Traveling to Japan has never been more popular. However, although the country has an enviable amount of assets, maximum tourists only stop in perennial favorites such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto and the wealth (and less crowds) of the least known points of Japan are lost. There are 3 from Japan below -tad destinations that will praise an intrepid traveler with incredible places, cultural heritage and exclusive activities.

Nasu Highlands, Japan

Just a fast 70-minute trip by bullet train from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, the Nasu Highlands offer a tranquil escape. This photogenic mountainous region that hugs the striking volcanic peaks of Mt. Nasu, is famed for its inviting hot springs and plentiful hiking trails. To this day the Nasu Highlands houses an Imperial Villa, a retreat for the Imperial Family. Renowned for its culinary offerings, the area is the county’s largest strawberry producer and is highly regarded for its dairy production (as well as a tasty regional cheesecake), craft breweries and world-famous Nasu Wagyu.

Where to stay: when focusing on agro-tourism, Hoshino Resorts Risonare Nasu offers consumers an original immersion in the agricultural heritage of the region with an attractive seasonal programming for consumers of all ages in the greenhouse and farms on the site of the site of the hotel. Families may feel practical classes to live from Earth and notice how to sow vegetables, fertilize soil and harvest.

Taketomi Island

Although it can be complicated to be on a map, this captivating serene island of around 350 population in Okinawa deserves a classic Ryukyu village, cultural offers, exclusive tours of buffalo cars and cozy white sand beaches. Another charms of the island are its unmatched night assets. The island is a component of the Yaeyama Islands, which in combination are qualified as the first black sky in Japan, which means that the night sky is a charm that cannot be lost thanks to open spaces and lack of synthetic light. On a transparent night, ORS to the region can detect up to 84 of the 88 constellations.

Where to stay: Capitalize on the tranquility and seclusion of the island with a stay at HOSHINOYA Taketomi Island. Until February 28, 2025 the property is offering a Starry Night Hot Pool Float experience where guests can sedately float in a private hot pool underneath the star-packed night sky as a staff member points out significant constellations. The hotel also offers Sabani Tours (island tours aboard a traditional wooden boat), a Sanshin lesson, where you’ll be taught to play an authentic Okinawan instrument, and a number of water-based activities, such as mangrove canoeing, jungle canyoning, snorkeling and scuba diving.

Tsunoshima Bridge in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan

Yamaguchi, on the western point of Honshu, is easily reached by bullet train from major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. Visitors to this underappreciated destination won’t want to miss the chance to explore Hagi, one of Japan’s captivating and well-preserved castle towns. There’s also plenty of opportunity to hike through rural towns and enjoy untouched landscapes peppered with shrines and beaches, as well as check out Akiyoshido, the largest limestone cave in the country.

Where to stay: Hot Spring Ryokan Hoshino Resorts Kai Nagato offers simple access to riverside walks and trips to Nagato Yumoto Historical. The hotel has a diversity of conscientiously selected cultural discovery offerings that show the classic crafts of the region such as meditation calligraphy, where attendees can register characters in their own Japanese fanatic and make up inscriptions with Akama Inkstone in an EMA, a pill of Wooden prayer noted in sanctuaries and temples.

A community. Many voices.   Create a lazy account to pry your thoughts.  

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

To do so, please abide by the posting regulations in our site’s terms of use.   We’ve summarized some of those key regulations below. In other words, keep it civil.

Your message will be rejected if we realize that it turns out to contain:

The user accounts will block if we realize or that users are compromised:

So how can you be a user?

Thank you for reading our community guidelines. Read the full list of publication regulations discovered in our site’s terms of use.