Japan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and if you haven’t traveled to the country yet, you should definitely consider having it as your holiday destination in 2024. There’s no chance of ever becoming bored in this amazing corner of the world where ancient traditions and cutting-edge modernity have met and blended so successfully.
However, you might be wondering which tourist spots you should include on your itinerary. While you might feel compelled to visit some of the landmarks in Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto that have gone viral online and see them for yourself, remember that there are many hidden gems you could add to your itinerary list. While not as infamous as the sights you see on social media, these destinations are just as rewarding and fun to see. Here are some of those that should be on your traveling list.
Yurigahama Beach
You can be certain that you’ve never been on a beach like this ever before, so make sure to discover more about eSIMs to Japan before setting out on your journey. This way, you can enjoy seamless connectivity at all times and send pictures of the places you visit to everyone back home. Yurigahama Beach on Yoron Island is a sand formation that appears during the summer and which is largely dependent on the tide. The beach itself is a pristine expanse of white sand surrounded by clear waters that are perfect for diving in or observing the beauty of the local marine life. The star-shaped sand is made up of tiny coral, and it has a different location whenever the beach appears. This feature has earned it the nickname “Phantasmal Beach”, and to see it for yourself, you’ll need to board a boat tour from Okaneku Beach. If you’re lucky, you might spot the sea turtles for yourself.
Miyakojima
Miyakojima is a city in Okinawa Prefecture located on the Miyako Islands. The climate is somewhere between a tropical rainforest climate and a humid subtropical climate, meaning that summers can get pretty hot, and it tends to rain a lot. Apart from being home to some of the best beaches in all of Okinawa, Miyakojima also provides visitors with an unexpected perk: stargazing. After sundown, the island’s sky darkens, making it an ideal spot for those who enjoy gazing up at the stars. If you’re lucky enough, you might even glimpse the Milky Way. The Ueno German Culture Village, a theme park inspired by German culture and architecture, is also located in Miyakojima. Construction of this somewhat surprising landmark began in 1987, but the history of German influence in the area dates back to 1873 when a German sailing vessel shipwrecked close to the area, with the crew members rescued and cared for by the local people.
Karuizawa
The resort town of Karuizawa lies in Nagano prefecture and is one of the oldest summer resorts in Japan. It has been a popular tourist destination for people from all over the world for roughly two centuries and is an ideal spot for those looking to take a break from the sweltering temperatures and enjoy the fresh mountain air. There are plenty of cafes and souvenir shops to try, as well as restaurants serving traditional fare in case your traveling and exploration leave you feeling famished. But if you want to enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings, look for the hiking trails and camping grounds since there are plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors in Karuizawa. If you’re a fan of Studio Ghibli films, you might recognize some of the surroundings and architecture as they were featured in two films released by the studio, The Wind Rises and When Marnie Was There.
Hokkaido
Hokkaido is the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands, bordering the Sea of Okhotsk to the North and the Pacific to the south and east. The region is renowned for its premium-quality seafood, including a wide range of products such as salmon roe, scallops, squid, crab and sea urchin. Dairy products manufactured in Hokkaido are also famous all over Japan, with butter, milk, cheese, ice cream and yogurt packages advertising their ties to the prefecture to prove the products’ quality.
Ramen is just as popular as in the rest of the country, and you can also enjoy a warming plate of Jingisukan, a dish named after the founder of the Mongol Empire during the early 13th century with mutton as the main ingredient. In the summer, Hokkaido attracts tourists with the large, well-manicured flower fields. At the Cheese Factory in Furano, you can join a workshop teaching you how to make butter, bread, cheese or ice cream, and then drop by the pizzeria and the ice cream parlor when you’re ready to get some refreshments.
Matsuri
The word matsuri means festival in Japan, and if you enjoy them and their atmosphere, you’ll be glad to learn that there’s no shortage of festivals in Japan during summertime. Depending on your schedule, you might be able to visit more than one to see more traditions and festivities. The Gion festival, one of the largest and most important in Japan, takes place throughout the entire month of July in Kyoto.
The procession of floats, arguably the highlight for most participants, occurs between July 17th and 24th. Night stalls sell traditional Japanese street foods and sweets during the festival, including yakitori, okonomiyaki and Takoyaki. The Kanto festival takes place in Akita between 3-7 August and features roughly 200 bamboo poles bearing up to 46 lanterns carried through the streets at night. In Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, you can join the Kumagaya Uchiwa Festival. It lasts five days, between July 19th and 23rd, and has occurred annually since 1750. Approximately 12 floats participate, accompanied by music coming from hand gongs.
There are many other beautiful places you can see in Japan, such as Shodoshima, the second-largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, the first place in Japan to grow olive trees and the home of the Setouchi Triennale art festival, or Notojima in Ishikawa, where sea-fireflies referred to in Japanese as umi-hotaru pain the coastline in an attention-grabbing electric blue. You should definitely sample Kakigori, Japan’s traditional shaved ice dessert flavored with a wide range of syrups and condensed milk and see the Horyu-ji Buddhist temple in Nara, founded by Prince Shotoku in 607.
With so many things to see and do, you’ll probably start planning your next trip to Japan the moment you arrive home so you can discover even more of its beauty.
