Japan is having a moment. It sits at the very top of luxury travel wish lists heading into 2027, and searches for regions like Okinawa and Hyogo are climbing fast.
Tokyo and Kyoto deserve every bit of their fame. But the Japan travelers fall hardest for often lives just beyond them, in castle towns, hot spring villages and island coastlines where the pace slows and the culture feels wonderfully close. Here are six places I love to weave into a Japan journey.
1. Kanazawa
Often called a smaller Kyoto, Kanazawa is a city of samurai lanes, geisha teahouses and one of Japan's most celebrated gardens, Kenroku-en. It's also a center for traditional crafts, from gold leaf to Kutani porcelain, so it's a wonderful place to meet artisans and try your hand at their work. The bullet train makes it an easy addition from Tokyo.
2. Hyogo
Home to Kobe and its famous beef, Hyogo also holds Himeji Castle, the finest original castle in Japan, and Kinosaki Onsen, a hot spring town where guests stroll between bathhouses in cotton yukata. It pairs beautifully with Kyoto and Osaka.
3. Takayama and the Japanese Alps
Wooden merchant houses, morning markets and sake breweries fill Takayama's old town. Nearby, the thatched-roof farmhouses of Shirakawa-go look like something from a storybook, especially under winter snow.
4. The Kumano Kodo
This ancient pilgrimage trail winds through cedar forests on the Kii Peninsula, linking shrines that have welcomed travelers for more than a thousand years. Walk a section by day, then rest at a family-run inn with a kaiseki dinner and an outdoor bath.
5. Naoshima and the Art Islands
In the Seto Inland Sea, small islands have been transformed into open-air galleries, with museums set into hillsides and sculptures along the shore. It's an unexpected side of Japan that art lovers adore.
6. Okinawa
Japan's subtropical south has white-sand beaches, coral reefs and its own distinct culture, cuisine and history. It's a lovely way to end a busy trip with a few days by the sea.
Planning Your Journey
The best Japan itineraries mix the icons with places like these, linked by Japan's excellent trains. Spring brings cherry blossoms, autumn brings fiery maples, and both seasons book up early, so it pays to start planning a year ahead.
I'd love to help you design a Japan journey that goes well beyond the surface. Book a complimentary consultation and let's start planning.
