{"id":29498,"date":"2021-01-29T06:16:25","date_gmt":"2021-01-29T06:16:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=29498"},"modified":"2026-02-27T11:27:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T11:27:12","slug":"why-the-best-place-youll-visit-in-japan-is-somewhere-youve-never-heard-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/29\/why-the-best-place-youll-visit-in-japan-is-somewhere-youve-never-heard-of\/","title":{"rendered":"Why the best place you&#8217;ll visit in Japan is somewhere you&#8217;ve never heard of"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F29498&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F29498\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F29498&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F29498&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F29498%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F29498\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F29498\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p>The \u201cmust-sees\u201d are must-sees for a reason, but the real magic happens when you get away from the big-ticket sites. All of a sudden, people are coming out of their houses to say hello, surprised and delighted to find a foreigner in their little town. They\u2019re ushering you into their family-run cafe to try the local speciality, offering to guide you round the neighbourhood for free, or persuading you to join them for beers and karaoke.<\/p>\n<p>If it sounds like we\u2019re exaggerating, we promise \u2014 we\u2019re not. After 20 years of experience, we can safely say that in Japan, going miles out of your way (sometimes literally) to befriend a stranger isn\u2019t the exception, it\u2019s the norm.<\/p>\n<p>And best of all, Japan is full of these places. Beautiful places with incredible histories, delicious food, and stunning natural beauty. The seven towns on this list are just a few of our favourites, but no matter which region you\u2019re in, there\u2019s somewhere wonderful waiting to be discovered.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h1>Kinosaki Onsen<\/h1>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Where is it?<\/strong> Near the Japan Sea coast of Hyogo Prefecture, northwest of Kyoto and Osaka.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why do we love it?<\/strong> We like to say that Kinosaki Onsen is the Disneyland version of an idyllic Japanese town \u2014 except better, because it\u2019s real. A visit to Kinosaki is all about partaking in that beloved Japanese tradition: hot-spring bathing. In the centre of town, bathhouses, caf\u00e9s and traditional inns line a picture-perfect, willow-lined stream, while visitors wearing colourful yukata bathrobes wander from one to another, interspersing rejuvenating soaks with equally rejuvenating snacks and drinks.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29975\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29975\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29975 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/kinosaki-onsen_27034273336_o-720x477.jpg\" alt=\"Snowed trees at night, with lights reflected on canal\" width=\"720\" height=\"477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/kinosaki-onsen_27034273336_o-720x477.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/kinosaki-onsen_27034273336_o-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/kinosaki-onsen_27034273336_o-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/kinosaki-onsen_27034273336_o-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/kinosaki-onsen_27034273336_o-564x373.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/kinosaki-onsen_27034273336_o-1536x1017.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/kinosaki-onsen_27034273336_o-1200x795.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/kinosaki-onsen_27034273336_o-900x596.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/kinosaki-onsen_27034273336_o-1440x953.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/kinosaki-onsen_27034273336_o-390x258.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/kinosaki-onsen_27034273336_o-780x516.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/kinosaki-onsen_27034273336_o-510x338.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/kinosaki-onsen_27034273336_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29975\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kinosaki Onsen in Winter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Who\u2019s it great for?<\/strong> If you\u2019re keen to immerse yourself (literally and figuratively) in the time-honoured tradition of onsen-bathing, there are few better places to do it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h1>Kurashiki<\/h1>\n<p><strong>Where is it?<\/strong> On the south coast of western Honshu Island, across the water from Takamatsu and the \u201cart islands\u201d of the Seto Inland Sea.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why do we love it?<\/strong> Even without its fine-art pedigree, Kurashiki would get our vote. Its beautiful canal district is lined with white-walled storehouses dating back to the town\u2019s heyday as a rice trading centre. Today, they\u2019ve been converted into bijou accommodation, fascinating little museums, and lovely waterside caf\u00e9s, making this a beautiful place just to relax and wander. The town\u2019s pi\u00e8ce de la resistance is the ionic-columned Ohara Museum, the oldest museum of Western art in Japan, which contains works by famous names from Picasso to Pollock, as well as a wing dedicated to Japanese craft arts.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29966\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29966\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29966 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PICT1328-Edit-720x479.jpg\" alt=\"Boat gently wades in canal surrounded by trees\" width=\"720\" height=\"479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PICT1328-Edit-720x479.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PICT1328-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PICT1328-Edit-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PICT1328-Edit-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PICT1328-Edit-564x375.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PICT1328-Edit-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PICT1328-Edit-1200x798.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PICT1328-Edit-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PICT1328-Edit-1440x958.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PICT1328-Edit-390x259.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PICT1328-Edit-780x519.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PICT1328-Edit-510x339.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PICT1328-Edit.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29966\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kurashiki often draws comparisons with Venice (minus the crowds)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Who\u2019s it great for?<\/strong> If you like offbeat museums, Kurashiki is a treasure trove. In addition to the Ohara Museum you\u2019ll find museums dedicated to toys, folk crafts, retro piggy-banks, and the beloved Japanese folk tale \u201cPeach Boy\u201d \u2014 amongst others.<\/p>\n<h1>Hagi<\/h1>\n<p><strong>Where is it?<\/strong> In the far west of Honshu Island, on the Japan Sea Coast.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why do we love it?<\/strong> Hagi is one of those rare places that you just can\u2019t oversell. This former castle town was once the capital of the Mori Clan, and its beautiful old streets lined with samurai and merchant houses have changed little since the feudal era. Koi carp swim in streams along residential streets, stone lanterns light atmospheric graveyards, and the shops overflow with Hagiyaki \u2014 one of the most celebrated types of pottery in Japan. Get up early to watch the morning mist rising from the mountains, spend the day cycling around town, then watch the sunset behind Mount Shizukiyama from the beach. This is the Japan we always dreamt of visiting, and we still can\u2019t really believe it actually exists.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29969\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29969\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29969 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hagi1-Edit-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Traditional neighbourhood with an empty street and greenery\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hagi1-Edit-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hagi1-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hagi1-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hagi1-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hagi1-Edit-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hagi1-Edit-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hagi1-Edit-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hagi1-Edit-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hagi1-Edit-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hagi1-Edit-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hagi1-Edit-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hagi1-Edit-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Hagi1-Edit.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29969\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hagi is one of Japan&#8217;s little-known secrets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Who\u2019s it great for?<\/strong> Honestly, if you\u2019re at all interested in historical Japan, we can\u2019t imagine why you wouldn\u2019t love Hagi. We\u2019ve yet to meet someone who didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<h1>Hakodate<\/h1>\n<p><strong>Where is it?<\/strong> Hakodate lies at the southernmost tip of Japan\u2019s northernmost island, across the water from Aomori.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why do we love it?<\/strong> It\u2019s famous in Japan for its mountaintop panorama, ranked one of the three best night views in the country, but even without it, Hakodate would win us over with its port-town swagger and rakish charms. Start with a breakfast of sea urchin at the morning seafood market, then wander its red-brick warehouses dating back to the early days of foreign trade. Next, scale the 107-metre observation tower overlooking the star-shaped site of Goryokaku Fort, then head to Onuma Park for an afternoon of nature walks and squid-ink ice cream beneath the watchful eye of Mount Komagatake. Finally, round it all off with an evening of bar-hopping in the maze-like alleyways of Daimon-Yokocho.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29972\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29972\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29972 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/03_GoryokakuCherry-Blossoms-2011_01-Goryokaku-Tower-720x478.jpg\" alt=\"Trees in full bloom in star-shaped island in the middle of the city\" width=\"720\" height=\"478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/03_GoryokakuCherry-Blossoms-2011_01-Goryokaku-Tower-720x478.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/03_GoryokakuCherry-Blossoms-2011_01-Goryokaku-Tower-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/03_GoryokakuCherry-Blossoms-2011_01-Goryokaku-Tower-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/03_GoryokakuCherry-Blossoms-2011_01-Goryokaku-Tower-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/03_GoryokakuCherry-Blossoms-2011_01-Goryokaku-Tower-564x375.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/03_GoryokakuCherry-Blossoms-2011_01-Goryokaku-Tower-1536x1020.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/03_GoryokakuCherry-Blossoms-2011_01-Goryokaku-Tower-1200x797.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/03_GoryokakuCherry-Blossoms-2011_01-Goryokaku-Tower-900x598.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/03_GoryokakuCherry-Blossoms-2011_01-Goryokaku-Tower-1440x956.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/03_GoryokakuCherry-Blossoms-2011_01-Goryokaku-Tower-390x259.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/03_GoryokakuCherry-Blossoms-2011_01-Goryokaku-Tower-780x518.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/03_GoryokakuCherry-Blossoms-2011_01-Goryokaku-Tower-510x339.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/03_GoryokakuCherry-Blossoms-2011_01-Goryokaku-Tower.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29972\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Goryokaku fort during cherry blossom season<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Who\u2019s it great for?<\/strong> If you\u2019re looking to balance out Hokkaido\u2019s rugged national parks and remote mountain ranges with somewhere a bit more lively, Hakodate is a fantastic choice.<\/p>\n<h1>Hida Furukawa<\/h1>\n<p><strong>Where is it?<\/strong> Just 15 minutes by local train from Takayama, in the heart of the Hida region of the Japanese Alps.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why do we love it?<\/strong> Hida Furukawa is what most people expect Takayama to be before they arrive: a beautifully preserved, feudal-era town deep in the mountains of central Honshu. Like Takayama, its streets are lined with white-walled storehouses, artisan workshops, sake breweries and restaurants. Unlike Takayama, however, it\u2019s almost completely devoid of tourists. Furukawa\u2019s canal district is among the loveliest anywhere we\u2019ve seen in Japan, its Hida beef is good enough to rival Kobe\u2019s, and its spring festival is as fun as Takayama\u2019s but with a fraction of the crowds. Are there any downsides? Not that we can think of.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29978\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29978\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29978 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PixHound-pixta_44635076_L-720x478.jpg\" alt=\"Wooden fa\u00e7ade of traditional building with a small canal next to it\" width=\"720\" height=\"478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PixHound-pixta_44635076_L-720x478.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PixHound-pixta_44635076_L-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PixHound-pixta_44635076_L-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PixHound-pixta_44635076_L-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PixHound-pixta_44635076_L-564x375.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PixHound-pixta_44635076_L-1536x1020.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PixHound-pixta_44635076_L-1200x797.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PixHound-pixta_44635076_L-900x598.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PixHound-pixta_44635076_L-1440x956.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PixHound-pixta_44635076_L-390x259.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PixHound-pixta_44635076_L-780x518.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PixHound-pixta_44635076_L-510x339.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PixHound-pixta_44635076_L.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29978\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hida Furukawa architecture has traditional houses with wooden facades &#8211; PixHound\/Pixta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Who\u2019s it great for?<\/strong> If you dream of discovering a traditional, alpine town away from the hustle and bustle, look no further.<\/p>\n<h1><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Matsue<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><strong>Where is it?<\/strong> Between two lakes and the Sea of Japan, at the western end of Honshu Island.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why do we love it?<\/strong> In any other country, sleepy Matsue might be a top-ten tourist attraction. It has one of only 12 original samurai castles still standing in Japan, and a landscaped garden that many consider to be the finest in the country. It has a beautifully preserved samurai district, including the former residence of 19th-century Irish writer Lafcadio Hearn (the reason most English-language announcements are delivered in an Irish brogue). It\u2019s also only an hour by train from one of Japan\u2019s three most important Shinto shrines, where the country\u2019s eight million gods are said to gather for their yearly conference. On top of all that, Matsue has a proud regional culture full of quirks that the locals are always keen to share \u2014 including their own word for \u201cthank you\u201d: dan-dan.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29981\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29981\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29981 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Matsue-Castle-Edit-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Freestanding castle surrounded by well-maintained lawns\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Matsue-Castle-Edit-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Matsue-Castle-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Matsue-Castle-Edit-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Matsue-Castle-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Matsue-Castle-Edit-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Matsue-Castle-Edit-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Matsue-Castle-Edit-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Matsue-Castle-Edit-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Matsue-Castle-Edit-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Matsue-Castle-Edit-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Matsue-Castle-Edit-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Matsue-Castle-Edit-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Matsue-Castle-Edit.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29981\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Matsue Castle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Who\u2019s it great for?<\/strong> If Matsue\u2019s castle or garden were in Kyoto, they\u2019d be mobbed. This is your chance to see classic Japanese sights in a quiet, laid-back city away from the crowds.<\/p>\n<h1>Takamatsu<\/h1>\n<p><strong>Where is it?<\/strong> On the northern coast of Shikoku Island, facing Okayama across the Seto Inland Sea.<br \/>\n<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Why do we love it?<\/strong> Takamatsu is best-known as the home of Ritsurin, one of the renowned \u201ctop three\u201d gardens in Japan, but that\u2019s not why we love it. Though the garden is well worth a visit, what we really love about Takamatsu is the atmosphere of the place. It\u2019s the rinky-dink streetcars that trundle through the streets, depositing their passengers at local bathhouses. It\u2019s the miles-long covered arcade lined with restaurants and caf\u00e9s that feels more like Milan than Japan. It\u2019s the hole-in-the-wall \u201cself-service\u201d udon shops that\u2019ll change the way you think about noodles forever. It\u2019s the little backstreets that feel like the Japan of a century ago, and the punts that propel you around the old castle moat.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29963\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29963\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29963 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kenichiro-Yanai-Pixta-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Ruins of castle surrounded by canal and modern buildings\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kenichiro-Yanai-Pixta-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kenichiro-Yanai-Pixta-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kenichiro-Yanai-Pixta-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kenichiro-Yanai-Pixta-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kenichiro-Yanai-Pixta-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kenichiro-Yanai-Pixta-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kenichiro-Yanai-Pixta-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kenichiro-Yanai-Pixta-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kenichiro-Yanai-Pixta-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kenichiro-Yanai-Pixta-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kenichiro-Yanai-Pixta-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kenichiro-Yanai-Pixta-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Kenichiro-Yanai-Pixta.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29963\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Takamatsu castle ruins are near the port &#8211; Kenichiro Yanai\/Pixta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Who\u2019s it great for?<\/strong> If you\u2019re planning on visiting the \u201cart islands\u201d of the Seto Inland Sea, don\u2019t stay on Naoshima \u2014 choose Takamatsu! Just hop on the ferry each morning and pick an island to explore.<\/p>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! The \u201cmust-sees\u201d are must-sees for a reason, but the real magic happens when you get away from the big-ticket sites. All of a sudden, people are coming out of their houses to say hello, surprised and delighted to find a foreigner in their little town. 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