In this series, I’d like to introduce you to a number of cities that I have visited over the years in order to highlight some of the local spots and food that I found interesting. In doing so, it might generate some interest and curiosity to consider these places while planning your trip to Japan.

I’m going to avoid writing about the more known cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, etc. simply because these places are ones you’ve likely heard about before. I want to focus on places less traveled as I believe those places have lots to offer to those who visit and can provide a unique experience to your Japanese adventure.

I am by no means an expert when it comes to these locations but I hope the information I can provide can be a stepping stone for you to continue your own research and/or experience at any one of these locations.

To help break this series down into manageable pieces, I’m going to create a regional series for each of the 8 main regions within Japan and then within each, cities located in each will be highlighted.

The main regions in Japan are (referenced in colour to the map below):

Hokkaido (red)
Tohoku (yellow)
Kanto (green)
Chubu (blue)
Kansai (indigo)
Chugoku (orange)
Shikoku (purple)
Kyushu & Okinawa (grey)

This post will be updated with links to the various posts that are created over time for easy reference.

Series 1 - Chubu

Okazaki-shi, Aichi-ken (link)
Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa-ken (coming soon!)
Toyama-shi, Toyama-ken
Matsumoto-shi, Nagano-ken

Credits:

Japan Regional Map by Niigata_in_Japan.svg: TUBSderivative file: Furfur - This file was derived from: Niigata in Japan.svg, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59364200

Featured Image - Unsplash