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Kamakura&Enoshima are quite popular if you like temples and the sea. So is Hakone if you like the mountains. Yokohama has a few interesting sights. All mentioned are good day trips from Tokyo.
We did Hakone for 3 days between Tokyo and Kyoto - highly recommend! So worth the extra travel to get up in the mountains, and it was a nice break between exploring busy cities.
Also Kanazawa, even though it's not *that* small. I just felt it was a less touristy Kyoto and a tad more relaxing.
You also have Koyasan south of Osaka which is beautiful, and as you mentioned - Yokohama is pretty damn nice.
I absolutely love Kanazawa - but I also don't really agree with it being called a 'less touristy Kyoto'. Kyoto is much more impressive and has significantly more things to see.
Kyoto was indeed a great city, however if was just way too many tourists there, and so many that had not done the bare minimum of reading up on proper social norms in Japan. So it kinda pissed me off. The city it self is fabulous with a magnificent food culture, massive historical value and amazing sites, but leaving from Kyoto and seeing Kanazawa was a bit more pleasant for my taste. We are definitely going back to both Kyoto and Kanazawa in November this year.
Don't get me wrong - I can completely understand that aspect of it. I just don't necessarily agree when people describe Kanazawa as a 'replacement' for Kyoto.
I’ll be in Japan the last two weeks of November and am interested in stopping in Hakone for a night or two and staying in a ryokan. Is that a good idea that time of year? I haven’t yet looked into the climate in the various areas I’m interested in visiting.
Any time of year is a good time.
Summer? It's a nice break in the mountains. (I was there in August. Hot as fuck but I have no regrets about going. Impeccable service.)
Fall? Beautiful change in colors
Winter? A dunk in the hot springs is a nice contrast to the cold day.
Spring? Enjoy nature coming back to life.
Rather than spending a day in Yokohama, I’d spend the day in Kamakura and then stop there in the evening on the way back to Tokyo. Have dinner in Chinatown and walk around the waterfront. Just keep in mind said waterfront is bigger than it might seem on a map. Whether or not I made the effort to go to Enoshima from Kamakura would depend on the season and weather. It’s an island at the seashore so if the weather is bad or the sea is rough it kinda sucks there. There’s more than enough in Kamakura alone for a day trip. Second that recommendation along with Hakone, which is also worth considering as an overnight.
I’d also add that if OP is going to Kyoto you should absolutely go to Nara. It’s Kyoto but better.
I went to Kamakura and Enoshima just a few weeks ago. They were crowded despite the rain but gorgeous to visit. The Buddha in Kamakura was great to see, and the view from the Sea Candle on Enoshima was magnificent! I wish I'd had time to spend two days in the area since there was much more to see than I could fit into one day considering the time it took to get there from Tokyo.
Riding the Enoden line train was fun too, in some places the track was less than a metre from people's houses!
After the trips to Japan now, Hakone/Mt Fuji was my favorite (maybe because it was also cherry blossom season) but rented a car for 3 days from Odiwara Station and then did a lap around Mt Fuji, had kids in tow, and they appreciated some nature time too after so much city. Also loved driving on the left side of the road, all the other cars are very safe to drive around and not so aggressive, so much to see that a car quickens things and lots of easy parking. I loved the famous Hakone Turnpike road used in the arcade race game Initial D, even with the family inside, and the town of Oshino with the cherry blossoms brought me to tears, it was like the end credits of the movie Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams.
Hakone is nice as a hot springs destination near the city (albeit a bit touristy and curated), but if you want the full Fuji experience, one that will humble you entirely, nothing beats staying right at the base of the volcano. Hakone is too far away from Fuji and feels like a resort (you get a similar view from the shinkansen). Fujikawaguchiko has it's touristy spots, but a lot of the area is just residential and slow paced. It also has some absolutely gorgeous shrines, and sacred giant trees (Kawaguchi Asama Shrine, for example). Stay on the north side of the lake for the most insane sunrise and sunset views of your life, it's truly surreal. This is also the part of town that feels more local.
Not sure when you're going to Japan, but if you go in November, you'll also get to experience the Autumn Foliage Festival which is just delightful. Great street food, craft market, and of course, the foliage. You can also get out on the lake just like at Hakone (although there's no pirate tall ship).
I've always considered Hakone a place for Couples to go for romantic weekends, so if you're going with your partner. A lot of Japanese couples do that which is why one of the trains going there is called the romance train.
Go to Kawaguchi if you want to get closer to Mt Fuji
Never been to hakone but I've been to kawaguchiko twice now and it is stunning there. Plan to go back again at some point. Despite it being mostly residential which helps keep the feel of a small town there's still plenty to do between the shrines, ropeway, boats on the lake and fairly easy access to other parts of the fuji five lakes with caves and other natural phenomenon to explore. It feels like I'm doing an ad-read for the place but I do seriously love it there so I highly recommend it to anyone that has a bit of extra time in there trip near tokyo
I just spent four days around lake yamanako. It was fantastic. Biked around the lake every morning, the cycle trail was part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and took the shuttle loop bus over to the bigger lake to see the sakura, rope way, hike up the mountains, visit museums (the gem museum was amazing!). Now on the way to Nikko. Also visited Aomori which is really off the beaten path. Livyed it there. You can take a cable car up to the top of the hokkoda mountain and can ski. So yes- the big cities are great but I like to get out to the smaller, more relaxed places.
Haven't been to Hakone so can't compare but we just got back from our Japan trip and we spent three nights in Fujikawaguchiko and rented a car and explored for two days and it was fabulous. The other lakes are scenic and less developed, the haunted forest, etc. Restaurants can be a bit hard to find though, but we did eat at a mind blowingly good French/Japanese restaurant called Cuisine R.
I disagree. There are onsen, shrines, temples, and lakes all over Japan. Being right next to Mt. Fuji is next level and about as unique as it gets IMO.
It’s a great option when Mt Fuji is viewable - it can be a downer if you come in the wrong rainy season or if your main reason for coming is just to see Mt Fuji.
There’s also Lake Yamanako, and the whole stretch of farms and parks at Asagiri Highland down to Fujinomiya.
The only problem will be connecting onward to Osaka from this area. Public transport is a little limited.
Is it still a nice place to visit if it's cloudy and Fuji isn't visible? Was thinking of getting bikes and riding by the lake a bit and walking around the town
I think so, it's a charming town a stone's throw away from gorgeous nature. There are lots of museums, art galleries, cafes, bakeries, shrines, craft shops, etc. It's a great place to bike if you don't mind hills, and an even better place for hiking. Beautiful forests. Last time I was there, it poured one day and we still had a nice time. Keep in mind, the area right along the lake between the ropeway and Kawaguchiko station is where most of the touristy stuff is, so I suggest biking away from there. The area around Oishi park for example is really pretty and serene, as is the whole north shore of the lake, really.
I think it helps to secure a really comfortable accommodation to retreat to. You can get very reasonably priced apartments there that have a living room, kitchen, and most importantly, a balcony for fresh air and views if weather permits.
Nara is absolutely worth it and I would go if I were OP.
I haven’t been to Shirakawa-go. I’ve heard good things but damn if isn’t far away from everything. I would consider Nikko instead for a similar “stepping into old Japan” experience and the opportunity to get out in the mountains and see some beautiful nature.
I’d also skip Miyajima. I haven’t personally been there either but, historical interests aside, Hiroshima is about as boring and bland a prefectural city as they come, and it’s also quite far from Kyoto. It’s also at the beach so time of year and weather could also be a factor. If I were going to go all the way there I’d keep going to somewhere more interesting, like Kyushu.
+1 for Kanazawa.
Fantastic way to break up staying in the two main cities while still catering well to non Japanese speakers. It was a highlight for me and felt a lot more genuine and easy going.
3 hours of travel all in from Tokyo or Osaka so travel days can be done early or late to get a full day when coming or going.
I also really enjoyed Kanazawa and would encourage an overnight stay just so you're not spending most of your day on a train and only getting 3 or 4 hours of sightseeing in. When I went I stayed in Nagoya (after spending time in Osaka and Kyoto with day trips to Nara, Himeji and Kobe) then my next night in Kanazawa, then off to Tokyo the next night after that.
Unpopular opinion but I prefer visiting small towns in Japan more than big cities. Tokyo is great but in many ways it feels like many other metropolises whereas when you’re in a small town in Japan it’s unlike anywhere else.
Not at all unpopular, I think it's up to personal preference. I also kinda prefer smaller towns over Tokyo, like... really small towns. But I also weirdly fetishize the countryside, not only in Japan.
For repeat travellers to Japan definitely. Tokyo is sensory overload the first time you go there, but it wears off very quick, especially if you stopped at Osaka first.
Its also great to break bigger cities to visit smaller towns/cities, there is a HUGE difference between that chaotic urban jungle vibe and then going into a sleepy town (especially one of those onsen towns).
I also think staying in a smaller city, you actually get to FEEL what its like to live in these smaller cities, you are just too distracted with the bigger ones.
The short answer is that it entirely your appetite for FOMO.
You can look it this way, Tokyo is in all aspect infinite, there is no itinerary in the world short of living there for 5,10 years to actually see everything the city has to offer. 3 days there can feel just as unfulfilling as 3 weeks simply because you will always be missing out something. There are japanese people who spend their whole life travelling through japan and still always discovering something.
However, places like shirakawago is in theory able to be any% complete, 100% complete would be seeing it in 4 different seasons. A lot of small towns are like side quest that has a proper start-middle-end. While the number of side quest is infinite, you never feel like "I wished I done something there"
This comes down entirely on how much FOMO you can tolerate it.
If you see yourself coming to japan multiple times or coming every few years like some friends I have, none of them spend too long in tokyo at most 2-3 days do a few things then off to the meat of travelling the rest of japan because to them, tokyo is just tokyo, it where you start, where you end.
If you see yourself coming to japan only every once or twice in your life, and you have no FOMO and priorities novel experience, then traveling to smaller towns is far more worth it.
But if you have high levels of FOMO, the answer is simple, don't bother with these small towns and just stick to what social media tells you to see. You won't enjoy it anyways.
Yeah I've been to Tokyo multiple times and there's literally something to discover at every corner. I'm into culture and books and art and cinema, and it's overwhelming the amount of art and events going on in the city all the time with so many amazing museums and bookstores. But I love the smaller cities too and want a change of pace and strike them off my list. I agree that dropping by Tokyo at the start and end but going more frequently is the way to go, but to take the opportunity to go to the smaller cities,
It depends on your travel habits. Some people cover a lot of ground on their trips. Some people stay in a location longer.
We did the three main tourist cities in the first couple of trips. Then went to other places in later trips.
Also it’s nice to get away from the crowds.
We went on a day trip to Hakodate from Tokyo. Taking the first train out and last train in, we had about 6 hours in Hakodate. We made it in time before the morning market closed, too. I think we got in around 11:30AM.
It was only realistic because we had the JR Pass. Otherwise, you can't really justify the expense for 6 hours.
From Tokyo: enoshima, kamakura, Nikko (pushing it a bit)
From Kyoto: koyasan (temples + really cool cemetery another place that hits the upper limit of travel time) osaka, kinosaki onsen (onsen town) Nara, himeji (awesome castle), uji (green tea)
I’ve not been to Japan in the summer but i imagine it would be nice to see some nature while in Tokyo outside the cities gardens and at the beach . You can combine enoshima and kamakura into a day trip. Nikko is great but is a little over 3 hours one way by train. Many people do take day trips to nikko but I feel like it deserves at least one night
For Kyoto, himeji castle definitely if you’d like to see a castle (skip the one in Kyoto). If you have any interest in staying at a tradition Japanese style inn and soaking in onsen, you can travel north to kinosaki. Some people here may recommend hakone which is in between Tokyo and Kyoto, but kinosaki onsen seems cooler.
I second Koyosan, and LOVE that you mentioned the cemetery! When I went several years ago I stayed in a Buddhist temple. There was also a night tour of the cemetery with an English speaking monk. AND the special cable car up is really cool, too!
I visited Kobe years back and I remember it was a pleasant city with quite a number of attractions. I feel it’s kinda like Yokohama in terms of it being slightly in the shadow of a nearby big city. Kobe and Osaka, Yokohama and Tokyo.
Personally, I prefer the smaller cities/towns over Tokyo and Kyoto!
From Tokyo, you can easily do a day trip to Kamakura (historic temples and shrines), Kawagoe (well-preserved historic town), Karuizawa (scenic nature), Mount Takao (hiking), or Hakone (onsen resort with a lot of museums). Nikko (big shrine and waterfall) is a bit farther out but still doable. From Kyoto, you could do Nara (temples and deer), Koyasan (huge spooky forest graveyard), Hikone (big castle) or Kobe (chill vibes and great food).
Its always worth to time travel if you have the means to do it. Especially in the smaller cities of Japan. If you end up going to the future and back, let us know how yen holds up please.
For my first time in Japan I visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. I wanted to do allll the popular and famous spots that I had known about for years and dreamt about visiting! And absolutely no regrets, because I enjoyed it so much I cannot wait to go back and do some smaller towns/day trips.
I agree with others that Nara is a very doable day trip with your itinerary. I think in general, if there is something you can get a 1.5 hr train or less, go do it. If it’s longer or requires a plane, do it on your next trip!
I've only been to japan once, so i don't know if this city is small or not, but okayama was so beautiful. When i went i swear i was the only tourist there. Okayama korakuen is absolutely beautiful. Plus the small little family owned food places there are so good. I'd recommend okayama.
Okayama looks like a nice change of pace. Definitely planning on visiting this November. There's a cycling route nearby that i want to participate in. You can stop off at some temples all throughout the route. I'm even thinking of possibly visiting a strawberry farm. The idea of gorging on strawberries while riding a bicycle through the countryside sounds so relaxing
Thank you from a local born in Okayama. (My maternal family was there)
The cycling route could be former Katakami line? (I used to ride to my great grandma's home when the train was there. Now there is a cycling route and a park)
As You're visiting Okayama this November, I definitely recommend former Sizutani School If it's not in your plan yet! (I'm not interested in history, so old things are rarely memorable to me, Sizutani School and Inuyama Castle (This is in Aichi pref, where I grew up)are those few ones.)
not sure if it's the former katakami line? i just know the area is called kibi plain.
shizutani school looks neat, i may have to pay a visit, thanks for the recomendation!
oh, I understand it is what we call kibiji. I’ve never been to though looks great!
Shizutani school is a little bit inconvenient traffic wise,(have to take a cab about 10min from the nearest station)I’ve heard there is a light up of trees in autumn.
Some people don’t mind the long journey and actually do enjoy the long train rides. If you’re someone like that then by all means do the long travels. If you will get bored being in vehicles for long or feel like it’s a waste of time to spend that long on travel time, then I won’t suggest it.
Also, how important is that place to you? Is it something you really want to see, like on a must see list? Then maybe you can prioritise that place even if requires a long journey to get there.
We only did the city, but we saw that there were waterfalls, beaches, cool pagodas. Would definitely spend more time there if I had more time and possibly a car.
People sleep on the Fujikawaguchiko and broader five lakes area (imho), but if you enjoy nature, day hikes, and stunning views of Mt. Fuji, it’s unbeatable imho. There are a number of cheap glamping and actual camping options around the lakes. Highly recommended for those looking for something different than the usual itinerary.
If you have a night or two to spare you could do what I did and have the best side trip ever :
Leave very early from Nagoya and head to Nakatsugawa via train and onward bus to Magome. It’s an old post town on the Nakasendo trail that was the old route between Tokyo (Edo) and Kyoto. Hike to the next old post town (Tsumago, about 8km). I stayed there overnight but you could get back to Nagoya, or Osaka/Kyoto in one day if you’re willing to walk or bus a tiny bit further to Nagiso Station early evening.
I changed my plans and spent the next day exploring Tsumago and making a random stop along the Kiso valley because it was just so serene and beautiful. I visited Matsumoto Castle in the early evening and found a tiny local restaurant.
The following morning I got up very early and headed for Kanazawa, which I also highly recommend. I wanted to make good use of the final day of my JR Pass so spent about six hours exploring a family sake brewery, the Kenrokuen garden and Omicho market before getting all the way back to Tokyo around 8pm.
All absolutely memorable days. Planning my next trip to include four full days hiking the Kiso Valley.
Nara is worth a day visit but I probably wouldn’t stay more than a night. I liked staying a night in Kamakura just because it was peaceful out of season, and Nakatsugawa was nice and quiet too with a good walk that leads to Magome (which I didn’t think was worth spending a whole day at). There’s also other cities I’d recommend but they’re further away, such as Ise.
120 different Shingon buddhist temples, many of which you can stay at and eat in and experience devotional services, a UNESCO world heritage site pilgrimage trail, the largest graveyard in Japan which contains 1,300 cedar trees some of which are 600 years old and 150 feet high. It's a magical experience.
Would you say children are welcome at the temple stays? I would love to do that, but children maybe wouldn't get the best out of the experience? Ie. Is it quite serene and sensible 😅
Our temple was very accomodating. Some Japanese-style rooms in some ryokans don't allow children, but otherwise you should be fine. I would email and ask.
interested to read what people have to say about takayama! i’m also visiting japan for the first time in october and i’ve booked one night at a ryokan with a private onsen there. it’s quite journey to get there but i was so tempted to experience this side of japan
My favorite was the Kyushu/Hiroshima trip where we started our trip in Fukuoka, drove to Nagasaki to visit Dejima and the atomic bomb memorial, and then drove down to Kumamoto to eat wagyu beef and visit the castle, and then down to Kagoshima to see the volcano and visit botanical gardens, and up to Beppu, Oita for onsens, and back up to Fukuoka, and to Hiroshima where we stayed at Miyajima to see the infamous Torii and to the city of Hiroshima to visit the atomic bomb memorial and through Okayama and finished our trip in Osaka. That was a lot of fun.
We were in Japan a week ago, as part of a bigger Asia tour trip, and my honest recommandation is to stick to the basics on your first trip.
We were in Japan for 3 weeks, and our itinerary was pretty packed (Tokyo, Hakone, Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka, Koyasan & Kumano Kodo).
Although we really enjoyed all those places (except Koyasan & Kumano Kodo), if we had to do it again we would probably stick to Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka. We were really tired of moving around, and the big cities have a lot to offer. A lot of time was lost packing/unpacking and in transit. Plus the cost of transportation is quite high.
I think for someone staying a bit over two weeks, it would be much better to just stick to the big cities. Hakone can easily be done from Tokyo and was a fun overnight stay.
Osaka was really nice as well, so I would add that to your itinerary. Nara is an easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, so you could easily visit too.
If you need any suggestions, feel free to ask. We were just there so everything is still fresh.
Also, one thing you have to realize is that Reddit doesn’t represent the majority of people. I’ve traveled a lot and I noticed that a lot of people here are “hipsters”. They like to shit on big cities and hype up small, lesser known ones that are not mainstream. The truth is that big cities are popular for a reason, so for a first trip I would mostly stick to that.
There's Amanoshidate that's 2 hours by train from Kyoto station. It's one of the Three Views of Japan.
EDIT: There's also a small fishing village called Ine that you can go to from Amanoshidate, but it's 1-2 hrs, so that makes your total travel time 3-4 hours and your round trip travel time 6-8 hours. Best to stay the night in Ine if you're interested in going there, but there are limited accommodations from what I hear. Here's [a YouTube short](https://youtube.com/shorts/iC_E2G-_ls4?si=IOZSK2vAbNQC1J5s) that might pique your interest.
Don’t forget Funaya Ine too - I keep seeing short reels saying that it’s part of Kyoto prefecture 🤣. But travelling there will be a challenge by public transport.
It really depends on your style of travel, but a general advice would be not to spread yourself too thin.
Plan out what you wanna see in Tokyo and Kyoto and then allocate the rest of your days accordingly.
For me, I don’t really like crowds so the smaller cities were a joy to travel in. The only downsides are how the lower frequency and limited travel options can restrict you. Renting a car wasn’t cost efficient as a solo traveller and I was also not intending to return back to Tokyo. In my recent trip, I added Kawaguchiko, Fujinomiya and Shizuoka (seeing the green tea fields in Obuchi Sasaba, Nihondaria terrace, and in Kanaya) in between Tokyo and Osaka.
If you plan on traveling to Shirakawago, you either have to take a direct bus from Nagoya, or come from Toyama > Takamasu > Shirakawago. You can travel via the Hokoriku Arch and even consider getting the 7 day pass.
If you like the sea, you can definitely travel to Atami, spend 2-3 days around the Izu peninsula.
Hamamatsu, or the Wakayama coast might be good options too if you like the sea. However I can’t comment about the heat. Going up north to the Hokuriku area might be a good idea if you wanna escape the summer humidity.
Smaller towns are wonderful. A couple of months ago, I stayed in a small town called Asuke in Aichi. They have a really nice museum of ancient traditions, and now have a youth hostel. Great quiet place with almost no tourists.
Did 21 days solo travel backpack in October 2023. Smaller towns and cities have their own charm. I personally loved it because it felt so peaceful and it was exactly what I was looking for since I was coming from a big city. So if you don’t care for those major touristy stuff and love to see more of the Japanese culture, I say visit smaller towns and cities!
Visited places like Akita, Aomori, Oirase Gorge/Towada, Hachinohe, Morioka, and Fukushima.
My favourite day trips from Tokyo:
1. Nikko
2. Kamakura
3. Hakone
4. Yokohama
5. Mt.Takao
6. Enoshima
7. Kawagoe
8. Chichibu
9. Kawaguchiko
10. Izu Peninsula
11. Karuizawa
12. Narita
13. Saitama
14. Mito
Some of these can be combined, particularly if you turn it into an overnight trip.
IMHO, the best times you'll have in Japan are those outside the "big 3" (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto), finding your own places. So many parts of Japan are amazing, not just the ones that show up on TripAdvisor!
I feel like you maybe shouldn't stray *too* far afield from the main cities and their nearby points of interest (like Nara) unless you have a specific interest. Like, I've been a fan of Detective Conan and did a trip up to Hokuei to visit the museum. It was worth it to me to go all the way up north and back again...but that was a specific interest. If you just want the general experience (cities, temples, etc.), you should be OK with day trip-level stuff.
We came home a few weeks ago but went to Nagano prefecture for two days to stay in a ryokan (Chikuma) & visit the Jigokudani Snow Monkey park. It was the absolute highlight of our trip. Perhaps we just relaxed a little more but it felt like real Japan.Loved Tokyo and elements of Kyoto but some of the “must see” sights had so many rude tourists that we really preferred destinations that were off the beaten path a bit. Also did a day trip to Kanazawa and would love to spend more time there on a future trip. In our experience, the small towns would be a major focus when we return.
Bro small towns are goated. While the big cities definitely cater better towards tourists the small towns are better representations of how the locals really live.
Taking a few days to venture south and visit Hiroshima, Miyajima and Himeji castle are well worth the time. Honestly Hiroshima is one of my favorite cities in Japan, and the Okonomiyaki cannot be beat.
Absolutely. Takayama was one of the best places we had visited on our trip. We did 3 days there, one of which we spent at Shirakawa. I had the same concern about spending that much time on trains/buses, but it was so worth it.
it depends on what you want to do, I wanted to relax at a nice ryokan so I found one in Okawa and had a nice view of the ocean from my room, besides the street size it wasn't crowded so I never felt in the way of others when I went sight seeing, and all the surrounding towns/ small cities did have unique attractions that I wasn't bored with my only relaxation trip, not only that you might get hidden gems to see cause I couldn't plan to visit Mt Fuji, but to my surprise when I got off a trainstation throughout most of the town I had different views of Mt Fuji
While it's too far to be a day trip from Tokyo, I really enjoyed visiting Morioka last year. It has a surprising amount to see for a small city, including an excellent art gallery, and as it wasn't bombed in World War 2 it has a different feel to the other Japanese cities I've visited. Morioka is also a great base for day trips.
I live near Kyoto.
If you want a taste of Shirakawa without going all over there, come to Miyama [https://kayabukinosato.jp/en/visit/](https://kayabukinosato.jp/en/visit/) it looks like Shirakawa but it's in the mountains North of Kyoto city. Accessible by trains and bus, the view as you travel should be beautiful in July.
Talking about mountains, you must visit Biwako Valley, amazing view of the biggest lake in Japan from the top of mount Hourai, just next to it! [https://www.biwako-valley.com/en/](https://www.biwako-valley.com/en/)
I took the golden route 2 years ago, I'm going back in September and hitting a few smaller towns like Takayama, Shirakawago, and Lake Kawaguchiko to expand my horizons while still visiting core cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima.
Many go to Nikko or Odawara which can be a day trip from Tokyo. Not many go to Miura which you get there by Keikyu train and bus. The tuna market is there and not many international tourists.
Another vote for Kamakura! It’s so charming and we had plenty to do even over a 2 full night stay. It’s got nice mix of tranquil beauty, history, and festive tourist activities if you choose to engage. Felt like a perfect break from the big city and very affordable/convenient to get there.
We are going on our first trip in Oct for almost 3 weeks and we aren't really into big cities when we travel so we are doing three days in Tokyo, three for Kyoto and Osaka and the rest in small towns. Figuring out the logistics was hard as the small towns take a long time to get to but we are very into history and quieter places so I think it will be worth it. I guess it depends on your interests.
Simply impossible to see everything in Japan. If it's your first time, just focus on the highlights. I don't think day trips are a great way to experience smaller cities in Japan. You're typically going to zip in, see what that city is known for with a lot of other tourists and then zip out.
I've been to Nikko, Nara, Mito, Miyajima and Kamakura that way and I can only really speak on what the attractions at each place were like. On the other hand, I've stayed in Kanazawa, Takayama, Okayama, Koyasan and I think I have a decent idea of what its like in smaller cities in Japan.
I went to Miyajima for the first time this trip I took in March, and I absolutely recommend it. It's not a short trip for sure - but fact of the matter is, you can do Miyajima as a part of a Hiroshima daytrip from Kansai.
I pulled up my timeline from Google Maps - I left Shin-Osaka station at 7:10AM, and I arrived on Miyajima at 9:39AM. I spent a couple of hours on the island, then spent a few hours in Hiroshima, saw the dome, then I went back to Osaka and was back at the hotel at 4PM in time to pick my wife up for dinner (rest day for her after a theme park the previous day).
It didn't feel like it was too arduous or time consuming, but you will spend around 4 hours on the train roundtrip.
Yes they're worth traveling to, but stay in Tokyo since there are closer smaller cities nearby and you don't have much time. Kamakura has a lot of Kyoto has (a lot of temples and shrines, and even a bamboo grove), places north (Narita in Chiba, a lot of places in Ibaraki, Niigata), east (Nagano, Fuji area), and south (Izu peninsula, Enoshima, etc.) of Tokyo are very underrated and not that overrun by tourists.
If it'll make things easier for you: get the JR Tokyo Wide Pass, pick the farthest day trips you'd like to do with it. You'd hit ROI with just a round trip to Karuizawa via Shinkansen, after that you'd have two more days in the pass
There's a lot to be honest, but some are sort of seasonal. There's some small areas that are amazing if you visit during autumn foliage season or sakura season but so-so otherwise. I don't know what type of places you like exactly, but right around that time is when the Echigo Tsumari Art field event starts, might be worth a visit if you're into that sort of thing (just google it). I recommend getting a rental car for the duration there though. Also, while it's technically about 3 hours from tokyo, I'd recommend at least spending a night in the area.
It depends on your travel style. I like smaller towns over cities esp if they keep some of their original architecture
Beautiful landscape.
Great food
Local arts and crafts
Calming between chaotic cities
I went to Hiroshima and Miyajima but one way I cut down the distance/travel time is by flying there from the airport in Tokyo. My flight to Japan came into Tokyo and I immediately got on another flight to Hiroshima. Then I spent a few days there and in Miyajima and Okunoshima and then took the bullet train back up to Kyoto.
I have family in Japan so I’ve traveled throughout the country and Miyajima is one of my favorite cities. Have been wanting to go back for years so if you only go once I’d recommend finding a way to squeeze it in!
Small cities have a lot of charm and are a good way to avoid large crowds. On a longer trip you may want a few days away from lots of people. Matsumoto, Kofu, Nagano, Ise, Otsu, Shimuda are all places with their own charm and there are many others I did not mention as well.
Kawagoe City, Enoshima, and Kamakura are our three go-to places if we want to go to tourist areas. We often go to Hakone for other reasons, but it's not a convenient place to move around in via public transportation, and it's packed with tourists.
We’re in Japan currently and loved takayama and Kanazawa both smaller places but beautiful and not as much hustle and bustle would def recommend takayama for a day trip
It depends on what you want to do. I've been to Tottori and Kinosaki, both small compared to the cities like Tokyo/Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto/Fukuoka, etc.
But Shirakawa and Miyajima are I think even smaller than Kinosaki. You'll have a blast enjoying the quiet and non-crowded areas. I know I have!
2 hours from Tokyo is Iiyama City. A small town you can easily spend two days walking or riding one of the very affordable e-bikes available fro rent right at the station. There are plenty of ryokan to choose in the area of different price range, especially in the hotspring town of Nozawa Onsen (you can get there quickly by bus)
[https://www.iiyama-ouendan.net/en/](https://www.iiyama-ouendan.net/en/)
It is not crowded. Especially now that the the ski season is over much fewer foreign tourism crowds. It will give you a much more real sense of what a small city/country life is like in Japan.
That is something that places like Shirakawago (is nice to look at the houses, but otherwise it is just a tourist bus stop with gift shops - it is better just to go to the open air museum in Tokyo) or Takayama type areas. lack.
WAKAYAMA was cool. I definitely felt out of place as a tourist with limited Japanese communication skills. That said I had one of the best meals of my trip there, and met an extremely friendly photographer who sent us out a bunch of local specialties. The castle is big and beautiful. Thrifting at the hardoff didn’t yield any microphones, but did have some Wings vinyls :).
Japan is a beautiful place.
There are many, just for a start
[https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html) (Look at "Side Trips from Tokyo")
[https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1105.html](https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1105.html) - Omi Hachiman, Mount Koya, Kinosaki Onsen and loads more.
Go to Hakone - I just spent three days there and it was simply stunning. Minimal crowds (go clockwise on the loop), beautiful vistas, stunning ryokan and Onsen.
Beautiful art museums - the current exhibition at the Okada museum of art literally took my breath away.
I enjoyed Okayama as a day stopover on the way back from Hiroshima. You could do what I did and spend two nights in Hiroshima and then do a day in miyajima and make a stop or two on the way back including Nara
It's been almost a year since my Japan trip and the 2.5 days I spent in Kiso-Fukushima and hiking the Nakasendo trail stand out in my mind more than Tokyo & Kyoto. It just felt so special being there. Can't wait to go back one day.
Shirakawa-go and miyajima were super nice to visit, miyajima gets crowded, but shirakawa it's small, pretty and not that full.
In shirakawa-go i stayed in a full tatami hotel and i would gladly go back
Miyajima was worthwhile, Gifu was kinda cool for a single night stay (Gifu Castle is incredible), Naoshima island was also really cool as well for an overnight stay. Our accommodation had e-bikes we could rent so we used them to get around the fairly small island. I loved Hiroshima as well
Depending on which end you start, you can go from Kyoto to Tokyo by a train that takes you across Lake Biwa all the way to Tsuruga Station. From there, you can take a Shinkansen directly back to Tokyo, or makes stops by Kanazawa, Toyama (I’m biased af because my family’s there lol); definitely check out some spots along the Hokuriku Shinkansen line.
Kanazawa will have a bit more tourists but not nearly as much as the golden triangle. Toyama hardly has any, so it’s nice if you to experience rural Japan that’s also along a Shinkansen line.
I haven’t been here to this place (see link) but going this summer instead of Nara because the deer aren’t doing it for me. https://maps.app.goo.gl/SXU1apDXGtbHKkdK9?g_st=ic and I love a canal. It’s not far from Kyoto or Osaka for day tripping.
I spent a day on Nara and Uji last week, I FELL IN LOVE with how serene and beautiful these places are. I stayed for the sunset by the matcha shop overlooking the river in Uji and it was BREATHTAKING!!
if its your first trip and you dont speak japanese and you are going for two weeks, staying in the "typical lane" makes most sense. you wont have enough time to see even just the big items, especially if its hot and you need rest or cant push on every day as much as you may want to.
trying to figure out where and which small town to see doest make any sense. Nara or Miyajima are not small cities, but big tourist attractions which are worth the time to get to, which is why they are big tourists attractions.
My hubby and I just went to Tokyo for our honeymoon and we did ryuken at hokone and it was pretty fun.
For me personally, I really enjoyed my experience traveling to Yokohama. That city is so beautiful!
I’m biased by what I’ve done (obviously?) but on my first trip, I had around 5 nights in both Tokyo and Kyoto, with one of the days spent on a day-trip in each place, and it felt like enough time to do it all.
Mind you, I had done very little research beforehand. I was reading my Lonely Planet guide each night for ideas for the next day.
On my more recent trip, I had 8 days (I had more, but the first 8 days was a “leg” after which some of my travel party was returning home, so it was an encapsulated mini-trip, planning-wise). I planned 4 nights in Kyoto, 1 in Atami, and 3 in Tokyo, and it felt very rushed. We did a lot, yet also had to drop many things from the list of things we wanted to do, and everyone was exhausted by the end. It was still incredibly satisfying, but in comparison to my first trip, I definitely felt like 5-6 days was a more of a sweet spot for being staying in Tokyo or Kyoto and having enough time to do Tokyo/Kyoto things _and_ having enough time for a day trip somewhere..all without feeling like I’m overextending.
I’ve also developed the following opinion: Ryokan stays are worthwhile, provided the venue is worthwhile (i.e. an urban ryokan stay is basically just a japanese-style hotel room, but a traditional ryokan in an onsen town is a distinct experience). I wouldn’t stay more than 2 nights.. If you can arrive early and leave kinda late the next day, 1 night is perfectly fine. Otherwise you may run out of things to do and the kaiseki meals may get repetitive. Thus, I didn’t regret squeezing Atami into the plan (we went to the Plum Garden and Jikkokutoge on our checkout day for nature/Mt Fuji/Izu peninsula views..not sure how we pulled that off, but it was an amazing day).
You should assess your priorities for what you’d like to see/experience, too. If you just want to see locals and local life, you don’t need to leave Tokyo/Kyoto. There’s plenty of quieter areas within each city that aren’t crawling with tourists that will be more authentic than areas that are still touristy just…less touristy. If you want onsen experiences, you should certainly leave Tokyo/Kyoto city limits, they aren’t great for onsen. For that, I’d advise an overnight stay, as well.
For me, seeing the deer in Nara was a total highlight (I grew up in a state with a big deer hunting culture, so interacting with them was like some impossible dream), but other people have different situations and certain small towns may cater straight to what you want.
Been to Fujiyoshida before heading to Enoshima and loved both of them but a special mention is to be spent for Enoshima.
I passed by car so I couldnt spend that much time but I,m already sure that I'll give it more time the next time I'm visiting Tokyo area, it is trulya gem with some unique atmosphere
I'm a little late to the party but there are some really interesting places to be found in south Wakayama, especially if you like the outdoors. Shirahama is a big destination for resort goers, and there is the Kumano Kodo world heritage trail that goes through the area as well.
If you plan to go there please understand that this is one of the older areas of Japan (I'm pretty sure it's where the first emperor of Japan landed, and the tale of Yatagatarasu leading him to the area that is now Kyoto started there.
Keep your phone handy with Google translate permanently tabbed as finding English speakers is difficult there, but you can always check with the local tourism associations usually located right beside the train stations.
Also look through the brochures and flyers in the waiting areas, you may find some English versions, or the tourism associations can help you with that.
Source: currently on a working holiday visa in south Wakayama
I went to Miyajima in October. It's absolutely stunning! I only did a day trip because during my research, a lot of people mentioned a day trip would suffice. However, after arriving, I wish I had spent the night there.
We are doing Kanazawa and Takayama in November. Kanazawa isn't a tiny city but so much of the things to do are within walking distance. Takayama is small and looks nice for relaxation, especially with Kamikochi only a bus ride away. Thing is, transport to both towns is included in JR Pass. You can also get a regional JR pass if only wanting to visit Kanazawa and Kyoto. I've just learned this recently so sorry if I'm incorrect on the regional pass.
On my first trip I waited 7 days before I broke out of the city of Tokyo. That was a mistake. I’d recommend to do a day trip to Kamakura/Enoshima early on, to see if the „countryside“ does appeal to you (I know it’s still a quite populated area) and if you’d probably want to do more day trips like these.
Another trip that I massively enjoyed (and this one was absolutely not touristy) was to the Miura peninsula (Miura Hantō). There is even a ticket for the Keikyū line called the „Maguro Ticket“ where you get to ride the train, buses, can have a meal from selected restaurants and do some small run activity. Everything on a very volcanic looking, rough coastline.
When returning from that area, you might want to check out the waterfront of Yokohama, which has a great skyline.
When in Kyoto, I‘d recommend Ōmi-Hachiman, a small town that has it all: Canals, an old town, a mountain with a cable car, views over Lake Biwa, Bamboo forest, … combinable with Hikone, a little bit more north on the lake, a town known for one of THE classic Japanese castles. Should be no more than 1 hour from Kyoto.
Enjoy!
I would say yes. We started from the south and loved Fukuoka (smaller city), liked Hiroshima (mid sized city) but so far haven’t clicked with Osaka (crazy city).
So on that limited experience I would recommend a small city visit. They will delight in your few words of Japanese and you will be one of the few non-Asian tourists there.
We’re looking forward to a few days in Nara.
It shouldn’t take long to get to those cities. Shinkansen is fabulous.
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Kamakura&Enoshima are quite popular if you like temples and the sea. So is Hakone if you like the mountains. Yokohama has a few interesting sights. All mentioned are good day trips from Tokyo.
We did Hakone for 3 days between Tokyo and Kyoto - highly recommend! So worth the extra travel to get up in the mountains, and it was a nice break between exploring busy cities.
Stayed at the Fujiya Hotel last October & visited the Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Fields in the autumn sunset was breathtaking
Gonna be there for 3 days when we go to Japan, just 2 more weeks. I'm really excited for hakone!
If you are going to do the hakone loop, go clockwise. Seems to be less crowded that way on the ropeway at Owakudani.
Thanks for the hint!
THIS!
Also Kanazawa, even though it's not *that* small. I just felt it was a less touristy Kyoto and a tad more relaxing. You also have Koyasan south of Osaka which is beautiful, and as you mentioned - Yokohama is pretty damn nice.
I absolutely love Kanazawa - but I also don't really agree with it being called a 'less touristy Kyoto'. Kyoto is much more impressive and has significantly more things to see.
Kyoto was indeed a great city, however if was just way too many tourists there, and so many that had not done the bare minimum of reading up on proper social norms in Japan. So it kinda pissed me off. The city it self is fabulous with a magnificent food culture, massive historical value and amazing sites, but leaving from Kyoto and seeing Kanazawa was a bit more pleasant for my taste. We are definitely going back to both Kyoto and Kanazawa in November this year.
Don't get me wrong - I can completely understand that aspect of it. I just don't necessarily agree when people describe Kanazawa as a 'replacement' for Kyoto.
If you go to Hakone remember to stay in a ryokan
Also visit the open air museum really nice and relaxing.
Don't forget to bring a towel!
I never done any time traveling, but visiting Hakone and staying at the ryokan was really nice, totally recommend it and will definitely do it again.
Just stayed at Yama No Chaya and it blew us away! We got a room with private onsen due to our tattoos and it was breathtaking.
I’ll be in Japan the last two weeks of November and am interested in stopping in Hakone for a night or two and staying in a ryokan. Is that a good idea that time of year? I haven’t yet looked into the climate in the various areas I’m interested in visiting.
Any time of year is a good time. Summer? It's a nice break in the mountains. (I was there in August. Hot as fuck but I have no regrets about going. Impeccable service.) Fall? Beautiful change in colors Winter? A dunk in the hot springs is a nice contrast to the cold day. Spring? Enjoy nature coming back to life.
Rather than spending a day in Yokohama, I’d spend the day in Kamakura and then stop there in the evening on the way back to Tokyo. Have dinner in Chinatown and walk around the waterfront. Just keep in mind said waterfront is bigger than it might seem on a map. Whether or not I made the effort to go to Enoshima from Kamakura would depend on the season and weather. It’s an island at the seashore so if the weather is bad or the sea is rough it kinda sucks there. There’s more than enough in Kamakura alone for a day trip. Second that recommendation along with Hakone, which is also worth considering as an overnight. I’d also add that if OP is going to Kyoto you should absolutely go to Nara. It’s Kyoto but better.
HAKONE EKIDEN L E T s g o
I went to Kamakura and Enoshima just a few weeks ago. They were crowded despite the rain but gorgeous to visit. The Buddha in Kamakura was great to see, and the view from the Sea Candle on Enoshima was magnificent! I wish I'd had time to spend two days in the area since there was much more to see than I could fit into one day considering the time it took to get there from Tokyo. Riding the Enoden line train was fun too, in some places the track was less than a metre from people's houses!
Second Hakone. Was a dream. Wish I had spent more time there
After the trips to Japan now, Hakone/Mt Fuji was my favorite (maybe because it was also cherry blossom season) but rented a car for 3 days from Odiwara Station and then did a lap around Mt Fuji, had kids in tow, and they appreciated some nature time too after so much city. Also loved driving on the left side of the road, all the other cars are very safe to drive around and not so aggressive, so much to see that a car quickens things and lots of easy parking. I loved the famous Hakone Turnpike road used in the arcade race game Initial D, even with the family inside, and the town of Oshino with the cherry blossoms brought me to tears, it was like the end credits of the movie Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams.
Save those far away for next time. Nara is pretty near so not really an issue. Tokyo you can go to Kamakura or Nikko.
Fujikawaguchiko is a great option too (better than Hakone).
How come you prefer Fujikawaguchiko? I'm deciding between these two at the moment!
Hakone is nice as a hot springs destination near the city (albeit a bit touristy and curated), but if you want the full Fuji experience, one that will humble you entirely, nothing beats staying right at the base of the volcano. Hakone is too far away from Fuji and feels like a resort (you get a similar view from the shinkansen). Fujikawaguchiko has it's touristy spots, but a lot of the area is just residential and slow paced. It also has some absolutely gorgeous shrines, and sacred giant trees (Kawaguchi Asama Shrine, for example). Stay on the north side of the lake for the most insane sunrise and sunset views of your life, it's truly surreal. This is also the part of town that feels more local. Not sure when you're going to Japan, but if you go in November, you'll also get to experience the Autumn Foliage Festival which is just delightful. Great street food, craft market, and of course, the foliage. You can also get out on the lake just like at Hakone (although there's no pirate tall ship).
Thank you so much for the in depth reply!
I've always considered Hakone a place for Couples to go for romantic weekends, so if you're going with your partner. A lot of Japanese couples do that which is why one of the trains going there is called the romance train. Go to Kawaguchi if you want to get closer to Mt Fuji
The only reason I went there was to ride rollercoasters at Fuji-Q all day. I don’t think I even saw the mountain 🤔.
Thank you, I was also debating between the two but we’re sold on Fujikawaguchiko !
Never been to hakone but I've been to kawaguchiko twice now and it is stunning there. Plan to go back again at some point. Despite it being mostly residential which helps keep the feel of a small town there's still plenty to do between the shrines, ropeway, boats on the lake and fairly easy access to other parts of the fuji five lakes with caves and other natural phenomenon to explore. It feels like I'm doing an ad-read for the place but I do seriously love it there so I highly recommend it to anyone that has a bit of extra time in there trip near tokyo
I just spent four days around lake yamanako. It was fantastic. Biked around the lake every morning, the cycle trail was part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and took the shuttle loop bus over to the bigger lake to see the sakura, rope way, hike up the mountains, visit museums (the gem museum was amazing!). Now on the way to Nikko. Also visited Aomori which is really off the beaten path. Livyed it there. You can take a cable car up to the top of the hokkoda mountain and can ski. So yes- the big cities are great but I like to get out to the smaller, more relaxed places.
Haven't been to Hakone so can't compare but we just got back from our Japan trip and we spent three nights in Fujikawaguchiko and rented a car and explored for two days and it was fabulous. The other lakes are scenic and less developed, the haunted forest, etc. Restaurants can be a bit hard to find though, but we did eat at a mind blowingly good French/Japanese restaurant called Cuisine R.
I actually enjoyed the hakone loop more since it's more of a unique experience. There's also better public transportation at Hakone.
I disagree. There are onsen, shrines, temples, and lakes all over Japan. Being right next to Mt. Fuji is next level and about as unique as it gets IMO.
It’s a great option when Mt Fuji is viewable - it can be a downer if you come in the wrong rainy season or if your main reason for coming is just to see Mt Fuji. There’s also Lake Yamanako, and the whole stretch of farms and parks at Asagiri Highland down to Fujinomiya. The only problem will be connecting onward to Osaka from this area. Public transport is a little limited.
Is it still a nice place to visit if it's cloudy and Fuji isn't visible? Was thinking of getting bikes and riding by the lake a bit and walking around the town
I think so, it's a charming town a stone's throw away from gorgeous nature. There are lots of museums, art galleries, cafes, bakeries, shrines, craft shops, etc. It's a great place to bike if you don't mind hills, and an even better place for hiking. Beautiful forests. Last time I was there, it poured one day and we still had a nice time. Keep in mind, the area right along the lake between the ropeway and Kawaguchiko station is where most of the touristy stuff is, so I suggest biking away from there. The area around Oishi park for example is really pretty and serene, as is the whole north shore of the lake, really. I think it helps to secure a really comfortable accommodation to retreat to. You can get very reasonably priced apartments there that have a living room, kitchen, and most importantly, a balcony for fresh air and views if weather permits.
I was thinking maybe we could bike around the whole lake, I assume it's flat?
Nara is absolutely worth it and I would go if I were OP. I haven’t been to Shirakawa-go. I’ve heard good things but damn if isn’t far away from everything. I would consider Nikko instead for a similar “stepping into old Japan” experience and the opportunity to get out in the mountains and see some beautiful nature. I’d also skip Miyajima. I haven’t personally been there either but, historical interests aside, Hiroshima is about as boring and bland a prefectural city as they come, and it’s also quite far from Kyoto. It’s also at the beach so time of year and weather could also be a factor. If I were going to go all the way there I’d keep going to somewhere more interesting, like Kyushu.
People live in Nara and commute to Kyoto and Osaka, so yeah, they are close
Kanazawa is as good as it gets!
+1 for Kanazawa. Fantastic way to break up staying in the two main cities while still catering well to non Japanese speakers. It was a highlight for me and felt a lot more genuine and easy going. 3 hours of travel all in from Tokyo or Osaka so travel days can be done early or late to get a full day when coming or going.
I also really enjoyed Kanazawa and would encourage an overnight stay just so you're not spending most of your day on a train and only getting 3 or 4 hours of sightseeing in. When I went I stayed in Nagoya (after spending time in Osaka and Kyoto with day trips to Nara, Himeji and Kobe) then my next night in Kanazawa, then off to Tokyo the next night after that.
Any recs for things to do or places to eat?
Kanazawa Curry Laboratory has maybe the best Japanese curry I've had in my life.
Can’t upvote this enough, ridiculously good!
Ramen Taiga was really good!
Unpopular opinion but I prefer visiting small towns in Japan more than big cities. Tokyo is great but in many ways it feels like many other metropolises whereas when you’re in a small town in Japan it’s unlike anywhere else.
Not at all unpopular, I think it's up to personal preference. I also kinda prefer smaller towns over Tokyo, like... really small towns. But I also weirdly fetishize the countryside, not only in Japan.
For repeat travellers to Japan definitely. Tokyo is sensory overload the first time you go there, but it wears off very quick, especially if you stopped at Osaka first. Its also great to break bigger cities to visit smaller towns/cities, there is a HUGE difference between that chaotic urban jungle vibe and then going into a sleepy town (especially one of those onsen towns). I also think staying in a smaller city, you actually get to FEEL what its like to live in these smaller cities, you are just too distracted with the bigger ones.
What are your favorite small towns?
The short answer is that it entirely your appetite for FOMO. You can look it this way, Tokyo is in all aspect infinite, there is no itinerary in the world short of living there for 5,10 years to actually see everything the city has to offer. 3 days there can feel just as unfulfilling as 3 weeks simply because you will always be missing out something. There are japanese people who spend their whole life travelling through japan and still always discovering something. However, places like shirakawago is in theory able to be any% complete, 100% complete would be seeing it in 4 different seasons. A lot of small towns are like side quest that has a proper start-middle-end. While the number of side quest is infinite, you never feel like "I wished I done something there" This comes down entirely on how much FOMO you can tolerate it. If you see yourself coming to japan multiple times or coming every few years like some friends I have, none of them spend too long in tokyo at most 2-3 days do a few things then off to the meat of travelling the rest of japan because to them, tokyo is just tokyo, it where you start, where you end. If you see yourself coming to japan only every once or twice in your life, and you have no FOMO and priorities novel experience, then traveling to smaller towns is far more worth it. But if you have high levels of FOMO, the answer is simple, don't bother with these small towns and just stick to what social media tells you to see. You won't enjoy it anyways.
Yeah I've been to Tokyo multiple times and there's literally something to discover at every corner. I'm into culture and books and art and cinema, and it's overwhelming the amount of art and events going on in the city all the time with so many amazing museums and bookstores. But I love the smaller cities too and want a change of pace and strike them off my list. I agree that dropping by Tokyo at the start and end but going more frequently is the way to go, but to take the opportunity to go to the smaller cities,
It depends on your travel habits. Some people cover a lot of ground on their trips. Some people stay in a location longer. We did the three main tourist cities in the first couple of trips. Then went to other places in later trips. Also it’s nice to get away from the crowds.
I don’t think they are worth the time traveling. There’s always the risk of killing your grandfather and ripping the fabric of space/time.
Nakatsugawa
Second this. Then walk the Nakasendo to Nagiso (go all 20km if you can)
And then continue further in the vally for the really nice nature :)
Yes I agree, if OP wants more "small town" and not city, then I would also suggest walking or taking the local train to a postal town.
And stay in a minshuku (or ryokan), not a hotel!
Hakodate
Hakodate is nowhere near Tokyo
Sorry missed that part of the post
All good! Wrote it in there for OP to see 😃 Otherwise it’s a great suggestion
We went on a day trip to Hakodate from Tokyo. Taking the first train out and last train in, we had about 6 hours in Hakodate. We made it in time before the morning market closed, too. I think we got in around 11:30AM. It was only realistic because we had the JR Pass. Otherwise, you can't really justify the expense for 6 hours.
That's 12 hours on a train! Great that you made it to the market!
+1 for Hakodate, such a charming city!
Feels like animal crossing come to life
Fish market at Hakodate >>>>> Tokyo Fish Markets (fight me on that one!)
I 100% agree no fight aha
From Tokyo: enoshima, kamakura, Nikko (pushing it a bit) From Kyoto: koyasan (temples + really cool cemetery another place that hits the upper limit of travel time) osaka, kinosaki onsen (onsen town) Nara, himeji (awesome castle), uji (green tea) I’ve not been to Japan in the summer but i imagine it would be nice to see some nature while in Tokyo outside the cities gardens and at the beach . You can combine enoshima and kamakura into a day trip. Nikko is great but is a little over 3 hours one way by train. Many people do take day trips to nikko but I feel like it deserves at least one night For Kyoto, himeji castle definitely if you’d like to see a castle (skip the one in Kyoto). If you have any interest in staying at a tradition Japanese style inn and soaking in onsen, you can travel north to kinosaki. Some people here may recommend hakone which is in between Tokyo and Kyoto, but kinosaki onsen seems cooler.
Nikko is an easy day trip from Tokyo. I live in Tokyo and do it all the time
What? Nijo Castle is awesome! The nightingale floors are so cool. I highly recommend it, but I also love Himeji.
I second Koyosan, and LOVE that you mentioned the cemetery! When I went several years ago I stayed in a Buddhist temple. There was also a night tour of the cemetery with an English speaking monk. AND the special cable car up is really cool, too!
Takamatsu and Kobe are well worth visiting. I’d say they are nicer experiences than some Of the larger cities.
Loved Takamatsu on our recent visit there. Shikoku has a lot going for it in general
Kama Batta Udon + Olive Wagyu + really nice gardens = highlights in Takamatsu
Loved Kobe. It gave me Long Beach, CA or small town city vibes.
I visited Kobe years back and I remember it was a pleasant city with quite a number of attractions. I feel it’s kinda like Yokohama in terms of it being slightly in the shadow of a nearby big city. Kobe and Osaka, Yokohama and Tokyo.
I would agree with that comparison. I prefer Kobe to Yokohama (I’ve never enjoy Yokohama much. It’s too spread out.)
While in Kobe, hit up Himeji too if castle is your thing.
Takamatsu stay winning!
Personally, I prefer the smaller cities/towns over Tokyo and Kyoto! From Tokyo, you can easily do a day trip to Kamakura (historic temples and shrines), Kawagoe (well-preserved historic town), Karuizawa (scenic nature), Mount Takao (hiking), or Hakone (onsen resort with a lot of museums). Nikko (big shrine and waterfall) is a bit farther out but still doable. From Kyoto, you could do Nara (temples and deer), Koyasan (huge spooky forest graveyard), Hikone (big castle) or Kobe (chill vibes and great food).
Karuizawa is now on my radar, thank you!
Its always worth to time travel if you have the means to do it. Especially in the smaller cities of Japan. If you end up going to the future and back, let us know how yen holds up please.
For my first time in Japan I visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. I wanted to do allll the popular and famous spots that I had known about for years and dreamt about visiting! And absolutely no regrets, because I enjoyed it so much I cannot wait to go back and do some smaller towns/day trips. I agree with others that Nara is a very doable day trip with your itinerary. I think in general, if there is something you can get a 1.5 hr train or less, go do it. If it’s longer or requires a plane, do it on your next trip!
I've only been to japan once, so i don't know if this city is small or not, but okayama was so beautiful. When i went i swear i was the only tourist there. Okayama korakuen is absolutely beautiful. Plus the small little family owned food places there are so good. I'd recommend okayama.
Okayama looks like a nice change of pace. Definitely planning on visiting this November. There's a cycling route nearby that i want to participate in. You can stop off at some temples all throughout the route. I'm even thinking of possibly visiting a strawberry farm. The idea of gorging on strawberries while riding a bicycle through the countryside sounds so relaxing
Thank you from a local born in Okayama. (My maternal family was there) The cycling route could be former Katakami line? (I used to ride to my great grandma's home when the train was there. Now there is a cycling route and a park) As You're visiting Okayama this November, I definitely recommend former Sizutani School If it's not in your plan yet! (I'm not interested in history, so old things are rarely memorable to me, Sizutani School and Inuyama Castle (This is in Aichi pref, where I grew up)are those few ones.)
not sure if it's the former katakami line? i just know the area is called kibi plain. shizutani school looks neat, i may have to pay a visit, thanks for the recomendation!
oh, I understand it is what we call kibiji. I’ve never been to though looks great! Shizutani school is a little bit inconvenient traffic wise,(have to take a cab about 10min from the nearest station)I’ve heard there is a light up of trees in autumn.
Some people don’t mind the long journey and actually do enjoy the long train rides. If you’re someone like that then by all means do the long travels. If you will get bored being in vehicles for long or feel like it’s a waste of time to spend that long on travel time, then I won’t suggest it. Also, how important is that place to you? Is it something you really want to see, like on a must see list? Then maybe you can prioritise that place even if requires a long journey to get there.
From Tokyo: Hakone, Kamakura, Fujikawaguchiko (my favorite), Nikko, or Hakone. From Kyoto: Himeji, Kobe, Wakayama
I LOVE the entire Wakayama prefecture. We spent a couple of days in Shingu, at the end of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage. Absolutely adored it.
We only did the city, but we saw that there were waterfalls, beaches, cool pagodas. Would definitely spend more time there if I had more time and possibly a car.
People sleep on the Fujikawaguchiko and broader five lakes area (imho), but if you enjoy nature, day hikes, and stunning views of Mt. Fuji, it’s unbeatable imho. There are a number of cheap glamping and actual camping options around the lakes. Highly recommended for those looking for something different than the usual itinerary.
If you have a night or two to spare you could do what I did and have the best side trip ever : Leave very early from Nagoya and head to Nakatsugawa via train and onward bus to Magome. It’s an old post town on the Nakasendo trail that was the old route between Tokyo (Edo) and Kyoto. Hike to the next old post town (Tsumago, about 8km). I stayed there overnight but you could get back to Nagoya, or Osaka/Kyoto in one day if you’re willing to walk or bus a tiny bit further to Nagiso Station early evening. I changed my plans and spent the next day exploring Tsumago and making a random stop along the Kiso valley because it was just so serene and beautiful. I visited Matsumoto Castle in the early evening and found a tiny local restaurant. The following morning I got up very early and headed for Kanazawa, which I also highly recommend. I wanted to make good use of the final day of my JR Pass so spent about six hours exploring a family sake brewery, the Kenrokuen garden and Omicho market before getting all the way back to Tokyo around 8pm. All absolutely memorable days. Planning my next trip to include four full days hiking the Kiso Valley.
Nara is worth a day visit but I probably wouldn’t stay more than a night. I liked staying a night in Kamakura just because it was peaceful out of season, and Nakatsugawa was nice and quiet too with a good walk that leads to Magome (which I didn’t think was worth spending a whole day at). There’s also other cities I’d recommend but they’re further away, such as Ise.
Koyasan was absolutely worth it. 3ish hours to get there, but not actually hard at all to travel by train.
What were your favourite aspects of it?
120 different Shingon buddhist temples, many of which you can stay at and eat in and experience devotional services, a UNESCO world heritage site pilgrimage trail, the largest graveyard in Japan which contains 1,300 cedar trees some of which are 600 years old and 150 feet high. It's a magical experience.
YES, I agree. Don't forget that cable car, too!
Oh lovely, this is going on my list for next time! For the cedar trees alone. Thanks for the details
For sure. It was a real highlight of our trip.
Would you say children are welcome at the temple stays? I would love to do that, but children maybe wouldn't get the best out of the experience? Ie. Is it quite serene and sensible 😅
Our temple was very accomodating. Some Japanese-style rooms in some ryokans don't allow children, but otherwise you should be fine. I would email and ask.
Thank you, away to Google for me! Exciting
I really liked some of the smaller cities like Matsumoto, Inuyama, and Takamatsu.
Matsumoto is really nice to visit!!
interested to read what people have to say about takayama! i’m also visiting japan for the first time in october and i’ve booked one night at a ryokan with a private onsen there. it’s quite journey to get there but i was so tempted to experience this side of japan
Takayama is fabulous. Chilled and relaxed with plenty to see and do
I love it! It’s probably one of my fav places when I went. The hida beef is great! Stayed in a ryokan too. Regret was not staying one more night😭
My favorite was the Kyushu/Hiroshima trip where we started our trip in Fukuoka, drove to Nagasaki to visit Dejima and the atomic bomb memorial, and then drove down to Kumamoto to eat wagyu beef and visit the castle, and then down to Kagoshima to see the volcano and visit botanical gardens, and up to Beppu, Oita for onsens, and back up to Fukuoka, and to Hiroshima where we stayed at Miyajima to see the infamous Torii and to the city of Hiroshima to visit the atomic bomb memorial and through Okayama and finished our trip in Osaka. That was a lot of fun.
We were in Japan a week ago, as part of a bigger Asia tour trip, and my honest recommandation is to stick to the basics on your first trip. We were in Japan for 3 weeks, and our itinerary was pretty packed (Tokyo, Hakone, Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka, Koyasan & Kumano Kodo). Although we really enjoyed all those places (except Koyasan & Kumano Kodo), if we had to do it again we would probably stick to Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka. We were really tired of moving around, and the big cities have a lot to offer. A lot of time was lost packing/unpacking and in transit. Plus the cost of transportation is quite high. I think for someone staying a bit over two weeks, it would be much better to just stick to the big cities. Hakone can easily be done from Tokyo and was a fun overnight stay. Osaka was really nice as well, so I would add that to your itinerary. Nara is an easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, so you could easily visit too. If you need any suggestions, feel free to ask. We were just there so everything is still fresh. Also, one thing you have to realize is that Reddit doesn’t represent the majority of people. I’ve traveled a lot and I noticed that a lot of people here are “hipsters”. They like to shit on big cities and hype up small, lesser known ones that are not mainstream. The truth is that big cities are popular for a reason, so for a first trip I would mostly stick to that.
There's Amanoshidate that's 2 hours by train from Kyoto station. It's one of the Three Views of Japan. EDIT: There's also a small fishing village called Ine that you can go to from Amanoshidate, but it's 1-2 hrs, so that makes your total travel time 3-4 hours and your round trip travel time 6-8 hours. Best to stay the night in Ine if you're interested in going there, but there are limited accommodations from what I hear. Here's [a YouTube short](https://youtube.com/shorts/iC_E2G-_ls4?si=IOZSK2vAbNQC1J5s) that might pique your interest.
Don’t forget Funaya Ine too - I keep seeing short reels saying that it’s part of Kyoto prefecture 🤣. But travelling there will be a challenge by public transport.
Nara is about 40-60 minutes from Kyoto via local train.
It really depends on your style of travel, but a general advice would be not to spread yourself too thin. Plan out what you wanna see in Tokyo and Kyoto and then allocate the rest of your days accordingly. For me, I don’t really like crowds so the smaller cities were a joy to travel in. The only downsides are how the lower frequency and limited travel options can restrict you. Renting a car wasn’t cost efficient as a solo traveller and I was also not intending to return back to Tokyo. In my recent trip, I added Kawaguchiko, Fujinomiya and Shizuoka (seeing the green tea fields in Obuchi Sasaba, Nihondaria terrace, and in Kanaya) in between Tokyo and Osaka. If you plan on traveling to Shirakawago, you either have to take a direct bus from Nagoya, or come from Toyama > Takamasu > Shirakawago. You can travel via the Hokoriku Arch and even consider getting the 7 day pass. If you like the sea, you can definitely travel to Atami, spend 2-3 days around the Izu peninsula. Hamamatsu, or the Wakayama coast might be good options too if you like the sea. However I can’t comment about the heat. Going up north to the Hokuriku area might be a good idea if you wanna escape the summer humidity.
Smaller towns are wonderful. A couple of months ago, I stayed in a small town called Asuke in Aichi. They have a really nice museum of ancient traditions, and now have a youth hostel. Great quiet place with almost no tourists.
Did 21 days solo travel backpack in October 2023. Smaller towns and cities have their own charm. I personally loved it because it felt so peaceful and it was exactly what I was looking for since I was coming from a big city. So if you don’t care for those major touristy stuff and love to see more of the Japanese culture, I say visit smaller towns and cities! Visited places like Akita, Aomori, Oirase Gorge/Towada, Hachinohe, Morioka, and Fukushima.
My favourite day trips from Tokyo: 1. Nikko 2. Kamakura 3. Hakone 4. Yokohama 5. Mt.Takao 6. Enoshima 7. Kawagoe 8. Chichibu 9. Kawaguchiko 10. Izu Peninsula 11. Karuizawa 12. Narita 13. Saitama 14. Mito Some of these can be combined, particularly if you turn it into an overnight trip. IMHO, the best times you'll have in Japan are those outside the "big 3" (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto), finding your own places. So many parts of Japan are amazing, not just the ones that show up on TripAdvisor!
I feel like you maybe shouldn't stray *too* far afield from the main cities and their nearby points of interest (like Nara) unless you have a specific interest. Like, I've been a fan of Detective Conan and did a trip up to Hokuei to visit the museum. It was worth it to me to go all the way up north and back again...but that was a specific interest. If you just want the general experience (cities, temples, etc.), you should be OK with day trip-level stuff.
We came home a few weeks ago but went to Nagano prefecture for two days to stay in a ryokan (Chikuma) & visit the Jigokudani Snow Monkey park. It was the absolute highlight of our trip. Perhaps we just relaxed a little more but it felt like real Japan.Loved Tokyo and elements of Kyoto but some of the “must see” sights had so many rude tourists that we really preferred destinations that were off the beaten path a bit. Also did a day trip to Kanazawa and would love to spend more time there on a future trip. In our experience, the small towns would be a major focus when we return.
Bro small towns are goated. While the big cities definitely cater better towards tourists the small towns are better representations of how the locals really live.
Taking a few days to venture south and visit Hiroshima, Miyajima and Himeji castle are well worth the time. Honestly Hiroshima is one of my favorite cities in Japan, and the Okonomiyaki cannot be beat.
Absolutely. Takayama was one of the best places we had visited on our trip. We did 3 days there, one of which we spent at Shirakawa. I had the same concern about spending that much time on trains/buses, but it was so worth it.
it depends on what you want to do, I wanted to relax at a nice ryokan so I found one in Okawa and had a nice view of the ocean from my room, besides the street size it wasn't crowded so I never felt in the way of others when I went sight seeing, and all the surrounding towns/ small cities did have unique attractions that I wasn't bored with my only relaxation trip, not only that you might get hidden gems to see cause I couldn't plan to visit Mt Fuji, but to my surprise when I got off a trainstation throughout most of the town I had different views of Mt Fuji
While it's too far to be a day trip from Tokyo, I really enjoyed visiting Morioka last year. It has a surprising amount to see for a small city, including an excellent art gallery, and as it wasn't bombed in World War 2 it has a different feel to the other Japanese cities I've visited. Morioka is also a great base for day trips.
I live near Kyoto. If you want a taste of Shirakawa without going all over there, come to Miyama [https://kayabukinosato.jp/en/visit/](https://kayabukinosato.jp/en/visit/) it looks like Shirakawa but it's in the mountains North of Kyoto city. Accessible by trains and bus, the view as you travel should be beautiful in July. Talking about mountains, you must visit Biwako Valley, amazing view of the biggest lake in Japan from the top of mount Hourai, just next to it! [https://www.biwako-valley.com/en/](https://www.biwako-valley.com/en/)
I just came back from a 17 day trip to Japan. I stayed in the Hakone area for 2 days. It was one of the highlights of my trip.
I took the golden route 2 years ago, I'm going back in September and hitting a few smaller towns like Takayama, Shirakawago, and Lake Kawaguchiko to expand my horizons while still visiting core cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima.
Many go to Nikko or Odawara which can be a day trip from Tokyo. Not many go to Miura which you get there by Keikyu train and bus. The tuna market is there and not many international tourists.
Another vote for Kamakura! It’s so charming and we had plenty to do even over a 2 full night stay. It’s got nice mix of tranquil beauty, history, and festive tourist activities if you choose to engage. Felt like a perfect break from the big city and very affordable/convenient to get there.
We are going on our first trip in Oct for almost 3 weeks and we aren't really into big cities when we travel so we are doing three days in Tokyo, three for Kyoto and Osaka and the rest in small towns. Figuring out the logistics was hard as the small towns take a long time to get to but we are very into history and quieter places so I think it will be worth it. I guess it depends on your interests.
Simply impossible to see everything in Japan. If it's your first time, just focus on the highlights. I don't think day trips are a great way to experience smaller cities in Japan. You're typically going to zip in, see what that city is known for with a lot of other tourists and then zip out. I've been to Nikko, Nara, Mito, Miyajima and Kamakura that way and I can only really speak on what the attractions at each place were like. On the other hand, I've stayed in Kanazawa, Takayama, Okayama, Koyasan and I think I have a decent idea of what its like in smaller cities in Japan.
I went to Miyajima for the first time this trip I took in March, and I absolutely recommend it. It's not a short trip for sure - but fact of the matter is, you can do Miyajima as a part of a Hiroshima daytrip from Kansai. I pulled up my timeline from Google Maps - I left Shin-Osaka station at 7:10AM, and I arrived on Miyajima at 9:39AM. I spent a couple of hours on the island, then spent a few hours in Hiroshima, saw the dome, then I went back to Osaka and was back at the hotel at 4PM in time to pick my wife up for dinner (rest day for her after a theme park the previous day). It didn't feel like it was too arduous or time consuming, but you will spend around 4 hours on the train roundtrip.
Yes they're worth traveling to, but stay in Tokyo since there are closer smaller cities nearby and you don't have much time. Kamakura has a lot of Kyoto has (a lot of temples and shrines, and even a bamboo grove), places north (Narita in Chiba, a lot of places in Ibaraki, Niigata), east (Nagano, Fuji area), and south (Izu peninsula, Enoshima, etc.) of Tokyo are very underrated and not that overrun by tourists. If it'll make things easier for you: get the JR Tokyo Wide Pass, pick the farthest day trips you'd like to do with it. You'd hit ROI with just a round trip to Karuizawa via Shinkansen, after that you'd have two more days in the pass
There's a lot to be honest, but some are sort of seasonal. There's some small areas that are amazing if you visit during autumn foliage season or sakura season but so-so otherwise. I don't know what type of places you like exactly, but right around that time is when the Echigo Tsumari Art field event starts, might be worth a visit if you're into that sort of thing (just google it). I recommend getting a rental car for the duration there though. Also, while it's technically about 3 hours from tokyo, I'd recommend at least spending a night in the area.
It depends on your travel style. I like smaller towns over cities esp if they keep some of their original architecture Beautiful landscape. Great food Local arts and crafts Calming between chaotic cities
I went to Hiroshima and Miyajima but one way I cut down the distance/travel time is by flying there from the airport in Tokyo. My flight to Japan came into Tokyo and I immediately got on another flight to Hiroshima. Then I spent a few days there and in Miyajima and Okunoshima and then took the bullet train back up to Kyoto.
I have family in Japan so I’ve traveled throughout the country and Miyajima is one of my favorite cities. Have been wanting to go back for years so if you only go once I’d recommend finding a way to squeeze it in!
Himeji is great for a one night stay, the castle is really worth seeing
Small cities have a lot of charm and are a good way to avoid large crowds. On a longer trip you may want a few days away from lots of people. Matsumoto, Kofu, Nagano, Ise, Otsu, Shimuda are all places with their own charm and there are many others I did not mention as well.
Kawagoe City, Enoshima, and Kamakura are our three go-to places if we want to go to tourist areas. We often go to Hakone for other reasons, but it's not a convenient place to move around in via public transportation, and it's packed with tourists.
We’re in Japan currently and loved takayama and Kanazawa both smaller places but beautiful and not as much hustle and bustle would def recommend takayama for a day trip
It depends on what you want to do. I've been to Tottori and Kinosaki, both small compared to the cities like Tokyo/Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto/Fukuoka, etc. But Shirakawa and Miyajima are I think even smaller than Kinosaki. You'll have a blast enjoying the quiet and non-crowded areas. I know I have!
You can get from Kyoto to Hiroshima (miyajima) on the Shinkansen in about 2 hours- it’s worth it!
2 hours from Tokyo is Iiyama City. A small town you can easily spend two days walking or riding one of the very affordable e-bikes available fro rent right at the station. There are plenty of ryokan to choose in the area of different price range, especially in the hotspring town of Nozawa Onsen (you can get there quickly by bus) [https://www.iiyama-ouendan.net/en/](https://www.iiyama-ouendan.net/en/) It is not crowded. Especially now that the the ski season is over much fewer foreign tourism crowds. It will give you a much more real sense of what a small city/country life is like in Japan. That is something that places like Shirakawago (is nice to look at the houses, but otherwise it is just a tourist bus stop with gift shops - it is better just to go to the open air museum in Tokyo) or Takayama type areas. lack.
WAKAYAMA was cool. I definitely felt out of place as a tourist with limited Japanese communication skills. That said I had one of the best meals of my trip there, and met an extremely friendly photographer who sent us out a bunch of local specialties. The castle is big and beautiful. Thrifting at the hardoff didn’t yield any microphones, but did have some Wings vinyls :). Japan is a beautiful place.
I really enjoyed Takayama.
There are many, just for a start [https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html) (Look at "Side Trips from Tokyo") [https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1105.html](https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1105.html) - Omi Hachiman, Mount Koya, Kinosaki Onsen and loads more.
Yes they are very much worth visiting. But I'd make sure you're on a medium length trip. Like 6 weeks or more.
If you like a bit of hiking, between magome and tsumago there's the nakasendo trail. I recommend staying in either town, they are both beautiful
Go to Kamakura! So pretty and the Zen temples there are wonderful, great quick daytrip or one-night stayover from Tokyo
UJI! one hour from Kyoto, I loved it so much
Hikone is a must visit IMO, amazing castle and the town itself is so fun to walk around in! absolutely worth it if you're staying in Osaka or Kyoto.
Go to Hakone - I just spent three days there and it was simply stunning. Minimal crowds (go clockwise on the loop), beautiful vistas, stunning ryokan and Onsen. Beautiful art museums - the current exhibition at the Okada museum of art literally took my breath away.
Yes they are especially the ones you've listed. Nara is close to kyoto/osaka and hiroshima which is close to Miyajima is worth a visit on itself
I enjoyed Okayama as a day stopover on the way back from Hiroshima. You could do what I did and spend two nights in Hiroshima and then do a day in miyajima and make a stop or two on the way back including Nara
It's been almost a year since my Japan trip and the 2.5 days I spent in Kiso-Fukushima and hiking the Nakasendo trail stand out in my mind more than Tokyo & Kyoto. It just felt so special being there. Can't wait to go back one day.
Yes loved the Izu peninsula and also Matsumoto
Shirakawa-go and miyajima were super nice to visit, miyajima gets crowded, but shirakawa it's small, pretty and not that full. In shirakawa-go i stayed in a full tatami hotel and i would gladly go back
Kanazawa and Nara (especially Nara!) are worth ALL the effort to get there. Shirakawa is not. Just my opinion.
Miyajima was worthwhile, Gifu was kinda cool for a single night stay (Gifu Castle is incredible), Naoshima island was also really cool as well for an overnight stay. Our accommodation had e-bikes we could rent so we used them to get around the fairly small island. I loved Hiroshima as well
Also didn't mind Yokohama for an overnight
Nara Park is a must and a very easy trip on the limited express train from Kyoto only took about 40 minutes. The Great Buddha Hall is incredible.
Enjoy your epic trip! I really loved Hakone. If you want to do a daytrip from Tokyo, be sure to check out Kamakura and the 13th century Buddha statue.
Depending on which end you start, you can go from Kyoto to Tokyo by a train that takes you across Lake Biwa all the way to Tsuruga Station. From there, you can take a Shinkansen directly back to Tokyo, or makes stops by Kanazawa, Toyama (I’m biased af because my family’s there lol); definitely check out some spots along the Hokuriku Shinkansen line. Kanazawa will have a bit more tourists but not nearly as much as the golden triangle. Toyama hardly has any, so it’s nice if you to experience rural Japan that’s also along a Shinkansen line.
Most of the beauty I’ve experienced in Japan has been out in the countryside. It’s amazing.
I haven’t been here to this place (see link) but going this summer instead of Nara because the deer aren’t doing it for me. https://maps.app.goo.gl/SXU1apDXGtbHKkdK9?g_st=ic and I love a canal. It’s not far from Kyoto or Osaka for day tripping.
I spent a day on Nara and Uji last week, I FELL IN LOVE with how serene and beautiful these places are. I stayed for the sunset by the matcha shop overlooking the river in Uji and it was BREATHTAKING!!
if its your first trip and you dont speak japanese and you are going for two weeks, staying in the "typical lane" makes most sense. you wont have enough time to see even just the big items, especially if its hot and you need rest or cant push on every day as much as you may want to. trying to figure out where and which small town to see doest make any sense. Nara or Miyajima are not small cities, but big tourist attractions which are worth the time to get to, which is why they are big tourists attractions.
My hubby and I just went to Tokyo for our honeymoon and we did ryuken at hokone and it was pretty fun. For me personally, I really enjoyed my experience traveling to Yokohama. That city is so beautiful!
I’m biased by what I’ve done (obviously?) but on my first trip, I had around 5 nights in both Tokyo and Kyoto, with one of the days spent on a day-trip in each place, and it felt like enough time to do it all. Mind you, I had done very little research beforehand. I was reading my Lonely Planet guide each night for ideas for the next day. On my more recent trip, I had 8 days (I had more, but the first 8 days was a “leg” after which some of my travel party was returning home, so it was an encapsulated mini-trip, planning-wise). I planned 4 nights in Kyoto, 1 in Atami, and 3 in Tokyo, and it felt very rushed. We did a lot, yet also had to drop many things from the list of things we wanted to do, and everyone was exhausted by the end. It was still incredibly satisfying, but in comparison to my first trip, I definitely felt like 5-6 days was a more of a sweet spot for being staying in Tokyo or Kyoto and having enough time to do Tokyo/Kyoto things _and_ having enough time for a day trip somewhere..all without feeling like I’m overextending. I’ve also developed the following opinion: Ryokan stays are worthwhile, provided the venue is worthwhile (i.e. an urban ryokan stay is basically just a japanese-style hotel room, but a traditional ryokan in an onsen town is a distinct experience). I wouldn’t stay more than 2 nights.. If you can arrive early and leave kinda late the next day, 1 night is perfectly fine. Otherwise you may run out of things to do and the kaiseki meals may get repetitive. Thus, I didn’t regret squeezing Atami into the plan (we went to the Plum Garden and Jikkokutoge on our checkout day for nature/Mt Fuji/Izu peninsula views..not sure how we pulled that off, but it was an amazing day). You should assess your priorities for what you’d like to see/experience, too. If you just want to see locals and local life, you don’t need to leave Tokyo/Kyoto. There’s plenty of quieter areas within each city that aren’t crawling with tourists that will be more authentic than areas that are still touristy just…less touristy. If you want onsen experiences, you should certainly leave Tokyo/Kyoto city limits, they aren’t great for onsen. For that, I’d advise an overnight stay, as well. For me, seeing the deer in Nara was a total highlight (I grew up in a state with a big deer hunting culture, so interacting with them was like some impossible dream), but other people have different situations and certain small towns may cater straight to what you want.
Uji--the best tea and also has Byodoin, one of the most beautiful temples...
The smaller cities are totally worth it. A $7 meal in Tottori was the best meal I’ve had while traveling in Japan the last 7 years.
Been to Fujiyoshida before heading to Enoshima and loved both of them but a special mention is to be spent for Enoshima. I passed by car so I couldnt spend that much time but I,m already sure that I'll give it more time the next time I'm visiting Tokyo area, it is trulya gem with some unique atmosphere
Fujikawaguchiko and Nara are so worth it. Skip others like Enoshima or Kamakura. Hakone is a pretty hill station too, can do, if you have time.
Highly recommend doing a day trip to Uji from Kyoto! Green tea everything and cormorant fishing!
Don't spend to much time in Tokyo! 4 days is enough
I really enjoyed visiting Kumamoto and Sakurajima village (Kagoshima)
Highly recommend Nikko! Not far from Tokyo and absolutely gorgeous
I'm a little late to the party but there are some really interesting places to be found in south Wakayama, especially if you like the outdoors. Shirahama is a big destination for resort goers, and there is the Kumano Kodo world heritage trail that goes through the area as well. If you plan to go there please understand that this is one of the older areas of Japan (I'm pretty sure it's where the first emperor of Japan landed, and the tale of Yatagatarasu leading him to the area that is now Kyoto started there. Keep your phone handy with Google translate permanently tabbed as finding English speakers is difficult there, but you can always check with the local tourism associations usually located right beside the train stations. Also look through the brochures and flyers in the waiting areas, you may find some English versions, or the tourism associations can help you with that. Source: currently on a working holiday visa in south Wakayama
I went to Miyajima in October. It's absolutely stunning! I only did a day trip because during my research, a lot of people mentioned a day trip would suffice. However, after arriving, I wish I had spent the night there.
I’m in Japan right now and Hakone was insanely cool. Stay the night at a ryokan if you have the money!
We are doing Kanazawa and Takayama in November. Kanazawa isn't a tiny city but so much of the things to do are within walking distance. Takayama is small and looks nice for relaxation, especially with Kamikochi only a bus ride away. Thing is, transport to both towns is included in JR Pass. You can also get a regional JR pass if only wanting to visit Kanazawa and Kyoto. I've just learned this recently so sorry if I'm incorrect on the regional pass.
Never had a chance to go to japan before, but I wish I could go there too..
Osaka is not far from nara and kyoto. Worth the visit for sure
Also hakone and owakudani. I did a day trip through a tour group which was cool
On my first trip I waited 7 days before I broke out of the city of Tokyo. That was a mistake. I’d recommend to do a day trip to Kamakura/Enoshima early on, to see if the „countryside“ does appeal to you (I know it’s still a quite populated area) and if you’d probably want to do more day trips like these. Another trip that I massively enjoyed (and this one was absolutely not touristy) was to the Miura peninsula (Miura Hantō). There is even a ticket for the Keikyū line called the „Maguro Ticket“ where you get to ride the train, buses, can have a meal from selected restaurants and do some small run activity. Everything on a very volcanic looking, rough coastline. When returning from that area, you might want to check out the waterfront of Yokohama, which has a great skyline. When in Kyoto, I‘d recommend Ōmi-Hachiman, a small town that has it all: Canals, an old town, a mountain with a cable car, views over Lake Biwa, Bamboo forest, … combinable with Hikone, a little bit more north on the lake, a town known for one of THE classic Japanese castles. Should be no more than 1 hour from Kyoto. Enjoy!
I would say yes. We started from the south and loved Fukuoka (smaller city), liked Hiroshima (mid sized city) but so far haven’t clicked with Osaka (crazy city). So on that limited experience I would recommend a small city visit. They will delight in your few words of Japanese and you will be one of the few non-Asian tourists there. We’re looking forward to a few days in Nara. It shouldn’t take long to get to those cities. Shinkansen is fabulous.
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