Kansai

Osaka’s tourist infrastructure is so well-developed that it can feel like the city is trying to keep you inside it — there’s always another food street, another neighborhood, another castle to see (its own castle being the obvious one). But the Kansai region around Osaka is one of the most historically layered parts of Japan, and within two or three hours in any direction lie castle towns that saw more history than most countries manage in a millennium. ...

Japan doesn’t market its lighthouses the way it markets its temples or its cherry blossoms, which is a shame — and also your advantage. Honshu’s coastline stretches for thousands of kilometers, wrapping around sea cliffs, volcanic headlands, and fishing coves that most foreign visitors never see. The lighthouses that stand along it tend to be old, well-built, and set against views that would stop anyone in their tracks. Below are seven of the finest lighthouse stops along Honshu, chosen for scenery, accessibility, and the general absence of tour groups. ...

Everyone you know has a photo standing in front of Kegon Falls or posing at Nachi Falls with the same fifty other tourists crowding the frame. Nothing wrong with that — they’re stunning. But here’s something I’ve learned after years of chasing waterfalls down forgotten mountain roads: the real magic of Japan’s countryside is in the falls that don’t even have an English sign pointing the way. Japan has over 2,000 waterfalls taller than five meters, tucked into mountains that cover nearly three-quarters of the country. Most of them will never appear on a tourist itinerary, which is exactly the point. Below are five hidden waterfalls Japan rarely talks about in English-language guides — the kind of rural Japan waterfalls you stumble into and then can’t stop telling people about. Pack good shoes, rent a car if you can, and bring a little patience. These places reward it. ...