{"id":54671,"date":"2024-01-23T09:10:43","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T14:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ottsworld.com\/?p=54671"},"modified":"2026-01-18T21:45:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T02:45:49","slug":"8-places-to-discover-in-japan-off-the-beaten-path","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ottsworld.com\/blogs\/8-places-to-discover-in-japan-off-the-beaten-path\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Places to Discover in Japan off the Beaten Path"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Japan is having a travel heyday right now \u2013 and rightfully so \u2013 it\u2019s an incredible country.  In fact, it\u2019s one of my favorite countries to travel to. However, in my quest to find the lesser-traveled places wherever I go, I spent a lot of time in Japan off the beaten path on multiple trips to Japan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll give you ideas on going beyond the traditional Tokyo to Kyoto route and getting away from the crowds.  I\u2019ll introduce you to some favorite hidden gems from my travels in Japan, from the stunning Iya Valley in Shikoku to the horse culture of Tokachi to the snow-capped Japanese Alps and the wild coastline of Tohoku. These places live in the shadows of Japan, which few international visitors know about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Table of Contents<\/p>\n

  • Overtourism in Japan<\/a><\/li>
  • Add These Hidden Gems to Your Japan Itinerary<\/a><\/li>
  • Map of Japan Off the Beaten Path Recommendations<\/a>
    • Tokachi \u2013 Hokkaido Prefecture<\/a>
      • Things to do in Tokachi off the Beaten Path<\/a><\/li>
      • How to Get to Tokachi<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
      • Tohoku Region<\/a>
        • Things to do in Tohoku off the Beaten Path<\/a><\/li>
        • How to Get to Tohoku:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
        • Yanaka Neighborhood Tokyo<\/a>
          • Things to do in Yanaka off the Beaten Path<\/a><\/li>
          • How to Get to Yanaka<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
          • Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture<\/a>
            • Things to do in Matsumoto off the Beaten Path<\/a><\/li>
            • How to Get to Matsumoto<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
            • Shirakawago in Gifu Prefecture<\/a>
              • How to Get to Shirakawago<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
              • Takayama in Gifu Prefecture<\/a>
                • Things to do in Takayama off the Beaten Path<\/a><\/li>
                • How to Get to Takayama<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
                • Iya Valley \u2013 Shikoku, Tokushima Prefecture<\/a>
                  • Things to do in Iya Valley off the Beaten Path<\/a><\/li>
                  • How to Get to the Iya Valley<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
                  • Kotohira – Shikoku Kagawa Prefecture<\/a>
                    • Things to do in Kotohira off the Beaten Path<\/a><\/li>
                    • How to Get to Kotohira<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
                    • Utilize 12Go to Get to Japan’s Hidden Gems<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
                    • How to Plan Your Japan Off the Beaten Path Adventure<\/a><\/li>
                    • Experience Japan Less Traveled<\/a><\/li>
                    • Read more about Japan<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n

                      <\/span>Overtourism in Japan<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                      According to the Japan Tourism Agency, the number of visitors to Japan has returned to pre-pandemic levels, with over 17 million people visiting between January and September 2023. The downside to these visitors is that they tend to flock to all the same cities: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. These cities are phenomenal; however, they are crowded.  The influx of tourists also brings increased petty crime, waste management issues, noise pollution, and overcrowding, which can negatively affect the environment and disrupt the lives of locals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      Tourists in Japan also tend to flock to Mt. Fuji.  However, so many people climbed the iconic Mt. Fuji, queues were at the top, and the environment was damaged<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n