Friends don't let friends plan their Japan trip on TikTok. Tokyo, Kyoto and Mount Fuji are wonderful — but if you want journeys that are less flashy and deeply soulful, these are the Japan secrets I recommend to my travelers.
For an immersive art pilgrimage
The islands of the Seto Inland Sea mix world-class contemporary art with quiet fishing villages. On Naoshima, sleep among artworks at Benesse House and visit the museums designed by Tadao Ando. On Teshima, the Teshima Art Museum by Ryue Nishizawa feels like walking inside a raindrop. On Inujima, the Seirensho Art Museum rises from the ruins of a historic copper refinery.
For thoughtful nature
Skip the crowds and breathe: Hakone rewards slow travelers with hot springs, lake views and a remarkable new wave of hotels — keep an eye on Hotel The Mitsui Hakone. Karuizawa, the mountain town where Tokyo escapes the summer, is the alternative almost no first-timer knows.
For ski and luxury
Hokkaido's Niseko is Japan's powder capital, and its hotel scene now matches the snow: Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, Setsu Niseko, Muwa Niseko and Nikko Style Niseko Hanazono. Ski all day, onsen all night.
Want a Japan that most visitors never see? Tell me your dates and I'll design it around you.
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