Matsumoto Castle
Sydney, Australia - 28 April 2025: Loved Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka? Repeat visitors and adventurous first-time explorers to Japan are discovering regional gems full of charm and character, with fewer crowds. Check out six alternative destinations to fall in love with Japan’s history, culture, cuisine, and scenery…with a different view.
Hamamatsu (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Located in the western corner of Shizuoka Prefecture, Hamamatsu is just 90-minutes by shinkansen from Tokyo.
Music is a huge part of the city’s identity, it’s the home of Yamaha after all, and the Yamaha Innovation Road exhibition invites visitors to browse and play top-of-the-line instruments in a series of soundproof rooms – and yes, beginners are welcome.
Missed sakura season? The sprawling Hamamatsu Flower Park blooms with seasonal flowers all year round and is a must for any Hamamatsu stay. Children will love riding the park’s Flower Train, while summer visitors should see the park’s twinkling fireflies put on a show after dark.
Families will love hand-picking seasonal snacks from Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumika, which includes an orchard nine times the size of Tokyo Dome. Taste juicy fruit, check out tropical wines, dive into the fruit buffet, shop for specialty produce, or let your imagination run wild in the fruit-themed playground.
Lake Hamana is the true heart of the city. See it up close on a sightseeing cruise, dine on the shore and watch the evening fireworks, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, soar from shore to shore on the Kanzanji Ropeway, or have a go at windsurfing, parasailing or wakeboarding.
Hamamatsu’s seafood scene is sublime. The birthplace of Japan’s eel farming industry, there are around 80 specialty eel restaurants serving either Kanto style (grilled and steamed in a basket), or Kansai style (seasoned and skewered over an open flame until crispy).
Between May and September, visitors can rent boats and fishing spears from locals to catch their own dinner on the lake, then have it cooked to enjoy on a takiya-tei raft.
Savour the city’s spiritual side by hiking the statue-lined mountain trail to the Okuyama Hokoji Temple to take part in an enlightening guided zazen meditation with monks. History buffs can admire Hamamatsu Castle which was the former home of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Matsumoto (Nagano Prefecture)
Renowned as the gateway to Japan’s Northern Alps and the hometown of famed artist Yayoi Kusama, Matsumoto is around three hours from Tokyo.
A national treasure, the imposing 16th century Matsumoto Castle is one of Japan’s remaining 12 original castles that was constructed before the end of samurai rule in 1868. Scale the six-storey tower for surreal alpine and city views, watch swans and koi fish in the inky moat. Visit one of the castle’s iconic events, such as a summer taiko drumming concert, night-lit cherry blossoms during spring, a soba noodle festival in autumn, or the winter ice sculpture festival. Keep an eye out for costumed samurai and ninjas roaming the grounds, delighting visiting families, and pop into one of the pubs or restaurants along nearby ‘Frog Street’. Don’t miss nearby Nakamachi Street, lined with traditional black-and-white kura storehouses selling Japanese handicrafts.
Samurai once soaked in Matsumoto’s historic onsen, and today’s travellers can step back in time for a similar experience at one of dozens of bathhouses and therapeutic pools in Asama Onsen, just outside the city centre. Biwanoyu is the most famous – it was the favourite bath of the castle’s former rulers.
Art and culture fans will find plenty to do in Matsumoto. The world-famous Matsumoto City Museum of Art houses polka dot creations from the beloved Yayoi Kusama alongside other acclaimed Nagano artists, while the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum boasts has more than 100,000 pieces, including Japanese prints from masters including Hokusai and Hiroshige.
Love an epic event? Then plan your stay for the Matsumoto Bon-Bon festival, a lively street parade with colourful local dance troupes held on the first Saturday in August.
Takayama (Gifu Prefecture)
Accessible by train in 2 hours and 20 minutes from Nagoya, or an hour and a half from Toyama, Hida Takayama immerses visitors in fascinating Edo history. Stroll the historic streets of Sanmachi to discover perfectly preserved dark timber houses, sip sake at seven dedicated breweries, dine in atmospheric restaurants, and browse charming stores selling artisan wares such as traditional sarubobo dolls.
Foodies will love sampling the region’s seasonal produce and local delicacies in the two morning markets, among the biggest in Japan, including the region’s celebrated Hida beef, wagyu sushi, chuka soba and hoba miso.
The biannual Takayama Festivals, held in April and October, are among most renowned regional events. Visitors flock to see elaborate yatai floats, crafted by expert carpenters, parade along ancient streets to the tune of live instrumental music – a spectacular sight when lit by lanterns after dark. Visit the Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan exhibition hall to marvel at the intricate yatai up close. Other must-sees include the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine and the Hida no Sato folk village, a cluster of thatched-roof cottages just outside the city centre.
Sakata (Yamagata Prefecture)
Approximately four hours north of Tokyo by rail, Sakata is one of Japan’s less-known cultural centres, and one of a handful of locations where maiko (trainee geisha), still perform daily.
The 17th century Somaro Maiko Teahouse takes guests back to a time when Sakata was a decadent port town. Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony with wagashi sweets to savour inside the Kyoto-inspired teahouse with paintings from celebrated artist Takehisa Yumeji and a notable collection of hina dolls, then head to the upstairs theatre to watch a maiko performance.
Visit the Ken Domon Museum of Photography to see thousands of photographs depicting pre- and post-war Japan from a raw perspective, and browse the historic Sankyo Storehouses, a series of 12 former rice storage buildings which now house museums, restaurants and craft stores.
Fukuoka (Fukuoka Prefecture)
Fukuoka is the largest city on the western island of Kyushu, characterised by friendly locals, fabulous ramen, and spirited festivals. It’s also one of the country’s fastest growing cities.
The city is divided into two halves, Hakata, which is world-famous for its tonkotsu ramen, and Tenjin, the cultural centre which teems with boutiques, bars and eateries. Food is serious business here, and the evening street-side yatai stalls in Tenjin and Nakasu attract crowds from across the country. It’s the ideal way to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with locals and other visitors to bond over a bowl or ramen, grilled yakitori skewers, hotpot or local mackerel.
Other attractions include Fukuoka Castle in Maizuru Park; Fukuoka Tower, Japan’s tallest seaside tower; Kushida Shrine; catching a baseball game at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka; and Ohori Park, which features a lake, Japanese gardens, an art museum and a Noh theatre. Flower fans should visit during February to see 6000 blooming plum trees in the grounds of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, or during June when 30,000 purple irises bloom.
Each May, the city hosts the Hakata Dontaku Festival, a two-day event which attracts more than two million people to see street dancing, extravagant costumes and cruising flower buses; whilst the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in mid-July sees teams of loincloth-clad men race decorated floats along the streets.
Sapporo (Hokkaido Prefecture)
Another foodie favourite, Sapporo is less than a two-hour flight from Tokyo, with Australians able to fly direct from Sydney with Qantas during the ski season.
Must-try local dishes include soup curry, jingisukan (grilled lamb), seafood galore, and miso ramen, which was born in Sapporo. ‘Ramen Alley’ is the spot to try it, a slim strip of food stalls boasting some of the finest noodles in the region.
Susukino is a vibrant destination for bars, casual dining and karaoke clubs, while the Sapporo Beer Museum and Beer Garden is an atmospheric location with Oktoberfest vibes and all-you-can-eat menu options, making it the perfect place to try the local brews and barbeque.
Major events in Sapporo include incredible ice sculptures during the Sapporo Snow Festival in February, and the Yosakoi Soran Festival in June, when 30,000 dancers descend upon Odori Park twirling to fun folk melodies and waving traditional wooden naruko clappers as they compete for winners’ glory. Want to join the action rather than watch it? Take a beginner’s dance workshop in Waodori Square.
For a different kind of cultural experience, join a woodworking, glassmaking or outdoor craft class at Sapporo Art Park.
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