When it comes to a trip to Japan, most of tourists choose to visit Tokyo and Kyoto, which are two most famous tourist destinations. Yes, these two cities are undeniably beautiful and they do offer a great number of tourist attractions.
However, Japan has numbers of attractive cities and towns across the country which have their very own cultures, histories, landscape and attractions. From seasonal attractions and scenery such as cherry blossoms and autumn foliage to historic monuments and streetscape, depending on your preferences and interests, there are plenty destinations in Japan that tourists can choose!
Either If you have already visited Tokyo and Kyoto or want to explore hidden beauties of Japan, I think this article might help you to decide your next tourist destinations in Japan.
Here, I’m going to introduce some of the most beautiful cities and towns in Japan. So let’s check them out!
1. Kawagoe, Saitama
Kawagoe (川越) is a city in Saitama Prefecture, which served as a castle town during Edo Period. It’s often called Koedo which means “the Little Edo” in Japanese.
The former castle town boasts the history-rich townscape with old clay warehouses and merchant homes, called Kurazukuri. The warehouse district called Kurazukuri no Machinami offers a nostalgic townscape as if you have travelled back in Edo period. There is a famous landmark of Kawagoe, the Bell Tower (Toki no Kane) which chimes four times a day. The Candy Alley (Kashiya Yokocho), a small stone-paved shopping street adjacent to the warehouse district is lined by numbers of sweets shops selling traditional Japanese sweets and snacks.
Kawagoe is one of the most popular side trip destinations in Kanto region as it can be accessed in about 30 mins by train from the central area of Tokyo.
More info ▶ Kawagoe: 10 Best Things to Do in Little Edo
2. Kamakura, Kanagawa
A seaside city of Kanagawa Prefecture, Kamakura (鎌倉) used to be a central city for political in Japan under Yoritomo Minamoto who became the first shogun of Kamakura shogunate in 1192. Historic sites in Kamakura have been well retained till today and the city often called “the Kyoto of the East”. With over 150 temples and shrines, Kamakura is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan.
Some of notable landmarks of Kamakura are Hasedera, a hilltop temple with one of the largest wooden Kannon statues in Japan, the Great Buddha statue of Kotoku-in Temple and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, an important shinto shrine serving as one of the Important Cultural Properties of Japan. On the way to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine from Kamakura Station, there is a street called Komachi-dori which is filled with a larger number of shops, restaurants and cafes where visitors can enjoy strolling around, shopping souvenirs and munching street snacks.
More info ▶ Kamakura Best Things to Do
3. Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Kanazawa (金沢) is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture. The city prospered during Edo period, as the headquarter of Maeda Clan who is the second greatest daimyo (powerful feudal ruler) after Tokugawa Shogun. The city is rich in history and culture, and is home to a large number of well-preserved historical sites that are related to samurai, merchants, geisha and lords from Edo period.
The city is packed with historical attractions including traditional districts of Higashi Chaya District and Nagamachi samurai district, the Japanese landscape garden Kenrokuen, Kanazawa Castle and Myouryuji a.k.a. the Ninja Temple. There is also modern museums such as 21st Century Museum and D.T. Suzuki Museum. If you wish to explore the food culture of Kanazawa, head to Omicho Market, Kanazawa’s biggest indoor food market selling a wide variety of products, especially famous for fresh seafood.
Related article ▶ Ishikawa: Best Things to Do
4. Kurashiki, Okayama
Kurashiki (倉敷) is a charming city in southern Okayama Prefecture. The city used to serve as an important trade center back in Edo period, and now it attracts travellers by the well-preserved historic district called “The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter”. The district is often described as “Japan’s Little Venice” with the scenic canal lined by traditional storehouses and weeping willow trees. Visitors can enjoy cruising down the canal by a little boat watching the picturesque scenery. Japan’s first museum of Western art, Ohara Museum of Art is also a top attraction in Kurashiki City.
If you are into fashion, you should definitely extend your trip to Kojima area, which is approx 16km away from The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter area. Kojima is known as the birthplace of Japanese jeans and there are many local jeans manufacturers line along the Kojima Jean Street for about 400m. There is also Jeans Museum where you can learn the history of Japanese jeans.
5. Kobe, Hyogo
The capital city of Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe (神戸) is arguably one of the most attractive cities in Japan as it’s packed with countless attractions and entertainments for visitors. First of all, the city is best known for its signature luxurious marbled beef Kobe Beef and there are numbers of great restaurants to taste the finest quality wagyu bee cuisine in the city. The scenic setting of mountains and the harbour is also a top attraction of the city and and the night view of Kobe is considered as one of three most spectacular night views in Japan along with Hakodate and Nagasaki.
Kobe is one of the first ports in Japan to open for international trades and has a lot of influences by oversea visitors. There are several spots to explore the unique history and culture of Kobe such as Kitano district, a residential area of foreign merchants lined by Western style buildings and a Chinatown called Nankinmachi.
More info ▶ Kobe: Best Things to Do