ABOUT
The Quieter Side of Japan,
Told by Someone Who Lives It
Built on 10,000+ photos, 47 prefectures, and a life spent between Kyoto, Fukuoka, and the base of Mt. Fuji.
MEET THE CREATOR
Hi, I’m Nobu.
I grew up in Kyoto — back when you could walk through Higashiyama without bumping into a selfie stick. My parents were travelers. By the time I finished high school, I’d been to more than half of Japan’s 47 prefectures. I’ve since been to all of them.
I moved to Fukuoka for university and stayed for over a decade. My grandfather gave me his old camera, and I never put it down. Surfing got me on the road — chasing waves, then chasing light. Coastlines, mountain passes, temple grounds at dawn.
My working life started at Uniqlo, where I developed an eye for design. Then a design studio — product design, brand work, commercial photography. I learned how to communicate visually for a living.
Then I quit.
I moved to Fujiyoshida, a small town at the northern base of Mt. Fuji. I bought a 50-year-old wooden house and a cabin near Lake Yamanakako.
Just clouds where Fuji was supposed to be. That frustration became @is_fuji_visible_today — a daily record of whether Fuji shows its face or not.
Now I’m renovating that old house into a small guesthouse called 木賃宿だるま (Kichin-yado Daruma). The idea is simple: a place to sleep a few minutes from the best Fuji views in the country, run by someone who actually knows where to look.
What Makes This Site Different
Original Photography
Every photo on this site was taken by me, on a Sony α7, across five years of walking Japan. No stock images. No AI-generated visuals.
AI for Translation Only
I write each article in Japanese, based on places I’ve personally visited. AI assists with the English translation only. The thinking, the routes, and the recommendations are all mine.
Read editorial standards →No Sponsored Rankings
All recommendations based on genuine experience. No paid placements, no press trips, no ranking deals.
How I disclose affiliates →Local Knowledge
Born in Kyoto. Lived in Fukuoka. Now based at Mt. Fuji. Years of living across Japan, not just visiting.
Why Hidden Japan Gems Exists
There are hundreds of English-language Japan travel blogs. Most are written by people who visited for two weeks. Some by people who’ve never been. Very few are written by someone who was born here, grew up here, has lived in three different regions, and has photographed every prefecture in the country.
That doesn’t mean every prefecture has equal depth on this site. Yamanashi — where I now live, at the foot of Fuji — has 30+ essays. Some prefectures still have 1 or 2. Coverage reflects where I’ve spent the most time, and I’m filling the gaps each year I keep walking.
I started this site because I wanted to solve a specific problem: there was no English resource for Japan that was detailed, accurate, honest, and made by someone with actual local knowledge.
My goal isn’t to send more tourists to Kyoto or Shibuya. It’s to spread people out — to show that the best of Japan is in the places you’ve never heard of. If this site does its job, you’ll skip the crowds and find something better.
Get in Touch
Have a question about a destination? Planning a trip and want advice?
Interested in working together? I read every message.
Where to Go Next
Three doors into the site — pick the one that fits where you are right now.
The complete Mt. Fuji guide
Where to stay, when to see Diamond Fuji, how to read the weather, and which viewpoints actually deliver.
Open the guide → If It’s Your First TripFirst time in Japan?
Honest answers to the questions every first-timer asks — from JR Pass logic to which season to book.
Start here → If You Want To BrowseEverything on the map
240+ guides across 31 prefectures, organised by region, season, and travel style. Wander freely.
See the sitemap →