Where to Go in Japan That Isn't Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka
Here's where to go in Japan when you've already seen the big cities—and want to come home to your besties (and make them jealous) with travel tales from further afield.
Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea is a living museum, where contemporary art and striking architecture are woven seamlessly into the landscape.
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Naoshima, for art aficionados
Are you an art lover? Then you should check out Naoshima. Lara of First in Service says that this tiny island in the Seto Inland Sea is a living museum, where world-class contemporary art and striking architecture are woven seamlessly into the landscape: 'Think Yayoi Kusama's iconic dotted pumpkins sitting by the water's edge, Tadao Ando's minimalist masterpieces carved into hillsides, and entire fishing villages transformed into open-air art projects.' Neufville of Neufville Travel agrees, and recommends that travelers also check out the other Seto Islands, which also have a plethora of contemporary art installations and galleries.
Since there are many outdoor exhibits, the best time to visit Naoshima is whenever the weather is nice: spring, early summer, and late autumn are best. That window of time also coincides with the Setouchi Triennale 2025, a contemporary art festival which happens every three years and showcases even more art on various islands in the Seto Inland Sea (tickets for the fall session, from September 1 to November 9, are now on sale.) Getting to Naoshima can be tricky: It involves taking a train from Kyoto Station or Shin-Osaka Station to Okayama Station; a car transfer from there to Uno Port; then a ferry from there to Naoshima's Honmura Port. Treat yourself after the journey to a sleek stay at Naoshima Ryokan ROKA, where you'll find 11 minimalist guest rooms of wood, washi, and tatami; and wonderful sunken bathtubs with walls of glass opening onto green vistas.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (a.k.a. Genbaku Dome) was the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded on August 6, 1945.
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Hiroshima, for a piece of world history
Hiroshima offers a moving, essential experience for any and all travelers visiting Japan. This city was largely razed to the ground in World War II by one of two atomic bombs detonated by the United States in 1945, during World War II (the other exploded in Nagasaki, on the island of Kyushu). Today, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park contains the ruins of Genbaku Dome, one of the few buildings that was left standing after the historic event. Referring to the dome, the park, and the city more broadly, Lara of First in Service says, 'It stands as a powerful symbol of peace and rebirth, making it a great place for those drawn to the deeper currents of history and human endurance.'
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