I’ve lived in Tokyo for almost 3 years. I’m leaving Japan soon and have about 2 weeks to travel.
I’m trying to make list of places that I “must-see”.
I’m into nature, architectecture, culture, and landscape photography. I hike a lot when I go out, but I’m not focusing on that here.
My focus is on ensuring that I don’t miss out on anything or anywhere that people long to visit.
___
I think I’ve been to all popular places in Kanto
– All of Tokyo (including Izu islands)
– Yokohama and Kanagawa
– Hakone
– Fuji
– Kamakura and Enoshima
– Tsukuba
– Much of Chiba
– Chichibu-Tama
– Kawagoe
– Nikko
Also been to Kansai once
– Osaka
– Kyoto
– Nara
I’ve been to other areas in the north too
– Sendai
– Yamagata
– Aomori
___
I’ve NOT been to,
– Nagano,
– Nagoya,
– Hokkaido, and
– *anywhere* West of Kansai,
— Hiroshima,
— Okinawa,
— Kyushu, and
— Shikoku
___
– I am willing to go anywhere in these two weeks without tight budget constraints.
– I’d travel for food too but as long as it’s vegetarian.
– I’m thinking of going to Yamagata for visiting the three mountains of Dewa and Koyasan in Kansai, but that’s all I got.
– Hokkaido seems like the answer to my question but I’m not sure about it cause it’s not Winter.
– Okinawa too seems like it, but September seems is typhoon season. I have no issues getting wet, haha, but I don’t wanna get stranded there.
– I also own a tent and would love to urban camp where possible. I’ve never urban camped before though. So, I’m excited about it. It’ll also help me minimize contact with people.
___
Disclaimer – I know it’s not a good time to travel because of the pandemic but I barely go near people when I travel, other than at a restaurant, but when I do, I take all precautions. It has also been almost three weeks since my second vaccine.
I just don’t know if I would ever be able to visit this beautiful country again, so I don’t wanna waste an opportunity like this.
Thanks in advance!
*Edited for clarity.*
13 comments
If you like beaches, Miyako island is pretty crazy beautiful waters. (It’s a more southern island off of Okinawa.)
Okinawa I would somewhat recommend just because it’s Japan, but it’s totally its own thing. It’s worth experiencing. And if you like WWII history, Okinawa is chock full of historical sites and museums in regards to that.
Unfortunately Shuri Castle burned down a couple years back, but there’s still the Peace Memorial Museum, Himeyuri, Hacksaw Ridge, and the Naval Bunker thingy to see.
Maybe do Hokkaido and Okinawa and basically bookend Japan in your final go.
But if you’re not into beaches (I’m not really), nor history… then Oki wouldn’t be quite as exciting. Could still spend a couple days in Naha just to get the feel of the Island.
Wait wait wait, I’m gonna double reply…You also haven’t been to Hiroshima?! Did I read that correctly? If so Hiroshima and Itsukushima are for sure places to go as well. (Hiroshima okonomiyaki > Osaka okonomiyaki)
I’m not 100% if the floating torii finished its renovations yet, but the place is still nice. And Hiroshima’s Museum is awesome, and it’s so cool/haunting/interesting to see the dome in the middle of a lively city.
Hokkaido is a must. Otaru, Sapporo, and Hakodate.
There is so much options considering that you have not seen that much outside of Tokyo.
If you want to stay closer to Tokyo, for sure Nagano, Gifu, Toyama, Ishikawa could be great. Matsumoto for the castle, there is also Azumino that can be half a day to see the wasabi farm. Then you can cross the alps, there is 3 main options, Tateyama Kurobe alpine route, but via Okuhida/Kamikochi to Takayama or by the kiso valley to Tsumago/Nagiso, then can take the bus to Gero onsen or Takayama. Then can go to Shirakawa-go on the way to Kanazawa. For sure I see this itinerary as having more possible focus on nature and hike.
For sur there is also plenty to see in the San”yo region, you could start from Osaka or Kobe and go up to Fukuoka. You have many options to stop on the way, Himeji, Okayama, Kurashiki, Onomichi (ok, lot of people would say Shimanami kaido bike ride, but Onomichi itself is really nice), Hiroshima, Miyajima, Iwakuni, Shimonoseki, Kitakyushu and finally from Fukuoka there is also some nearby day trips possible.
I’ve been living in Japan for 3+ years too and only recently discovered the Setouchi area. It’s such a hidden gem! Great mild weather, laidback island life that’s very different from Okinawa, cheap good food.
You can cycle the Shimanami Kaido from Onomichi in Hiroshima to Imabari in Ehime (80 km, but mostly flat and through populated small islands). Or explore the art islands of Naoshima andTeshima, plus Shodoshima from Takamatsu then cross the bridge back to mainland Honshu to Okayama.
If you can drive or have a car, you can also do this as a round trip around the inland sea (5-6 prefectures both on Shikoku and Honshu side).
Recommendation right now without killing your wallet? ASAP take a flight to Fukuoka and rent a place for 2 weeks ($250). Buy the 5 day rail pass and visit
– Nagasaki
– Sasebo
– Beppu
– Shimabara Castle (worth it)
– Takeo Onsen
– Hita/Yufuin
– Kitakyushu
– Kumamoto
– Aso
– Arita to Imari (this mountain is wild, but Imari is boring)
cost: 11,000 yen for 5 days unlimited use of rail including LE but excl Shinkansen to Kitakyushu
You can do day trips but its 3 hours plus of rail a day.
Then
– Kagoshima/Miyazaki
cost: 8,000 yen for 3 days
This deal is unreal right now
I would add Kanazawa and Ishikawa to the list.
I lived in southern-central Tohoku, so I’ll shine light on that:
I HIGHLY recommend a car. If you have a car, you’ll go to and see amazing things. Without it… eh…
Dewa is nice, it’s a hike for sure, but not the best sites around. But if you’re going there, travel around Tsuruoka. Yura beach is popular and folks from all around go there. Lots of mountains to hike if you like it, like Mt. Gassan. You can either drive up to Zao Okama or hike to it. Ginzan onsen is nice to pop into. Yamadera is one of my favorite sites in Japan–I highly recommend not looking at too many photos online. Then you can go to Akiu great falls. Check out Sendai. Pop over to Matsushima and explore the area and islands.
Then of course you can go more north. I have some experiences and such, but not much I can shed light on.
I forewarn you:
Try to wait until SOE measures have lessened and still keep distance with folks and whatnot.
Please don’t urban camp. Find campsites where you can actually camp.
These two are just to keep good foreigner image with Japanese people. Don’t be the gaijin who breaks rules.
You mentioned “nature, architecture, culture, and landscape photography”. I suggest the Tottori Sand Dunes which is quite a unique place in the world, not just Japan. The nearby San’in Kaigan National Park is also rich in interesting geology. If you want to explore the area further, you may also like the Adachi Museum of Art and the castle at Matsue.
Mid-September is the start of the autumn foliage season in Hokkaido. Definitely go there since this year likely will be the last you can do so without a lot of tourists. I am very jealous you can travel in Japan now…
I have lived in Japan since 1989 and worked for a few years as a tour guide for foreigners. In my view “must see places” are perhaps not the best destinations if you want to experience something different. I moved to a country side town called Tajimi and built a site (search for “discover tajimi”) which has very rich content in English. Gifu has great places to visit, such as Gujohachiman, but Tajimi is a great base to spend a couple of weeks in because it’s central location (Aichi prefecture is close as well). And you get a much warmer welcom in a non must see town. BTW, pottery culture here is ancient and foreigners come to do courses. Take a look at our site – I built it for the tourism association and it has quite strong traffic from foreigners.
Ago Bay, just check images of it.
From Nagoya to Nagano, you can do part of the Nakasendo trail. Nagoya – Magome – Tsumago – Nagiso – Narai – Matsumoto. Magome, Tsumago and Narai are beautiful old towns. From Matsumoto, you can visit the famous castle and Kamikochi, and then cross over to Gifu to visit Takayama and Shirakawa.
I really enjoyed summer in Hokkaido, but as it’s so large and out of the way compared to everything else I’d say you want at least one week stint for just that.
In your case I’d probably opt for some sort of Shikoku-Kyushu combination – it’s a lot more compact and allows you to experience different things in a more convinient manner. Maybe circling Shikoku along the southern coast popping by Kochi and then Matsuyama, with ocassional inland stints – Iya Valley, mt. Ishizuchi for example, then make your way with a ferry across to Kyushu from Sadamisaki peninsula.
For Kyushu, you’d minimum want to check out the Aso valley and surroundings – Especially if it is still green, it’s a sight to behold. Miyazaki region has some interesting drives, also Takachiho gorge. Pop by the southernmost tip in Japan if you have time, just because you can? And check out Kagoshima and Sakurajima on the way, too (best viewed from afar, IMO).
From the south you can take a ferry from Amakusa to the Nagasaki area. Actually, Amakusa itself is also best accessed by ferry if you come from Kagoshima direction, though the drive across from the mainland does have a few scenic spots on the way.
Nagasaki and surrounding areas are cool – I liked the vibe of the city. If you have time, pop by Ikeshima, less of a disapontment than the severly restricted Hashima/gunkanjima (unless you somehow manage to Ninja that). And if you’re considering going to Hakata/Fukuoka, I recommend you do the long tour along the Nagasaki north peninsula instead of using the expressway more inland, assuming you’re using a car.
Another alternative could be to make your way to Akita and then tour downwards along the Sea of Japan coast instead, then dashing through the the Alps region once you reach there – this would fit your Yamagata idea. The general Alps area for sure is worth spending extra time in – onsens, nice drives, nice hikes and breathtaking landscapes. The only problem might be the timing, October is probably starting to be a bit chillier at the higher elevations.
I’ve never done *urban* camping, but I’ve pitched a tent here and there on the waysides outside of designated areas. Wouldn’t perhaps “set up camp” for multiple days, but for overnighting I don’t see a problem. Worst that’ll happen is that someone asks you to move.