Travel destinations in Japan, organized by region.
Ten waterfalls in Tochigi, from Kegon-s 97-metre plunge to a 65-metre-wide curtain five minutes from a station named Taki. Heights, buses, parking and 2026 trail status, all from official sources.
Around five million red spider lilies (higanbana) carpet Kinchakuda in Hidaka, an hour from Ikebukuro. 2026 festival dates, access and when to go.
Japan’s autumn colour begins in mid-September on Hokkaido’s Daisetsuzan range — the earliest koyo in the country. Gateways, timing and what to pack.
Castles, pottery towns and green gorges within reach of Nagoya during the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games (Sep 19-Oct 4) - how to slot them around match days.
The Kishiwada Danjiri Festival hauls four-tonne wooden floats around corners at a run. 2026 September dates (19-20 Sep), the Kankan-ba viewing corner, safety rules, paid seats, and how to get there from Osaka.
Dazaifu Tenmangu near Fukuoka is the head shrine of Tenjin, deity of learning, where students pray for exam success. History, how to visit during the just-completed main-hall renovation, plum season, and access.
The Starbucks on the approach to Dazaifu Tenmangu is wrapped in about 2,000 cedar battens woven by architect Kengo Kuma. What to see, how to visit politely, and how to fold it into a shrine trip.
Beat the 40°C summer at Spa Resort Hawaiians in Iwaki, Fukushima: a giant all-weather dome where the pools are real hot-spring water, plus Japan's longest body slide, a live hula show born from a coal town, and easy access from Tokyo.
Go early. That’s the whole secret to Kadoya Tofu (角屋豆富店), a family tofu maker in Oshino that calls itself the “Tofu Station.” Get there in the morning and there’s still-warm tofu — and, when I visited, a little counter where…
Most people come to Oshino for the eight famously clear spring ponds of Oshino Hakkai. I come for the tofu. A few minutes from the ponds, an old family tofu maker called Hakkai Tofu (八海とうふ / Asano Shokuhin) turns Mt.…
Field notes, weekly
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Nearly every image on Hidden Japan Gems was photographed by me on a Sony α7 across five years of walking Japan; a few licensed photos fill the gaps. Please don't re-use my photos without permission — reach out if you'd like to.
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