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Best of Japan Off the Tourist Trail
Japan exudes wonder, yet Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are overcrowded with tourists. The tourist crush has caused so much stress in those cities, they’ve lost their appeal. Yet nearly everywhere else, one finds smiles, hospitality, and intriguing cultural wonders you don’t have to share with 60 new tourist friends. Or elsewhere, you can exercise your way through stunning scenery.
During the last four years in Japan I’ve had the most blissful moments in places closer to nature and without many fellow tourists. In honor of my college university professor Brian Owensby’s visit to Japan, I put together this list. So… where to go?
Togakushi Shrine: Nestled atop a mountain in Nagano, this hideout and shrine was home to the ‘ninja’ sect, who were the private security guards and couriers for the samurai. The area around the shrine is just as impressive given its natural beauty and spiritual meaning. The shrine sees dramatic seasonal change with heavy snowfall in winter, verdant forests and wild flowers through spring and summer, and amosaic of color in the fall.
Shimanami Kaido: This 70-kilometer cycling route (jitensha-do) connects Japan’s main island of Honshu to Shikoku via…
