6 Less-travelled cities in Japan that will surprise you

Hidden Gems: 6 Less-travelled cities in Japan that will surprise you

Angela Goh

18 Apr 2017

updated the 19 April 2017 à 10:28

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Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Serving as the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, the city of Kanazawa, sometimes called “Little Kyoto”, is a town of grand cultural achievements. Despite the fact, Kanazawa remains one of the most overlooked destinations Japan has to offer. With a vibrant art culture, Kanazawa is dotted with generations-old studios that practice many beautiful traditional art forms such as silk weaving, kaga-nui embroidery (important in kimono making), lacquering, and pottery. Fun fact: The literal translation of Kanazawa is “gold marsh”, so believe us when we say 99% of Japan’s gold leaf is produced here. The city also houses Japan’s most famous landscape garden - Kenrokuen - which many consider to be the country’s best.

Photo: Getty Images
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Toyama, Toyama (cont.)
Famous for its glassware, the mid-sized city of Toyama serves as the capital of Toyama Prefecture, situated on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The city boasts plenty of scenic attractions, including the Matsukawa River, which is lined with cherry trees, making it a perfect spot for hanami during the sakura season.

Photo: Getty Images
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Toyama, Toyama (cont.)
History buffs will want to visit the grand Toyama Castle. Built during the Edo period and restored after World War II, the castle sits within the Toyama Johshi Park and houses the Museum of Local History.

Photo: Getty Images
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Nagano, Nagano
Nagano hosted the Winter Olympics in 1998 and the city serves as a gateway to the Japanese Alps region. Charming and quiet, Nagano is dotted with little shop houses, cobblestoned pedestrian paths and neat flowerbed-lined streets. The town evolved around the important Zenkō-ji Temple, which until this day remains the main attraction of the city. It houses the first Buddha statue to ever be brought into Japan. While the original statue isn’t available for public viewing, a duplicate of the statue is displayed once every six years. The next viewing will be in 2021.

Photo: Angela Goh
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Nagasaki, Nagasaki
As one of the very few port cities open to foreign trade during Japan’s period of isolation, Nagasaki played a very important part in shaping the history of the country. From the 16th to the 19th century, the city had become a centre of Portugese and Dutch influence. After its destruction during World War II, rebuilding efforts saw new temples and churches erected, along with memorial sites and even a commemorative park. The city boasts a number of unique sightseeing locations including Mount Inasa, which offers sweeping panoramic views of the city, and the abandoned coal mine island of Gunkanjima.

Photo: Getty Images
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Matsuyama, Ehime
Matsuyama is home to one of Japan’s oldest hot spring resorts, the Dogo Onsen Honkan, which dates back to 1894. Perhaps it might look familiar to some as the charismatic bath house is said to have served as inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away. Visitors also come to the city to explore the grounds of Matsuyama Castle, one of Japan’s twelve “original castles” that has, to date, remained more or less intact, surviving the post-feudal era.

Photo: Getty Images
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Fukuoka, Fukuoka
The cosmopolitan city of Fukuoka has plenty to offer - unique food, historical temples, exciting festivals, shopping districts, and even an artificial beach. As the capital of Fukuoka Prefecture, it sits on the northern shore of Japan’s Kyushu Island and has a population of over 1.5 million residents. Over the course of its history, Fukuoka has maintained cultural ties with many countries, having had a long history of contact with the west.

Photo: Getty Images

While Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka form the holy trinity of cities to visit for first-timers to the country, Japan is dotted with plenty of just-as-appealing cities that offer unique sights, diverse culture, and important history. While we adore the sprawling metropolis of Tokyo, the traditional atmosphere of Kyoto and the vibrant neon-lit streets of Osaka just as much as any visitor to Japan would, we encourage travelers with a penchant for hidden beauty to explore the many less-visited cities of this impossibly gorgeous country.

From the hush tranquility of Nagano, the city which is home to the very first Buddha statue brought into Japan, to Matsuyama, which boasts one of the oldest hot spring bath houses in the country, which incidentally served as the inspiration for the onsen in Hayao Miyazaki’s award-winning animated film Spirited Away, Japan is definitely full of surprises. Head up to the gallery to check out 6 underrated cities that travel lovers should explore at least once.

Angela Goh

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