All destinations
Destinations
Onsen towns, samurai districts, small islands, and coastal retreats. Each guide covers the vibe, how to get there by public transport, what to do, what to eat, and where to stay.
Nanao and the Noto Peninsula: Slow Coast on the Sea of Japan
Nanao and the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa offer waterfront hot springs, fresh seafood, and a slower coastal pace, with recovery from the 2024 earthquake still underway.
Gujo Hachiman: The Water Town That Dances All Night
Gujo Hachiman in Gifu is a small castle town threaded with clear mountain streams, famous for its all-night summer dance and for inventing plastic food samples.
Shodoshima: Olive Groves and Soy Sauce on the Seto Inland Sea
Shodoshima in Kagawa is an island of olive groves, century-old soy sauce breweries, somen noodles, and quiet coastal roads in the middle of the Seto Inland Sea.
Kurokawa Onsen: A Ryokan Village in the Aso Mountains
Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto is a strictly preserved ryokan village in the Aso caldera, where 24 inns share a quiet, lantern-lit valley and a single bathhouse pass.
Sakura, Chiba: An Edo Castle Town an Hour from Tokyo
Sakura in Chiba is a quiet former castle town with a samurai district, Japan's national history museum, and Edo-era lanes, all an hour from central Tokyo.
Yugawara: The Quiet Hot Spring Town Tokyo Forgot
Yugawara in Kanagawa is a hushed onsen town 90 minutes from Tokyo, long loved by Japanese writers for its plum groves, mikan hills, and small family ryokan.