Second trip to Japan - rural recommendations

Hi,
Hoping some people might have some good advice about our second trip to Japan and in particular ways we can explore some more rural areas.

We visited Japan in April 2018 and LOVED IT and have a 10 day trip planned for the end of November. Last time we visited we did Tokyo, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Osaka (weren't huge fans), Noashima Island and Fukuoka.

For our November trip we will be doing Tokyo and Kyoto again as we feel we have alot more to explore there but would also like to 2/3 nights somewhere more rural.

Does anyone have any suggestions of somewhere we can stay with dramatic scenery, a more traditional setting that is relatively easy to get to (i.e on a train/bus)? I'm not sure such a place exists but any help would be welcomed. It would also be interesting to find out how easy/cost effective it is to hire a car in Japan.

Many thanks,
Laura

Hi, we like to get out into the countryside but also stay at places touristy enough to have plenty of eating options and be pretty handy to transport. That said, the more rural you get the less there is to do, so a lot of the places that we are going you would only want to be at for a couple of nights. These are the places we went last time, which we liked:

Chichibu - nice rural area, a bit quiet in some places but enough to do for a couple of nights. Onsen water good. Stayed at Hotel Miyama which looked tired from the outside but the rooms with private baths are brilliant and the staff are very nice (well that goes for everywhere pretty much so I wont say it again). The area is a series of towns linked by a train, some of the towns are a lot of fun;
Karuizawa - nice trendy mountain town with a fun shopping street and plenty to see over a day and a half, also handy by bus to Kusatsu Onsen which is worth going to. We stayed at Le Grand Kyu which was tres chic and great value;
Kusatsu Onsen - fun town, awesome water;
Izu Peninsula - nice mixture of mountains, forests, and waterfront. We stayed at Ajiro which is a very very quiet town but handy to the train which goes up and down the peninsula. Really enjoyed it, the ryokan (Taiseikan) was great value. Ito which is anout 10 minutes away by train was also nice, we went there a few times and visited Izu Shaboten zoo which is great with awesome views. Then we went to Shuzenji for a few nights which is more a traditional onsen town, worth a night's stay.
Hakone - lots of tourism but if you are in the right place it is very nice. We were at Tonosawa which is very foresty but a shortish walk from Hakone Yumoto. Really like it.

I would do the same trip over, exactly the same.

There is certainly a good chance for you to see what you want - though you have barely scratched the surface in your first visit.
If you haven't been to Nara yet, you really need to go. It is one of the highlights of the country.
https://goo.gl/LfvWnL

Also Himeji is well worth your time - and enough for a half or full day.
https://goo.gl/65ZtRi

For something more laid back, you could try Kanazawa - it is worth a couple days, or you could also see any of several good hot springs in the area. For a relaxing drive, you could rent a car and drive around the Noto Peninsula.
Closer to Tokyo, Kamakura+Enoshima also makes a great excursion, and you really could spend a day at each for a fuller experience.
Some other sights in Nagano are also good. Karuizawa is enjoyable, plus Matsumoto, Nagano CIty, the Kiso Valley, Jigokudani, etc.
Lastly, you didn't mention Nikko - you could spend 2-3 days there easily, and enjoy the sights in Okunikko, plus the main Tokugawa sights, and Kinugawa hot springs.

Just to add to what PPs said (all of their suggestions are fine).

- Nara Prefecture. Nara itself is nice, but if you want more rural I am a BIG fan of the region around Asuka. Easy to reach, rural but with a lot of sights. I already spent about a week there and plan on coming back. For me there is more than enough for 3 days.
http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/search/label/Nara?m=1

- if you liked Naoshima why not experiencing some of the other islands? Teshima, Inujima?

- Takamatsu on Shikoku, with day trips to Teshima and Iya Valley

- Okayama with trips to Kurashiki, Bichu Takahashi , Kibi plain and Inujima
http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/2017/11/part-9-day-44-47-okayam...

- Yamadera
http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/2017/10/part-4-day-15-day-21-ak...

- Hiraizumi & Tono
http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/2017/10/week-2-day-7-to-11-iwat...

- Echigo Tsumari area. Here frankly a car would be good. There is an art exhibition every 3 years but even between a lot of the art is accessible in the countryside.
http://www.echigo-tsumari.jp/eng/news/2019/04/news_20190414_03_E1

- do you like Onsen? If yes you could go to eg Takayama and then spend some time in Hirayu onsen. Or go to Wakayama Prefecture eg Dorogawa onsen or even go down to Kyushu to Beppu/ Kurokawa Onsen/ Yufuin, or get to an onsen location closer to Tokyo. Endless possibilities.

- Sado island. For the REALLY rural
http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/2017/10/part-5-day-21-day-25-sa...

- last but not least you are saying November, this sounds like autumn foliage colour . Have a look here for information about peak colour:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2014.html

I guess I could go on. And the ideas of the PPs weren�ft bad either. Essentially you need to come back to Japan many more times ;-)

Enjoy planning your trip to Japan!

If your willing to drive, the Noto Peninsula should be nice with potential fall colors (others may know more).

I'm also a fan of the Kii Peninsula - but it's a bit difficult to travel around.

My idea of rural is more rural than most - but the main problem on the Kyoto - Tokyo route is that many people are also trying to do the same - which makes them quite busy especially with the explosion of travel at present in Japan.

I'm quite a fan of Hagi - but it's also a bit difficult to get to (if you have a JR pass - I think the fastest way is to travel to Yamaguchi and then catch a bus

About an hour by bus from Kyoto is Takao. You could stay at a ryokan there (one night is enough), but walking around the area and the temples there, especially if the autumn colors are present, is magical.
About 20 minutes by train from Kyoto is Uji. I wouldn't call it rural, but it's a good day trip from Kyoto.
You could also explore the Lake Biwa area. Omihachiman is a nice town.
For a rural experience, you might look into this one day tour. Somewhat expensive, but an experience you will treasure: https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g298189-d11468719-...

Someone suggested Chichibu. In that area is Nagatoro. Great for a day trip or an overnighter.

Agreed, I think Nagatoro is one of the more fun towns in the area, the locals seem to come to the river there for boat rides and we had a great tonkatsu with miso sauce which is the local specialty.

Another thing about the area is that they are trying to increase tourism so foreigners are made very welcome, that does give you a warm feeling.