Beyond Tokyo and Kyoto: Discover a Different Side of Japan

Beyond Japan’s Most Famous Places

Tokyo.
Kyoto.
Osaka.

All are wonderful places to begin exploring Japan.

But they are only part of the story.

Move from one region to another and you may find major differences in:

Food
Craftsmanship
Landscape
Homes
Everyday life

At Closer to Japan, we are interested not only in:

“What should I see?”

but also:

What can I discover there?
What does everyday life feel like?
What is made there?
What might it feel like to stay longer?

Here are six regions that offer different ways to experience Japan.

1 | Shizuoka

Tea, Mountains, Sea—and Everyday Life in Between

Located between Tokyo and Nagoya, Shizuoka brings mountains, coastline, tea fields, and cities surprisingly close together.

It is widely associated with Mount Fuji and green tea, but there is much more to discover.

Shizuoka is also home to regional craftsmanship such as:

Suruga bamboo craft
Lacquerware
Woodworking and furniture
Tea culture

For people who want access to major cities while staying closer to nature, parts of Shizuoka can also be interesting from the perspective of longer stays or second homes.

EXPERIENCE

Tea, onsen, nature, and craft workshops.

Things to Experience in Shizuoka →

SHOP

Bamboo craft, tea, woodwork, and regional products.

Discover Craftsmanship in Shizuoka →

OWN

A base closer to nature without being completely disconnected from major cities.

Owning a Second Home in Shizuoka →

LIVE

Coastal towns, mountain communities, and urban areas all offer different lifestyles.

What to Know Before Living in Shizuoka →

Explore the Region

Explore Shizuoka →

2 | Setouchi

Discover Japan Across the Sea

The Seto Inland Sea is home to many islands.

Rather than staying in a single city, one of the pleasures of Setouchi is moving between places by boat.

The region is known internationally for art and architecture, but beyond that you will also find:

Fishing communities.
Agriculture.
Small towns.
Older homes.
Local food.

It is a region where the journey between places can be as meaningful as the destination itself.

EXPERIENCE

Island travel, art, architecture, and food.

Things to Experience in Setouchi →

SHOP

Regional products, food, and everyday objects from coastal and island communities.

Discover Made in Japan from Setouchi →

OWN

The possibility of owning a second home near the sea.

Owning a Home in Setouchi →

LIVE

What changes when an island becomes home rather than a travel destination?

Living in Setouchi →

Explore the Region

Explore Setouchi →

3 | Hokkaido

Wide Skies and a Life Shaped by Nature

Hokkaido feels different in scale from many parts of urban Japan.

Open land.
Snow.
Forests.
Agriculture.
Seafood.

The seasons have a strong influence on everyday life.

Hokkaido is famous as a travel destination, but there are other ways to connect with the region too:

Stay longer
Own a second home
Live closer to nature

At the same time, winter maintenance, heating, transportation, and snow are practical realities that should not be overlooked.

EXPERIENCE

Nature, onsen, food, and winter experiences.

Things to Experience in Hokkaido →

SHOP

Food, woodwork, and products shaped by regional materials.

Discover Craftsmanship in Hokkaido →

OWN

A second home surrounded by nature.

What to Know Before Owning a Home in Hokkaido →

LIVE

Preparing for everyday life in a snowy climate.

What Is It Like to Live in Hokkaido? →

Explore the Region

Explore Hokkaido →

4 | Kyushu

Food, Onsen, Ceramics—and Many Different Regions

Kyushu is not one single culture or landscape.

Fukuoka.
Saga.
Nagasaki.
Kumamoto.
Oita.
Miyazaki.
Kagoshima.

Move from one prefecture to another and the food, landscape, and culture can change significantly.

Kyushu is also a particularly interesting region for craftsmanship.

Examples include:

Imari and Arita ware
Hasami ware
Beppu bamboo craft
Oshima Tsumugi textiles

EXPERIENCE

Onsen, food, nature, and regional travel.

Things to Experience in Kyushu →

SHOP

Ceramics, bamboo craft, textiles, and more.

Discover Craftsmanship in Kyushu →

OWN

From city life in Fukuoka to second homes in more rural areas.

Owning a Home in Kyushu →

LIVE

A region where both urban and regional lifestyles are possible.

What to Know Before Living in Kyushu →

Explore the Region

Explore Kyushu →

5 | Hokuriku

Stay Close to the Making

Hokuriku is especially rewarding for people interested in Japanese craftsmanship.

Across areas such as Ishikawa, Fukui, and Toyama, you will find traditions including:

Wajima lacquerware
Kutani ware
Echizen washi
Echizen lacquerware

Rather than seeing only the finished object, you can begin to understand:

how it is made
where it comes from
how the town and craft relate to each other

That can completely change the way you experience Japanese craftsmanship.

EXPERIENCE

Workshops, food, the Sea of Japan, and onsen.

Things to Experience in Hokuriku →

SHOP

Lacquerware, ceramics, paper, and regional craft.

Discover Craftsmanship in Hokuriku →

OWN

A base near towns where traditional making remains part of everyday life.

Owning a Home in Hokuriku →

LIVE

Snow, local communities, and life in regional cities.

What to Know Before Living in Hokuriku →

Explore the Region

Explore Hokuriku →

6 | Tohoku

Discover a Place Through Its Seasons

Tohoku is home to mountains, forests, lakes, snow, and onsen.

The seasons can feel especially present here.

But the region is not only about nature.

You can also discover crafts such as:

Nambu ironware
Tsugaru lacquerware
Aizu lacquerware
Kokeshi

Many of these traditions are closely connected to local climate, materials, and everyday life.

EXPERIENCE

Onsen, snow, forests, and regional food.

Things to Experience in Tohoku →

SHOP

Traditional craft shaped by local life and materials.

Discover Craftsmanship in Tohoku →

OWN

The possibility of having a base closer to nature.

Owning a Second Home in Tohoku →

LIVE

Everyday life in a region shaped by snow, distance, and the seasons.

Living in Tohoku →

Explore the Region

Explore Tohoku →

The Same Country Can Feel Completely Different

Each region offers a different way into Japan.

Shizuoka

Tea, mountains, sea, and craft.

Best starting points: Craft / Second Home

Setouchi

Sea, islands, art, and architecture.

Best starting points: Experience / Regional Homes

Hokkaido

Nature, food, open space.

Best starting points: Experience / Second Home

Kyushu

Food, onsen, and craft.

Best starting points: Experience / Shop

Hokuriku

Craftsmanship, towns, and regional food.

Best starting points: Shop / Experience

Tohoku

Nature, seasons, and craft.

Best starting points: Experience / Shop

Rather than asking only:

“Which place is most famous?”

you can start asking:

“Which place fits the way I want to experience Japan?”

Which Region Might Be Right for You?

If you want to spend more time in nature:

Hokkaido / Tohoku / Shizuoka

If craftsmanship interests you:

Hokuriku / Kyushu / Shizuoka

If you want to be close to the sea:

Setouchi / Shizuoka / Kyushu

If you are thinking about a second home:

Shizuoka / Hokkaido / Setouchi / Kyushu

There is no single “best” region.

The right place depends on the kind of relationship you want to build with Japan.

Discovering a Region Changes the Way You See Japan

You do not have to understand a region through sightseeing alone.

Use something made there.
Visit a workshop.
Eat what people in the area eat.
Stay a little longer.
Imagine what it might be like to have a home there.

One interest can naturally lead to another.

Discover a craft.
↓
Learn about its place of origin.
↓
Travel there.
↓
Stay longer.
↓
Perhaps one day, consider having a place of your own.

At Closer to Japan, we connect:

Experience
Shop
Own
Live

through the places that give them meaning.

Tokyo and Kyoto Are Still Part of the Story

Going beyond Tokyo and Kyoto does not mean leaving them out.

It simply means seeing them from a different perspective.

In Tokyo, that might mean:

Everyday neighborhood life.
Contemporary architecture.
Edo Kiriko.
Owning a home in the city.

In Kyoto, that might mean:

Life beyond the famous temples.
Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki.
Traditional townhouses.
Contemporary craftsmanship.

The Japan you already know, and the Japan you have yet to discover.

Closer to Japan is here to connect the two.