A surprisingly pleasant small city on the Pacific coast of Chiba Prefecture and an uncrowded, highly underrated destination for a day trip from Tokyo.

An ideal break from fast-paced city travel: relaxing in the hot springs of Bessho Onsen, a quiet town in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture.

While the Hokuriku region is more accessible than ever, Toyama remains a lesser known destination, despite the incredible scenery of the surrounding mountains.

A historic and charming town high in the Japanese Alps. Not too difficult to reach and perfect for experiencing the atmosphere of a Japanese small town.

The Tōkaidō-Sanyō Shinkansen, the world’s first high-speed railway, connects most of the largest urban areas in Japan, including the often overlooked Nagoya.

A port city that remains as fascinating and vibrant as ever, more than 30 years after ferries became obsolete for travel between Honshu and Shikoku.

Just enough time for a taste of this southern city’s most renowned dish and a visit to its excellently preserved castle.

A quiet and largely overlooked castle town in the far southwest corner of Shikoku, also the starting point of one of Japan’s most scenic railway lines.