I don’t find out about you, however I’m bored with listening to the phrase “off the overwhelmed path.” Not as a result of I don’t assume the underlying idea—exploring international locations outdoors of their main vacation spot—is invalid, thoughts you. I’m very a lot in favor of discovering hidden gems, particularly in Japan!
What I’m bored with, in actuality, is folks mis-using this time period. Inside the context of Japan, for instance, locations like Kanazawa and Kyushu are most definitely not off the overwhelmed observe, even when they’re additionally not a part of Japan’s fundamental vacationer path.
The excellent news? Having visited all 47 Japanese prefectures (most a number of instances) over greater than a decade, I do know what Japan off the overwhelmed path actually entails. And I’m about to share it with you, in an article that may take you lower than 10 minutes to learn.
Japan’s Vacationer Path and the Fable of Overtourism
When you legitimately do begin exploring Japan off overwhelmed path, you’ll notice at the beginning that crowds and congestion are much less a “Japan downside” and extra a “Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka/Hiroshima downside.” To make certain, whereas the precise definition of Japan’s vacationer path (or golden route, because it’s typically known as) varies, these well-liked cities (alongside, typically, with Mt. Fuji and Hakone) are the standard suspects.
Now, there’s a way to this insanity—you don’t have to seek the advice of psychics on-line or resort to different less-than-scientific strategies with the intention to determine the place to keep away from if you would like peace of quiet. Most notably, some locations are seasonally busy (I’m considering Hokkaido’s Niseko ski resort, or the well-known cherry blossoms of Mt. Yoshino), however are totally abandoned throughout a lot of the remainder of the 12 months.
True Off-the-Overwhelmed-Path Locations in Japan
The Sanriku Coast
Even earlier than the 2011 wave, the tsunami-hit Sanriku Coast was not one in all Japan’s high locations. Sadly, it stays under-promoted and infrequently visited, even amongst Japanese vacationers. I like to recommend renting a automobile in Morioka and driving the entire thing for a couple of days, from scenic Jodogahama seaside, to the attention-grabbing metal metropolis of Kamaishi, to the humbling Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum and Miracle Pine.
Mie prefecture
One other place to expertise Japan off the overwhelmed observe is Mie, which could be reached from the main metropolis of Nagoya in as little as an hour, relying upon the place you go. It is a small prefecture, however massive on choices, whether or not you stroll down a Samurai avenue and eat wa-gyu beef in Matsusaka, go to Japan’s most necessary shrine in Ise or observe the traditional ama pearl diving custom in scenic Toba on the Shima Peninsula.
The San’in area
I first visited San’in a few years in the past—and it’s by no means stopped enchanting me. The northern coast and mountains of Japan’s far-western Chugoku space, San’in stays undiscovered partly as a result of the Shinkansen doesn’t go there. Which means that whether or not you return in time at Matsue Citadel, out to sea within the Oki Islands or journey a camel over the mysterious Tottori Sand Dunes, you’ll really feel like San’in belongs to you.
Shikoku island
Of all of the nation’s 4 fundamental islands, Shikoku is certainly the one that the majority qualifies as off the overwhelmed path Japan. Like San’in, it lacks a bullet prepare connection, and solely has one rail bridge interval. Along with pure magnificence just like the Iya Valley and Naruto Whirlpools, Shikoku is residence to a whopping 4 of Japan’s 12 remaining “unique” castles, in addition to the annual Awa Odori Competition, usually thought to be Japan’s greatest summer time matsuri.
Okinawa (moreover the primary island)
Whether or not due to Japanese vacationers or American navy personnel, Naha Metropolis and your complete fundamental island of Okinawa are as near Japan’s vacationer path as a spot so distant can get. You may’t say the identical, nonetheless, for outlying islands like Ishigaki (residence to Kabira Bay, which many individuals think about Japan’s greatest seaside), and Miyakojima, which is simply typically paradisiacal.
Different Methods to Get Off Japan’s Overwhelmed Path
Seeing the “actual Japan” isn’t essentially about which vacation spot you select. Listed below are another methods to go about this:
- Go to within the “off season.” This may imply going to areas identified for snowboarding (however in summer time), or going to the seashores of Okinawa’s busy fundamental island in winter or spring. Or, merely coming to Japan in “shoulder” months like Could and September.
- Keep the night time in a vacation spot most individuals go to on a day journey, corresponding to Nikko (from Tokyo) or Nara (from Kyoto). You’ll be shocked by how a lot they filter out at night time!
- Contemplate renting a automobile, which might unlock quieter locations close to busy ones. As an example, the villages of Ainokura and Suganuma really feel a world away from Shirakawa-go, which might seem to be Disneyland.
Different FAQ About Discovering Japan off the Overwhelmed Path
The place ought to I am going in Japan to keep away from vacationers?
A few of my favourite off the overwhelmed path locations embrace the San’in area, the Sanriku Coast and Shikoku island. Nonetheless, even if you happen to can’t journey distant from Japan’s vacationer path, visiting Japan throughout much less busy months is one approach to make a vacationer entice really feel like a hidden gem.
What’s the vacationer path in Japan?
Most individuals think about Japan’s vacationer path to embody Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima, and locations close to them corresponding to Mt. Fuji, Hakone, Nara, Himeji and Miyajima island. Nonetheless, as Japan grows extra well-liked, different locations really feel much less like hidden treasures, and extra like established vacationer locations.
What month has the least vacationers in Japan?
The months of Could (at the very least after the home “Golden Week” vacation) and September are typically the least busy months in Japan as a complete. Nonetheless, there may be some regional variation. The winter months are typically fairly useless off the ski slopes, whereas summer time feels much less crowded in sub-tropical Kyushu and Okinawa.
The Backside Line
Need to discover Japan off the overwhelmed path? You’re in the fitting place. From obscure areas like San’in and Sanriku, to prefectures like Mie which are hiding in plain sight, to outlying islands like Shikoku and the Okinawa archipelago, loads of locations in Japan are impervious to the “overtourism” that the media by no means shuts up about. And fortunately, most are simple to entry—as long as you may have endurance, a humorousness and both fundamental Japanese language expertise or a smile that makes folks need to strive talking English. Want personalised assist discovering hidden gems in Japan? Fee a customized Japan itinerary at the moment!