2024 is what I considered to be the first full year since the "lost covid years" for the revival of tourism in Japan. Tourism took over the country, bringing with it both good and bad consequences. Popular sightseeing attractions had an increase in tourist numbers, which made the area overcrowded with visitors, and created potentially unpleasant experiences for locals and visitors alike. Our piece on overtourism covers the basics of what tourists can do when visiting Japan.

This year, I visited a healthy 31 out of the 47 prefectures. All the places in my top ten list this year are places that are off-the-beaten path, and I encountered few travelers in these spots, making me doubt for a minute that overtourism is a thing in Japan. All I want to say is Japan is bigger than the typical sightseeing attractions in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

#10: Sake in Niigata

In February this year, I went on a two day trip to Niigata City to drink my weight in sake. It was a tough job to be eating well and drinking sake for almost 36 hours, but I took one for the team. On this trip, I drank sake at a sake brewery, at an izakaya restaurant, a standing sushi bar with the most attentive sushi master and at the station. All the sake I drank was made in Niigata Prefecture, and some of the best sake I had was at Bekkan Tachigui Benkei standing sushi bar, where I had the most lovely cup sake from Sado Island, and Tabi Bar, where I had a 11,000yen single serve of sake.

Sushi master at Bekkan Tachigui Benkei

#9: Gunma Prefecture

In January, I got to know my backyard of northern Gunma Prefecture better. The area experiences high snowfall during the winter months, which makes it a snow lovers playground. Those who are not into snow activities can, instead, go for the numerous hot springs. I visited a handful of excellent spots in Gunma Prefecture, enjoying the hot springs, ski resorts, and eating all the delicious food. Some memorable moments were getting stuck in the snow and being dug out, riding on a ski mobile, and sleeping in luxury at a hot spring resort.

Hodaigi Ski Resort has great slopes and extreme views

#8: Sakura seasonal reporting

This year's cherry blossom reporting was a fun season compared to the previous years. The season started later than usual in Tokyo, but the pace quickened in the northeastern region of Japan. What made it fun for me this year was having a television crew accompanying us for a few days on our reporting trips to create a small segment for a popular television programme. I got to visit some of my favourite cherry blossom spots in Japan like Hirosaki and Hakodate when the flowers were at their best, and I may or may not have shed a tear or two.

Fort Goryokaku in Hakodate is a star-shaped fort and a cherry blossom paradise

#7: Mount Fuji and local food in Nishiizu, Shizuoka

In March, I spent two nights in the town of Nishiizu on the remote western side of the Izu Peninsula. The area has some famous sightseeing spots, and the beaches there can get crowded in the peak of summer. I truly enjoyed this trip because of the lovely weather I had when I was there, hiking on some excellent, short trails, eating all the lovely food and learning about katsuobushi, and of course, staying at a nice place for two nights. It was very relaxing, and the perfect getaway for a long weekend.

Mount Fuji from Koganezaki in Nishiizu

#6: Wakayama City

I visited Wakayama City for the first time since moving to Japan. It was a lovely city in the Kansai Region that is often overlooked by travelers who typically go to the popular cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Nara. I found the history and heritage in Wakayama City to be very interesting, and its proximity to beautiful beaches very attractive. It was also very memorable that we visited the city in early July, when it was hot with high humidity, causing me to sweat constantly. Being so sweaty was not a pretty sight for filming a video, but we made it work.

Wakayama Castle and its covered bridge

#5: Returning to Fukui

This year I went to Fukui City again to check out the sights we missed the first time we went to Fukui. The last time I saw dinosaurs at the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, visited the Ichijodani historical ruins, went to the beautiful Yokokan Garden and ate all the crabs. This time, I went to the coast and went to visit a serene moss shrine. As always, the food in Fukui never fails to delight, and I was one very happy girl in Fukui.

Approach to the shrine

#4: Tambasasayama, Hyogo

Tambasasayama has been on my list of places to go for a while now, and I had the opportunity to visit for the first time in 2024. The castle town is only an hour from Osaka by limited express train, making it an easy day trip or comfortable overnight trip for many travelers. A short bus ride takes one from the station to town center, from where it is easy to walk around to explore the sights. A rental bicycle is best to cover more distance, and the flat terrain makes it easy to cycle around as well. I enjoyed my first visit to Tambasasayama, and I dare say it would not be my last.

Aerial view of the castle ruins in Tambasasayama's town center

#3: Yambaru, Okinawa

Despite having been to Okinawa many times, it was my first time to truly explore and experience the remote northern Yambaru Region. I went on a tour with the theme of exploring the secret of longevity in the Blue Zone Yambaru Region, and found myself excited for every day I was on the trip. I ate traditional Okinawan home cooking, made my own dinner with garden herbs, interacted with the locals and so much more. The locals and their stories inspired me, and made me relook my life choices and wonder if I should reprioritize them. There was a lot of food for thought during and after the tour.

Kayaking into the forest in one of the largest dams of the Yambaru Region

#2: Luxury travel in the Shima Peninsula

I had the opportunity to visit the Shima Peninsula on a luxury trip (yet another one?! i hear you say ^^;). This trip had me taking a beautiful sightseeing train to Ago Bay, which is known for its small islands and pearl cultivation. I stayed at the beautiful Shima Kanko Hotel, one of the luxury resorts in the area and where the G7 Iseshima summit was held in 2016. I stayed in the same suite room as Angela Merkel, ate at a Michelin starred restaurant and enjoyed a beautiful overnight stay. This was probably the most luxurious and expensive hotel I've stayed at in my life.

japan-guide.com representative at the G7 summit

#1: Hachijojima, Tokyo

The island of Hachijojima has been on my bucket list for years, and I finally got to check that box this year. Part of the Izu islands, a group of volcanic islands under the administration of Tokyo, Hachijojima is the second-most southern island. The island can be accessed by ferry from central Tokyo or by airplane from Haneda Airport, and offers visitors a small town, island life experience. The main activities on the island are hiking, fishing and scuba diving, or simply just enjoying the slow, laid back lifestyle.

The highlight of my trip was hiking Hachijo Fuji, the distinctive mountain and the highest peak of all the Izu islands. The weather was so good that I even got to see some of the other Izu islands. The next time I visit Hachijojima - yes, there will definitely be a next time - it will also include Aogashima, my next high priority bucket list island.

Looking down the crater of Hachijo-Fuji
Walking along the rim of the crater with Hachijo Kojima, the uninhabited island, on the side
More Stories
Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale 2024
See All Stories