When you think of the best cities to visit in Japan, you usually think of must-see destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima. I love all those cities, but they’re not the sorts of places I’m going to be talking about in this post.
Rather, I’m going to spotlight underrated Japanese cities that are home to some of the most captivating things to do in Japan, but get left out of the conversation for any of number reasons—namely, lack of name recognition. Have you ever heard of Shimonoseki? Matsuyama? Didn’t think so.
In a fair world, many of these cities would be top Japan tourist spots—and some of them may yet achieve that designation. For now, however, travelers bold enough to visit the underrated Japanese cities I’m about to list (indeed, to venture off the beaten path of top cities in Japan) will be rewarded with light crowds, low prices and a truly authentic experience.
Why Should You Explore Japan Beyond Tokyo, Kyoto, et al?
Even if you discount the individual qualities that make the underrated Japanese cities I’m about to list so uniquely worth visiting, there’s value to getting off Japan’s tourist trail. This is especially true if you visit during cherry blossom season or when autumn colors are at their peak. Typically tranquil streets in Kyoto can be absolute madhouses, even at early hours of the morning and late at night.
Of course, it isn’t just travel at peak periods that improves when you visit these underrated cities in Japan. It’s arguable that since so few foreigners visit these places, relatively speaking, they are objectively more “Japanese” overall, both in aesthetic terms, as well as when it comes to the various experiences you can have while traveling there. And then there’s the reaction of locals to you—in these spots, they’re still happy to meet gaikokujin.
Japan Beyond the Core Cities
Hagi
Where do I even begin with Hagi? Culturally, of course, it’s very important, being home to one of Japan’s best-preserved Samurai districts, as well as the Hagi-yaki pottery tradition. It’s also interesting landscape-wise, located on a particularly beautiful part of the Sea of Japan coast, and with vegetation that ranges from palms, to mikan trees to cherry blossoms in the spring. The best part? Its relatively remote location means that there are basically no tourists here, and certainly not any foreign ones.
Hakodate
Why do I consider Hakodate, the southernmost major city in Hokkaido, to be among the best cities in Japan? Let me count the ways. Whether I enjoy the famous “night view” from Mt. Hakodate, eat my way through Hakodate Morning Market, explore star-shaped Goryokaku Fort (which is especially beautiful during cherry blossom season) or take a bath at Yunokawa Onsen, Hakodate is a delight for all your senses, and definitely one of the underrated cities in Japan.
Kobe
Ubiquitous primarily for being home to Japan’s (and maybe the world’s) most beloved beef, Kobe is nonetheless a city whose charms it took me years to fully appreciate. And there are plenty of charms, from multiculturalism (Kitano-cho hearkens back to Kobe’s Western past, while Nankin Machi is one of Japan’s most exciting Chinatowns), to natural beauty like Nunobiki Herb Garden and Mts. Maya and Rokko, to unique day trips like Himeji Castle and Awaji Island.
Matsuyama
The largest city of Shikoku island, Matsuyama is a microcosm of what makes Japan’s smallest island such a big treat for travelers. Walk or take the cable car up to Matsuyama Castle, and enter its 17th-century keep for an unobstructed view of the Seto Inland Sea, or take a vintage street car to Dogo Onsen, home not only to the oldest public bath house building in Japan, but also one of the key temples of Shikoku’s 88-Temple Pilgrimage Trail the island’s major claim to fame.
Nagasaki
Though its enjoys relatively high name recognition, Nagasaki rarely makes lists of the best cities to visit in Japan—and that’s a shame. Like Hiroshima, Nagasaki is much more than its tragic past. Pay your respects at Nagasaki Peace Park and Nagasaki Ground Zero, sure, but also make sure to visit Dejima, one of the only places in Japan foreigners were allowed prior to the Meiji Restoration. Take in a glittering night view from Mt. Inasa, then grab a table at local-favorite Menya Always, where you can slurp down a bowl of unique yuzu-infused ramen.
Naha
The prefectural capital of Naha is not usually high on travelers’ lists of places to visit in Okinawa—let their loss be your gain. Start at the ruins of Shuri Castle, where the royalty of the Ryukyu Kingdom lived from the 15th century until the Japanese Empire removed them from power in the late-19th. Spend the afternoon at Shikina-en garden with a hearty bowl of Okinawa soba, or at seaside Naminoue Shrine, before finishing your day with a plate of steaming taco rice along the Kokusai-Dori “International Street.”
Okayama
Although Okayama has long been popular among travelers from Asian countries such as Taiwan and Malaysia, I find that most Westerners skip over it. This is a shame—and not just because the city’s distinctive castle is literally framed by the greenery of Koraku-en, one of the top three landscape gardens in Japan. This says nothing of culinary delights such as barazushi sashimi rice bowls or okonomiyaki made with locally-caught oysters, or day-trip destinations such as the historical city of Kurashiki, or the harbor town of Onomichi.
Sendai
It took me a long time—seven years, if we’re counting—to appreciate Sendai for what it is. Before that, I used the city as most foreigners (and indeed, a great number of Japanese) do: As a stopping-off point between the Tokyo area and more exciting destinations farther afield in Tohoku and Hokkaido. Whether you stay in the city center and visit attractions such as Zuihoden and the Aoba Castle Ruins, or take day trips to Yamadera temple and the Matsushima Bay scenic area along the coast, I have a feeling Sendai is going to impress you. I also highly recommend coming in summer for the Tanabata Matsuri festival!
Shimonoseki
The westernmost major city on Honshu island, Shimonoseki is infamous for fugu pufferfish, a meal that’s potentially lethal…well, at least in its sashimi form. However, this (and the other fresh sushi available in wonderful Karato Market) is far from the only reason to visit. Within the city center, the Chofu district is home to a lush garden and well-maintained Samurai homes, while you’ll need a bit of time (and a set of wheels) to access Tsunoshima bridge, which is suspended over dazzlingly blue waters. Need a workout? Walk to Kyushu in a tunnel underneath the Kanmon Straits no less.
Yonago
If we’re simply talking about the urban core around the train station, it would be hard for me to say that Yonago is among the best cities in Japan. However, the array of destinations within day-trip distance is truly staggering. From Sakaiminato port and its eclectic seafood market, to gorgeous Adachi Museum of Art, and from thrilling Mt. Daisen to Kurayoshi with its quirky Pear Museum and cliff-hewn Nageire-do temple, Yonago is a gateway to many of the best experiences in Japan, and is the best Japanese city for tourists of a certain stripe.
How Long Should You Spend in Japan?
A Japan itinerary can take as many forms as you can imagine, and can last as long or short as your time available to spend in Japan. Some of my favorite trips have comprised just one week in Japan, though I’ve also traveled for three weeks or even one month in Japan and still felt, at the end, like I could’ve kept going.
In general, I’d say that if you plan to shirk famous places in Japan for more than a couple of the underrated places in Japan I’ve listed in this post, you should aim to spend at least two weeks in Japan. And longer than that, if you can: If you’ve never been to Japan before, you’ll spend a week to 10 days simply covering your bases in Tokyo and Kyoto!
Other FAQ About the Best Cities in Japan
What is the most beautiful city in Japan?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I have a soft spot for Japanese cities like Kyoto and Kanazawa, which mix modern and vibrant urban culture with timeless historical architecture. I also love Japanese cities built around scenic harbors, such as infamous Nagasaki on Kyushu island and Hakodate, which sits on an isthmus between two bays near southern tip of Hokkaido.
What is the safest city in Japan?
All Japanese cities are extremely safe. Indeed, the only place in Japan you have even a chance of encountering crime is probably Kabukicho in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo, and even here you’re unlikely to get into trouble if you aren’t associating with problematic people.
What is the best part of Japan?
Everywhere in Japan is worth visiting, but I have a soft spot for a few places. The subtropical and (relatively) small islands of Shikoku and Kyushu impress me with their versatility and eclecticism, while off-the-beaten-path regions such as San’in and Tohoku will wow you, especially since you’ll likely have no expectations of either going in.
The Bottom Line
The best cities to visit in Japan aren’t always ones you read about in guidebooks. Enjoy incredible night views on offer in Hokkaido’s Hakodate and Kyushu’s Nagasaki, or push your culinary boundaries in Shimonoseki in Honshu’s far west. Or, explore forlorn history, be that at the famed castle of Shikoku’s Matsuyama, in the Samurai districts of Hagi on the Sea of Japan or on the beach in Naha, the capital of the Okinawa archipelago. Japan is just so than Tokyo and Kyoto, and than the bogus “overtourism” narrative the media pushes out about the country. Make your trip to underrated cities in Japan even more special with a custom Japan itinerary.
