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.

The largest city in the Shikoku region, home to one of Japan’s grandest castles and also where a variety of unique dining options are on offer.

The highest outer walls of any Japanese castle and a superb vista of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan’s most important waterway.