Underrated Places to Visit in Japan for Curious Travellers

Most first-time visitors make the same mistake: they visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, then think they've seen Japan. These cities are amazing, but they're also packed with tourists. Japan becomes much more interesting as soon as you go just one train stop further. That's where you'll find the country's hidden gems: towns where monks still prepare your dinner, a village that sits partly on the water, and a castle that's stood black against the Alps for 400 years. Indian travellers to Japan increased by more than 20% in the first half of 2026, and the savvier ones are already exploring beyond the usual sights. If you want to enjoy the best of Japan without the crowds, start with these ten overlooked places.

Why Look Beyond the Usual Places to Visit in Japan? 

The most popular spots are now more crowded and expensive than ever, with about two-thirds of foreign visitors gathering in just a few places. This means there are still many regions that are peaceful, truly affordable, and offer an authentic local feel. These lesser-known destinations in Japan have the same castles, food, and hot springs, but with more space to relax and a wider range of experiences in one journey. These are the places we’d recommend to a curious traveller.

10 Underrated Places to Visit in Japan Worth Building a Holiday Around 

From a gold-leaf city to an island covered in art, here is our shortlist.

Kanazawa: Gold Leaf, Geisha Streets and a Garden for the Ages

Kanazawa is the easiest of these underrated places in Japan to fall for, and it’s also the most accessible, just 2.5 hours direct from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Nicknamed “Little Kyoto,” it has preserved geisha teahouses in the Higashi Chaya district, a samurai quarter at Nagamachi, and Kenrokuen, one of Japan’s top three gardens. The city produces about 99% of Japan’s gold leaf, so the local speciality is soft-serve ice cream wrapped in a shimmering gold sheet.

• Best for: Culture, crafts and seafood without Kyoto’s crowds
• Don’t miss: Gold-leaf ice cream, Omicho Market sushi, Kenrokuen at opening
• Getting there: About 2.5 hrs direct from Tokyo (Hokuriku Shinkansen)
• When to go: Spring for blossoms, autumn for colour, winter for crab

Takayama: Old Streets and Morning Markets

Takayama sits high in the Gifu mountains and has kept its Edo-era old town, Sanmachi Suji, looking much as it did 300 years ago, with dark wooden merchant houses and sake breweries. You’ll know a brewery is open if you see a cedar ball hanging over the door. Bring your appetite; this is Hida beef where you can buy grilled skewers, nigiri, and croquettes from street vendors for just a few hundred yen. Two riverside morning markets start up soon after sunrise. Takayama is one of the most beautiful places in Japan for a relaxed stroll.

• Best for: Food lovers and slow mornings
• Don’t miss: A sake tasting, the Miyagawa morning market
• Getting there: Train or bus via Nagoya or Toyama
• Go when: Spring and autumn for the famous Takayama Festival

Ine: The Fishing Village That Floats on the Sea

On the Sea of Japan coast north of Kyoto, you’ll find one of the most unique and beautiful underrated places in Japan. About 230 funaya, or boat houses, line Ine Bay. Each has a boat garage at water level and the family home above, making the village appear to float on the water. Locals call it the Venice of Japan. You can take a small sightseeing boat for the postcard view, and some funaya now welcome overnight guests.

• Best for: Couples and anyone after somewhere genuinely different
• Don’t miss: The Ine Bay cruise, a bayside sake brewery, sunset over the water
• Getting there: About 2.5 hrs from Kyoto; pair it with the Amanohashidate sandbar
• Go when: Spring to autumn for calm seas and boat tours

Kinosaki Onsen: Seven Hot Springs and a Town in Yukata

Some places you visit, but Kinosaki is a place you truly experience. In this willow-lined hot-spring town, your inn gives you a yukata and wooden sandals so you can walk between seven public bathhouses along the canal. If you stay at any ryokan, you’ll get a pass that lets you enter all seven for free. Unlike most places in Japan, every bath here welcomes guests with tattoos. In winter, the whole town enjoys Matsuba snow crab. Kinosaki is one of the most relaxing places to visit in Japan during the colder months.

• Best for: Honeymooners and first-timers nervous about onsen etiquette
• Don’t miss: A night-time bath stroll, onsen-boiled eggs, winter crab
• Getting there: Direct limited-express trains from Kyoto and Osaka
• Go when: November to March for crab; pleasant year-round

Koyasan: A Night With the Monks on a Sacred Mountain

If you want an experience that leaves a lasting impression, spending a night at Koyasan is hard to beat. This mountaintop monastic town in Wakayama has welcomed pilgrims for over 1,200 years, and about 50 temples still host guests in simple tatami rooms. You can join morning prayers, try shojin ryori, the monks’ all-vegetarian cuisine, which is a treat for Indian travellers and walk through Okunoin, Japan’s largest cemetery, under tall cedar trees. If possible, take the lantern-lit night tour.

• Best for: Slow travel, vegetarians and anyone curious about Buddhist life
• Don’t miss: The Okunoin night walk, a temple-stay dinner, Kongobuji
• Getting there: Nankai line from Osaka Namba plus a cable car (about 90 min)
• Go when: Autumn for colour; expect it to be cooler than Osaka

Kakunodate: Samurai Houses and Weeping Cherry Trees

Deep in the northern Tohoku region, Kakunodate is a samurai town that most travellers never reach, which is exactly its charm. Its 17th-century samurai district is almost untouched, with broad streets, dark wooden gates and grand homes you can step inside. In spring, about 400 weeping cherry trees, brought from Kyoto centuries ago, spill pink over the black fences. It’s one of the must-visit places in Japan for sakura, and it blooms in early May, after Tokyo’s petals have fallen.

• Best for: History buffs and late cherry-blossom chasers
• Don’t miss: The Aoyagi samurai house, cherry-bark crafts, the Hinokinai River
• Getting there: About 3 hrs from Tokyo on the Akita Shinkansen
• Go when: Early May for blossoms; autumn for foliage

Matsumoto: The Black “Crow Castle” Under the Alps

While Himeji draws the crowds, Matsumoto offers just as much excitement. Its castle is one of only twelve original keeps left in Japan and one of just five designated as a National Treasure. The black walls have earned it the nickname “Crow Castle.” Climb the steep wooden stairs inside for views of the Alps from the top floor, then enjoy Nagano’s handmade soba. Matsumoto is an underrated place in Japan that you can visit in a single day from Tokyo.

• Best for: Castle fans and an alpine day from Tokyo
• Don’t miss: The red bridge photo, the original keep interior, local soba
• Getting there: About 2.5 to 3 hrs from Tokyo (Azusa limited express)
• Go when: Spring for blossoms, autumn for the mountain backdrop

Tottori: Japan’s Desert by the Sea

Japan really does have a desert. The Tottori Sand Dunes stretch for about 16 km along the Sea of Japan, formed over 100,000 years into ridges as high as 47 metres. You can ride a camel, try sandboarding, or paraglide from the crests, then cool off in the Sand Museum, where artists create huge sculptures from sand. It’s one of the most beautiful places in Japan that most first-time visitors overlook.

• Best for: Families and anyone after a surprise
• Don’t miss: Sunset on the dunes, sandboarding, the Sand Museum
• Getting there: Via Okayama, then the Super Inaba limited express
• Go when: Spring and autumn; summer sand gets very hot

Onomichi and the Shimanami Kaido: Cats, Temples and an Island Ride

In Japan, a quiet town can quickly become an adventure. Onomichi, near Hiroshima, is a hillside maze filled with temples, literary cafes, and famously sleepy cats; there’s even a “Cat Alley.” It’s also the starting point for the Shimanami Kaido, a 70 km cycling route that crosses six islands of the Seto Inland Sea on impressive bridges, with bike-only lanes. You can ride the whole route over two days or just cycle to the first island and return.

• Best for: Cyclists, cat people and island-hoppers
• Don’t miss: Senko-ji temple and ropeway, Cat Alley, the first bridge
• Getting there: Onomichi is about 1.5 hrs from Hiroshima; rent bikes on arrival
• Go when: Spring and autumn for cool, clear riding

Naoshima: The Island That Became an Art Gallery

If you’re looking for a modern destination to add to your Japan holiday, choose Naoshima. This small island in the Seto Inland Sea, with just a few thousand residents, has become a world-class art spot. You’ll find Tadao Ando museums, old houses turned into art installations, and two of Yayoi Kusama’s polka-dot pumpkins by the water. The Naoshima New Museum of Art opened in May 2025. Rent a bike and explore the island as your own gallery.

• Best for: Design and art lovers, and a different kind of island day
• Don’t miss: The yellow pumpkin, Chichu Art Museum, the Art House Project
• Getting there: Ferry from Uno Port (near Okayama) or Takamatsu
• Go when: Spring and autumn; book Chichu tickets ahead

Underrated Places to Visit in Japan at a Glance 

If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick comparison of the ten.

Tribe Travel Tips for Planning Your Japan Holiday 

• Give it time: Instead of trying to see every place at once, add just two or three of these underrated spots to your classic Tokyo-Kyoto route.
• Time the seasons: The best time for cherry blossoms is late March to mid-April, while autumn colours peak from mid-October to November. Winter is the quietest season and perfect for enjoying onsen and crab.
• Book special stays early: Temple lodgings in Koyasan and funaya in Ine are limited and often book up months in advance, especially during cherry blossom and autumn seasons.
• Mind the passes: Some routes, such as the Nankai line to Koyasan, are not included in the Japan Rail Pass. Make sure to plan your tickets for each region separately.

Ready to See the Japan Most Travellers Miss? 

The big cities are always an option, but Japan’s lesser-known spots are where your holiday becomes truly personal. Imagine having a monk’s breakfast, taking a relaxing bath walk, or biking between islands. Planning a smooth journey through these quieter places, with the right trains, inns, and timing, can be a challenge. That’s where we help. At Holiday Tribe, our Japan holiday advisors can offer you a ready-made itinerary for these destinations or create a custom holiday based on your travel style. We’ll handle hotels, transfers, sightseeing, and local experiences. Just share your dates, and we’ll take care of the rest.