Which Cities to Visit in Japan (In Addition to Tokyo and Kyoto)?
Having lived in Japan for more than 5 years now and dedicated a good chunk of that time to traveling the country, there are still many worthy places I have not been to, and I think I will never run out of new places to visit in this country.
In this post, I’ll introduce some of my favorite cities in Japan, including the one I live in, Tokyo, and the one that probably attracts the largest number of both domestic and international visitors, Kyoto, but the list goes beyond these two usual suspects, and includes even a few that may still be considered in the “off-the-beaten-path territory”.
Kyoto: Should you stay or should you go?
Should you, should I, or should anyone visit? It may come off as absurd, yet, with all the overtouristy talk and often degrading remarks online, it is an urgent question to answer.
Yes, I strongly believe that you should visit Kyoto, the last historical capital of Japan. Not only because I do not have the heart (and hopefully the arrogance) to tell anyone not to visit Kyoto after having been there almost 10 times myself, but also because it is a magnificent city that helps put every other place you may visit in Japan in a better context.
For its modest size, Kyoto attracts a substantial number of visitors, which creates issues linked to over-tourism. The Japanese government has made considerable efforts to divert some of the interest the city receives toward less-visited areas of Japan. Still, this is surely not the place to tell anyone not to go to Kyoto just to take the pressure off the city, especially after I have been there so many times myself.
If you are looking for alternative destinations, this post and others on the blog list some options. And if you do visit Kyoto, you might also find some of my other posts helpful, such as Hiking the Kyoto Trail — an account of my five-day hike encircling the city through the official hiking route that takes one away from the crowds — One Fine Autumn Day in Kyoto post outlining my one day itineraryerary during my annual fall colors season visits to the city, a diary of three day cherry blossom trip to the city, and Mini Kyoto Guide that outlines of my favorice places in the city.
Tokyo: the world`s largest yet kindest metropolis
Tokyo, where I now live, is a very difficult one to address from a traveler’s perspective. When I first visited Japan in 2012, Tokyo wasn’t even on my itinerary, and on my second visit, I spent just one day here. Yet somehow, years later, I ended up calling it home, and I’ve grown to love it, as a matter of fact, adore it. It’s clean, organized, safe, and endlessly convenient, with some of Japan’s finest parks and gardens, making it one of the best places in the country to experience the seasons.
As a travel destination, though, Tokyo can be a little overwhelming. It’s a vast metropolis, both in size and population — and while it’s unlike any other, truly appreciating its many layers often takes time. On my first visit, I couldn’t quite see what set it apart from other big cities; I even felt I had wasted precious days that could have been spent elsewhere in Japan. Only after living here did I start to understand its rhythm, something that reveals itself slowly, over months rather than days.
But still, Tokyo is, without question, one of the most culturally rich cities not only in Japan but in the world. Its museums, architecture, dining scene, and creative energy could fill countless itineraries. One recommendation I would have is to plan each day in Tokyo carefully, maybe with a focus on a specific site and then the neighborhood surrounding it. Otherwise, the sheer size of the city can feel a little intimidating, and you may end up wasting a lot of time trying to get from one place to another.
In this post, I wrote about the neighborhood I live in Tokyo, a retro one that will take you away from the buzz of the city. In another post (for Letters from Japan subscribers), I listed some of my favorite Tokyo eateries. And in another one, I listed some of my favorite museums in Tokyo.
Nagasaki: one of the first cities in Japan to embrace the outside world
A few years back, on the day Oppenheimer won the Oscar for best picture, I was in Nagasaki (maybe for the fifth time) visiting the Atomic Bomb Museum. With the displays realistically depicting the event, explanations not holding anything back, and particularly the Remembrance Hall, visiting the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is always a deeply sorrowful experience.
I find Nagasaki to be one of Japan’s most important cities to visit. It offers profound insight into the country’s historical interactions with the outside world, which helps put modern-day Japan and its view of the outside world in better context. While the city is ingrained in our global consciousness with the horrific event of August 1945, ironically, centuries before the atomic bombing, Nagasaki was one of the first places in Japan to open its doors to Western culture.
Following the arrival of Portuguese ships on the Japanese shores in the 16th Century, the city quickly became the center of international trade. The ships brought not only tradable goods but also a heavy Western influence, particularly religion. The Christian (mainly Catholic) influence in the city was so strong that Nagasaki was referred to as “Little Rome” at the time.
However, following a brief period of openness, free trade, and cultural exchange during which Nagasaki played a front and central role, Japan entered the Sakoku period (meaning locked country) in 1639. During this lengthy period, which lasted until 1853, most foreigners were banned from entering the country while the Japanese were kept from leaving Japan. The policy also entailed a ban on Christianity. Even during this period, Nagasaki remained the only port in Japan open to foreign trade, though in a rather strange manner.
A (fan-shaped!) artificial island called Dejima was constructed off Nagasaki City in 1636, shortly before the beginning of the Sakoku Period. While the small island was initially used to host Portuguese traders and keep them segregated from the Japanese public (due to, at the time, unwelcome religious influence), it soon became home to Dutch merchants, the only Western group allowed to enter and trade in Japan during the Sakoku Period.
Dejima was home to around 10 to 20 Dutch trade workers, who were not allowed to leave the island except for very limited circumstances, along with some Japanese officials and around 40 buildings, including residences, offices, and warehouses. Dejima, which had once been connected to the mainland with a bridge guarded on both ends, is no longer an island. The surrounding marine area had been reclaimed during the Meiji Period. Today, the island, a mere 15-minute walk from the train station, is open to visitors.
The allure of Nagasaki is not only about these historical sites. Despite its tragic past, Nagasaki is also one of the liveliest cities in Japan. Embraced by the narrow Nagasaki Bay, it is one of those cities softened by the sea where the water evokes a delightful sense of carefreeness. Surprisingly, there are “even” cafes and restaurants right by the water where people watch the busy harbor traffic and enjoy a morning coffee or an afternoon drink—a rarity in Japan, despite it being an “island nation” where there is usually a barrier/road/tetra paks between the inland life and the sea.
Aomori City: the northernmost city of Tohoku
I’ll be honest — Aomori City, the northernmost city of the beautiful Tohoku region, isn’t as rich in sights as some of the other cities listed here. Still, it makes a wonderful base for exploring the region’s nature-dominated attractions.
I usually spend a night in Aomori before continuing toward the Kuroishi area. My go-to place to stay is Daiwa Roynet, which is centrally located, offers comfortable rooms, and has a lively bistro on the ground floor that serves excellent breakfasts, ideal for an early start.
After many such one-night stays, I once decided to slow down and actually explore the city during a visit with friends. We lingered over breakfast at Uguisu, the hotel’s bistro, wandered through the fish market, and visited the Nebuta Museum, which displays the enormous illuminated floats created each year for Aomori’s famous Nebuta Festival — one of Japan’s most cherished summer events. In the evening, we had dinner at Izakaya Jinsuke, a cozy local spot serving a satisfying range of classic dishes, from fresh seafood to yakitori.
So if you happen to pass through Aomori, it’s worth giving the city a full day — or at least half of one — to discover its mid-size Japanese city charms. For a more rural side of Aomori, here is another post, as part of the Letters from Japan subscription series, that covers onsen hopping through Tohoku, including three onsen ryokan in the prefecture.
Kanazawa: the elegant mid-size city rich in gardens and museums
Kanazawa is one of Japan’s most rewarding city breaks, especially for those who have already well trodden the usual suspects like Tokyo and Kyoto. I try to visit Kanazawa regularly, as there is always something new to see (thanks to its excellent museums) and it is simply a very lovely town to hang out in, with a wide range of accommodation and dining options.
With Kenroku-en, celebrated as one of Japan’s three most beautiful gardens, the 21st Century Museum showcasing works by James Turrell and Anish Kapoor in addition to an always impressive rotating exhibitis, the graceful geisha streets of Higashi Chaya, a beautifully designed museum honoring philosopher D.T. Suzuki, preserved samurai homes, a bustling fish market, and kaiseki cuisine that lives up to its reputation, Kanazawa never disappoints.
I wrote more about Kanazawa in this post, as part of the travel diaries series of my newsletter – Ketters from Japan: One Fine Day in Kanazawa.
Hirosaki: a city that escaped air raids during World War II
While Nagasaki played a crucial and progressive role in Japan’s interactions with the Western world in the 16th Century, Hirosaki, a northern Japanese city located in Aomori Prefecture, is also known for its openness to Western culture, but for the events that occurred centuries later during the Meiji Restoration Period.
The Meiji Restoration, which began in 1868 after a lengthy period of self-imposed isolation during the Edo Period, aimed to modernize and industrialize Japan. Hirosaki took the restoration policies of the time to heart and invited teachers, technical experts, and artists from the United States and Europe to speed up the integration into the world. Hirosaki, which also avoided air raids during World War II, is known today for its abundance of Western-style architecture, which has remained intact since the Meiji Period. The Western influence is also reflected in the city’s dining scene, with many restaurants serving European cuisine.
Besides the Meiji Period architecture, another big draw of Hirosaki is Hirosaki Castle, one of the 12 castles in Japan that remain in their original form from the Edo and earlier eras. The castle, a reminder of the city’s feudal past, is surrounded by a magnificent park, which, to be honest, excited me even more than the castle (granted, this was due to the fall foliage).
If you ever make it to Hirosaki, I also highly recommend the Museum of Contemporary Art. The museum occupies an old, stylish brick building that used to be a brewery during the Meiji Period. They launch two exhibitions per year featuring artists who highlight the culture of Hirosaki and Tohoku. On the premises, there is a library, a studio space, and a cafe (offering happy hours featuring cider made from apples the region is famous for).
Matsumoto: the hometown of Yayoi Kusama
Matsumoto, a mid-size town in Nagano prefecture, is one of those little gems of a city that punches above its weight when it comes to visitor attractions.
The city, just like Hirosaki, is home to one of the original 12 castles of Japan. Referred to as Crow Castle (Japanese love to nickname their castles) for its black exterior, the castle’s main keep remains in its original form, built in the 16th Century.
The similarities between Matsumoto and Hirosaki extend beyond their original castles. Both cities are excellent representations of an aspect of Japan that I deeply appreciate: how modern-day life blends seamlessly with and complements the city’s historical attractions and traditional culture.
Lucky for Matsumoto, the city is also the birthplace of the renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Thanks to Kusama’s generosity, the Matsumoto City Museum of Art houses a relatively large collection of her work. The artist’s permanent collection at the museum, titled The Place for My Soul, includes a series of canvas paintings, polka-dot walls, the famous pumpkin, and infinity rooms, for which Kusama is best known.
Kusama’s art, which offers the viewers an immersive experience, is known to draw large crowds (for example, in Tokyo, the Yayoi Kusama Museum requires advance booking). However, on the day I visited the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, despite the national holiday, there were only a few visitors besides me, making the experience feel almost like a private viewing. So, if you are a fan of her work, the museum may be a reason alone to visit Matsumoto (which takes around 2.5 hours on the express train from Tokyo).
The city is also not too far from the regular hangout of its prefecture’s most famous residents – the snow monkeys known for their fondness for the natural hot spring waters.
Last but not least, Matsumoto is also the gateway to one of Japan’s most picturesque nature areas, Kamikochi, and to the most-visited postal towns of the Nakasendo Route, the historical route that connected Tokyo to Kyoto during the Edo Period via 69 postal towns—both accessible within an hour.
Asahikawa: easy access to Hokkaido`s best landscape scenery
Now, I cannot fully endorse Asahikawa as a stand-alone destination, but it certainly makes for a great overnight stop on a trip covering some of Japan’s best landscape scenery has to offer. The city is served by an airport with multiple direct flights from Tokyo every day.
Strategically positioned an hour away from Japan’s largest national park, Daisetsuzan, and one of its most picture-perfect small towns, Biei, on the other side, Asahikawa offers plenty to fuel up before a nature getaway, especially in the winter.
Whenever I am in the area, I try to spend a night in the city, enjoying its rich selection of restaurants, izakaya alleys, and nice hotels (especially OMO7 by Hoshino Group), all of which are particularly attractive on a snowy winter evening.
Are you looking for more places to visit in Japan?
You can start with my Japan travel guide here, which is more destination-focused, or Japan Travel Frequently Asked Questions, which is more logistics-focused.
For more easily accessible destination ideas in Japan, the “Where to Visit in Japan” post focuses on destinations that you can easily add to a trip focused on Tokyo and/or Kyoto.
Summer may not be the best time to visit Japan, of course, unless you are planning to head up to the mountains or islands. These are some of my favorite summer destinations in Japan.
If you are not short on time, there are countless other destinations in Japan. Getting off the mainland to visit the smaller islands is a wonderful option to experience the “extremely” rural life centered around the ocean. These are some of my favorite islands in Japan.
If you like hiking, you are in luck. Mountains cover 70% of Japan’s land and host thousands of trails suitable for both beginner and advanced hikers. These are some of the hikes in Japan that are easily accessible with public transportation.
To experience Japan’s famous onsen (hot springs) culture, check out my post, where I listed some of my favorite hot springs in Japan.
If you visit Japan during the fall colors season, these are some of my favorite fall foliage viewing destinations in the country.
For more Japan travel stories and resources, Letters from Japan includes a new monthly letter as well as a growing paid archive of travel diaries, walking itineraries, and trip-planning resources. Paid subscriptions are USD 5/month or USD 50/year (which includes a one-to-one trip planning session). Explore the full archive here or subscribe below.
