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Japan: "Off-the-Beaten-Path" Recommendations?
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Apr 6, 2019 16:03:26   #
qualtalk
 
Greetings!

My wife and I will be traveling to Japan for about three weeks in April 2020, and we're looking for recommendations of places we should visit to experience and photograph traditional areas, landscapes, and cultural sites. (Yes, I realize this comprises a fairly broad spectrum.) :)

Our general plan is to fly into Tokyo, spend a few days there, then take the train to Kyoto and see the sights there as well. After that, we're planning on renting a car so we can explore some of the less "touristy" parts of the country.

I have been to Tokyo myself several times and am familiar with the area. In addition, I am somewhat functional in Japanese so being out of the cities in areas where English may not be spoken won't be an issue.

Please feel free to share any thoughts, recommendations, and experiences you have that to help us plan a memorable trip.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Reply
Apr 6, 2019 16:16:17   #
PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago
 
qualtalk wrote:
Greetings!

My wife and I will be traveling to Japan for about three weeks in April 2020, and we're looking for recommendations of places we should visit to experience and photograph traditional areas, landscapes, and cultural sites. (Yes, I realize this comprises a fairly broad spectrum.) :)

Our general plan is to fly into Tokyo, spend a few days there, then take the train to Kyoto and see the sights there as well. After that, we're planning on renting a car so we can explore some of the less "touristy" parts of the country.

I have been to Tokyo myself several times and am familiar with the area. In addition, I am somewhat functional in Japanese so being out of the cities in areas where English may not be spoken won't be an issue.

Please feel free to share any thoughts, recommendations, and experiences you have that to help us plan a memorable trip.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Greetings! br br My wife and I will be traveling ... (show quote)


In my trips to Japan mostly on business when I had spare time, the Meiji Shrine and I like Mountains like Fuji, Mount Kita. Mount Yari,Mount Haku, Mount Asama, and Mount Takao.
Have a great trip and enjoy the culture and food.

Reply
Apr 6, 2019 17:01:57   #
LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY
 
qualtalk wrote:
Greetings!

My wife and I will be traveling to Japan for about three weeks in April 2020, and we're looking for recommendations of places we should visit to experience and photograph traditional areas, landscapes, and cultural sites. (Yes, I realize this comprises a fairly broad spectrum.) :)

Our general plan is to fly into Tokyo, spend a few days there, then take the train to Kyoto and see the sights there as well. After that, we're planning on renting a car so we can explore some of the less "touristy" parts of the country.

I have been to Tokyo myself several times and am familiar with the area. In addition, I am somewhat functional in Japanese so being out of the cities in areas where English may not be spoken won't be an issue.

Please feel free to share any thoughts, recommendations, and experiences you have that to help us plan a memorable trip.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Greetings! br br My wife and I will be traveling ... (show quote)


Get lost! No, really, and I state that politely.
I spent a bit of time in Japan in 1970. One day I took the train the 20 or 30 miles or so to Yokohama. The train going was direct. On the return I didn't realize that I had to switch trains to get where I was going. When I finally realized I had screwed up I got off to catch a return train. I was quite a ways away from the big cities by then. Some little town that apparently saw few outsiders. I quickly became an attraction, especially for the kids. Decided to walk around a bit before catching the train. Nobody seemed to speak English and I can't speak Japanese, but, I had a great time. Very interesting sights. Super friendly people. Just wish I had my camera with me. So, don't be afraid to get lost, and don't forget your camera!

Reply
 
 
Apr 6, 2019 17:09:57   #
toxdoc42
 
qualtalk wrote:
Greetings!

My wife and I will be traveling to Japan for about three weeks in April 2020, and we're looking for recommendations of places we should visit to experience and photograph traditional areas, landscapes, and cultural sites. (Yes, I realize this comprises a fairly broad spectrum.) :)

Our general plan is to fly into Tokyo, spend a few days there, then take the train to Kyoto and see the sights there as well. After that, we're planning on renting a car so we can explore some of the less "touristy" parts of the country.

I have been to Tokyo myself several times and am familiar with the area. In addition, I am somewhat functional in Japanese so being out of the cities in areas where English may not be spoken won't be an issue.

Please feel free to share any thoughts, recommendations, and experiences you have that to help us plan a memorable trip.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Greetings! br br My wife and I will be traveling ... (show quote)


Don't miss Hiroshima, not exactly off the beaten path, but an absolutely necessary trip. If you are in Kyoto, go to the lake. We stayed at the Marriott and they gave us bikes to ride around the area. We saw many very interesting sights. Both ethnic, horticultural and beautiful. We were lucky in that we were there for a religious event at one of the many temples. Really can't say enough about it. Only problem was that , unlike in the big cities, there wasn't that much English spoken.

In Tokyo be SURE to go to the massive interactive art show. I don't remember its exact name but it is not to be missed. If you are interested message me and I can try to get the names of the places. If you send me your email, I can send you a link to the photos I took on our recent trip, last November.

Reply
Apr 6, 2019 19:17:31   #
Bill Munny Loc: Aurora, Colorado
 
My daughter goes there every year on business and makes sure she is there for extra days. All of the above is very good info, and she adds the cemeteries. I have seen some of her photos of these ornate areas and they are not to be bypassed. Hope this helps.

Reply
Apr 6, 2019 20:30:00   #
Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV
 
Go to Kamakura (not Kita Kamakura). It's on the rail line between Tokyo and Yokosuka, about half way between the two cities. There is a beautiful giant Buddha there walking distance from the train station with a park where the grannies take grandkids. There is a grove of evergreens there that started out as saplings as a gift to the Japanese from the U.S. They are huge trees now. I can't remember if they are redwoods or maybe those giant Spruce from the Pacific Northwest. There is an ancient cemetery not far away with footpaths and big wooden gates and a huge gong. Lots of photo ops.

Reply
Apr 7, 2019 06:06:16   #
larkahn
 
qualtalk wrote:
Greetings!

My wife and I will be traveling to Japan for about three weeks in April 2020, and we're looking for recommendations of places we should visit to experience and photograph traditional areas, landscapes, and cultural sites. (Yes, I realize this comprises a fairly broad spectrum.) :)

Our general plan is to fly into Tokyo, spend a few days there, then take the train to Kyoto and see the sights there as well. After that, we're planning on renting a car so we can explore some of the less "touristy" parts of the country.

I have been to Tokyo myself several times and am familiar with the area. In addition, I am somewhat functional in Japanese so being out of the cities in areas where English may not be spoken won't be an issue.

Please feel free to share any thoughts, recommendations, and experiences you have that to help us plan a memorable trip.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Greetings! br br My wife and I will be traveling ... (show quote)


Okutama, 2 hours outside of Tokyo is the source of the Tama River. It's located in Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. Lake Okutama supplies Tokyo with 20% of its drinking water. The last time I went was during the winter. However, even at other times of the year, it's off-the-beaten path. One or two stops away on the train there's a beautiful onsen which overlooks part of the Tama River. One can either soak in a hot tub for an hour or so, overlooking the river, or spend the night there. Do a YouTube search and you'll find quite a few videos. Here's a brief photo documentary I did with a pocket point and shoot.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10vgm0v_i6s

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Apr 7, 2019 06:57:45   #
letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.
 
My fondest memories are of Nikko, a few hours north of Tokyo by Train, hopefully it remains unchanged by progress.

Shikoku Island, home of the Tosa fighting dog is off the beaten pass and has many photo ops.

Reply
Apr 7, 2019 08:55:12   #
johntaylor333
 
If you can get there easily (trains work wonderfully in Japan, even if you don't speak Japanese), I suggest Mt. Koya (the holiest place in Japan). Very nice scenery and all the family tombstones are wonderful.

If you want something moving, go to Hiroshima and the bomb memorial with all the paper cranes.

Reply
Apr 7, 2019 09:10:13   #
BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA
 
qualtalk wrote:
Greetings!

My wife and I will be traveling to Japan for about three weeks in April 2020, and we're looking for recommendations of places we should visit to experience and photograph traditional areas, landscapes, and cultural sites. (Yes, I realize this comprises a fairly broad spectrum.) :)

Our general plan is to fly into Tokyo, spend a few days there, then take the train to Kyoto and see the sights there as well. After that, we're planning on renting a car so we can explore some of the less "touristy" parts of the country.

I have been to Tokyo myself several times and am familiar with the area. In addition, I am somewhat functional in Japanese so being out of the cities in areas where English may not be spoken won't be an issue.

Please feel free to share any thoughts, recommendations, and experiences you have that to help us plan a memorable trip.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Greetings! br br My wife and I will be traveling ... (show quote)


Well way off the beaten track try:
OmoriCho Oda-Shi : old silver mining town now preserved and very slowly being brought back to life by a dedicated couple.

Naoshima in Kagawa : the art islands, several large scale art installations. No photo allowed but to be experienced.
Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture: A small coastal town less than a hour south of Tokyo with a multitude of shrines, temples and the giant Diabatsu.

Reply
Apr 7, 2019 10:19:52   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
You might want to Google Anthony Bourdain, Parts Unknown, CNN TV. He had an exotic adventure there, with Chefs, and the new Japanese Culture among young adults. I remember he visited some hot tourist sights too. Many of the young Japanese adults spoke fluent English too.

Reply
 
 
Apr 7, 2019 10:21:51   #
raypep
 
I lived in Japan for four years and loved the traveling I got to do. Many of the places I visited have already been mentioned. But , one of my favorite trips was to Nagasaki, the location where the second atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. It has an Atomic Bomb museum which is so educational and, at the same time, most humbling .

There are other sights to see which make the trip even more worthwhile. BY the way, this is the location for the opera Madame Butterfly. Check out this site: https://travel.at-nagasaki.jp/en/what-to-see/

Reply
Apr 7, 2019 11:10:07   #
G. Crook Loc: Linden, TX
 
qualtalk wrote:
Greetings!

My wife and I will be traveling to Japan for about three weeks in April 2020, and we're looking for recommendations of places we should visit to experience and photograph traditional areas, landscapes, and cultural sites. (Yes, I realize this comprises a fairly broad spectrum.) :)

Our general plan is to fly into Tokyo, spend a few days there, then take the train to Kyoto and see the sights there as well. After that, we're planning on renting a car so we can explore some of the less "touristy" parts of the country.

I have been to Tokyo myself several times and am familiar with the area. In addition, I am somewhat functional in Japanese so being out of the cities in areas where English may not be spoken won't be an issue.

Please feel free to share any thoughts, recommendations, and experiences you have that to help us plan a memorable trip.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Greetings! br br My wife and I will be traveling ... (show quote)


Yes, get off the beaten path by all means. I travelled many miles of Japan by motorcycle. Going, staying and traveling as a tourist can be prohibitively expensive. We always ate at the “back street” restaurants and stayed in Ryokans. We were friends with a Japanese family and often travelled with them. We found that by traveling as a local was +50% cheaper than seeing the same sights as a tourist. Beautiful country, beautiful people. Enjoy.

Reply
Apr 7, 2019 12:11:17   #
JimRPhoto Loc: Raleigh NC
 
We took a train from Tokyo to Nikko and stayed there a couple of nights. Nikko must be the temple capitol of Japan, with a sort of park like setting and many temples, with a variety of architecture. We stayed in a traditional Japanese inn, sleeping on futons on top of tatami mats on the floor, sliding doors with rice paper "windows." The entire few days comprised quite an experience. I would warn you however, that at this time of the year, you may get a lot of rain. Almost all my photos were taken (film camera) with my wife holding an umbrella over top of me and the camera in Nikko... yet the photos turned out very nicely. Lots of trees, so you don't have the rainy sky in the frame. We too did Kyoto as part of this tour of Japan, very nice as well. Hope you enjoy the trip. JimR

Reply
Apr 7, 2019 12:49:22   #
tommyII Loc: Northern Illinois
 
LFingar wrote:
Get lost! No, really, and I state that politely.
I spent a bit of time in Japan in 1970. One day I took the train the 20 or 30 miles or so to Yokohama. The train going was direct. On the return I didn't realize that I had to switch trains to get where I was going. When I finally realized I had screwed up I got off to catch a return train. I was quite a ways away from the big cities by then. Some little town that apparently saw few outsiders. I quickly became an attraction, especially for the kids. Decided to walk around a bit before catching the train. Nobody seemed to speak English and I can't speak Japanese, but, I had a great time. Very interesting sights. Super friendly people. Just wish I had my camera with me. So, don't be afraid to get lost, and don't forget your camera!
Get lost! No, really, and I state that politely. b... (show quote)

Love your story. Throw caution to the wind. Getting temporarily lost can make a trip more interesting. Just keep in mind, eventually you'll get to where you're going. Relax and enjoy the trip. Too many people are only in the destination, and don't see the interesting things along the way. Your story shows how life can be more interesting, if you just relax and enjoy things around you.

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