Where to go in Japan: Beyond the Golden Triangle

When it comes to taking a detour, at Jack's we’re all about community-sourced wisdom to make that happen. Sure, you can ask AI which onsens in Fujikawaguchiko offer unobstructed views of Mt. Fuji or how to collect (and read) the coolest Goshuins. But nothing can replace real-life lived experience in the planning stages of your trip. 

Enter our Facebook group.

Inspired by our partners over at Lupine—and some of you crazy readers—who’ll be darting from city to sea on the Shinkansen Scramble, I wanted to know what unmissable places lay beyond the iconic golden triangle of Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka. 

And you wayward wanderers didn’t disappoint. From Nara to Nagasaki, your answers floated in like toro nagashi lanterns, carrying promises of unobstructed Fuji views, Edo-era old towns, and heavenly pagodas. So much so, I found myself wondering if one could declare they've “done Japan” without venturing beyond Tokyo. 

So whether it's your first trip or fifth, you'll want to pin these places for your next visit.

Nikko

日光を見ずして結構と言うなかれ/Nikkō wo mizu shite kekkō to iu nakare

Translation: Never say kekko [splendid] until you’ve seen Nikko

If Nikko in autumn—or any season for that matter—looks even remotely the same in real life, we’d have to agree.

Flanked by ancient oak and cedar forests, for nature lovers, Nikko is Nirvana. You wouldn’t think it, being only a little more than 1.5 hours north of Tokyo, but Shibuya’s skyscrapers and shoulder slammers feel worlds away. Here it’s birdsong and bonsho bells that beckon first light. 

It’s the kind of place where, by day, you’re kayaking through liquid-silver lakes, and at night, you’re plunging deep in a steamy onsen beneath a starry sky. 

The town sits at the entrance of its national park, renowned not only for its thundering waterfalls but also for its Buddhist temples, tiered pagodas, and Shinto shrines, like the famous Toshogu. This is the resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun to unify Japan in the Edo period. 

Time your trip for mid-May, and you’ll be fortunate enough to witness the Grand Festival of Spring, where a live procession of 1,000 samurai marches through the streets reenacting the escort of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s spirit to Toshogu Shrine. 

Hiroshima

七転び八起き/Nana korobi ya oki

Translation: Fall down seven times, stand up eight.

Some places try to erase their history. They whitewash uncomfortable truths, rename streets, and bury their painful past beneath modern facades. All in hopes that a total lack of physical evidence leads to a historical amnesia. Hiroshima is not one of them. 

81 years on, the largest city of Japan’s Chūgoku region has risen from the ashes of tragic nuclear devastation. After the atomic bomb, reconstruction aimed not to forget but to forge a message of remembrance. Peace holds weight here. You’ll find it on street corners and landmarks: Peace Memorial Park, Peace Boulevard, where, not far, are the Gates of Peace, displaying the word in 49 languages. Inside the Peace Memorial Park, just beyond the Pond of Peace, is the Flame of Peace; lit in 1964, it continues to burn until the abolition of nuclear weapons. 

Travellers who’ve come to this corner of the country will no doubt tell you how Hiroshima’s immense green spaces, historical castles, and deeply rooted food scene surprised them. As do the equally impressive maze of day trips on offer. Not to mention the far less-crowded cherry blossoms in full bloom. From mid-March to late April, they flower later here than in other areas of Japan. 

Just an hour's ferry ride from Hiroshima is the serene island of Itsukushima/Miyajima, a sacred site for Shinto. The most famous landmark is an ethereal floating torii set against the sacred peaks and virgin forests of Mt. Misen. Its vermillion pillars have seen every turning point in Japan’s history. From the golden age of the Heian to the dramatic Meiji restoration and everything in between. And just like Hiroshima, it stands as a testament to human resilience and a shared commitment to learn from our past. 

Nagano 

猿も木から落ちる/ Saru mo ki kara ochiru
Translation: Even monkeys fall from trees.

There’s a famous Buddhist saying, “There is no way to happiness; happiness is the way.” Whoever coined it clearly hadn’t experienced the sheer thrill of flipping a motorcycle’s kickstand and hitting the open road to Nagano. The fittingly named Venus Line is a 76-kilometer route popular with road-trippers snaking through serene wetlands and wasabi fields. From the highest point, riders enjoy unobstructed views of the peninsula's rugged spine, looking as far as Mt. Fuji. 

And smack dab in the middle, between the plunging valleys of the Japanese Alps, sits Nagano, a city that mirrors its snow-dusted sentinels: slow, sacred, surreal. 

Known as “the roof of Japan” and boasting more than 80 ski resorts, this former Olympic host is not only a hotbed for winter sports but also for those seeking a ‘spirited-away’ experience among some of the country’s most beautiful temples and shrines. 

Shaking off the Shinkansen-like speed of typical Japanese itineraries, visitors can sink into a contemplative pace, allowing the true essence of ancient traditions to unfold. And with the highest number of designated forest bathing spots in Japan and proximity to Shugendo pilgrimage sites, restoration here is almost a guarantee.

Yet, if there’s one group of residents that are the ultimate masters of zen, it’s the ruby-faced snow monkeys that can be found deep in Jigokudani Yaen-koen park, leaping across snowdrifts and soulfully soaking in its hot springs.

Kanzawa

静かな水は深い/Shizuka na mizu wa fukai

Translation: Still waters run deep.

When it comes to immersing yourself in traditional Japanese culture, the gold-leafed capital of the Ishikawa Prefecture often comes up as an alternative to Kyoto. Yet Kanazawa remains under the radar for most first-timers coming to Japan.

Here you’re trading congested streets for intimate, inky cobblestones and staged maiko performances for working geiko and cozy teahouses that cater mostly to locals. 

Like the stroke of a master calligrapher’s brush, 400 years of skilled artistry have left an indelible mark on Kanazawa, crafting a city where traditional beauty and refined craftsmanship are woven into daily life. 

From generations of gold-leaf guilds, tea ceremonies, geisha performances, Kaga yuzen dyeing, and porcelain production, the city’s fortunate escape from World War II preserved the rich artistic heritage. Visitors can experience it through workshops or at the National Crafts Museum, relocated here from Tokyo in 1987. 

The city is also home to the gardens of Kenrokuen. A 25-acre haven of meandering paths, ponds, and teahouses, it's the epitome of Zen and one of Japan’s top three gardens.

Curating this level of tranquility required a mind-boggling attention to detail. In 1774, under restoration, the stones at the bottom of the Emerald Waterfall were rearranged several times to ensure the sound of splashing water was just right.

Basing yourself in Kanazawa even briefly means having Japan’s scenic countryside easily reachable, including traditional UNESCO villages and of course, world-famous onsens.

Naturally, we're only scratching the surface of Japan's hidden corners. There's still Toba's watercolour sunsets waiting to be watched, and layers of history tucked behind delicate paper-and-wood screens of sliding shoji doors. 

I've gathered all the spots our community has suggested into a map here.

And now it's your turn. What should we uncover in Part 2?

Share your must-see places in the comments (and pin them on our collective map) to help shape our next journey across Japan.