Overtourism is becoming a real problem in Japan in the past couple of years. Many people go to Japan and to visit big cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. While these are excellent cities for first time travellers, there are many off the beaten path places in Japan worth exploring.
I’ve been to Japan many times as a solo traveller and each time I start my trip in one of these big cities. But I often go off the beaten track and find hidden gems around the country. I actually prefer to go off the beaten path and find smaller cities and towns and experience many sides of Japan.
I put together a list a few years ago and have added a few more since. I hope you will also consider going off the path and visit these hidden gems in Japan.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through them, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost. Thank you for supporting this website. For more information, please read the disclosure for more info.
Off the beaten path in Japan: Things you need to know
Before you visit some of these Japan off-the-beaten-track places, take a look at my post on everything you need to know before going to Japan. I included many travel information, including how to get around Japan and other travel tips.
Here are a few additional tips for travelling off the beaten track in Japan:
- Japan is one of the safest country for solo female travellers. Japan is rated very high on the Global Peace index.
- Get an IC Card, a rechargeable smartcard that allows you to take public transportation, including trains, buses, subways, streetcars and ferries. You can use the same IC Card throughout your entire trip in Japan
- Instead of exchanging Japanese Yen (¥) at home (which can be higher), take cash from ATMs at convenience stores like Family Mart and 7-Eleven in Japan
- Buy a SIM card when you arrive or rent portable pocket wifi before your trip to Japan so you can stay connected at all times
Japan Off the Beaten Path: 21 Japan Hidden Gems
I love exploring off the beaten path in Japan and you can explore them all as a solo traveller. Here are my favourites. Click on the hyperlink and it’ll take you directly to each section.
Chubu Region
Kansai Region
Chugoku Region
Kyushu Region
Off the beaten path cities in Chubu Region
1. Ito
Ito is a seaside onsen town on the east coast of Izu Peninsula. The town has one of the largest hot spring water outputs in Japan. The town pumps out 32,000 litres of hot spring water every minute! It is an excellent alternative to Hakone, a very popular (and busy) onsen town. Plus, Ito is accessible from Tokyo.
While you are in Ito, visit one of many public baths including Tokaikan, a historic building with intricate wood details and have tea at the tea house. And if you are in Ito on the weekend or public holiday, you can use their public bath as well.
Also visit Izu Kogen, a region just south of Ito where you can climb (or take chairlift) Mount Omuro, an extinct volcano with a walking trail around the perimeter of the crater. Also, hike the 10km hiking trail along the Jogasaki Coast and see stone formations and the jagged coast formed by molten lava.
2. Nagoya
I feel like not many people visit Nagoya and is often skipped because most tourist do the Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka route. But in fact, Nagoya is the fourth most populous city in Japan and is on the Shinkansen (bullet train) route. That means including Nagoya on a cross-country trip across Japan is a no-brainer.
You don’t need to spend a long time in Nagoya to enjoy all the attractions. If you spend a day in Nagoya, you can see visit tourist sites like Nagoya Castle, Mirai Tower, Spaceship-Aqua Observation Deck and the Osu Shotengai Shopping District.
And you can try “Nagoya meshi” cuisine which is known as “Samurai cuisine“. Also try a typical Nagoya morning set (breakfast set including coffee and toast) at a Kissaten (Japanese-style tearoom).
Moreover, Nagoya is an excellent base for visiting the popular Ghibli Park and hiking the ancient Nakasendo Trail, which is the next off-the-beaten-path destination.
3. Nakasendo Trail
Nakasendo Trail is a 540km ancient samurai route between Kyoto and Tokyo during the Edo Period (1603-1868). The most popular part of the trail is the 6km hike between Magome and Tsumago and the 3km trail from Yabuhara to Nagiso.
Ideally, you should spend three days on the Nakasendo Route and see some of the most beautiful post towns along the way. But you could see most of the highlights as a day trip from Nagoya or two days on the trail.
I think most travellers may skip the Nakasendo Trail because they may think the trail is challenging or planning a multi-day hiking trip is difficult due to language barrier or lack of online information.
But I’ve spent three days hiking the Nakasendo Trail by myself and documented all the information you that you might need. The hike is easy, doable even if you are hiking by yourself, and completely worthwhile.
4. Matsumoto
If you love the famous polka dot art by Yayoi Kusama, then you must visit Matsumoto City Museum of Art. The contemporary art museum is located in the artist’s hometown, Matsumoto, a quaint town in Nagano Prefecture. And if you hike the Nakasendo Trail from Nagoya, you can visit Matsumoto at the end of your hike.
But even if you are not an art lover, you should still visit Matsumoto. It has one of Japan’s most beautiful and original castle (meaning it survived wards and natural disasters and remained in its original state), Matsumoto Castle, an abundant of natural hot springs and is an excellent home base for excursions to Kamikochi and Mount Norikura.
If you don’t visit the hot spring areas located on the outskirts of Matsumoto, you can still enjoy a hot spring experience in the city. Book an overnight stay at Onyado Nono Matsumoto Hot Spring Hotel (Agoda or Booking). They have a free semi-outdoor rooftop hot spring with a gorgeous view. And they complimentary soba and ice cream!
5. Takayama
Takayama is a picturesque city in Japan’s mountainous Hida region of Gifu Prefecture. It is one of the best cities in Japan for its preserved traditional Japanese townscape. When you wander around the castle town, it feels like you’re back in the Edo Period.
The best time to visit Takayama is either during spring or fall. During both seasons, you can see one of the top three festivals in Japan. The Takayama Spring and Fall Festivals have giant floats, parades and traditional puppet performances. Also it is the best time to see cherry blossoms and fall colours in the city.
Even though I’ve seen many tourists in Takayama (I think they are mostly from group tours), I didn’t see many solo travellers. I hope more people can discover the beauty of Takayama as it is one of the best gems in Japan.
6. Shirakawa-go
Shirakawa-go is a small village in the Shokawa River Valley in the remote mountains of Gifu Prefecture. The picturesque village is known for its steep thatched-roofed farmhouses known as gassho-zukuri, which were designed and built to withstand heavy snowfall during winter.
Some people may not consider Shirakawa-go as a hidden gem as the town can get pretty busy with tour buses dropping off tourists each day (buses start coming in at 9am). But not many travellers stay beyond the day so the town gets pretty quiet after 4pm.
So I highly recommend booking an overnight stay in a minsuku (Japanese-style farmhouse) to see how people used to live and also to enjoy the quieter side of Shirakawa-go. Plus, you will have more time wandering around Shirakawa-go and soak in the atmosphere.
7. Kanazawa
At one point, Kanazawa was Japan’s second-largest city (after Kyoto) and its cultural achievement rival Kyoto and Tokyo. However, the city is not part of the Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka route so it is often overlooked. But if you are travelling from Tokyo via bullet train, you can get to Kanazawa in less than three hours.
When you decide to get off the beaten path and visit Kanazawa, you can visit Higashi Chaya District and Kazuemachi Chaya District, famous tea districts with old-fashioned streets and chaya (teahouse) where guests were entertained by geisha. And you can see how samurai used to live in the Nagamachi Bukeyashiki District.
Besides these well-known districts, Kanazawa has many museums which you can visit with a Kanazawa Cultural Facilities Passport. And don’t miss all the local seafood at Omicho Market and buy gold souvenirs. Kanazawa is famous for gold leaf production and the name actually means “marsh of gold”.
8. Toyama
Toyama is the largest city and the capital of Toyama Prefecture in the Hokuriku Region of northern Chubu. Back in the Edo Period, Toyama was a powerful castle town, the centre of distributing medicine, and an important trading hub. Today, Toyama is part of The New York Times “52 Places to Go in 2025” list.
Many travellers go to Toyama because it is the gateway city for many excursions like Noto Peninsula, Kurobe Gorge and Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. But before you get on any day trips from Toyama, check out the city first.
When you spend a day in Toyama, you can see the city from above at Toyama City Hall Observation Tower, cruise down the river in Matsukawa Park with hundreds of cherry blossom trees, and see the rebuilt Toyama Castle. Then take a boat ride to Iwase and see the seaside Edo Period streetscape town with old merchant houses. Plus, you can try delicious local seafood like white shrimp, firefly squid, yellowtail and masuzushi (pressed trout sushi in a woodbox).
Hidden gems in Kansai Region
1. Uji
Uji is a small town south of Kyoto and is known for producing matcha green tea. Most visitors will take a day trip to Nara from Kyoto and skip Uji. But this small town has so much charm and is not overrun by tourists. Uji is one of the best off-beaten track places in the Kansai Region that you should not miss.
The perfect day in Uji starts with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site, Byōdō-in Temple, the same temple featured on the ¥10 coin. Then hike up the hill across the Uji-gawa River until you reach Daikichiyama Observation Deck to see a view of Uji. And on the way back down, visit other temples such as Ujigami Shrine, Uji Shrine, Eishin-in Temple, and Koshoji Temple. And finally, end your day strolling along Omotesando Road, the main street in Uji, where you can sample some matcha green tea treats.
2. Kurama & Kibune
Kurama and Kibune are two quaint towns located in northern Kyoto, on Mount Kurama. Kurama is a picturesque Japanese onsen town with many temples and giant Japanese cedar trees, and Kibune is a hilly town with spiritual shrines and Kawadoko (lantern-lit river-platform restaurants) serving traditional local food.
I’m putting them together because they are both picturesque villages, they both have hundreds of vermilion (bring red-orange) coloured lanterns lining the hiking paths and giant vermilion torii gates and most travellers visit both towns on the same day.
When you spend a day visiting Kurama and Kibune, you can hike from one village to another via the marked trail. The trail itself is easy and not busy at all. This is one of the best day trips from Kyoto where you can spend a wonderful day in the cool hilly terrain in the mountains.
3. Arima
Arima Onsen is a historic hot spring town in the Kita Ward of Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture. It is one of Japan’s three oldest onsen towns and is known for its unique “Kinsen” golden hot spring water, which turns to a reddish-gold colour when it comes in contact with air, and its “Ginsen” silver spring water, which is carbonated and colourless.
When you spend a day in Arima, you can wander around the quaint town and see Arima River Shinsui Park and several hot spring water sources around town. Then shop on the picturesque Yumotozaka shopping street and try some unique local snacks. And of course, enjoy the carbonated hot spring water at Gin no Yu or the famous golden hot spring at Kin no Yu.
Arima is a fun day trip destination if you are coming from Kobe, Osaka or Kyoto. But I highly recommend staying overnight so you can see the town at night i.e. less tourists.
Off the beaten track cities in Chugoku Region
1. Naoshima
Naoshima is a small art island in the Seto Inland Sea, part of Kagawa Prefecture. The island is famous for Yayoi Kusama’s Yellow Pumpkin, aka Naoshima Pumpkin (and there is also a Red Pumpkin) and modern museum buildings designed by Tadao Ando, a self-taught Japanese architect.
Besides the polka dot artwork and modern buildings, plenty of contemporary artworks are at the Chichu Art Museum, Lee Ufan Museum, Benesse House Museum, Ando Museum, Art House Project, Miyanoura Gallery 6 and Naoshima Bath (I Heart Yu). And you can see all the museums in Naoshima on the same day.
2. Teshima
If you plan a trip to Naoshima, you might as well add Teshima to your itinerary. They are both art islands in the Seto Inland Sea and excellent modern art destinations in Japan.
Teshima is a small island close to Naoshima. Toxic waste was illegally dumped on the island for many years, but it has been cleaned up since and transformed into a modern art destination.
The biggest attractions on Teshima Island are the five museums and art galleries, including Teshima Art Museum, Les Archives du Coeur, Teshima 8 Million Lab, Needle Factory and Teshima Yokoo House. And the best way to get to each of these attractions is by renting an electric bicycle.
3. Kurashiki
Known for its picturesque canal with weeping willow trees in the historical quarter, Kurashiki is one of the best Japan off-beaten-track cities you must visit!
The small town in Okayama Prefecture has the most charming city centre, known as Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. You can see the canal by strolling along either side of the canal, on a traditional boat tour, or taking a rickshaw tour.
Besides the picturesque historical quarter and charming houses, there are many things to do in Kurashiki, including some of the unique museums like the Kurashiki Moneybag Museum, Momotaro Karakuri Museum and Ohashi House. You can also buy locally made products like denim made in Kojima and try local Kurashiki cuisine.
4. Onomichi
Onomichi City is a quiet and quaint port town in Hiroshima Prefecture known for its many temples, cats and cycling. The city consists of the slopes mainland and some of the neighbouring islands in the Seto Inland Sea connected by Shimanami Kaido, one of the world’s best bike routes, and the next off-the-beaten-path spot in Japan.
Within the city, you can see temples along the 2.5km Onomichi Temple Walk, real cats and lucky stone cats statues in the Cat Alley and panoramic views of Onomichi from Senkoji Park. And beyond the core of the city, you can hike up Saikokuji Mountain and Jodoji Mountain for more temples and additional views.
After seeing all the attractions in Onomichi, try local specialities like Onomichi ramen, Onomichi okonomiyaki and desserts made with Setouchi lemons, as 60% of Japan’s lemons are grown in this region.
5. Shimanami Kaido
Shimanami Kaido is Japan’s best bikeway and connects Onomichi on the main island of Honshu and Imabari on Shikoku Island. The bikeway is 70km long and connects six islands in the Seto Inland Sea.
The dedicated bike route has five bridges, including Ikuchi Bridge and Innoshima Bridge. Along the bikeway, there are many attractions, including the colourful Kosanji Temple, the stark white marble statues at Miraishin no Oka (The Hill of Hope) and Shiomachi Shopping Alleys where you will find little shops and cafes.
It is possible for solo travellers to explore this under-rated bikeway on their own. Typically, it takes two days to bike the entire bikeway (from Onomichi to Imabari and back to Onomichi). But you can still see the best highlights on Shimanami Kaido in 1 day by cycling half the route from Onomichi and taking the ferry back to Onomichi.
6. Okunoshima Island
Did you know Japan has an island full of rabbits? Okunoshima Island is a small island in the Inland Sea of Japan and it has over 1,000 bunnies living on the island!
Historically, Okunoshima Island played a key role during WWII as a chemical lab producing poisonous gas. Then rabbits were released onto the island after the war to spot poison gas leaks. Today, bunnies roam freely around the island and is the main reason why people visit this island.
You can visit this hidden gem from Hiroshima or Onomichi as a day trip. When you spend a day on Okunoshima Island, you can comfortable walk around the perimeter of the island and see historical sites, war ruins, and of course, many friendly rabbits. And you can hike up to the summit and see a panoramic view of the area.
Off the beaten track cities in Kyushu Region
1. Yanagawa
Yanagawa is a quaint town that has an old castle and moats were built around it. But the town is better known for the scenic Yanagawa Canal Punt Tour where the boatmen jumps from the boat to a bridge and then back onto the boat.
While you are in the canal town, see Hiyoshi Shrine, Tachibana Museum Yanagawa, Shoto-en Garden, Mihshira Shrine, the Former Residence of the Toshima Family, Kitahara Hakushu’s Birthplace and Memorial Hall. Also try Unagi no Seiro-mushi, which is freshwater eel steamed over rice in a bamboo basket. Many local restaurants serve this delicious treat.
Yanagawa is a wonderful day trip from Fukuoka but I highly recommend staying overnight so you can enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
2. Kumamoto
Kumamoto is the home to Kumamoto Castle, one of the top three castles in Japan. Since the earthquake in 2016, restoration efforts have been made and today, you can see many parts of the castle including the top floor viewing deck and the Renewal Exhibition.
And when you are visit this city in Central Kyushu, you can also visit Honmyo-ji Temple on the hillside, enjoy Suizen-ji Jojuen Garden, stroll through Shimotori Shopping Arcade and Sakuranobaba Johsaien Castle Town, and buy Kumamoto souvenirs (with Kumamoto’s most beloved iconic mascot, Kumamon Bear).
And Kumamoto is the gateway city to the next hidden gem in Kyushu, Mount Aso.
3. Mount Aso
Mount Aso is an active volcano near Aso town in Kumamoto Prefecture. Because it is possible to visit Mount Aso from Kumamoto without a car, most visitors can visit the volcanic mountain as a day trip from Kumamoto instead of staying in Aso.
As part of the Aso-Gogaku mountain range, the active volcano has five peaks. At the highest peak, Mount Nakadake, it has one of the world’s largest caldera. The active volcano has a crater measuring 25 kilometres and a circumference of over 100 kilometres.
However, due to continuous volcanic activity, seeing the crater up close may or may not be possible. But there are still many hiking trails on the mountain and horseback riding at Kusasenro-ga-hama, next to Aso Volcano Museum. And make sure to see Mount Komezuka on the way down.
4. Kagoshima
Kagoshima is the southernmost city on Kyushu Island. It is a thriving port city with an active volcano and the gateway to many remote islands in southern Japan including Yakushima Island and Okinawa.
A trip to Kagoshima must include a visit to Sakurajima, the symbol of Kagoshima. You can hike on trails like Nagisa Lava Trail, dip your feet in free Nagisa Park Foot Bath, enjoy onsens baths, bike ride, and take a sightseeing tour around the “island.”
Also check out different views of Sakurajima from different parts of Kagoshima, including the zen Sengan-en Garden and Shiroyama Observatory. And try different Kagoshima cuisine at Kagoshima Furusato Food Village and take a tour of Kagoshima Fish Market and have fresh seafood for breakfast.
Which of these Japan hidden gems are you going to see?
I love Japan and am always willing to go back to Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto – some of the country’s best cities for first time travellers.
But I also love exploring the places in Japan that are off the beaten path. I’ll continue to add more to the list when I discover more. So bookmark this post for future reference.
And now the big question is – which one of these Japan off the beaten-track cities are you interested in visiting? You can easily make a Japan off-the-beaten path itinerary and visit all of these hidden gems!
Or you can follow my one-month itinerary in Japan and see the best cities in the country and some of the off the Japan beaten path cities mentioned in this post. Let me know in the comments which of these Japan hidden gems you will see!
Ready to plan your trip to Japan? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner
* Book accommodation: find the best Japan accommodations on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance and set up your mobile phone before arriving in Japan.
* Join tours: check Klook or Get Your Guide for the best tours around Japan.
Thank you for reading my post on Japan off-the-beaten-path places
I have many posts on Japan and you might also like these other posts on solo travel in Japan:
Introduction to Japan
- Solo Travel to Japan: 17 best cities for solo travellers
- Things I wish I knew before going to Japan
- One month in Japan: from Tokyo to Hiroshima
Kanto region
- 5-day Tokyo itinerary for first-time visitors
- Where to stay in Tokyo for solo travellers
- Tokyo Food Guide: 42 best places to eat in Tokyo
Chubu region
- Nagoya day trip: What to see in one day
- Nakasendo Trail Guide: 1 to 3-Day Itinerary for hiking on your own
- Best things to do in Matsumoto: 1-day itinerary
- Takayama 2-day itinerary for first time solo travellers
- Shirakawa-go Solo Guide: How to get there & Itinerary
- Kanazawa Itinerary: 1 to 2 day Itinerary for Solo Travellers
- Toyama 1-Day Itinerary for Solo Travellers
- Karuizawa Itinerary: 1 or 2 Days
Kansai region
- Kyoto 2-day itinerary
- Where to stay in Kyoto: Best Areas & Hotel Reviews
- Kyoto Food Guide: What and Where to Eat
- Kurama to Kibune hiking itinerary
- Uji day trip from Kyoto
- Nara day trip from Kyoto or Osaka
- Nara famous food: Where and What to Eat
- Hike Yamanobe-no-Michi Trail in Nara Prefecture
- 2-day Osaka itinerary
- Where to stay in Osaka for first time traveller
- Where and What to Eat in Osaka, Japan
- Minoh Waterfalls Trail: easy day hike from Osaka
- Osaka to Kobe day trip: 1-day itinerary
- Best food in Kobe: Where and What to Eat
- Arima Onsen day trip itinerary
- Himeji day trip from Osaka
Chugoku region
- Naoshima Art Island: 1-day itinerary
- How to spend one day on Teshima Island
- Best things to do in Kurashiki Japan
- Top things to do in Onomichi Japan
- Okunoshima Island: 1-Day itinerary on Rabbit Island
- Shimanami Kaido: how to spend one day cycling Japan’s best bike route
- Hiroshima 2-day itinerary
- Day trip to Miyajima from Hiroshima
Kyushu region
- 10-day Kyushu Island itinerary
- Best things to do in Fukuoka Japan
- Fukuoka Food Guide: What to Eat
- Day trip to Dazaifu from Fukuoka
- Kumamoto City in one day
- Day trip to Mount Aso from Kumamoto
- Top things to do in Kagoshima Japan
- 1-5 day Okinawa itinerary without a car
- Where to stay in Naha Okinawa: 6 boutique hotels
- Okinawa food guide: 26 best food
Like this post? Pin it on your Pinterest board!
Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!
