Join our search for Japan’s best Hidden Beauties

We’ve sent two travel bloggers to opposite ends of Japan to uncover 31 off-the-beaten-trail places and experiences most travelers never find.

Follow the tour and you can help decide the winner of the 2015 Hidden Beauty Award!

North Start: Shiretoko
Mt.Tarumae
Nibutani
Gono Line
Osarizawa
Kitayamazaki
Kesennuma
Yamadera
Urabandai
Shiobara Onsen
Hitachinaka
Choshi
Izu
Minakami
Kizakiko
South Start: Zamami
Aoshima
Taketa
Imari
Kitakyushu
Tokuyama
Oki Islands
Ogijima
Naruto
Ryujin Onsen
Ise Shima
Keihoku
Miyazu
Hakusan
Nanto
Goal: Itoigawa
Oct 31

Walking the Salt Trail in Itoigawa

Niigata Prefecture  /  south

Hiking the ancient Salt Road and experiencing local traditions in Itoigawa, where the Northern Alps meets the Sea of Japan.

Join the blogger this day:
Meeting Time:
4PM
The North blogger Jessica and the South blogger Emma will meet again in the middle part of Japan, Itoigawa this day. Let's join in this meet-up! We plan to have a casual ceremony to celebrate the goal of We Love Japan Tour, then will take a walk along the coastline at the sunset time. Duration: Around 1 hour
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Oct 30

Art Around Lake Kizakiko

Nagano Prefecture  /  north

Enjoying exhibits of contemporary art around Lake Kizakiko, a small lake south of Shinano-Omachi in Nagano Prefecture.

Join the blogger this day:
Meeting Time:
9:00AM
From the guest house, you will see around artworks around the lake Kizaki, eat local specialties, then visit "the Millenium forest" to see other works. Duration: 9AM to 3PM Participation fee: None (please pay lunch by yourself, the range is around 1000 to 2000yen) Please send a mail to route13202@gmail.com (Mr. Sato) with the title "We Love Japan Tour 2015 Participation" including your name, number of participants, and phone number.
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Oct 29

Nanto, home of faith and woodcarving

Toyama Prefecture  /  south

Visiting woodcraft artisans in Nanto-city, Toyoma to see their elaborate sculpture works and studios in the classical townscape.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 28

The Outdoors of Minakami

Gunma Prefecture  /  north

Swimming, jumping and sliding down the rapids and waterfalls of the Tone River in the mountain hot spring town of Minakami, Gunma Prefecture.

Join the blogger this day:
Meeting Time:
1PM
Join the Canyoning experience with the blogger. Participation fee: 7000yen Duration: about 2hours Please send a mail to info@canyons.jp (Sara) with the title "We Love Japan Tour 2015 Participation" including your name, number of participants, and phone number.
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Oct 27

Eating my way around Mount Hakusan

Ishikawa Prefecture  /  south

Explore regional delicacies found around Mount Hakusan in Ishikawa Prefecture. Details to be announced.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 26

Wasabi Farming on the Izu Peninsula

Shizuoka Prefecture  /  north

Visiting a farm on the Izu Peninsula to learn about and experience wasabi cultivation.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 25

Fifteen million autumns in Miyazu

Kyoto Prefecture  /  south

Joining a tour through the mountains of northern Kyoto Prefecture in search of fossilized leaves, fish and other creatures.

Join the blogger this day:
Meeting Time:
10AM
You will have an activity of collecting fossils as well as driving sand buggies in the quite large accommodation site. Participation fee is 2500 yen + 2000yen (if you join the barbecue lunch) Duration: 10AM-3PM Please send a mail to qq333vy9n@oboe.ocn.ne.jp (Mr. Nishihara) with the title "We Love Japan Tour 2015 Participation" including your name, number of participants, and phone number.
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Oct 24

Soy Sauce Connections in Choshi

Chiba Prefecture  /  north

Visit the most authentic and traditional shoyu (soy sauce) factory and eat freshly caught Tuna with your hand-squeezed shoyu.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 23

A different Kyoto - forestry in Keihoku

Kyoto Prefecture  /  south

Experience with local forestry workers to go deep into the forested mountains north of Kyoto.

Join the blogger this day:
Meeting Time:
12:30
You are going to the deep mountain to see the site of local forestry workers. You would also try making some woodcraft (chopsticks) using local wood material yourself. Proper shoes for walking is recommended (trekking shoes, sneakers are also fine). Participation fee: 1000yen (only for chopsticks making) Duration: 12:30 - 16:00 Please send a mail to kei.nakayama@gmail.com (Mr. Nakayama) with the title "We Love Japan Tour 2015 Participation" including your name, number of participants, and phone number.
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Oct 22

Kokia and Cosmos at Hitachi Seaside Park

Ibaraki Prefecture  /  north

Visiting Hitatchi Seaside Park, a sprawling public park in Ibaraki Prefecture known for its spectacular displays of seasonal flowers and the fire-red kokia plants which cover the hillsides in autumn.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 21

Smoked bonito and other delicacies in Ise Shima

Mie Prefecture  /  south

Trying our hand at making katsuobushi, dried bonito flakes, used widely in traditional Japanese cooking.

Join the blogger this day:
Meeting Time:
9:10
Cost: 2500 yen (1700 yen without lunch), pay on the spot; Duration: until around 12:30 (in case of lunch); Note: a maximum of 20 people can participate
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Oct 20

Seven Colors of Hot Springs in Shiobara

Tochigi Prefecture  /  north

Enjoying baths in many different hot springs in the historical bathing resort of Shiobara Onsen.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 19

Ryujin Onsen, the mountain retreat of the daimyo

Wakayama Prefecture  /  south

Relaxing in the beautifying hot spring waters of historic Ryujin Onsen in the remote mountains of Wakayama Prefecture.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 18

Hiking in Urabandai

Fukushima Prefecture  /  north

Hiking the beautiful Goshikinuma Walk in the Urabandai Region of Fukushima Prefecture, that leads past several colorful ponds. The local autumn colors should be near their peak.

Join the blogger this day:
More details coming soon!
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Oct 17

Wakame farming in Naruto

Tokushima Prefecture  /  south

Learning about wakame seaweed farming in Naruto, a city made famous by the tidal whirlpools which form in the nearby strait.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 16

Omoshiroyama Kogen to Yamadera

Yamagata Prefecture  /  north

Hiking the steep Momijigawa Ravine via a thrilling riverside trail on the way from Omoshiroyama Kogen to Yamadera Temple.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 15

Ogijima, a small island with plenty of character

Kagawa Prefecture  /  south

Exploring the narrow lanes of Ogijima Island's sleepy hillside fishing village.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 14

Oysters and more on the Karakuwa Peninsula

Miyagi Prefecture  /  north

Seeing and tasting how local oyster cultivation on the Karakuwa Peninsula in Kesennuma has recovered from the 2011 Tsunami.

Join the blogger this day:
Meeting Time:
8:00
8:00 to 11:00 Oyster Peeling Experience: Participation fee (pay in cash, 3000yen) 11:30 to 13:00: Making sushi activity, including sushi lunch (pay in cash, 3000yen)
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Oct 13

The Kuniga Coast of the Oki Islands

Shimane Prefecture  /  south

Discovering the sheer cliffs and rocky shores of Shimane's Oki Islands from both land and sea.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 12

Kitayamazaki Cliffs

Iwate Prefecture  /  north

Visiting the towering cliffs along the northern coast of Iwate Prefecture.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 11

Shunan's industrial coastline

Yamaguchi Prefecture  /  south

Joining an evening cruise along the illuminated refineries and factories that line the southern coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 10

The Abandoned Osarizawa Mine

Akita Prefecture  /  north

Exploring the abandoned ruins of one of Japan's largest former mines in Akita Prefecture.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 9

Toilets and robots in Kitakyushu

Fukuoka Prefecture  /  south

Touring the Toto factory in Kitakyushu where the celebrated washlets and some of the world's most advanced toilets are being produced.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 8

Japan's Most Scenic Train Line

Aomori Prefecture  /  north

Riding the Resort Shirakami train along the scenic Gono Line which follows the Sea of Japan coast of Akita and Aomori.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 7

Okawachiyama, village of the secret kilns

Saga Prefecture  /  south

Exploring the traditional artisan village of Okawachiyama in Saga Prefecture, where Imari Porcelain has been produced for centuries.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 6

Exploring Ainu Culture in Nibutani

Hokkaido  /  north

Visiting one of the best museums about the Ainu, Hokkaido's indigenous people.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 5

Taketa - a story of water

Oita Prefecture  /  south

A visit to Hakusui Dam, otherwise known as "the Queen of the Dams", a beautiful cascading waterfall in Taketa City, Oita.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 4

Climbing Mount Tarumae

Hokkaido  /  north

Climbing Mount Tarumae, one of Hokkaido's most powerful and active volcanoes that towers over the idyllic Shikotsuko caldera lake.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 3

Aoshima, island of the gods

Miyazaki Prefecture  /  south

Checking out the devil's washboard coastline and a small shrine in the jungle interior of Miyazaki's small shrine island.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 2

Trekking in Shiretoko National Park

Hokkaido  /  north

Sea kayaking along the rocky coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula, home to Japan's largest population of brown bears.

Participation is not possible this day.
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Oct 1

Sea kayaking in Zamami

Okinawa Prefecture  /  south

Exploring the deep blue waters around subtropical Okinawa's Zamami Island by sea kayak.

Participation is not possible this day.
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