amazing places are in the “inaka,” or countryside of Japan.
There are very popular travel destinations outside of big cities that offer so much more than shopping and bright lights. While some of the destinations on this list are large cities, they offer something that the concrete jungles of Tokyo and Osaka cannot. Explore these areas and you’ll be treated with breathtaking scenery, adventure, and experience the true spirit of Japan.
Hyogo
Arima Onsen: One of the Oldest Hot Springs in Japan
Kamakura
Kamakura Hiking Trail: A Scenic Journey Through Nature
Hase Temple (Hase-Dera): History and Beauty
Shokozan Tokeiji Temple: The “Divorce Temple”
Mt. Fuji
Climbing Mt. Fuji: Prepare Yourself
Lake Kawaguchi: A Relaxing Escape to Nature
Nagano
Nagasaki
Things to Do in Nagasaki: The Atomic Bomb and Beyond
Nagasaki Chinatown and Temples
Nagasaki Churches, Christianity, & World Culture
Nara
Nara National Museum: Amazing Buddhist Art
Naramachi: A Town of “Monkeys”
Shikoku
Shikoku Pilgrimage: 88 Temples to Enlightenment
Matsuyama Japan: A Cool Castle, Amazing Onsen, and Using Birds for Fishing!?
Tochigi
Nikko Japan: An Ancient Forest, Historic Temples and Haunting Beauty