Touring Japan?

Question

hi, my relatives and i intend to go on a trip to japan. however, my family has been to tokyo and hokkaido, where i myself have been to kanazawa and miyazaki, on top of the above two.

is there anywhere in japan worth going? we prefer to look at scenery and do activities rather than to look at buildings. ^-^ is there anywhere in japan that's a must-see besides these?

Answer 1

you can visit hiroshima and shimane and kyoto.
they are places that are not so crowded with buildings unlike the major cities like tokyo and osaka.

hiroshima:
you can visit the atomic bomb dome in hiroshima city. the remains of a building was being left as a memorial after the bomb wiped out almost every thing in the city to a flat piece of trash.
hiroshima is a small city with no skyscrapers, the main shopping area is just a small area with lots to offer from the traditional goods to the funkiest fashion.
u can visit miyajima island (1 of japan's top 3 sights) which is really near hiroshima. just take a tram from hiroshima shinkansen station, which is bound for miyajima-guchi. a short 40-50min ride on the street-car will let u see most of hiroshima city before letting you arrive at miyajima-guchi. then, after alight at miyajima guchi stop, just simply take a ferry across the island to miyajima. it is the most beautiful in autumn as all the trees would turn red. visit the famous temple (which u always see in postcards and pictorials as the symbol of japan), feed the free roaming deers, have lunch in the midst of the lush greens.
tip: buy lunch boxes aka obento before u get on the ferry from the ferry point's convenience store, if u want to have a mini picnic in miyajima.

shimane:
its much less visited due to its very limited transportation means though there are trains that run to & fro.
u can take a shimane-izumo express bound for izumo from okayama main station. (connected to okayama shinkansen station) izumo city has 1 of the oldest shrines in the entire japan and many locals visit it. at the foot of the shrine, u can spot a gigantic shrine gate that reminded me of the arc de triumph of paris. quite majestic in that sense.
izumo temple is more of footwork as u comb through the ancient temple that is rested on the foot of a mountain where after that row of mountains, is directly, the sea of japan which leads to korea.

kyoto:
its a much visited famous tourist spot in japan but nevertheless, a must if u want to see the cultural side of japan.
just hop on a train bound for kyoto and alight at kyoto station.
take a short bus ride which is bound for kiyomizu temple. (one of japan's oldest temple) much signboards are in english and japanese cuz of the booming tourism of the area. also, u can visit sanjusan-gendo temple along the way. take note, temples closes at about 5-6pm..so its best to visit it in the morning.
arashiyama is another place to visit in kyoto. it is a short train ride from kyoto station. take a JR train bound for higashi-arashiyama station and tour around the area. it has great sights during autumn and spring. the shops there are in shophouses that are preserved from the edo era... there's a piano museum around the area too.

do take note, try to visit these places i've mentioned on weekdays and avoid weekends. weekends can get really crowded as the local tourists flock to these places for a short day trip.

Answer 2

Off Beaten Tracks in Japan:

1) Okinawa Prefecture but not the main island. Suggestions include Zamami, Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote and Taketomi Islands (worth to visit! It is like an open-air museum about Ryukyu culture). Beautiful beaches perfect for practicing snorkeling.

2) Japanese Alps nearby Matsumoto City in Nagano Prefecture. Another good option is Tateyama and Kurobe Dam with access through Toyoma Prefecture. Breathtaking views.

3) Kumamoto Prefecture. Aso-san, one of the world's largest craters. Be careful if you are sensitive to sulfur.

4) Shikoku Island, where you can feel the rural atmosphere of Japan and be part of the pilgrimage route through 88 temples.

5) Shirakami Mountain Range (Akita and Aomori Prefecture). UNESCO Natural World Heritage.

6) Yakushima Island (Kagoshima Prefecture). Another UNESCO Natural World Heritage. During summer, hundreds of loggerhead turtles come to place their eggs in the shore.

Answer 3

How about "Japan Alps National Park Resort Kamikochi" ?

Answer 4

Head up to Tohoku and see Hiraizumi, Matsushima, Yamadera, Geibeiki Gorge, Tono, etc.

Answer 5

The Ritsurin Garden in Takayama is superb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afx-Ju52FiY

Also Byodoin Temple in Kyoto is an overlooked gem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0VPJ9-Gvk4

and Dotonbori in Osaka is a place you'll never forget.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COJ_MeXbeow

You can get lots more ideas on:

https://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanfaq/videos/