Gero Onsen: A Quiet Day of Foot Baths and Thatched Farmhouses in Gifu
This guide covers the way to Gero Onsen, the Fusenchi pool, the foot baths, Gero Onsen Gassho-mura, Onsen-ji Temple, and the practical details for a day out.
Best Season
Autumn
13 quiet, car-free day trips that are a good fit for Autumn.
Ikaho Onsen: The 365 Stone Steps, Ikaho Shrine and the Kajika Bridge Light-up in Gunma
This guide covers the stone steps street of Ikaho Onsen, Ikaho Shrine, the Kajika Bridge autumn-leaf light-up, the ropeway and the baths, and the practical…
Kisakata and Kanmanji from Kisakata Station: A Quiet Day Out in Akita
This guide covers the way into Kisakata, the walk to Kanmanji, the islands of Kujukushima and the practical details for a day out.
Kochi Castle and Hirome Market: A Quiet Day Out in Kochi
This guide covers the way to Kochi Castle, the keep and its grounds, Hirome Market and the practical details for a day out.
Kururi, Chiba: A Quiet Castle Town of Free-Flowing Wells, Local Sake, and a One-Carriage Railway
Kururi may be the least-touristed castle town within reach of Tokyo.
Mount Tsukuba, Ibaraki: Twin Peaks, an Ancient Shrine, and a Quiet Climb
Mount Tsukuba stands alone.
Nagatoro River Cruise: Wooden Boats, the Iwadatami Rock Terrace, and a Quiet Day on the Arakawa
Nagatoro is the closest place to Tokyo where you can drift down a real gorge in a wooden boat poled by a boatman — a river cruise that has been running since…
Okutama, West Tokyo: Deep Gorges, a Limestone Cave, and the Quiet End of the Ome Line
Okutama is the deep end of Tokyo.
Shiobara Onsen: Suspension Bridges, Gorge Walks and the Autumn Light-up in Tochigi
This guide covers the suspension bridges, gorge walks, autumn-leaf light-up, town sights and limestone cave of Shiobara Onsen, and the practical details for…
Sumatakyo Gorge in Shizuoka: A Quiet Day Out
This guide covers the way to Sumatakyo, the suspension bridge and the lake, the promenade course, the timing and the practical details for a day out.
Unazuki Onsen and Kurobe Gorge: A Quiet Ride into the Gorge in Toyama
This guide covers the way to Unazuki Onsen, the Kurobe Gorge Railway and its stops, the Yamabiko Promenade, and the practical details for a day out.
Urabandai and Goshikinuma: Ponds of Many Colors and the Route from Inawashiro in Fukushima
This guide covers the Goshikinuma ponds, the nature trail, Bishamon-numa, the Urabandai Visitor Center, Lake Inawashiro, and the practical details for reaching…
Yoro Valley (Yoro Keikoku): Waterfalls and Kanto's Last Autumn Colors
Yoro Valley — Yōrō Keikoku in Japanese — hides in the middle of Chiba's Boso Peninsula.