Okayama’s “Uncrowded Kawagoe” and Kyoto’s “Bamboo Path with no Japanese”…10 famous places in Japan where inbound tourists don’t come

On February 14, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, announced that it will raise the admission fee to Himeji Castle, a national treasure designated as a World Heritage site, from the current 1,000 yen to 2,500 yen for those living outside the city. Admission will remain unchanged at 1,000 yen for citizens, and will be free for those under 18 years old, regardless of whether they are citizens or not.

The number of inbound tourists has been increasing since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, and famous tourist spots are facing the challenge of countermeasures against overtourism. We expect that more and more tourist attractions and municipalities will take countermeasures, such as raising prices.

Hotel prices in major cities have skyrocketed. Hotel prices have skyrocketed in major cities, and domestic travel has become less accessible.

On the other hand, there are still many wonderful places that are not well known even to Japanese people. From among the places I have visited, I would like to introduce some of the “hidden spots that are not associated with overtourism” that you should visit at least once!

1 “Yakage-juku” in Yakage Town, Okayama Prefecture, an “uncrowded river crossing

Yakage-juku flourished as a post town along the old Sanyo Expressway and was designated as an “Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings” in 2008. Recently, the town has been revitalized as a “mecca for cream soda,” making the most of its old townscape.

The main lodge and side lodges, which were used as lodging and resting places for important persons such as feudal lords and shogunate officials, still exist as they were in the Edo period. Both are nationally designated important cultural properties, and Yakage is the only place in Japan where both the main camp and side camps are still in existence as important cultural properties!

It is located about 30 minutes by train from Kurashiki Station, where the Bikan Historical Quarter attracts many inbound tourists, but it is not well known except to residents of Okayama Prefecture. Despite the fact that there are more historical buildings remaining than in Kawagoe, Saitama, it may be the only time you can take all the pictures you want without people’s reflections!

2 “Bamboo Path” in Muko City, Kyoto Prefecture, closer than Arashiyama, where you can take all the pictures you want.

Located two stops from Kyoto Station, where over-tourism has become an issue, “Bamboo Path” is a 10-minute bus ride from JR Katsuragawa Station. Despite the lack of tourism in the surrounding area, there are no visitors at all, even though the area is closer to Kyoto Station than Arashiyama.

Along the bamboo grove, which is more splendid than Arashiyama, there is also the Terado-Otsuka burial mound, a super-secluded spot that can be enjoyed by lovers of ancient burial mounds. The nearest station, Rakusiguchi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line, is currently undergoing redevelopment as part of the “Muko North Gateway” project. After its completion, it is inevitable that “Bamboo Diai” will attract a lot of attention.

3 “Yahiko Shrine” in Yahiko Village, Niigata Prefecture, “the most powerful spot in Niigata

The approach to this historic shrine, which has a history of more than 2,000 years since its foundation and is mentioned in the Manyoshu, the oldest anthology of Japanese poetry, is surrounded by greenery, making it Niigata’s number one power spot where visitors can feel refreshed just by walking. The view from the rotating panoramic tower at the top of the Yahiko-yama ropeway, which offers a panoramic view of the Echigo Plain, is also spectacular.

It takes 1 hour and 30 minutes from Niigata Station by train, and 30 minutes from Tsubame-Sanjo Station, the nearest station for the Shinkansen bullet train. The area can be explored at leisure even on weekends and holidays, as the few trains during the daytime and poor accessibility are the bottlenecks.

A free bus service is available from Yahiko Station on days when the adjacent Yahiko Bicycle Race is held, so it is recommended to take a bicycle race after getting power from the shrine, or to eat local ramen at the ramen store “Wan” run by a former bicycle racer.