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Times
09-07-2025
- Times
10 of the most beautiful places in Japan
Even if you've never been to Japan, you probably know of its enchanting sights: the elegant cone of Mount Fuji, perhaps, or the intricate, Unesco-listed temples of Nikko. Unsurprisingly, in a country almost 2,000 miles from end to end and made up of thousands of islands, there are plenty of other incredible places to discover. Here are the must-see destinations to add to your itinerary — from startlingly blue crater lakes to hot spring towns surrounded by rice paddies. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue After a devastating 1925 earthquake, the residents of Kinosaki Onsen worked together to rebuild the town as it was, with wooden buildings lining the willow-draped canals. The community takes just as much pride in maintaining the picture-perfect townscape now. Each evening guests staying in the traditional ryokan inns stroll along the streets in their yukata cotton kimonos, going 'hot spring-hopping' between the many public baths. It's a cosy scene, with steam wafting from the baths, herons perching in the canals and the click-clack of geta clogs through the quiet streets. Nishimuraya Honkan is one of the best ryokan in Kinosaki, with hot springs, multi-course kaiseki cuisine and traditional hospitality. Public bath passes are included. Inside Japan's 11-night Hot Springs Honeymoon self-guided tour includes a night in Kinosaki. • Discover our full guide to Japan In a far-flung part of the already far-flung Okinawan archipelago, subtropical Taketomi feels like its own little world. The tiny island — less than two miles wide — is home to just 300 people who live in a village of small houses with sloping, terracotta-tiled roofs and surrounded by rustic stone walls garlanded with flowers. Spend the day cycling to beaches with star-shaped sand, riding suigyusha carts pulled by water buffalo or diving down to an undersea hot spring, then watch the stars come out as the balmy evening turns to a bright, clear night. You can stay in a classic Taketomi-style villa with red-tiled roof at the small Guesthouse Cago, conveniently located in the village at the heart of the island. G Adventures' Absolute Active Japan trip includes a day exploring Taketomi by bike. • The best Japanese islands to visit In the mountains north of Tokyo, Nikko combines a striking natural setting with elegant and historic shrines and temples. Chief among them is the ornate Toshogu, where each building is adorned with complex, brightly painted wood carvings by the best 17th-century artisans. One of the most popular carvings is a sweet depiction of a dozing cat above a doorway; pass through it and you'll find steps to a simple stone monument with pine trees leaning protectively over it — the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun and one of the country's Three Great Unifiers. Historic Nikko Kanaya Hotel has an ideal location near Shinkyo Bridge and retains much of its early 20th-century grandeur. There's an overnight stay in Nikko on the Highlights of Japan tour from Exodus Adventure Travels. • Best things to do in Japan In the wild, wide-open spaces of eastern Hokkaido — the northernmost of the four main Japanese islands — are three breathtakingly lovely lakes. The largest is Kussharo, where each winter whooper swans cluster in the few ice-free spots near the shore created by hot springs. Next is Mashu, a startlingly blue crater lake with some of the clearest water in the world. The delicate ecological balance of the smallest lake, Akan, produces marimo — bright green balls of algae that are celebrated in the torchlit Marimo Festival held by the indigenous Ainu people each October. Luxurious Akan Tsuruga Bessou Hinanoza has views over the lake, natural hot springs and some beautiful Ainu wood carvings. G Adventures' Active Japan: Hokkaido Adventure trip includes stops at viewpoints over lakes Kussharo and Mashu and an overnight stay by Lake Akan. • Best time to visit Japan: when to go and what to do With its cloud-shrouded mountains, vertiginous ravines and deep forests, the Iya Valley in Shikoku has a mysterious air. Its remoteness made it the perfect hideaway for the remains of the Taira samurai clan who fled here after their defeat in the Genpei War (1180–85), developing a unique culture in this secluded valley. Traces of the old ways of life are still present, from centuries-old thatched farmhouses to the vine bridges allegedly created by the Taira — they could be easily cut down, sending pursuing Minamoto warriors crashing into the turquoise waters of the Yoshino River below. A stay at Hotel Iyaonsen combines a spectacular mountain location, sweeping views of the valley, soothing natural hot springs and delicious traditional food. You can call a farmhouse in the Iya Valley home for two nights on Inside Japan's Secrets of Shikoku trip. • The best tours of Japan In a serene rural location, surrounded by rice paddies and mountains in eastern Kyushu, Yufuin Onsen is one of the prettiest hot-spring towns in Japan. Unusually its ryokan are dotted around, away from the centre, which is instead full of cute cafés and interesting museums, giving them a sense of calm and privacy. Each season has distinctive charms in Yufuin. On winter mornings, mist rises from the river that snakes through town and Mount Yufu is delicately dusted with snow. By summer, town and mountain are lush with greenery and the drone of cicadas drifts lazily on the air. In a quiet spot amid rice fields, Hoshino Resorts KAI Yufuin is a chic and comfortable retreat with spa treatments and shared and in-room hot-spring baths. Intrepid's 24-day Ultimate Japan trip includes two nights in neighbouring Beppu, with plenty of time to linger in Yufuin. • Best ski resorts in Japan Though it's now a sleepy historic town, in the 12th century Hiraizumi was the northern headquarters of the powerful Fujiwara samurai clan, and some treasures from that time still exist. For example, there's Chusonji, a temple where you can walk along avenues lined with centuries-old trees and admire the Konjikido, a hall covered in gold leaf. At Motsuji, people in Fujiwara-style court dress compose poetry at the Kyokusui no En festival in May and some 30,000 irises bloom each June. And west of town you can marvel at Takkoku-no-iwaya, a 9th-century temple built into a cliff face. Also to the west of town, Soba'an Shizukatei is a quiet and welcoming hot-spring hotel serving up handmade soba noodles and vegetables grown in the kitchen garden. Wendy Wu's 14-day Journey Through Japan tour includes a stop in Hiraizumi. Mount Fuji has inspired Japanese artists and writers for as long as they have been there to see it, and it remains a powerful symbol of the country. The serene symmetry of the volcano is interrupted by a small second crater, which gives it a charming wabi-sabi quality — the Japanese concept of beauty in imperfection — and the surrounding Fuji Five Lakes area gives you plenty of good vantage points. One of the most famous of these lakes is Kawaguchi, which is easily accessible. When the leaves change colour each autumn, the Momiji Tunnel — a spot on the north shore — perfectly frames the snow-capped peak in reds and golds. In a wooded area near Lake Kawaguchi, Glamping Villa Hanz has private villas and geometric dome tents called Pao — and, of course, Fuji views. The 16-day Japan Unveiled tour from Newmarket Holidays includes a visit to Lake Kawaguchi in the Fuji Five Lakes area, and views of the mountain from Lake Ashi in Hakone. In a country prone to earthquakes, Hagi is a remarkably unspoiled historic town in western Japan. Its castle may have been destroyed in the 19th century — leaving behind a lovely coastal park ideal for walking and cycling — but the surrounding district offers a glimpse into everyday life when it was still standing. Stroll its streets and you'll see the stern black-and-white walls of samurai mansions, wooden buildings that served as shops and inns and the distinctively latticed plasterwork of former storehouses that are now museums, shops and restaurants. Hagi no Yado Tomoe puts an elegant modern twist on traditional Japanese aesthetics — the raked gravel garden is particularly lovely. You can experience a homestay and cycling in Hagi on G Adventures' 11-day Back Roads of Japan trip. It may look tiny on a map — just a drop of ink below Kyushu — but Yakushima feels huge. The eight highest mountains in Kyushu are all on this island, their rocky slopes descending into a thick tangle of rainforest, which finally thins out into fruit orchards, fishing towns and white-sand beaches where sea turtles nest. The misty forests are the real draw, with several towering cedar trees that have been growing for thousands of years hidden in their depths. It's a place where you can step back through time, connecting with deep history and truly wild nature. Sankara Hotel & Spa is a tranquil escape in southeastern Yakushima, with relaxing wellness treatments and sea views from every room. YellowWood Adventures' 11-day Lost Islands of Japan tour includes two nights on Yakushima. • Best things to do in Kyoto• Best things to do in Tokyo What's the most beautiful place you have been to in Japan? Please share in the comments below
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Travel + Leisure
16-05-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This City Has the Most Hidden Gems in Japan—and It's Not Tokyo or Kyoto
A recent study found that Nara, Japan, has the most hidden gems in the country. Nara is home to 499 attractions, but it is best known for Nara Park, which has a population of deer that bow for snacks. In 2024, Japan welcomed 36.87 million visitors. Most people who come to Japan often spend their time exploring Tokyo or Kyoto, and while there's nothing wrong with that, the country has so much to offer to those who venture off the typical, well-trodden tourist paths. A recent study by Bounce—a luggage storage network with drop-off locations across the globe—sought to pinpoint where Japan's most overlooked destinations are. After building a list of Japan's most populous cities, it used information from travel sites like The Invisible Tourist and Japan Travel Pros to determine the percentage of hidden gem attractions in each city and region. It then used Tripadvisor reviews, and other digital tools to find out which places had the highest number of "excellent" reviews. After evaluating all the data, it found that Nara was the Japanese city with the most hidden gems. Nara City (the capital of the eponymous prefecture of Nara) is home to a little over 367,000 people and is located just 20 miles east of Osaka and 28 miles southeast of Kyoto. It is well-connected to both via trains and buses, making it an easy option for a day trip. The charming city is perhaps best known for the 1,400 wild deer who roam around Nara Park and bow for treats. Legend has it that during ancient times, the Japanese god of thunder came to Nara on a white deer, and the descendants of that deer now populate the town's park—they've been cherished as 'messengers of the gods' for more than 1,000 years and are now protected "Natural Monuments." However, keep in mind that even though Nara Park is a popular (and adorable) photo hotspot, the deer are still wild animals and must be treated with respect. Don't feed them anything other than the deer crackers that are available for purchase, and be mindful of your litter. In 2019, nine deer died after eating plastic bags and wrappers that were not properly disposed of. Also be wary that deer are smart and know when you have cookies. "During my visit, I found the deer can sometimes swarm you if they see you holding bags of cookies," Susmita Baral, a senior editor at Travel + Leisure said. "You'll see some with shaved off antlers—they're the ones likely to headbutt you for a treat. It's safe but just be mindful that these are wild animals." Japanese Deer around the pink Sakura trees in Nara Park, Japan. Most visitors to Nara stop by the park and then head on their way to Kyoto or Osaka, but with over 499 attractions within city limits, there's much to do here. Nara is home to some of the most stunning temples in Japan as well as several beautiful gardens and shrines. The Buddhist temple Yakushi-ji is considered to be one of the most important and oldest temples in Japan, and dates back to the late 7th century. On the edge of town near the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, you can find Kasuga Taisha, Nara's most celebrated Shinto shrine, which is famous for its eye-catching cypress frame and its gorgeous hanging lanterns. In the study, Nara was followed by Kyoto, Kanazawa, and Takamatsu—all of which are conveniently connected to Tokyo via the Shinkansen, aka Japan's bullet train system. For the full list of destinations, check out
