I would love to visit less impacted prefectures in Japan and see the more rural country side but aside from public transportation being more scarce, I am also nervous that as a non- Japanese speaker that it will be more difficult to get around, especially as a solo traveler, I feel that I would be lonely, not even being able to communicate with locals. I think that’s why I chose the golden route as my first trip to Japan, but I still would definitely like to explore further out in the future and I absolutely agree with your statement. That over tourism is a choice in the end.
The reason why I think most people would want to go to Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo is just there are some many things to do there within a small area. All the major sights in Kyoto are within one or two hours travel time, or less, and are reachable by public transport. When I was researching my next trip focusing on the less visited prefectures, I was daunted by the travel time between more places of interest. Places like Shikoku also have less robust public transport options. I definitely will avoid crowded areas though it’s a lot more effort to plan for when compared to Kyoto or Osaka
You make a really valid point. Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo are so compact and convenient-everything’s close, and public transport makes it easy to explore multiple sights in a day. That accessibility is hard to beat, especially for first-timers. The value I provide is about empowering people who genuinely want to explore beyond the Golden Route. Let’s be real-there’s no point preaching to people who aren’t interested (like 馬の耳に念仏). My goal is to help those who want to take that leap and show them how rewarding it can be.
Overturism is definitely a choice - I travelled to West Japan (between Kansai and Hiroshima) in December and Osaka and Kyoto (city) clearly felt most crowded. Even Nara was not that bad, but already in Kobe it felt that there wasn’t that many tourists, not to mention places like Okayama. My next trip will be in May to Chubu/Hokuriku with a bit of Kansai around lake Biwa and based on this video and some others, I can expect to see less tourist crowds there.
Interesting analysis by looking at the map. The reason was this golden triangle route overhyped by social media. I don' t like crowded places too and looking for alternatives. That's why I am now visiting other places currently and so many unheard off places and hidden gems. To not support the overtourism in these areas, I'm visiting other prefectures like Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Saga, Hokkaido, Yamanashi, Aichi, and Gifu aside for short trip to Tokyo and Osaka. Other interesting prefectures to be visited are Tottori (sand dunes) and Japanese Alps prefectures like Toyama and Nagano as well Tohoku region especially the scenic spots. I believe the Sea of Japan's side is least visited by tourists due to lack of marketing and exposure. Could be also the transportation access to these areas and not so many things to do if that is right and not so compact like the other three cities. But I do still believe there are many underrated places in Japan. The only way to enjoy the off beaten paths is by renting a car for convenient and time saving on the journey. People picture these: Tokyo - modern metropolitan city Kyoto - so many temples. But Ine fishing village is less visited tourists I think. Chiba - i agree with Narita and disney parks Osaka - maybe it's closer to Kyoto and a convenient access. Also it's a lively city especially in Dotonbori area.
If you're going to Kyuushuu you absolutely must make a stop in Beppu, Oita Might've been my favourite location thus far. Do yourself a favour and book a hotel on the beach front with an open air onsen. Tell me it wasn't worth the money 😉
I definitely love to visit the wonderful japan once again especially Hokuriku Prefecture, lovely small town in Fukui get to explore the historical dinosaurs museum, the amazing Gifu castle in Gifu Prefecture, amazing snow mountain views in Hakuba to ski ⛷, lovely and peaceful monkeys taking onsen in (Jigokudani Yaen-Koen) , the magical town in Shirakawa-go, Matsumoto Castle with the mountains view is so peaceful, the Miyagawa Morning Markets in the Takayama town having a hot pudding during winter as well of the tasty Hida beef sushi 😍
We’ve just booked flying tickets today after I watched your last video about traveling seasons. Even it’s our 1st trip to Japan, I’m interested in less popular places, searching info about Kumano Koto, Wakayama，Kanazawa, Hakone. Still deciding if we should go to Osaka or Kyoto or Tokyo, maybe just 1 out of 3 for kids to visit Universal Studio & Ghibli Museum & Disneyland etc. For us, we need to balance between adults & kids different interests. Really looking forward to it! See you in October 🎉
But how realistic it is to travel in those less popular prefectures, especially if you barely speak Japanese, or even none at all? Can you actually get around with language skills like that? And how is the public transportation in those places? Are there suitable hotels where the staff can speak something else than Japanese? A video about these practical things might help. They are the kind of things someone fluent in Japanese and who is used to staying there might not really even think of, but for tourists, they are the essentials.
It's getting better by the day. Central Gov is giving out massive subsidies year after year for local places to be better equiped for a global audience. Start from the prefectures next to the Golden Route
My first time was the golden route. 2nd trip was part South Korea and Japan so i went to Tokyo and Kamakura 3rd was Fukuoka, Kumamoto (from there Takachiho) and Nagasaki for cherry blossom 4th las summer Sendai-Hachinohe-Aomori-Odate-Akita-Niigata-Tokyo I would like to visit more the rural areas but I think the problem for more of us it's language barrier (I would like to learn a little of Japanese but my brain have no more room for another language >_>) and have the feeling you should to hire a car otherwise I dont' see easy to move to more remote places, or no so remote, but public transport no so frequent P.S: Only 2.55K subscribers?!??! I checked your website and is amazing!!!!
Im part of so many groups in Facebook (about travelling to Japan) and I try to recommend so many places that are not Kyoto or Osaka ( I know Tokyo is a must so it's ok) but the time im told "it's their first time let them be" but come on, there's Okayama, Saga, Kanazawa, Nagano, Niigata...and even more places that can fill Kyoto or Osaka's place.
Nothing wrong with the Golden route but if it's your 2nd, 3rd and so on trip to Japan, You should explore other places in Japan especially the lesser visited prefectures. Not necessarily avoiding Tokyo, Kyoto, etc but you can atleast add a few more prefectures on your trip. I've been to Japan twice, I did the Golden route visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Hakone on my first trip in 2017, I sped run it as I was only there for 10 days. 2018 on my second trip, I still went to Tokyo and Kyoto but to visit some of the places that I missed on my first trip and then I added Himeji, Ishikawa, Gifu and Hiroshima, that was for a 14 days trip. later this year i'm planning for a third trip for 3 weeks, I will still visit Tokyo and Kyoto (still visiting some more places that I still missed) but I'll be exploring Aomori, Morioka, Kakunodate, Sendai and Yamagata for two weeks. i'm so excited to explore the Tohoku region, i've been planning on this trip since 2019 but something happened to the world in 2020 that prevented me from doing this trip. I also belive that Japan needs to promote the other prefectures as well, the only reason why I got interested in visiting the Tohoku region is because there are a couple of foreign TH-camrs that I follow who lives in Japan keeps making content on that region. If Japan will promote these other prefectures, that will boost the awareness of the general public to those places that will eventually ease up overtorism on the golden route. Also a win for the other prefectures as more people visting will be good on their economy and also improve the transportation and infrastructure.
Hey :) would you mind telling me how your ideal 3 week trip would look like if its your first time in Japan and you dont necessarily need to spend all 21 days in Tokyo Kyoto & Osaka? Me and my girlfriend will do our honeymoon in Japan in October which will be our first time there as well 😅 maybe we could discord or smth :)
Thank you! I actually love Kusatsu for what it offers, but it's a bit pricy for local standards. Still, it is one of the most picturesque onsen towns near Tokyo
I'd guess many of those tourist are new or have only visited a few times. My friends and I who have visited numerous times try to visit the less crowded, smaller towns.. we feel more familiar with Japan and are more confident to venture out
I agree that overtourism is a choice. However I can also imagine people want to visit the golden triangle and mount fuji the first time. That's what most people get fed by all these influencers online, who endlessly repeat the same content over and over again. Only a handful takes the time to inform people about the rest that Japan has to offer. You also have to understand that there are a lot of people who don't have the time, the understanding or the will to research stuff themselves. They will fixate on the golden triangle or book a package trip. Personally I love doing a deep dive and finding stuff that isn't already used for internet hype. We got some great places lined up in Wakayama, Fukui, Okayama and Hyogo. 👍
Oh I keep trying to preach travelling elsewhere. I mean first time I get it (although even then you should spend 1/3 of your time elsewhere) but it makes no sense to spend more than a day or two in those 4 on any subsequent trips.
I completely agree with you. If it’s your first time in Japan, it’s totally fine to start with the popular spots along the Golden Route-there’s a reason they’re so iconic. But I also think people underestimate how rewarding it is to spend even a small part of their trip exploring lesser-known areas. The idea of spending more than a day or two in those four spots on subsequent trips doesn’t make much sense to me either. The thing is, while people like to complain about overtourism, many aren’t willing to invest the time, energy, or money to venture elsewhere. Exploring beyond the usual stops requires a bit more planning, but the payoff is incredible. Places like Tohoku, Shikoku, or Kyushu have so much to offer, and they provide a completely different side of Japan that most people miss out on. If more people took the leap to explore outside the Golden Route, their trips would be way more memorable and meaningful.
I would love to visit less impacted prefectures in Japan and see the more rural country side but aside from public transportation being more scarce, I am also nervous that as a non- Japanese speaker that it will be more difficult to get around, especially as a solo traveler, I feel that I would be lonely, not even being able to communicate with locals. I think that’s why I chose the golden route as my first trip to Japan, but I still would definitely like to explore further out in the future and I absolutely agree with your statement. That over tourism is a choice in the end.
The reason why I think most people would want to go to Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo is just there are some many things to do there within a small area. All the major sights in Kyoto are within one or two hours travel time, or less, and are reachable by public transport. When I was researching my next trip focusing on the less visited prefectures, I was daunted by the travel time between more places of interest. Places like Shikoku also have less robust public transport options. I definitely will avoid crowded areas though it’s a lot more effort to plan for when compared to Kyoto or Osaka
You make a really valid point. Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo are so compact and convenient-everything’s close, and public transport makes it easy to explore multiple sights in a day. That accessibility is hard to beat, especially for first-timers.
The value I provide is about empowering people who genuinely want to explore beyond the Golden Route. Let’s be real-there’s no point preaching to people who aren’t interested (like 馬の耳に念仏). My goal is to help those who want to take that leap and show them how rewarding it can be.
Overturism is definitely a choice - I travelled to West Japan (between Kansai and Hiroshima) in December and Osaka and Kyoto (city) clearly felt most crowded. Even Nara was not that bad, but already in Kobe it felt that there wasn’t that many tourists, not to mention places like Okayama.
My next trip will be in May to Chubu/Hokuriku with a bit of Kansai around lake Biwa and based on this video and some others, I can expect to see less tourist crowds there.
Lake Biwa!!! nice
So much to do in oita! I will be focusing my content on the less explored areas in hopes to balance things out, and show how much there is to do !
Oita is definitely a hidden gem! Keep it up!
Interesting analysis by looking at the map. The reason was this golden triangle route overhyped by social media. I don' t like crowded places too and looking for alternatives. That's why I am now visiting other places currently and so many unheard off places and hidden gems. To not support the overtourism in these areas, I'm visiting other prefectures like Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Saga, Hokkaido, Yamanashi, Aichi, and Gifu aside for short trip to Tokyo and Osaka.
Other interesting prefectures to be visited are Tottori (sand dunes) and Japanese Alps prefectures like Toyama and Nagano as well Tohoku region especially the scenic spots.
I believe the Sea of Japan's side is least visited by tourists due to lack of marketing and exposure. Could be also the transportation access to these areas and not so many things to do if that is right and not so compact like the other three cities. But I do still believe there are many underrated places in Japan. The only way to enjoy the off beaten paths is by renting a car for convenient and time saving on the journey.
People picture these:
Tokyo - modern metropolitan city
Kyoto - so many temples. But Ine fishing village is less visited tourists I think.
Chiba - i agree with Narita and disney parks
Osaka - maybe it's closer to Kyoto and a convenient access. Also it's a lively city especially in Dotonbori area.
If you're going to Kyuushuu you absolutely must make a stop in Beppu, Oita
Might've been my favourite location thus far. Do yourself a favour and book a hotel on the beach front with an open air onsen. Tell me it wasn't worth the money 😉
I definitely love to visit the wonderful japan once again especially Hokuriku Prefecture, lovely small town in Fukui get to explore the historical dinosaurs museum, the amazing Gifu castle in Gifu Prefecture, amazing snow mountain views in Hakuba to ski ⛷, lovely and peaceful monkeys taking onsen in (Jigokudani Yaen-Koen) , the magical town in Shirakawa-go, Matsumoto Castle with the mountains view is so peaceful, the Miyagawa Morning Markets in the Takayama town having a hot pudding during winter as well of the tasty Hida beef sushi 😍
Hokuriku is an awesome choice! 👍 Nagano and Gifu are some of my favs too ^^
We’ve just booked flying tickets today after I watched your last video about traveling seasons. Even it’s our 1st trip to Japan, I’m interested in less popular places, searching info about Kumano Koto, Wakayama，Kanazawa, Hakone. Still deciding if we should go to Osaka or Kyoto or Tokyo, maybe just 1 out of 3 for kids to visit Universal Studio & Ghibli Museum & Disneyland etc. For us, we need to balance between adults & kids different interests. Really looking forward to it! See you in October 🎉
That is going to be very exciting!!! So happy for you guys!!
But how realistic it is to travel in those less popular prefectures, especially if you barely speak Japanese, or even none at all? Can you actually get around with language skills like that? And how is the public transportation in those places? Are there suitable hotels where the staff can speak something else than Japanese? A video about these practical things might help. They are the kind of things someone fluent in Japanese and who is used to staying there might not really even think of, but for tourists, they are the essentials.
It's getting better by the day. Central Gov is giving out massive subsidies year after year for local places to be better equiped for a global audience. Start from the prefectures next to the Golden Route
Thanks for the info. I was in Tokyo and Kyoto 4 months ago. Will make a comeback to visit other areas where there are castles.
That’s awesome, I hope you have a wonderful time exploring more of Japan.
My first time was the golden route.
2nd trip was part South Korea and Japan so i went to Tokyo and Kamakura
3rd was Fukuoka, Kumamoto (from there Takachiho) and Nagasaki for cherry blossom
4th las summer Sendai-Hachinohe-Aomori-Odate-Akita-Niigata-Tokyo
I would like to visit more the rural areas but I think the problem for more of us it's language barrier (I would like to learn a little of Japanese but my brain have no more room for another language >_>) and have the feeling you should to hire a car otherwise I dont' see easy to move to more remote places, or no so remote, but public transport no so frequent
P.S: Only 2.55K subscribers?!??! I checked your website and is amazing!!!!
Thank you so much ^^ I started from Instagram. Now finally putting in the effort into TH-cam
Im part of so many groups in Facebook (about travelling to Japan) and I try to recommend so many places that are not Kyoto or Osaka ( I know Tokyo is a must so it's ok) but the time im told "it's their first time let them be" but come on, there's Okayama, Saga, Kanazawa, Nagano, Niigata...and even more places that can fill Kyoto or Osaka's place.
We are the early adopters :)
Nothing wrong with the Golden route but if it's your 2nd, 3rd and so on trip to Japan, You should explore other places in Japan especially the lesser visited prefectures. Not necessarily avoiding Tokyo, Kyoto, etc but you can atleast add a few more prefectures on your trip. I've been to Japan twice, I did the Golden route visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Hakone on my first trip in 2017, I sped run it as I was only there for 10 days. 2018 on my second trip, I still went to Tokyo and Kyoto but to visit some of the places that I missed on my first trip and then I added Himeji, Ishikawa, Gifu and Hiroshima, that was for a 14 days trip. later this year i'm planning for a third trip for 3 weeks, I will still visit Tokyo and Kyoto (still visiting some more places that I still missed) but I'll be exploring Aomori, Morioka, Kakunodate, Sendai and Yamagata for two weeks. i'm so excited to explore the Tohoku region, i've been planning on this trip since 2019 but something happened to the world in 2020 that prevented me from doing this trip.
I also belive that Japan needs to promote the other prefectures as well, the only reason why I got interested in visiting the Tohoku region is because there are a couple of foreign TH-camrs that I follow who lives in Japan keeps making content on that region. If Japan will promote these other prefectures, that will boost the awareness of the general public to those places that will eventually ease up overtorism on the golden route. Also a win for the other prefectures as more people visting will be good on their economy and also improve the transportation and infrastructure.
You are absolutely right! Exploring other prefectures is what makes Japan so unique!
Hey :) would you mind telling me how your ideal 3 week trip would look like if its your first time in Japan and you dont necessarily need to spend all 21 days in Tokyo Kyoto & Osaka? Me and my girlfriend will do our honeymoon in Japan in October which will be our first time there as well 😅 maybe we could discord or smth :)
can you do a video on what prefectures have the best food? and specialties of each place?
For sure! Not sure when but I'm a big foodie for local food
I have been to 28 prefectures. My favorites are Yamanashi, Saga, Tottori, Iwate, Kochi and Tokushima.
Nice!! All the undervalued Prefectures!!
Hello!! Very usefull your information!! What is your opinion about Kusatsu. I'm going to visit Japon in April and I'm thingi of going to Kusatsu.
Thank you! I actually love Kusatsu for what it offers, but it's a bit pricy for local standards. Still, it is one of the most picturesque onsen towns near Tokyo
Sadly most people want to see the materialistic parts of the country, shopping, amusement parks, etc.
I'd guess many of those tourist are new or have only visited a few times. My friends and I who have visited numerous times try to visit the less crowded, smaller towns.. we feel more familiar with Japan and are more confident to venture out
I agree that overtourism is a choice. However I can also imagine people want to visit the golden triangle and mount fuji the first time. That's what most people get fed by all these influencers online, who endlessly repeat the same content over and over again. Only a handful takes the time to inform people about the rest that Japan has to offer. You also have to understand that there are a lot of people who don't have the time, the understanding or the will to research stuff themselves. They will fixate on the golden triangle or book a package trip. Personally I love doing a deep dive and finding stuff that isn't already used for internet hype. We got some great places lined up in Wakayama, Fukui, Okayama and Hyogo. 👍
definitely first timers should look into a variation of the Golden Route mixing popular with some off the beaten path places
Oh I keep trying to preach travelling elsewhere. I mean first time I get it (although even then you should spend 1/3 of your time elsewhere) but it makes no sense to spend more than a day or two in those 4 on any subsequent trips.
I completely agree with you. If it’s your first time in Japan, it’s totally fine to start with the popular spots along the Golden Route-there’s a reason they’re so iconic. But I also think people underestimate how rewarding it is to spend even a small part of their trip exploring lesser-known areas. The idea of spending more than a day or two in those four spots on subsequent trips doesn’t make much sense to me either.
The thing is, while people like to complain about overtourism, many aren’t willing to invest the time, energy, or money to venture elsewhere. Exploring beyond the usual stops requires a bit more planning, but the payoff is incredible. Places like Tohoku, Shikoku, or Kyushu have so much to offer, and they provide a completely different side of Japan that most people miss out on. If more people took the leap to explore outside the Golden Route, their trips would be way more memorable and meaningful.