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.
Best Season
Winter
10 quiet, car-free day trips that are a good fit for Winter.
Mount Hodo (Hodosan): Hodosan Shrine, Seasonal Blossoms, and Views over Nagatoro
Mount Hodo is the flower mountain above Nagatoro — a standalone peak in Saitama's Chichibu district with an ornate shrine at its foot, a modest ropeway up its…
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.
Ryokan, Minshuku and Shukubo: How These Kinds of Stay Differ
This guide draws on the English pages of the Japan Ryokan Association and the Koyasan Shukubo Association, and on the tourism listings for Sado Island and…
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.
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.
Zenkoji Temple in Nagano: A Quiet Day Out
This guide covers the way to Zenkoji, the gates and the main hall, the Okaidan-meguri, the timing and the practical details for a day out.