8 Best Small Towns to Visit in Japan

Megumi’s a born-and-raised Tokyoite, and Gemma’s a blow-in from Australia who’s been regularly visiting Japan since she was a teenager. Together they’ve explored many of Japan’s best small towns.

Gemma Clarke (left) and Megumi Koiwai (right)

On one of the first road trips we did together, Megumi hiked Nagano’s Mt Karamatsu in the Japan Alps at the peak of summer in a pair of glamorous strappy sandals – an impressive feat for someone without so much as a bandaid to her name.

Back then she was a full-time salary woman, but has since become a freelance writer, acquired a better pair of walking shoes, and developed a taste for small towns in Japan.

Gemma’s a writer too, and has been bringing groups of creatives from all over the world to travel in Japan since 2017.

Though both of us adore the buzz of Tokyo, after a few weeks of squeezing into packed trains at peak hour, singing karaoke in smoky bars late into the night, and seeking reprieve from the urban sprawl in parks, we find ourselves in need of a small-town fix – especially if there’s nature involved.

Together, we’ve explored quaint villages nestled on the side of fog-draped mountains, steamed eggs in natural hot springs by the side of rivers, hiked through the forest to find paddock-to-plate restaurants, and stoked fireplaces in cosy seaside cottages.

Here’s a round-up of some of our favourite regional places in Japan, and what to do there.

1. Surf at Shirahama Beach

Shizuoka Prefecture

Shirahama Beach is a creamy stretch of sand on the Izu Peninsula where a fairly consistent surf break laps at the shore. With a red torii gate at one end and a gorgeous cliffy headland at the other, the beach has crystal clear waters that are particularly delicious for a dip, snorkel, or paddle.

Magical swimming conditions | @gem_clarke

Behind it is an adorable town with a bunch of eateries, inns, and shops that loan beach gear. Asanami is a homely guest house where you can experience the hippie side of Japanese culture, and surfboards can be rented nearby at IRIE coffee and sea.

If you have a car, the coastal drive is gobsmackingly pretty, and the whole peninsula is phenomenal to explore – with highlights including Ryugu Sea Cave, Hirizo Beach, and the famous Perry Road.

Read more: A Guide To Reef & Ocean Safe Sunscreen

2. Visit Ise Jingu

Mie Prefecture

A visit to Ise Jingu is like stepping into the realm of the divine, so it makes sense when you learn that an on-site kitchen has been cooking and serving meals to the resident kami (spirits) twice a day for the last 1,400 years – a practice known as shinsen.

Set in the middle of a primordial forest, this magnificent complex, which is made up of 125 Shinto shrines, is one of the most sacred spaces in all of Japan. Every 20 years, Ise Jingu is completely dismantled and rebuilt, both to practice tokowaka – the renewing of objects to reinvigorate the spirit – and to preserve and pass down traditional building techniques from one generation to the next.

Walking the beautiful grounds here is an experience that will stay with you forever.

Contemplate your journey afterwards in nearby Okage Yokocho – a recreated Kumano Kodo streetscape lined with Edo and Meiji period architecture made into craft stores, restaurants, and traditional sweet shops.

Humans get treats too! | @gem_clarke

3. Farmstay in Komatsu

Ishikawa Prefecture

Takigahara is a lush mountain village in Komatsu where people live in harmony with nature: a unique Japanese ecosystem known as satoyama has developed over centuries of sustainable human interaction with the land. Here, villagers grow rice, farm veggies, forage for edible plants, tend to goats and chickens, and hunt wild boar.

Takigahara Farm operates as the central hub of the village – a beautifully-restored ancient farmhouse that hosts guests.

Visitors can hike Mt Kurakake, soak in the local hot springs, cool off in the freshwater stream, and connect with local producers through an organisation called ishinoko kitchen, which is a network of hunters, farmers, foragers, fermenters, chefs, and food enthusiasts. There are also opportunities to learn and practise traditional crafts, such as washi paper making.

Read more: 5 Beautiful Day Hikes in Japan

4. Swim and Snorkel on Miyako Island

Okinawa Prefecture

On the subtropical paradise that is Miyako Island – sugarcane fields dance in the breeze, palm trees dot the white-sand beaches, and turtles frequent the colourful coral reefs. The latter makes for a sublime snorkelling experience, with the tidal pools of Yoshino Beach and Imgya Marine Garden particularly sensational to explore through a mask.

Stress off, mask on | Courtesy of ©JNTO

The northern area of Hirara is filled with restaurants, bars, and guesthouses, and you’ve got to try goya chanpuru: a bitter melon and bonito-flake stir fry that is unique to the region. Wash it down with a zingy shikuwasa juice!

Read more: 8 Ways to Minimise Your Impact While Snorkelling and Diving

5. Hike and Camp in Kamikochi

Nagano Prefecture

Part of Chubu-Sangaku National Park, Kamikochi is an amazing hiking and camping destination that provides breathtaking views of the Japan Alps. Its long-lasting beauty is preserved by the effort of the locals: no private cars are allowed in the area, and instead, visitors can reach their preferred trail by bus or taxi.

The longest hike technically takes just over an hour – but you’re likely to make several stops to snap photos of the scenic surrounds and wildlife, including monkeys, serow, and the elusive badger.

One of the first vistas you’ll see is the volcanically active Mt Yakedake standing mighty right in front of you, which last erupted in the 60s. There are three campsites to choose from, all of which have a bathhouse and shops where you can get ramen, curry rice, soft-serve ice-cream, and rental gear.

Read more: Nagano – A Guide to the Foothills of the Japan Alps

6. Bike Around Teshima Island

Kagawa Prefecture

A 35-minute boat ride from Takamatsu Port, Teshima Island floats artfully in the Seto Inland Sea, with about 760 residents living there peacefully.

Idyllic island sunsets | @megsgumis

Known for its fertile soil and the Teshima Art Museum, the island has a perimeter of close to 20km, so it’s best to rent a bicycle to explore for the day.

For lunch, don’t miss the opportunity to eat locally-sourced ingredients at Umi no Restaurant while sipping on some vino overlooking the sea from the balcony!

An uphill pedal will reward you with the best view of the island: terraced rice paddy fields, cute fishing villages, and the architectural wonder that is the museum.

While island-hopping to neighbouring Naoshima is also a treat, Teshima will keep you busy enough with its abundant natural beauty and playful art.

7. Learn About Community Building and Sustainable Practices in Kamikatsu

Tokushima Prefecture 

Step outside of Tokushima Airport and find yourself greeted by dynamic dancing statues. This prefecture is known for its deep-rooted Japanese culture, like the Awa Odori – a traditional dance festival held during the summer, and indigo dyeing. It’s also part of Shikoku Henro: the 88 temple pilgrimage.

Kamikatsu is an hour’s drive from Tokushima City – much less known to tourists, and tucked away deep in the mountains.

When you crave a charming mountain village, Kamikatsu ticks the box | @megsgumis

It’s actually Japan’s first zero-waste town, with locals coming together to focus on sustainable practices.

INOW is a group of sustainability professionals who provide a hands-on homestay program for visitors to experience day-to-day life in Kamikatsu. Stop by Cafe Polestar, where all ingredients are sourced from local farmers, and spend the night at Eido: a heartwarming inn where you can eat hotpot with other guests around an irori, or Japanese fireplace. The rice tastes different when you know it just came from the nearest paddy!

8. Bathe in an Iodine-Rich Onsen in Taiki

Hokkaido Prefecture

Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture, is a treasure trove of nature, wildlife, and food – the best dairy, to be exact. Taiki is on the south-east coast, and while driving across the countryside, you’ll get a whiff of hay, and cows mooing your way. Handa Farm has been family-owned for four generations, and makes the best cheese and yogurt in the game.

Pot of gold not guaranteed | @megsgumis

Swing by their beautiful (and child-friendly) property for a dollop of soft-serve ice-cream, then make your way to Asahi Beach to relax. One of many jewels in this region is Bansei Onsen: a hot-spring facility right by the ocean, and one of the few baths in Japan rich in iodine – a powerful and natural antiseptic revered for its hydrotherapeutic properties.

After a long drive from town to town, a soak with a view is such a pleasure, and the in-house cafe serves delicious curry, karaage, and salmon cheese bowls: a local specialty. For those non-drivers, a cold beer could do the trick too!

Japan’s Small Towns Are Worth Travelling To

Exploring beautiful towns in Japan is so enriching. For Megumi, it’s the warm intimacy you find with the locals. Even if it’s your first time visiting, it’s reminiscent of something. It’s a remedy to fast-paced city life when you feel all alone in the noise and crowds.

Whether by the sea or in the hills, Japan’s small towns give you a unique glimpse into its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty | Courtesy of ©JNTO

For Gemma, it’s the quaintness, natural beauty, and novelty that she finds so alluring. To throw up a tent in the forest or sleep in a ryokan that’s several hundred years old, then wander about experiencing warm hospitality, culture, and a slower pace, is just sublime.

To learn more about what to do in Japan and some of the other experiences you can have, head to the Japan National Tourism Organization.  

Header image is of Perry Road in Shirahama, by @gem_clarke