AFAR Search

View of rocks and a pond a the Garden at Adachi Musem of Art

This Quiet Coastal Region is Only 1.5 Hours from Tokyo

The San’in region, comprising the Tottori and Shimane prefectures, is a natural haven for those seeking a side of Japan without the crowds.

Sponsored by Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau

Kyoto, Japan - Jan 25, 2023: Sannenzaka and Yasaka Pagoda with snow

Off The Tourist Trail

I’m a Tour Guide in Tokyo. These Are My Tips for Avoiding the Crowds in Japan.

Rise with the sun to explore temples, find green spaces in Kyoto and Tokyo, and consider some small towns.

November 19, 2024 01:50 PM

·

Yukari Sakamoto

A man in a backpack walking through a red shrine entrance in Shingu, Japan.

Hiking + Cycling

This Epic Hike in Japan Takes You Through Ancient Shrines, Onsen Towns, and Magical Forests

You’ve heard of the Camino de Santiago. But what about the Kumano Kodo? Here’s how to hike Japan’s sacred route.

April 10, 2024 07:14 PM

·

Miranda Smith

View of the Amaterasu Railway cars on Japan's highest bridge with mountains in the background.

Destination Spotlight

Seek Nature, Onsen, and Food Culture on This Less-Visited Japanese Island

Sip shochu made from local sweet potatoes, eat sashimi from Kinkowan Bay, hike forest trails, and relax in mineral-rich baths in Kyushu.

Sponsored by Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau

Kai Izumo sits on a remote clifftop facing a chain of rocky islets in the Sea Of Japan

Hotels We Love

You’ll Want to Stay at These Hotels in Japan Before They Get Too Hard to Book

Escape the crowds and discover a quieter Japan at these 12 hotels, from mountaintop ryokan to island hideaways.

April 11, 2025 04:58 PM

·

Adam H. Graham

A field of wildflowers behind which are rolling green hills, the sea, and a mountain in the distance.

Hiking + Cycling

6 Majestic Places to Hike in Japan

The country is a dream destination for outdoor adventurers, with trails that run along cerulean coastlines and through dense, mossy forests.

October 14, 2024 12:06 PM

·

Christina Garofalo

Where to Travel Next

Beyond Tokyo: 7 Lesser-Visited Places to Visit in Japan

From ancient cliffside temples to sake breweries by the sea, consider these stops on your next trip to Japan.

May 11, 2023 06:18 PM

·

Kristin Braswell

Hotels

In This Coastal Japanese Airbnb, Guests Are Given a Bed—and a Mystery to Solve

In a town in the Wakayama Prefecture, popular for hiking on the Kumano Kodo trail, this Airbnb invites guests to be immersed in a gripping mystery novel.

January 18, 2024 03:47 PM

·

Jessie Beck

7 Famous Pilgrimages Around the World That You Can Walk or Cycle

History + Culture

8 Famous Pilgrimages Around the World That You Can Walk or Cycle

From a Norwegian shrine for a Viking king to the healing waters of mystical lagoons in Peru, these sacred paths will have you lacing up your boots and strapping on a pack.

April 30, 2024 11:36 AM

·

Chris Ciolli

Millions of participants gather at Times Square in New York City to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Holiday Travel

7 Festive Places to Visit for New Year’s Celebrations

For your countdowns and midnight kisses, plan a New Year’s celebration in these jubilant places around the world.

December 10, 2025 03:56 AM

·

Lottie Gross

History + Culture

You Have to Leave Tokyo to Try Japan’s Best Matcha

Here is where you can find the crème de la crème of the superfood.

August 14, 2024 05:15 PM

·

Alex Schechter

Health + Wellness

Go It Alone: Where to Hike, Meditate, and Breathe Among Trees This Year, All on Your Own

From practicing yoga in Sri Lanka to soaking in hot springs in Banff National Park, here’s where to treat your mind, body, and soul kindly.

January 23, 2026 12:37 PM

·

Aislyn Greene

10th Mountain Hut Hike to Polar Star Inn

Hiking + Cycling

Colorado Has 350 Miles of Hut-to-Hut Hiking That Rivals the Alps

Get more time amid 11,000-foot peaks, somewhere in-between glamping and roughing it.

May 29, 2026 09:10 AM

·

Karthika Gupta

A person standing in front of a Lawson convenience store in Fujikawaguchiko, Japan, with Mt Fuji rising in the background

Search results for