Hokkaido - Travel to the wintry north of Japan and experience the sea-ice, Sapporo Snow Festival and fabulous hot springs. Travel in the summer for outdoor activities and a milder climate.

Hokkaido Regional Page

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The Sea of Japan coast is a rarely ventured area even by the Japanese, with heavy snowfall during winter and an underdeveloped tourist industry. There are some popular locations such as Toyama however care has to be taken about travel otherwise time will be wasted not seeing much at all.

A rarely ventured island full of untouched wilderness and perfect for a veteran traveler eager to push on through a difficult to navigate Japanese countryside. Great natural beauty waits you, if you can put up with waiting for trains.

Within an easy 2-3 hour bus ride from Tokyo are numerous hot spring towns that offer a perfect blend of accessibility combined with unique experience that only Japan can offer. Popular with Japanese alike, staying overnight in a Japanese inn and soaking in a hot spring are a must-do while in Japan. Skiing is also very popular during the winter season.

A more relaxed and rural area within 2 hours of Tokyo, the eastern Kanto region of Chiba and Ibaraki are rarely traveled areas of Japan even for the Japanese. Most people come out from there rather than go in, but there are still some great, hidden away spots should you be willing to seek them out.

Containing the city of Tokyo itself, plus the prefectures of Saitama and Kanagawa, most tourists will use this area as a base for day-trips to other areas. Saitama is mostly a built up residential and industrial area while Kawagawa is more spread out and contains the popular cities of Yokohama and Kamakura.

Everything around this area is focused on whether you can see Mount Fuji or not, with a variety of hotels, hot springs, and the popular summer destination of Izu with its high-class hot spring resorts.

Centered around the business city of Nagoya, and the old rural towns and hot springs in Gifu, travel here can be difficult but worth it for those wanting to see stunning countryside combined with a preserved way of life.

Dominated by the famous cities of Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe, this region is a must stop for those traveling west from Tokyo and it very accessibly with a ton to see and do. But don't overstay, especially in Kyoto as the crowds have increased in recent years and there is plenty of Japan left to see.

Oddly called the "central country" with the same characters as China (中国), the most notable stop here is Hiroshima.

Northern Tohoku is a wilder, more remote area of Japan that starts at the larger city of Sendai and ends in the remote northern city of Akita. A challenging area, most tourists will give up or skip over entirely on their way to Hokkaido. Still, there are some gems to be had if planned carefully.

Famous for the city of Sendai and the popular snow country of Yamagata.