Skip to content
No results
  • Start Here
  • About Me
  • Area Guides
  • Travel Tips
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
A Different Side of Japan Logo
A Different Side of Japan

Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems

  • Start Here
  • About Me
  • Area Guides
  • Travel Tips
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
A Different Side of Japan Logo
A Different Side of Japan

Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems

  • Misc. Other

Empty Japan | Is There Really an Overtourism Problem

Kyoto’s iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha is packed with visitors during the day, making it difficult to fully enjoy. While it’s possible to find some solitude in the evening, the daytime crowds often detract from the experience.

The topic of today’s article is one that has recently emerged from the zeitgeist of the online world. You see, as I was pondering where to write about for this week’s article, I happened to see a notification on Threads…

  • Donny Kimball
  • January 12, 2025
  • Travel Tips

JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata Area) | Explore Central Japan

The snow monkeys of Nagano are one of the most iconic allures in the prefecture and thus any traveler making use of the JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata Area) is highly encouraged to add them to their itinerary. Unfortunately, both the buses and trains that go to Snow Monkey Park are not covered by the pass…

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know by now that the vaunted Japan Rail Pass, which provides unlimited rides on all JR trains, saw a significant price increase in 2023. What’s more, many of the regional offerings…

  • Donny Kimball
  • January 7, 2025
  • Area Guides

Save Time for Saijo | The “Sake Capital” of Hiroshima

Set against the background of the rising sun, smoke bellows from the chimneys of the sake breweries in the early morning in Hiroshima Prefecture’s town of Saijo.

By now, I think I’ve said this more times than I care to count, but there is simply so much more to Hiroshima Prefecture than most people realize. You see, far too many overseas visitors only ever stop by the…

  • Donny Kimball
  • December 29, 2024
  • Area Guides

Onwards to Otaru | The Perfect Day Trip from Sapporo

Otaru's Snow Light Path Festival is absolutely enchanting when the iconic canal is lit up in the evening. After warming up in a restaurant for dinner, having a stroll around here is definitely something you should do when visiting Otaru.

Recently, I took a group of my fellow content creators up to Hokkaido to visit the luxury resort Muwa Niseko. Located in Hokkaido’s skiing capital, this amazing facility is one that I’ve been supporting as a consultant this year regarding…

  • Donny Kimball
  • December 15, 2024
  • Area Guides

Yunishigawa Onsen | Tochigi’s Hidden Village with Hot Springs

Located not too far from the Japanese cultural center of Nikko, Yunishigawa Onsen is a hidden village that the Taira clan fled to after losing to the Minamoto. There are many references the Heike clan and its legacy and its location near Nikko City makes it easy enough to get to.

Since Japan became one of the hottest travel destinations in the world, the collection of shrines and temples in the Nikko area has skyrocketed in popularity. Awarded the honor of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, landmarks like…

  • Donny Kimball
  • December 8, 2024
  • Misc. Other

Wakayama Nachi Premier | 20 Years of UENSCO World Heritage

The iconic pagoda of Seiganto-ji in front of Nachi Falls at the Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine complex in Wakayama Prefecture.

It’s no secret that I really, really, REALLY love the southern tip of Wakayama Prefecture’s Kii Peninsula. Home to a trinity of sacred shrines known as the Kumano Sanzan, this part of Japan is steeped in ancient history. Recently, I…

  • Donny Kimball
  • December 1, 2024
  • Misc. Other

Worthy of the Sun | The Evolution of My Commitment to Japan

The sun sets behind Mt. Fuji on a cold winter day in Kawaguchiko. Unlike in the summer when Mt. Fuji is usually hidden behind clouds, the wintertime almost always has a clear view.

“The only way out is through…” — Jordan B. Peterson “Hold up, has it really already been almost a year?” I thought to myself as I looked down at the calendar, bewildered. Seemingly in the blink of an eye, it was…

  • Donny Kimball
  • November 21, 2024
  • Area Guides

Fukushima’s Nihonmatsu Domain | An Unknown Section of Tohoku

A statue of the Nihonmatsu Youth Corps outside of Nihonmatsu Castle in Fukushima Prefecture during the early autumn.

Recently, I had the chance to visit Nihonmatsu in Fukushima Prefecture as part of a government initiative to encourage more tourists heading to Tohoku to stop by along the way. Truth be told, until this opportunity came up, even I…

  • Donny Kimball
  • November 10, 2024
  • Area Guides

Come to Aomori City | An Amazing Part of Aomori Prefecture

The view of Aomori and the sea as seen from the top of Aomori Sightseeing Products and Mansion (ASPAM). This building contains all of the Aomori Prefectural specialities like apples and treats made with them.

You know, somehow, I completely neglected to do an Aomori area guide thus far. Though I did indeed cover a lot of what the city has to offer in my article about autumn in the prefecture, I guess I just…

  • Donny Kimball
  • October 28, 2024
  • Area Guides

Chiba’s Choshi City | A Hidden Gem by the Pacific Ocean

Inubosaki Lighthouse (sometimes rendered Inubozaki Lighthouse) is one of most iconic attractions in Chōshi. The historic lighthouse is perched high up on a cliff, overlooking the sea below. From the top, visitors can enjoy amazing views of the coast. It can be easily accessed via Inubo Station and, along with soy sauce, is what Chōshi is most famous for.

For some time now, I’ve been escaping to Chiba Prefecture whenever I needed a break from the madness. Most famously, the seaside town of Katsuura saved me from complete and utter burnout back in 2022, and ever since, Chiba has…

  • Donny Kimball
  • October 20, 2024
  • Area Guides

Come to Kameoka | A Former Kyoto Castle Town Near Arashiyama

A skilled boatman navigates a craft down the beautiful Hozu River in Kyoto during the months of autumn. This type of scenery is a stark contrast to the neon lights in central Kyoto and Osaka.

These days, popular spots in Kyoto, such as Arashiyama and Kiyomizu-dera, have succumbed so badly to overtourism that they’re hardly recognizable anymore. Though this was already becoming an issue prior to the pandemic, these places have now reached a point…

  • Donny Kimball
  • October 12, 2024
  • Area Guides

Yamaguchi’s City of Hagi | The Castle Town of the Mori Clan

A view of the funerary grounds at Toko-ji in Hagi, Japan, where the odd-numbered Mori clan lords are interned. The scene features rows of stone lanterns leading toward a large torii gate in the background, with dense green forest surrounding the tranquil site. The symmetrical stone pathways and lanterns create a solemn and spiritual atmosphere.

One period of Japanese history that has always fascinated me is the unraveling of the Tokugawa shogunate’s hegemony during the mid-1800s. Known now as the Bakumatsu, this historical arc contains so much action that it would be difficult to even…

  • Donny Kimball
  • October 6, 2024
  • Area Guides

Northern Akita | Home of the the Matagi & the Akita Inu

An adorable Akita Inu stands in front of the 大 character that is burned into a mountain side in northern Akita Prefecture.

When I originally published my in-depth primer on Akita Prefecture, I thought I had covered it all. Alas, as is always the case with Japan, no endeavor to thoroughly introduce a place is ever fully complete. In my foolishness, I…

  • Donny Kimball
  • September 29, 2024
  • Area Guides

Savor Shimonoseki | Japanese History & Chic Port City Vibes

Clad in Japanese style suites of armor, a statues of Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune and Taira-no-Tomomori face off against the backdrop of Kanmon Bridge and the Kanmon Straights. This battle thrust Shimonoseki to the forefront of Japanese history.

The city of Shimonoseki has LONG been on my bucket list, but for one reason or another, it took me forever to finally get there. As you’ll understand after reading this article, I’m quite ashamed to admit that I should…

  • Donny Kimball
  • September 21, 2024
  • Travel Tips

The History of Japan | What You Should Know Before Coming

The Edo period (1603–1868) townscape of Hida-Takayama in Gifu Prefecture is a great example of what life would have been like and offers an amazing glimpse of the history of Japan.

Japan is an absolutely incredible destination, from its stunning natural landscapes to the buzzing energy of its cities. You don’t need to be a history buff to fall in love with the place, but trust me — getting a grip on Japan’s…

  • Ai Mirai
  • September 15, 2024
Prev
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 … 27
Next

About A Different Side of Japan
Exploring the sides of Japan that you can't find in any of the mainstream travel guides. Come follow the adventure!

Every week, I publish helpful travel tips and in-depth walkthroughs on how to visit some of the top hidden gems in Japan.

Menu
Start Here
About Me
Area Guides
Travel Tips
Newsletter
Contact

Policies
Terms of Service
Privacy Policy
Legal Notice

© A Different Side of Japan | All Rights Reserved

 

Loading Comments...