10 Underrated Japanese Cities to Visit
When planning a trip to Japan, the same itinerary always comes up: Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka → Nara → Hiroshima. Beautiful cities, of course... but they only tell part of the country's story. The most striking Japan is often hidden elsewhere, in less touristy places.
Here are 10 little-known or underestimated cities to visit in Japan to get off the beaten path, discover quieter places, and build a more personal trip.
1. Hiraizumi: The Spiritual Treasure of Northern Japan
Hiraizumi is one of the most fascinating cities in Tohoku. Small, peaceful, almost silent, it was nevertheless one of Japan's major political and religious centers in the 12th century. It's an ideal stop for those who love temples, Japanese medieval history, and sacred atmospheres. The city is also linked to Minamoto no Yoshitsune, a tragic and legendary figure in Japanese history.
→ Main Places to See in Hiraizumi 📸
- Chuson-ji, the city's most famous temple
- Konjikido, the Golden Hall of Chuson-ji
- Motsu-ji, known for its Pure Land Garden
- Takkoku no Iwaya, a temple built against the rock face
- Kinkeizan, a small sacred mountain linked to the city's history
- Geibikei Gorge, to combine in the region
→ Shinkansen Duration / Travel Time from Major Cities 🚆
- From Sendai: approximately 45min to 1h
- From Morioka: approximately 50min to 1h10
- From Tokyo: approximately 2h40 to 3h
→ Our Tip for Visiting Hiraizumi 💡
Hiraizumi works very well as a "historical break" between Tokyo and northern Japan. You can spend a day there from Sendai, but an overnight stay allows you to experience the city's much more mystical atmosphere, especially early in the morning, before visitors arrive.
2. Nikko: The Sacred City Many Visit Too Quickly
Nikko is not entirely unknown, but it is often misunderstood. Many travelers spend only one day there from Tokyo, visit Toshogu Shrine, and then leave immediately. However, Nikko deserves much more than that. Between classified temples, red bridge, deep forest, waterfalls, mountain lake, and moss-covered statues, the city offers one of Japan's most mystical faces.
→ Main Places to See in Nikko 📸
- Toshogu Shrine, Nikko's most famous shrine
- Shinkyo Bridge, the city's emblematic red bridge
- Rinno-ji, one of Nikko's great historic temples
- Taiyuin, a more discreet but magnificent mausoleum
- Kanmangafuchi Abyss, a strange and poetic riverside walk
- Kegon Falls, a large waterfall located near Lake Chuzenji
- Lake Chuzenji, perfect for discovering Nikko's more natural side
→ Shinkansen Duration / Travel Time from Major Cities 🚆
- From Tokyo: approximately 1h40 to 2h
- From Utsunomiya: approximately 40 to 45min
- From Sendai: approximately 2h15 to 2h40
→ Our Tip for Visiting Nikko 💡
Spend at least one night in Nikko; it's almost essential to fully enjoy this village. For a more immersive experience, the ideal is to choose a ryokan and take advantage of the hot springs offered by some establishments. Nikko is difficult to explore in a single day: you need at least two days to appreciate its atmosphere. The first can be dedicated to the shrines, Shinkyo Bridge, and Kanmangafuchi Abyss. The next day, you can go up towards Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls. The city then becomes much more than just a day trip from Tokyo, but a real stop between spirituality, nature, and ancient Japan.
3. Kakunodate: The Little Kyoto of the Samurai
Kakunodate is an old samurai town located in Akita Prefecture. It is sometimes called the "little Kyoto of Tohoku", but it remains much quieter and better preserved than Kyoto. Its old residences, long tree-lined streets, and elegant atmosphere make it a beautiful stop to discover a historical, rural, and refined Japan.
→ Main Places to See in Kakunodate 📸
- The samurai district, with its preserved ancient residences
- Aoyagi Samurai Manor Museum, one of the most interesting houses to visit
- Ishiguro Samurai House, simpler but very authentic
- The Hinokinai River, superb during cherry blossom season
- The weeping cherry trees, symbols of Kakunodate in spring
- Local craft shops, especially those selling cherry bark products
→ Shinkansen Duration / Travel Time from Major Cities 🚆
- From Akita: approximately 45min
- From Morioka: approximately 50min to 1h10
- From Sendai: approximately 1h30 to 2h
- From Tokyo: approximately 3h
→ Our Tip for Visiting Kakunodate 💡
Kakunodate is magnificent in spring (during cherry blossom season), but autumn suits it almost as well. For a more complete itinerary, you can combine it with Lake Tazawa or the hot springs of Nyuto Onsen, to mix samurai history, nature, and onsen.
4. Tono: The City of Japanese Legends
Tono is a unique city, located in Iwate Prefecture. It is known for its folk tales, mythological creatures, and its rural atmosphere. Here, you don't just visit temples or museums... you come to experience an ambiance. Tono is one of the best places in Japan to learn about folklore, kappa, and strange stories passed down in the Japanese countryside.
→ Main Places to See in Tono 📸
- Tono Furusato Village, a traditional village showcasing old rural Japan
- Denshoen, related to local tales and legends
- Kappa-buchi, the stream associated with the famous kappa
- Tono Municipal Museum, to understand the region's folklore
- Fukusenji Temple, a large peaceful temple outside the center
- The countryside around Tono, very pleasant to explore by bike
→ Shinkansen Duration / Travel Time from Major Cities 🚆
- From Morioka: approximately 1h30 to 2h
- From Sendai: approximately 2h30 to 3h
- From Tokyo: approximately 4h to 4h30
→ Our Tip for Visiting Tono 💡
To better savor Tono, we recommend visiting the city by bike. It is a perfect place for a traveler who wants to see a more mysterious, more rural, almost timeless Japan.
5. Aizuwakamatsu: The City of the Last Samurai
Aizuwakamatsu is one of the best cities in Japan for immersing oneself in samurai history. Located in Fukushima Prefecture, it is strongly linked to the Boshin War and the end of the Tokugawa shogunate. Less visited than Nikko or Kanazawa, it nevertheless has a real character: castle, old residences, original temples, and memories of an era when Japan was shifting towards modernity.
→ Main Places to See in Aizuwakamatsu 📸
- Tsuruga Castle, the city's emblematic castle
- Sazaedo, a truly astonishing double-helix temple
- Iimoriyama, a place linked to the young Byakkotai warriors
- Aizu Bukeyashiki, an old samurai residence
- Nanokamachi Street, a retro street with shops and cafes
- Ouchi-juku, an old post town to visit from the city
→ Shinkansen Duration / Travel Time from Major Cities 🚆
- From Fukushima: approximately 1h30 to 1h45
- From Sendai: approximately 2h to 2h30
- From Tokyo: approximately 3h
→ Our Tip for Visiting Aizuwakamatsu 💡
Aizuwakamatsu can be a very beautiful stop on a "Samurai Japan" itinerary, especially if combined with Nikko or Tohoku. To better enjoy the city, it's better to plan at least one night there rather than just a day trip from Tokyo.
6. Gujo Hachiman: The City of Water and Ancient Alleys
Gujo Hachiman is a small town in Gifu Prefecture, known for its canals, castle, and traditional atmosphere. It's the kind of place that doesn't try to impress all at once, but rather stands out for its details: the clear water flowing through the city, the quiet alleys, the old houses, the bridges, the workshops, and that feeling of local Japan, far from the crowds.
→ Main Places to See in Gujo Hachiman 📸
- Gujo Hachiman Castle, a small castle with a beautiful view of the city
- The canals of Gujo Hachiman, at the heart of the city's identity
- Yanaka Mizu no Komichi, a pretty stone and water alley
- Sample Kobo, centered around plastic Japanese food samples
- The old quarter, perfect for walking without a specific plan
- Gujo Odori, a famous dance festival in summer
→ Shinkansen Duration / Travel Time from Major Cities 🚆
- From Gifu: approximately 1h30 to 2h30 depending on transport
- From Nagoya: approximately 1h30 to 2h
- From Kyoto: approximately 3h to 4h
→ Our Tip for Visiting Gujo Hachiman 💡
Gujo Hachiman is an excellent stop between Nagoya and Takayama. You can use it to break up the journey, avoid overly long travel days, and discover a more intimate, almost village-like Japanese city.
7. Kurashiki: The Japan of Canals and White Warehouses
Kurashiki is one of the most beautiful historic cities in western Japan. Its Bikan district, with its canals, willows, and old white warehouses, gives the impression of stepping into a merchant city from another era. It is quite accessible, but often overlooked by travelers who focus solely on Osaka, Kyoto, and Hiroshima.
→ Main Places to See in Kurashiki 📸
- The Bikan district, Kurashiki's historic center
- The Kurashiki Canal, lined with willows and white buildings
- Ohara Museum of Art, one of the city's most famous museums
- Ivy Square, a former industrial complex redeveloped
- Denim shops, very present in the region
- Kojima, a district linked to the history of Japanese jeans
→ Shinkansen Duration / Travel Time from Major Cities 🚆
- From Okayama: approximately 15 to 20min
- From Hiroshima: approximately 1h to 1h15
- From Osaka: approximately 1h20 to 1h40
→ Our Tip for Visiting Kurashiki 💡
Kurashiki is perfect as a stop between Hiroshima and Osaka. Rather than making the journey in one go, you can stop for half a day, stay overnight, or leave in the late afternoon for Kansai.
8. Onomichi: Temples, Cats, and the Seto Inland Sea
Onomichi is a charming port city built between the hills and the Seto Inland Sea. It is known as the starting point of the Shimanami Kaido, but it also deserves to be visited for its own sake. Stairs, temples, alleys, cats, small cafes, and views of the islands: Onomichi has a gentle, melancholic, and very Japanese atmosphere.
→ Main Places to See in Onomichi 📸
- Senko-ji Temple, the city's most famous temple
- Senkoji Park, for views of Onomichi and the Inland Sea
- Temple Walk, a stroll between several temples
- Cat Alley, a small alley associated with cats
- Onomichi Port, perfect for experiencing the maritime atmosphere
- The Shimanami Kaido, a mythical cycling route between Honshu and Shikoku
→ Shinkansen Duration / Travel Time from Major Cities 🚆
- From Hiroshima: approximately 1h to 1h30
- From Okayama: approximately 35min to 1h20
- From Osaka: approximately 1h40 to 2h15
→ The best tip for visiting Onomichi 💡
Onomichi can be the starting point for a mini-cycling trip on the Shimanami Kaido. Even in two days, this route offers a different image of Japan: more maritime, brighter, with bridges, islands, and small ports.
9. Matsue: Black castle, Lake Shinji, and Japanese mythology
Matsue is an elegant, calm, and often overlooked city located in Shimane Prefecture. It boasts one of Japan's rare original castles, a superb lake, and an atmosphere very different from the major cities on the Pacific coast. It's also an excellent base for exploring Izumo, one of the most important regions in Japanese mythology.
→ Main places to see in Matsue 📸
- Matsue Castle, one of the few original castles still standing
- The Matsue moats, to be explored on a small cruise
- Lake Shinji, beautiful at sunset
- The old samurai residences district
- Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum, dedicated to the writer linked to Japan
- Izumo Taisha, to be combined as a day trip from Matsue
→ Shinkansen duration / travel time from major cities 🚆
- From Okayama: approximately 2h35 to 2h45
- From Hiroshima: approximately 3h20 to 3h40
- From Osaka: approximately 3h30 to 4h30 depending on the itinerary
→ The best tip for visiting Matsue 💡
Matsue is ideal for exploring the San'in region, much less frequented than the classic Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka route. For a more original itinerary, you can combine Matsue, Izumo Taisha, and the Adachi Museum, then continue towards the Sea of Japan.
10. Hagi: The forgotten fortified city of Yamaguchi
Hagi is an ancient samurai city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, on the coast of the Sea of Japan. It played an important role in the country's modern history, particularly during the Meiji Restoration. Its charm comes from its preserved alleyways, white walls, old residences, and an atmosphere very different from ultra-modern Japan.
→ Main places to see in Hagi 📸
- Hagi Castle Town, the old fortified quarter of the city
- The old samurai residences, very well preserved
- Kikuya Residence, a beautiful historic merchant house
- Shoin Shrine, linked to Yoshida Shoin
- Shokasonjuku Academy, an important place in the history of the Meiji Restoration
- Tokoji Temple, a temple linked to the Mori lords
- The ruins of Hagi Castle, to walk through the city's former political heart
→ Shinkansen duration / travel time from major cities 🚆
- From Shin-Yamaguchi: approximately 1h to 1h20 by bus
- From Hiroshima: approximately 2h30 to 3h
- From Fukuoka: approximately 2h30 to 3h
→ The best tip for visiting Hagi 💡
Hagi requires a little logistical effort, but that's precisely what allows it to retain its charm. It's a city to include in a slower trip around Yamaguchi, Tsuwano, Nagato, or Hiroshima.
Which itinerary to choose to visit these lesser-known cities of Japan?
→ Itinerary 1: The historic north of Japan 🗾
Sendai → Hiraizumi → Tono → Morioka → Kakunodate → Akita
This is the ideal itinerary to discover Tohoku, with temples, legends, samurai towns, and a much calmer atmosphere than in classical Japan on first trips.
→ Itinerary 2: Temples, samurai, and mountains from Tokyo ⛩️
Tokyo → Nikko → Aizuwakamatsu → Sendai → Hiraizumi
This itinerary is very interesting for those who want to leave Tokyo without going directly to Kyoto. It combines shrines, castles, samurai history, and landscapes of northeast Japan.
→ Itinerary 3: Ancient Japan between Kansai and Chugoku 🌊
Osaka → Kurashiki → Onomichi → Hiroshima → Hagi
This is a beautiful route for those who have already seen Kyoto and Osaka. It allows you to discover a more maritime, more historical, and often much less crowded Japan.
→ Itinerary 4: Secret Japan, by the sea 🌙
Okayama → Matsue → Izumo → Hagi → Yamaguchi
This route requires more planning, but it provides access to a very different side of Japan: more spiritual, calmer, older, with a true sense of off-the-beaten-path travel.
Visiting a more discreet, but deeper Japan
The lesser-known cities of Japan often have a huge advantage: they don't seek to impress immediately. They ask you to slow down, walk, observe the details, and understand local history.
Hiraizumi, Nikko, Tono, Kakunodate, Onomichi, or Hagi do not replace Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka, but they give the journey a different depth. For a second trip to Japan, or even for a more original first itinerary, these cities allow you to discover a more intimate Japan: that of old merchant quarters, samurai, forgotten temples, popular legends, and landscapes not always seen on postcards.