japan travel guide

Known as the Hawaii of Japan’s west coast, this beach island is a beautiful escape from civilization and a perfect summer destination.

An incredible autumn destination, this town is located in a gorge with some insane mountainous landscapes.

These rocky cliffs have been the backdrop for a number of films, mostly due to their striking appearance against such clear water.

One of the tallest mountains in the region, a must see hike in the area!

This scenic lookout is beautiful year-round, overlooking lakes and the ocean all at once.

A famous temple in the area, this sacred spot is breathtaking.

An oasis in the middle of the city, Kanazawa’s Castle Park is an incredible place to learn some ancient history!

Beautiful, quiet onsen town outside Kanazawa. Less touristy than others but still gorgeous

A massive lake near Kyoto, this natural area is breathtaking!

While overcrowded to the max, this place truly is worth it! Breathtaking piece of history!

An underrated neighborhood in Osaka, full of cafes and shops and much less crowded than the downtown alternatives!

A beautiful space, one of my favorite art museums!

A very random European-inspired district with many cute cafes and shops! A fun way to pass the time in Kobe

Beautiful island outside of Tokyo with views of Mt. Fuji!

A gorgeous town near the base of Fujisan, perfect year round!

Great Tokyo neighborhood for thrifting! So many great cafes and shops

Famous island outside of Hiroshima- very crowded but totally worth it! Must see classic tourist destination!

A necessary historical experience for anyone in the area. Deeply emotional, this museum is not one to try and breeze through- best to set aside lots of time for it.

Small fishing town outside of Hiroshima- very beautiful and full of incredibly friendly residents, but definitely should only be respectfully visited by experienced travelers with some level of Japanese language ability.

Random coastal dune area that feels otherworldly! A bit out of the way but totally worth the trip

One of my favorite destinations so far! Incredibly beautiful, stunning art pieces that flow so naturally with the landscape. Don’t miss the smaller establishments and art houses across the island!

Beautiful town along a scenic river, loved that there were few crowds

Birthplace of Japanese denim! Not the most insane or scenic experience, but definitely a good place to find nice, high-quality jeans. Betty Smith campus and Kapital factory store are also nearby!

Beautiful mountain town, great for skiing and onsen

Cute waterfront town with nice seafood and shopping, great illumination after sunset!