Discover Japan Beyond the Guidebooks - Hidden Gems Await!

Discover Japan Beyond the Guidebooks
-Hidden Gems Await!

Uncover Japan's best-least local secrets, from serene countryside spots to bustling hidden districts. Find your next adventure off the beaten path!

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Festivals & Traditional Events, Nature, Historic Sites, Seasonal Landscapes, Onsen(Hot Spring), Experiences & Workshops, Japanese Local & Food

Yamaguchi City

Located almost in the center of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Yamaguchi City is a cultural city where rich nature and history coexist. It developed during the Muromachi period as Hiroyo Ouchi made the city here of Yamaguchi as the home base of the Ouchi clan, and by the time of the later Ouchi Yoshihune and Yoshitaka, he was superseded as the daimyō of the West. Also at the end of the Tokugawa period, the feudal government office was moved from Hagi City to Yamaguchi City to play the central role of the Meiji Restoration: "Yuta Onsen", which also bathed in the Restoration Shishi and cultural figures; and the gentle Seto Inland Sea, Healing Forest. Many historical heritage and nature remain in Yamaguchi City, and development as a tourist city is also expected.

Kagawa

In Kagawa Prefecture, which is said to be Udon Prefecture, it is fun to visit Sanuki udon shops scattered throughout the prefecture. Kintou Billa Palace, known as the "Sanuki no Kinbilla-san", is located on the middle of the Kotobira mountain (Mount Zhikou) and is known for its long stone steps on the approach to the road. Zentsu-ji, the birthplace of the Shingon sect, was the head of the Shingon sect Zentsu school. There are many places to see, such as the special Meishatsu-Kuribayashi Park, which is a daimyō garden, and the Olive-producing and scenic Soybean Island, as well as the art island Naoshima, which includes the Jichu Museum of Art and the Lee Uchan Museum of Art.

Nature, Historic Sites, Seasonal Landscapes, Onsen(Hot Spring), Japanese & Local Food

After going around the downtown area of Matsuyama by tram, you can relax at Dogo Onsen. Let's take a bath at the main building of Dogo Onsen, which is a public bath and is an important cultural property. The "Setouchi Shimanami Kaido" over the Seto islands and the drive of Cape Sada are also fun. It is also attractive to visit towns that can be used to outgrow their time, such as Uchiko, which flourished with wood wax, Osu, a small Kyoto town in Iyo, and Uno-cho, Uwa-cho, which flourished as a post town of Uwajima Domain. The Setouchi Shimanami Kaido extends from Imabari to Onomichi in Hiroshima.

Nature, Historic Sites, Seasonal Landscapes, Onsen(Hot Spring), Japanese & Local Food

In Nagasaki, which is full of exoticism, you can enjoy visiting the Western theater, including the Glover Garden, and eating in the Chinatown. Churches such as Urakami Cathedral and Oura Cathedral are also exotic. The beauty of the night view from Mt. Inasa comes with origami paper. I would also like to visit Kujūku, where countless islands float, and the five-island islands, which have constituent assets of the World Heritage-listed "Hidden Christian-Related Heritage of Nagasaki and the Amakusa Region." huis Ten Bosch, a recreation of 17th century Holland, is also attractive.

Miyagi Prefecture, which has a natural beauty. There are many landscapes you want to see once, such as Matsushima, which is famous as one of the three views of Japan, the Oka Peninsula on the Rias coast where you can see a variety of coastline, and the large scale of ice trees, which is a winter wind poem in the majestic landscape Zao. I also enjoy eating beef tongue in Sendai, the home of Tohoku Rakuten. There are many famous baths such as Akiho Onsen and Naruko Onsen, and many people come to heal their body and mind.

Saitama Prefecture, home to the soccer team Urawa Red Diamonds, supported by fanatical fans, and the professional baseball team Saitama Seibu Lions. In Saitama Shintoshin, there is the Saitama Super Arena, where artists from Japan and abroad hold live performances and large-scale events. On the other hand, it is also fun to get a sense of nature and historical culture, such as hiking in Chichibu and Nagatoro, and walking around Koedo and Kawagoe, where the streets of Kura-style remain.

In Amagasaki, a city where history and modern life harmonize, you can enjoy a historical stroll through the beautifully reconstructed Amagasaki Castle and the atmospheric Teramachi temple district. The Amako Soubei Manga Gallery, which exhibits original drawings of Rakudaininja Rantaro, the manga that inspired the popular Japanese anime Nintama Rantaro, and the “World Piggy Bank Museum,” which houses unique piggy banks from around the globe, are among the distinctive facilities you can only encounter here. In the lively shopping streets, you can savor local specialties such as the famous Amagasaki Ankake Champon, flour-based gourmet dishes, and nostalgic traditional flavors, all with the charm of a retro downtown. Amagasaki also offers excellent access—not only to Osaka and Kobe, but also directly to Kyoto and Nara without transfers, and within an hour to the three Kansai airports—making it an ideal base for sightseeing.

Marugame City is a historic tourist destination with its charm of Marugame Castle and beautiful town, and you can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons. In addition, the local gourmet "Bonetsuki Bird", which originated in Marugame City, can taste the original flavor of chicken, and is a favorite gem. When you come to Marugame city, please enjoy this opportunity.

Facing Mikawa Bay, Nishio City boasts beautiful nature and rich history. It is known as one of Japan’s leading producers of matcha, where visitors can not only enjoy matcha sweets but also experience matcha culture itself. Nishio is characterized by its deep-rooted history and traditions, such as Nishio Castle and a festival that has continued for over 400 years. Highlights include Sakushima, an island famous for art, Maejima where visitors can see the tombolo phenomenon, and Mt. Sangane with its scenic views. Local gourmet specialties such as Isshiki eel and seafood from Mikawa Bay are also not to be missed.

Hita City is located in the western part of Oita Prefecture, almost in the center of northern Kyushu adjacent to Fukuoka and Kumamoto prefectures, and is surrounded by beautiful mountains of Aso, Kuju Mountains and Hidehiko Mountains, the city limits are formed with the Hita Basin and lush forests and hills where the abundant water flowing from these mountain systems converge. The climate is characterized by a large difference in temperature due to the unique nature of the interior, and the amount of rain is large.