Destinations that value sustainability, respect nature, and give back to local communities
Sustainable travel is about more than making sure you leave no trace and recycle your bottles from the vending machine. It is a larger practice of incorporating respect for nature and authentic engagement with local communities into our everyday lives and travel. In Japan, protecting nature and promoting local culture are deeply held values, making for some fantastic sustainable travel destinations. From the remote and stunning North Japan Alps to the coastal area of Kamaishi and the wilds of Hokkaido, learn about places where you can enjoy authentic and sustainable travel.
Kamikochi, Nagano
A beautiful alpine valley which is part of the Chubusangaku National Park, Kamikochi is truly an outdoor enthusiast’s dream (https://www.kamikochi.org). Sitting between 3,900-4,600 feet above sea level, this ecologically significant area is only accessible from April to November. The valley follows the crystal-clear Azusa River as it winds through stunning forests and past mountain lodges. It has a variety of day hikes and is the base for hiking some of Japan’s more challenging mountains, like Mt. Yarigatake.
To help preserve this exceptional area, private vehicles are banned. Instead, visitors arriving by car must leave their vehicle at Sawando or Hirayu parking lots, located roughly 30 minutes away, and take either a bus or taxi the remaining distance (https://www.snowmonkeyresorts.com/smr/matsumoto-kamikochi/how-to-get-to-kamikochi/). This drastically limits vehicular traffic into the area, making for a reduced carbon footprint, less impact on the natural environment, and incredibly clean air. Lodges, restaurants, and gift shops cluster around the famous Kappabashi bridge, and the area has a campground bordering the river with tent sites and cabins nestled within the trees. More luxurious accommodations are available in the nearby lodges, but whichever style suits you, it is well worth staying the night—the clean air and high elevation make the area a spectacular destination for stargazing. Local businesses also make an effort to protect the environment, with The Park Lodge at Kamikochi eliminating all plastic bags and takeout containers and replacing plastic straws and cutlery with ones made from bamboo and wood harvested from forest thinning.'
An easy looped walk begins by crossing the Kappabashi Bridge and following the river on the far side towards Myojin Pond. The trail winds through pristine forests with intermittent glimpses of the snow-capped mountains above and the water of the Azusa River. There is a shrine at Myojin Pond and, are places to eat along the water where you can order local specialties like iwana, salt-grilled river fish caught fresh from the stream. The path crosses back across Myojin Bridge, offering panoramic views of the river and mountains, and winds back through the forest to the Kappabashi Bridge, taking no more than 3 hours roundtrip. For those looking for more of a challenge, an alternate path goes onwards from Myojin, and there are base camps for some of the more challenging mountain hikes.
Kamikochi is also conveniently located to explore other wonderful destinations. The elegant Matsumoto Castle is located only an hour car or bus ride away, in the center of Matsumoto City, a town with fantastic art, delicious cuisine, and cute shopping streets. Azumino Winery is only a forty-minute drive away, between Kamikochi and Matsumoto.
Kamaishi and the Sanriku Fukko National Park, Tohoku
Known as the city of “steel, fish, and rugby”, Kamaishi has an interesting history. Birthplace of the modern iron industry and former home to Nippon Steel Kamaishi, one of Japan’s top rugby teams, the area was decimated by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. However, the time since has brought a period of extraordinary revival, a testament to the resilience of nature and the local community. Since 2011, they launched a sustainable tourism initiative and have made incredible strides with sustainable practices for both visitors and locals (https://goodtravel.guide/japan/kamaishi-sustainable-tourism). Renewable energy is now integrated into the city, with subsidies provided to introduce solar generation and biomass fuel combustion to local homes, and it is easy to get around on foot or by bus in the city center. At the tourism tradeshow ITB Berlin 2020, the city received 2nd place for its good practice story in the best of Asia-Pacific and has been ranked in the 2020 Green Destinations top 100, as well as receiving a Green Destinations Bronze Award in 2019.
This makes it a great destination to see sustainable practices in action, and with the area on its upward trajectory since the tsunami, all visitor traffic helps with the economic revitalization of the community. From learning about the history of the local iron and steel industry to experiencing unique local festivals and eating delicious seafood, there are lots to enjoy in Kamaishi (https://en.en-trance.jp/tourism/spot) .
Kamaishi is situated within the Sanriku Fukko (reconstruction) National Park, an area of mountainous terrain and rugged coast. For an immersive and sustainable way to experience this remarkable place, check out the Michinoku Coastal Trail, a hiking route with over 550 miles of paths which wind through forests and along the breathtaking rocky coastline. Stops are available to break up the hike, including accommodations and hot springs along the trail (https://www.michinokutrail.com). There is also a hike up Mt. Goyo, the tallest peak in the Sanriku Coast at over 4,432 feet above sea level, where wild azaleas bloom in spring and rhododendrons bloom in summer, covering the mountainside with color.
Hokkaido
Japan's northernmost island, Hokkaido, is home to Japan’s indigenous people, the Ainu. Ainu culture is rich in sustainable practices and founded on living harmoniously with the natural environment. Like many indigenous people, the Ainu were traditionally hunter-gatherers, and lived off the bounty of the rich streams and forests of Hokkaido. They understood how to harvest sustainably, taking sparingly from the land, eating wild vegetables and fruits according to the season, and hunting salmon, deer, and seals. Natural plant fibers, feathers, and animal and fish skins were used to create clothing. While Ainu cultural practices have dwindled and most people of Ainu descent now live integrated into towns and cities across Hokkaido, the recent revival in tourism and interest in the Ainu is critical to the preservation of their unique culture (https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20200519-japans-forgotten-indigenous-people).
Opened in 2020, Upopoy, the National Ainu Museum and Park, is not only a museum but a gathering place for cultural events, with buildings and event spaces spread out along the shores of Lake Poroto. In the main museum hall, you can learn about Ainu history, beliefs and spirituality and explore Ainu textiles and crafts, while in the Cultural Exchange Hall, you can watch live music and Ainu traditional dance, which is designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
For an experience of Ainu culture that is closer to the land, head to beautiful Lake Akan in eastern Hokkaido, where you can go on a forest walk with an Ainu guide. Starting with ceremonies to pray to the kamuy, or spirit-deities, for safe passage in the forest, allow yourself to see nature through the eyes of the Ainu and experience their connection to the land. In nearby Akanko Onsen, visit the Lake Akan Ainu Kotan, a village for arts and crafts where Ainu artisans create handicrafts and you can experience hands-on craft making workshops while learning more about how Ainu culture values the relationships between people, objects, and nature (https://www.japan.travel/en/japans-local-treasures/lake-akan-ainu-culture-tour).
Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa
The Noto Peninsula is located in Ishikawa Prefecture, a short journey from Kanazawa. Jutting out around 62 miles into the Sea of Japan, it consists of incredible coastal scenery, quaint fishing villages, farms, and a strong craft tradition. It is also a noteworthy area for sustainability, and has been praised internationally for its traditional land management techniques known as “Satoyama” and “Satoumi”, or “inland” and “coastal.” The concepts refer not merely to agricultural methods, but rather to a whole way of living in harmony with nature, including forestry, fishing, natural energy, and culture. Respecting these concepts of Satoyama and Satoumi, the Noto Peninsula held onto its sustainable lifestyle even during Japan’s period of postwar economic growth. As such, the area remains largely unchanged and pristine. In fact, Noto’s Satoyama and Sotoumi have been recognized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems. These sustainable practices help to maintain biodiversity and regionally distinct agricultural products such as rice and vegetables.
One great destination to see traditional agriculture in action is the Senmaida Rice Fields. Rising up from the Sea of Japan, these terraced rice fields are still tended by hand and are a popular tourist destination. Volunteers carefully plant the fields in May and harvest in September. They are particularly beautiful when just planted, and the water in the rice paddies reflects the sky. After the harvest, the fields are lined with lights, and visitors can see the paddies illuminated at night from mid-October through mid-March.
The Senmaida Rice Fields are located just above Wajima Onsen, which is the cultural center of Noto. The morning market, that runs from 8-12 most days and has been in operation for over 1,000 years, is a great place to pick up local food and crafts. The town is also famous for lacquerware production (https://www.japan.travel/en/luxury/detail/wajima-lacquerware/), and the lacquerware museum is worth a visit, as is the Wajima Kiriko Art Museum, dedicated to the festival floats which can be viewed while listening to taiko performances.
