I am writing this blog solely on the basis of my personal experience. I strongly believe that these tips would help you in seeing the real Japan which is even more beautiful than what you see on the internet. Please read till the end and feel free to scroll through the pictures for the real and raw experience. I highly recommend this post to someone who is looking for less crowded places to explore in Japan.
I am not a travel blogger. I never visited the places that I did with the purpose of writing about them or making videos about them. This idea actually occurred to me very recently when I saw people struggling to make a proper itinerary or when I noticed that people go to Japan, spend days there but, they still don't know the real Japan.
The aim of writing this post is to help those people distinguish between what the internet says you should see versus what you should see 😊.
Now, of course I can only tell you about the places that I have visited but that's OK because, like I said the aim is to help you how to reach the places where you can see the unseen.
The initial planning :
This phase is just as important as any other. When you plan to go to Japan, don't just drop names. 'I wanna go to Tokyo' , 'Omg let's go to Okinawa and get some sun', 'I have heard Hokkaido is really cool (lit.)'. Nah, don't plan like this. Here is what you should do :
Before jumping to the names, consider what kind of experience you are looking for. I would advice you to first think of the region you want to visit. Broadly speaking, would like to have a more modern experience ? Meaning, are you really fascinated by Japan's technology ? Perhaps, Anime is the reason you are visiting Japan ? In that case, visit Kanto area. This area has some major prefectures like Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa.
If you are like me who loves a good mix of countryside and city, then may be Kansai is a good choice. The perfect blend of City hustle and bustle in Osaka to the amazing temples and shrines in Kyoto and Nara. This area also has some hidden gems in Wakayama. When I was living in Japan, people hardly talked about Wakayama. Although this place attracted me the most and hence I ended up exploring a few areas. I think Japanese government is doing an amazing job promoting some breathtaking spots in Wakayama, one of them being Koya san which is my personal favorite.
Similarly, if your aim is to get away from the city and just enjoy the beaches and one of a kind cuisine, you should probably consider Okinawa. The main point that I am trying to send across is that not every trip that you plan has to be Tokyo or Osaka. There is much more to see in Japan.
Another important aspect that you should most definitely consider is how much money you want to spend on your trip. Currently, Yen is down and so it's cheaper for most countries, but its needless to say that you would want to set a particular budget. While you do this, I highly recommend that you consider the region you are traveling to. Kanto, for example would be more expensive than Kansai area. Hokkaido on the other hand could be cheaper than both Kanto and Osaka !
Setting up an itinerary:
I know a lot of people who just plan everything as they go. Like depending on how tired they are or may be how much more they can spend. It's Ok if that works for you. But, if you are looking to explore more places in less time than here is what you should keep in mind :
Be aware of what you are looking for from this trip. You need to map out the places you want to visit. Your stay, your meals and your shopping list should be set in advance for a smooth travel. Here is how I made an itinerary for my recent trip to Osaka:
It was 10 day long trip and we decided that we will stay in one of the main areas of Osaka. Since I am already familiar with the general route of the city, I booked a BnB which was closer to Namba (the main area) and was 3 min walking distance from the metro station which had both Train and Subway lines passing through it. I booked this place for entire 10 days and decided that we will go to places but this would be our Home.
The not so crowded spots : Since you might be tired from the previous days flight, go ahead and explore some local shrines and temples on the first day . If you are like me and don't like to be in places where there are a lot of tourists then my suggestion is that you go to shrines like Sumiyoshi Taisha where most visitors are locals and which is just as beautiful as any other shrine. If you like castles , instead of going to Osaka Castle (which is so crowded not a days that might not even find a good picture spot !), go to Kishiwada Castle which is just as beautiful and much much less crowded. Same goes for shopping areas. Although you might find more variety of shops in Namba area of Osaka, but, if you are simply looking to buy some souvenirs at a decent price, how about going to Daiso or Donki Hote of a lesser known area. I am simply suggesting this because I have recently been to Donki Hote in Dotonbori and I kid you not it took me near to an hour in the payment line alone !!!
If you absolutely have to go to shopping in Namba area, I highly suggest you go there in the afternoon, which are most definitely less crowded than the evening. Avoid weekends at all cost ! 😒
The neighboring cities : If you are a culture enthusiast, I highly recommend that you spend more time in the neighboring areas rather than the city. If are visiting Osaka for example, then perhaps you should be spending more time in the neighboring areas like Nara, Kyoto, Kobe and even Wakayama. I speak this from experience and I can say this for sure that Wakayama is the best and still unsaturated areas which you should definitely visit if you want to see the real Japan.
To be frank, Japan has changed a lot. I used to live in Japan and had a chance of visiting Nara a couple of times. Trust me when I say this, there used to be only 3-4 people at a time in one temple !! Yes !! Could have been more on weekends but I mostly avoided weekends and Weekdays were super quiet. This time when I visited , the city that is famous for its quiet streets was filled with tourists, the Nara park where I spent hours at a time did not have any space to sit. Famous temples like Todaiji was filled with foreigners and only a few local devotees. After seeing this, I cancelled my Kyoto visit.
Not Kyoto, Go here instead: Every single friend of mine who I met in Japan said this to me 'DONT GO TO KYOTO'. LOL. I mean how can I not ? A trip to Kansai region is incomplete without a day in Kyoto, right? Where else could I see the amazing temples and shrines and enjoy a delicious meal with a view of the nature ? Well, What if I told you, you don't need to go through the endless long lines of Kyoto to do that 😉😉
Yep, there is a place which, according to my opinion is far more beautiful and quiet. The tourists visiting Koyasan are still less and it is one of the oldest Buddhist monastery sites. The scenery is spectacular and the area also provides temple lodging.
I cannot talk enough about this place. It has my heart. Every time I go , I am amazed by the beauty and the simplicity. If you go, definitely try the special vegan cuisine, Shojin ryori. Koyasan has a lot of temples and shrines and its not very difficult to navigate. The bus system is quite easy to understand but most sites close by 5 or 6 pm so please plan accordingly. Don't forget to take the maps provided at the cable car station (yes, you have to go by cable car ! ) which are available in both English and Japanese. Apart from providing the temple and shrines information, they also have a detailed bus schedule.
You can either plan an overnight journey to Koyasan or you can also plan a one whole day trip from Osaka. Here is how : https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4904.html.
If you are planning a day trip, start really early. Although it might not be possible for you to visit each and every site, make sure you do go to these two : Okunoin cemetery and Danjogaramn complex. If you are staying a night and if you can afford it go to one of the temple lodges it would be a once in a lifetime experience. If you are an explorer, do this. Book yourself a BnB in one of the towns around Koyasan. I tried this and it did not disappoint. We booked a BnB in a small town called Kamuro and this was the best decision ever! If you want more information on this BnB, please drop me an email. I would be very happy to help you. Trust me Koyasan is a gem. Visit now and thank me later 💖.
The final step:
Everything in life cannot be planned. Although I really wish it could be. Once you are in Japan, don't forget to enjoy. I see a lot of individual tourists and also the ones in the group who make their vacation a stress job. They have spent the money, now they are here. God forbid they take a day to rest 🤔. Don't do this to yourself. I understand that when you come from faraway you really want to see everything that you planned. But, in the meantime don't forget to enjoy what's right in front of you. Japan is full of hidden gems. One minute you are on a crowded street, the next you have entered a shrine or a temple, haha amazing isn't it ?
Without making this blog too long, I just want to urge the people who are planning to visit Japan to be considerate of the culture and language. Japan is one of the most beautiful country and the people the most kind. When you show kindness to them and their culture, you will see magic happen ✨✨
Happy traveling !
Have any questions or suggestions ?
Drop an email : nihongo.kantan11@gmail.com
Hello mam I want to learn Japanese can you teach me japanese please help mam I really need help