Japan’s hidden gems: 5 magical places you’ve probably never visited
Visit the castle town of Gujo-Hachiman, meet famous island-dwelling artists, or just relax in a tucked-away onsen. Even diehard Japanophiles will be impressed
It is no secret that Hongkongers love travelling to Japan. From January to March this year, the country has already clocked more than 8 million overseas visitors, according to JTB Tourism Research and Consulting.
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has reported that Hong Kong travellers to Japan so far this year have reached the highest number in February, with over 179,000 visitors – though numbers in the past six months peaked in December with over 209,000 Hongkongers arriving in the country. However, the number of visitors from China, South Korea and Taiwan are still leaps ahead: in March, 691,300 Chinese, 585,600 Korean and 402,400 Taiwanese travellers visited Japan, compared to Hong Kong’s 171,400. Still not bad considering Hong Kong has a relatively small population.
Without exaggeration we can say that Hongkongers have extensively explored the land northeast. However, there are still some hidden gems that diehard Japanophiles may yet have to discover.
Paul Christie, CEO of Walk Japan – a walking tour operator specialising in Japan, which has introduced a new Onsen Gastronomy tour series this year – revealed to us five hidden gems not easily accessible to foreign tourists.
1. Gujo-Hachiman, Gifu
Although Gujo-Hachiman is an elegant castle town with a genteel atmosphere, it is little known and receives relatively few visitors. Squeezed into a narrow valley, between towering verdant mountains and at the confluence of three rivers, Gujo-Hachiman is a tightly packed streetscape of quiet lanes and cobbled paths, which colourful koi carp swim languidly in water channels. Unexpectedly, given its Old-World charm, Gujo-Hachiman is the centre of world’s plastic food industry, and produces extraordinarily tasty-looking replicas of every kind of Japanese dish. Visitors can try their hand at creating a morsel to take home.
Tatsukuni specialises in chanko-nabe, the dish favoured by Japan’s famed sumo wrestlers. The owner, a retired wrestler, provides a warm welcome and will happily describe his life in sumo while plying his guests with some of the best sake produced in the region.
2. Nagayu Onsen, Oita
Nagayu Onsen, set deep in the Oita countryside, is one of the loveliest onsen hot spring resorts found anywhere in Japan. The relaxing quiet of the town is complemented by classic ryokan inns, which serve exquisite, multi-course dinners to relish after soaking in the accommodation’s onsen.
Lamune Onsen, which is named after its naturally fizzing carbonated thermal waters, is an intriguing building designed by Terunobu Fujimori, one of Japan’s lesser-known but no less great architects. A very recent addition to the town is Kur Park Nagayu, a residential, therapy onsen centre created by Shigeru Ban, another acclaimed Japanese architect. A short drive from Nagayu Onsen is the delightful, historic town of Taketa, which is overlooked by the imposing remains of Oka-jo castle.