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Japan Off the Beaten Track: Our Suggestions for Intrepid Explorers
The hidden corners of Japan from tiny villages to rural landscapes to magical forests are amongst our favorite destinations in this diverse country.
JAPAN OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
OUR SUGGESTIONS FOR INTREPID EXPLORERS
The hidden corners of Japan from tiny villages to rural landscapes to magical forests are amongst our favorite destinations in this diverse country. First timers to Japan must of course see Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, but if you are returning for your second or third time or more to Japan there are endless undiscovered pockets that few outsiders ever see. Nature is so precious to the Japanese as part of their Shinto beliefs, so for example forest bathing, onsen soaking and garden strolling are essential experiences. Here are just a few of some of the country’s most alluring unsung gems.
LEARN MOREHONSHU
Spring in Tohoku
Japan’s largest island abounds with remarkable experiences. If traveling in spring, consider the less-visited Tohoku region, a lush forested area that has inspired painters and poets for centuries and has some of Japan’s best cherry blossom viewing. Yamanashi prefecture, where the iconic Mount Fuji, the country’s highest peak is located, enjoys a burgeoning reputation as a cult wine-growing region. Stay at the charming Fufu Kawaguchiko, where each room enjoys stunning views of Fuji as well as a private onsen. Great hiking can be found in many locations around Honshu and indeed all over Japan. The awe-inspiring jagged peaks of the northern “Japanese Alps” are amongst the country's premier trekking, snow skiing and onsen soaking grounds. Another top onsen location is Kinosaki Onsen, a an idyllic little hot spring resort town where we love Relais and Chateaux’s Nishimuraya Honkan, a traditional ryokan with over 150 years of history.
KYUSHU
UNESCO Natural Heritage Site
The southernmost island of Kyushu is one of Japan’s most appealing but lesser visited destinations. Active volcanic peaks such as mighty Mount Aso pour down to the rocky, lush coastline. Steaming onsen (hot springs) punctuate the landscape over almost every mossy hillock. Meanwhile, important cities such as Fukuoka and Nagasaki provide a cosmopolitan urban edge. One of Kyushu’s most remarkable destinations is Yakushima, a subtropical island located just off the southern coast of Kagoshima. A ferry from Ibusuki to Yakushima transports you to a magical world of thousand year old sacred sugi trees, gorgeous waterfalls and emerald green moss covered rocks. The island has been declared a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site and constitutes a unique area of virgin wilderness. Stay at Sankara Resort and Spa and then back on the mainland in Wasure No Sato Gajoen, both Relais and Chateaux properties.
SHIKOKU
Ishite-ji Temple,number 51 of the 88 Sacred Temples of Shikoku
During ancient times, the island of Shikoku was so remote from the rest of Japan that rogue Samurais used to disappear into the mountains here, never to be seen again. One of our favorite spots is the secluded Iya Valley, located in the geographical heart of Shikoku, and characterized by steep mountain slopes and deep rocky gorges which were traditionally crossed by natural vine bridges. Three of the bridges — Iya Kazurabashi and the Oku-Iya Kazurabashi crossings — are maintained to this day and form part of the excellent network of trekking trails on Shikoku. Pilgrims have walked clockwise around the island for more than a millennium, following in the footsteps of Buddhist saint Kobo Daishi, the revered ascetic and founder of the Shingon Buddhist sect. Indeed, Shikoku is synonymous with natural beauty and the pursuit of spiritual perfection and is home to the 88 Sacred Temples of Shikoku, Japan's most famous pilgrimage route.
SETO INLAND SEA
Shimanami Kaido
The Seto Inland Sea is part of the Setonaikai National Park, one of the first national parks to be designated in Japan. The Shimanami Kaido is an expressway that links the main islands of Honshu and Shikoku, spanning the 70 kilometers between Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture and Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture, crossing six out of the 700 local islands and seven bridges. The picturesque network of bridges is one of the best cycling routes in Japan. On several courses with a rich variety of scenery, cyclists can enjoy riding in a great environment of scenic coastline, a stunning backdrop of mountains full of orange groves, and traditional Japanese countryside houses. Stay at the new Azumi Setoda modern ryokan on tiny Ikuchijima island as part of the rural experience.
AMAN JAPAN CULINARY JOURNEY
Amanemu, Mie
Remote Lands’ most luxurious gastronomic adventure, the Aman Japan Culinary Journey will take epicureans off the beaten path in helicopters and bullet trains to the three Japanese Aman properties on a 9-night journey from Tokyo to Kyoto, on May 14-23, 2023. Featuring the most exclusive dining and libations experiences — from a private geisha dinner to Yamazaki whisky tastings and special access to the off-limits areas of Toyosu Fish Market — this signature Aman journey is limited to 16 guests and promises to be a very special experience
As of June 10, 2022 Japan has reopened its borders to international travelers — albeit with strict requirements, which you can read here.
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