off the beaten path
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Tokyo Daijingu Love Shrine
Are you unlucky in the area of love? Then you should consider a visit to the Tokyo Daijingu Shrine. This shrine, which has a connection with the Goddess of the Sun, is supposed to help you find your true connection.
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A pilgrimage course to the Seven Gods of Good Fortune in Ota that will bring happiness to your life!
Are you looking for a short pilgrimage to insert some more luck into your life? In Ota City near Tokyo, there is a route where you can do just that!
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Kimono Forest, Kyoto | Beautiful Traditional Japanese Costumes
Find out more about Kimono Forest, a must-see promenade for people heading to the bamboo forest, located in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto.
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Shimabara, Nagasaki | Beautiful nature and rich tourism resources
Although Shimabara has been plagued by (man-made) disasters in its history, it is a nice town to visit when you are traveling through Kyushu. The upside to being in a seismically active area is that there are many hot springs to be found.
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Taketomi Island, Okinawa | One of the most beautiful beaches in the world
Taketomi Island is a small island situated just off the coast of Ishigaki Island in the Okinawa Archipelago. Because of its size, it is often visited as a day trip from Ishigaki.
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Kunisaki Peninsula, Oita | Enjoy the beautiful sea and historic sites
There are lots of attractive places on the Kunisaki Peninsula in the northeastern part of Oita Prefecture in Kyushu. Because the peninsula is not easy to access, its towns, shrines, and temples have retained their original atmosphere.
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Takachiho Yokagura, Miyazaki | Beautiful performance based on Japanese mythology
Takachiho is a town that is located on a mountain in the northern part of Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu. The Takachiho Yokagura is a traditional dance that has been performed by local men for a long time.
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Takachiho, Miyazaki | Beautiful land also called the home of myths
In the deep forests of Kyushu, there’s a village named Takachiho, which is where you can find the famously beautiful Takachiho Gorge. It is easy to imagine how ancient myths originated in this area.
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Kitakyushu, Fukuoka | Abundant gourmet food and beautiful scenery
Kitakyushu City is a non-touristy, industrial city in the north of Kyushu. There is still something to see though; Kokura with Kokura Castle and Moji with Moji Port where you can find retro buildings are interesting areas.
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Tanegashima, Kagoshima | Beautiful nature and Japan’s largest rocket launch site
Tanegashima is an island that is part of Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu. The headquarter of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is located here, and there are beautiful beaches and mangroves.
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Yakushima, Kagoshima | The most beautiful and powerful wilderness
Yakushima is a subtropical island off the southwestern coast of Kyushu. It is covered by an extensive cedar forest that contains some of Japan’s oldest living trees called Yakusugi that became a World Natural Heritage Site.
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Iwakuni, Yamaguchi | The one and only beautiful bridge
Near Miyajima and Hiroshima, there is another town that many foreign tourists don’t know of but is worth a detour. Iwakuni is famous for its beautiful bridge and castle.
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Rurikoin Temple, Kyoto | Spectacular view shining in lapis lazuli
When we hear or see the words ‘yuka midori in Japan’, it is considered as a herald of early summer. Learn what this means in this personal account of our visit to the Rurikoin temple in Kyoto.
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Local Kyoto with its quaint scenery
If you have already finished the beginners‘ course of travel in Kyoto and traveled around the many touristy spots, it is time to explore the daily lives of the locals!
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Yatsugatake, Nagano | Beautiful mountain scenery
Yatsugatake is a mountain range in central Japan where you can enjoy trekking, skiing, and mountain biking. Learn more about this natural paradise in Nagano!
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Hita, Oita | A town that lives with clear water
Hita is a city in Kyushu that attracts tourists with its beautiful old town with 200-year old houses, a float festival, and traditional ceramics. See what this off-the-beaten-path destination has to offer.
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Motonosumi Inari Shrine, Yamaguchi | Beautiful contrast between nature and torii gate
Motonosumi Inari Jinja in Yamaguchi prefecture attracts a lot of tourists because of its scenic beauty; the torii gates with the cape in the background are an amazing view!
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Hirosaki City, Aomori | A town that lives together with beautiful nature in every season
Hirosaki is known as a cherry blossom city, and you can enjoy beautiful sakura around Hirosaki Castle between late April – early May. You will also find a samurai district and the Neputa festival theme park in Hirosaki.
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Oirase and Lake Towada, Aomori | Japan’s beautiful wilderness
Along with Lake Towada, the Oirase river has been designated as a special scenic spot and a natural monument of Aomori. This area is a paradise for nature lovers.
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Ouchijuku, Fukushima | Time travel to the Edo period!
If you are interested in Japan’s history and want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Edo Period, you should consider adding old post town Ouchijuku in Fukushima to your itinerary.
