Hidden Places
The destinations gathered here lie off the well-worn tourist routes: getting there is complicated, public transport is limited, and most travelers need a guide familiar with local conditions to make the journey work. Filter by region, season, and who each place suits to understand what makes independent travel to each hidden spot difficult.
Biei
BIEI
Hokkaido · Summer/Winter
Biei's Blue Pond and rolling hillside farmland in Hokkaido — flower fields in summer, snow-covered plains in winter — a hidden destination well suited to families and photographers.
Kamikochi
KAMIKOCHI
Nagano · Summer/Autumn
An alpine basin beneath the Hotaka mountain range in Nagano's Kamikochi, with the clear waters of the Azusa River and the reflections of Taisho Pond — a hidden highland open from April to November.
Kumano Kodo
KUMANO KODO
Wakayama · Spring/Autumn
Cedar-lined stone steps and Nachi Falls along the Kumano Kodo in Wakayama — a hidden pilgrimage trail, a World Heritage route winding through old-growth forest.
Oirase Gorge
OIRASE KEIRYU
Aomori · Autumn/Spring
Old-growth forest and cascading waterfalls along Aomori's Oirase Gorge — autumn foliage, spring greenery — a hidden valley unfolding along a 14-kilometer walking trail.
Wakkanai, Rebun & Rishiri
SOYA
Hokkaido · Summer
Japan's northernmost cape at Soya, the alpine flowers of Rebun Island, and the cone of Rishiri Fuji — three far-north destinations that summer ferries string into one route.