Off the beaten track in Japan

The venerable culture of Japan is as fascinating as it is complex. A visit to the incredible cities of Tokyo and Kyoto is usually top of the list for visitors, and with good reason. But with that said, when you explore Japan off the beaten path, you may have a better chance of finding the sort of unexpected experiences that can make your trip truly unique and infinitely memorable.

There is no better way to get under the skin of any destination than to experience it at a local level. Often, this means visiting places less accustomed to tourist traffic, where the welcome is warm (so long as you’re respectful of tradition) and the local life authentic. Here, we’ve taken a closer look at several off-the-beaten track areas, any one of which could be the ideal setting for your most memorable moment of your next trip to Japan.

The Noto Peninsula

If it’s beautiful coastal scenery you’re after, you’ll certainly find it on the Noto Peninsula, which juts into the Sea of Japan from the northern coast of Japan’s main island, Honshu. As you make your way from Hakui City in the south to Suzu City at the peninsula’s northernmost tip, you’ll discover wild landscapes that lead from one picturesque village to another. In many of these towns, a good deal of the residents still make their living from fishing, though agriculture — ranging from rice farming to raising beef cattle — is also important.

The Noto Peninsula is a rustic and peaceful region where you can explore hilly inland terrain on foot or by bike. Alternatively, you can follow the flat coastal trails and marvel at rice terraces and spectacular coastal views. To round off your trip, choose fabulous local accommodations where you can experience the traditional life of the area, enjoy hot spring soaks, and dine on wonderful regional specialties. If you’re traveling in winter, dishes centered around kobako-gani (female snow crab) are a must, but there’s an abundance of great seafood year-round. Noto beef, from local black wagyu cattle, is also delicious (not to mention renowned), and there are plenty of vegetable dishes for those who prefer to avoid meat and fish.

The Diamond Route

A relatively new arrival on the Japanese tourism scene, the Diamond Route has been designed with those who love outdoor pursuits in mind. It starts in Tokyo and then takes you through Ibaraki, Fukushima, and Tochigi prefectures, before returning to the capital in a roughly diamond-shaped path.

Going on this expedition offers you plenty of opportunities to marvel at the natural, historical, and contemporary wonders of Japan off the beaten path:

• The city of Mito, in Ibaraki, is home to Kairaku-en, one of the nation’s Three Great Gardens, and the ruins of its eponymous castle will be fascinating to anyone interested in Japan’s Edo Period (c. 1600-1868).
• In Fukushima, towns like Ouchijuku and Aizu feature more Edo-era architecture. The latter is also home to Lake Inawashiro (with its naturally forming ice sculptures)and the impressive volcanic summit of Mt. Bandai.
• Last but certainly not least, Nikko, in Tochigi, has fascinating cultural sites both original (the Toshogu Shrine) and imitative (the Edo Wonderland culture theme park, which reenacts the era’s day-to-day life with startling accuracy).

The Diamond Route is excellent for those who enjoy intense expeditions into nature — by bike, on foot, or by water, with mountain trails, forests, rivers, and gorges to explore. The infrastructure in this region is ideal for adventure sports, so all you have to do is get into the action and thrill to the great scenery — perhaps ending your action-packed days with a relaxing soak in an onsen (hot spring bath).

For anyone seeking more modern pleasures, the Diamond Route is full of them. For example, the Aizu area features several famous restaurants and the Yamatogawa Sake Brewery. Meanwhile, Utsunomiya is known as the birthplace of gyoza, has a robust nightlife, and has remarkable festivals in virtually all seasons.

Read more: The most beautiful Japanese festivals

Okinawa

Follow numerous Japanese holidaymakers and head for Okinawa, the most southerly region of Japan, which has a very different feel to the rest of the nation. Okinawa was not originally part of Japan and its dominant ethnicity was Ryukyuan, not Yamato (Japanese). Though the two ethnic groups have long since intermingled and coexist peacefully, the Ryukyu heritage — as well as a significant Chinese influence — is more prevalent in most elements of Okinawan culture than traditional signposts of Japanese culture.

Okinawa is perfect if you’re traveling in the winter and would like a break from the cold, as it’s Japan’s warmest region, with average temperatures around 64 degrees Fahrenheit (17.8 Celsius) in December and 62 degrees Fahrenheit (16.7 Celsius) in both July and February.

Winter visitors can even catch the cherry blossoms here, as the celebrated flowering begins in mid-January, lasting around a month. January and February also feature cultural events including cherry blossom festivals all over the island. Conversely, if you visit in very early November, you can get a sense of Okinawa’s ancient past at the Ryukyu Dynasty Festival in the city of Naha.

During your visit, be sure to enjoy plenty of time out on the beaches — some of Japan’s finest. Perfect curves of white sand and cerulean sea are the norm in Okinawa.

Read more: A traveler’s guide to Okinawa, land of longevity

Shikoku

As the smallest and least populated of Japan’s major islands, it makes sense that certain aspects of Shikoku are almost mysterious. It’s located off the southern coast of Honshu, Japan’s major island, and the interior is a fairy-tale mixture of forest-clad mountains sheltering clear streams and forgotten temples inland. (Granted, this is encircled by a busy coastline of commerce and fishing ports.) The secluded Iya Valley, in Shikoku’s central region, offers a remarkable getaway opportunity, where traditional bridges woven from vines are strung over rushing emerald rivers.

One of the main reasons that visitors from elsewhere in Japan make their way to Shikoku is to complete the 88-temple pilgrimage route, a trail that weaves all around the island. It’s frequented by white-clad Buddhist pilgrims pacing out their devotion step by step, often carrying traditional walking sticks and wearing conical straw hats.

To undertake the whole pilgrimage is quite a commitment, as the trail is about 750 miles long (1,200km) and may require 60 days to complete. But as long as you’re respectful of the Buddhists’ devotion, you can take in some of the trail’s most scenic stretches as an observer. It’s a great way to get to know more about this island and Japanese Buddhist culture up close.

Hokkaido

There are a whole host of reasons to explore Hokkaido, not least because many visitors to Japan do not venture to its northernmost island. This area does see some tourist footfall, but by comparison to other hotspots in Japan, it’s still a relatively undiscovered region — one that’s particularly rich in natural scenery, dotted with hot springs and cool, clear lakes, making it a wonderful option for enjoying Japan off the beaten path.

During the winter months, Hokkaido is known as a great ski and snowboarding destination, and its relatively cool summer temperatures also attract some visitors (more often Japanese than international). Make the most of the minimal tourist traffic by hiking some stunning trails through coastal nature reserves, wetlands bursting with wildlife, and remote peninsulas stretching into the sea. Don’t miss the chance to sample some of Japan’s best seafood, too.

Read more: Japan hiking guide for beginners

Make it happen

Who can resist the lure of Japan’s lesser-known draws? Contact our local experts today and start planning your journey to Japan off the beaten path. Our trusted guides can help you create the perfect itinerary, whether you’re most fascinated by natural wonders or want to learn more about the culture.