Japan’s Countryside Towns and Villages - A Break from the Busy City Life | YABAI

Japan is home to widely diverse cities, towns, islands, and landscapes. Although its highly developed areas may be the top picks of most foreign travelers, Japan's rural regions are just as lovely and highly recommended for those who want to take a break from the busy city life.

Perks of Taking a Vacation or Living in Japan’s Countryside Towns/Villages

Before diving into the various countryside towns and villages worth visiting in Japan, it is best to first what the country’s rural places have over its urban ones.

Less or no queues

One of the biggest differences that tourists will immediately notice upon moving from urban Japan to countryside Japan is the lack of queues or even none at all. This applies to nearly all places including toilets, restaurants, shops, and festivals.

The lack of queueing lines is great especially for those who find it annoying to have to waste significant amounts of time for every other activity of their itinerary.

Tourists should not be alarmed and misinterpret the absence of people waiting outside of these places to be an indication of poor services. Countryside towns and villages simply have smaller populations compared to cities like Tokyo.

Stunning views

The skyscrapers, stadiums, and grand museums of Japan are undeniably stunning and feature a wide array of architectural styles. However, nothing beats the natural beauty of the country, which includes large expanses of green, hot springs, waterfalls, and the like.

More often than not, hotel rooms in Japan’s highly modernized cities only offer guests with a view of other buildings. In the countryside, however, nearly every kind of lodging has more than its fair share of surrounding landscapes. In fact, avoiding the country’s natural beauty while staying at its rural towns or villages can be quite a challenge.

Friendlier people

The Japanese community has a knack for being friendly and hospitable, even to strangers. There are, of course, a few exceptions but Japan is generally a great place for tourists to visit in terms of interacting with the locals.

However, when comparing the people from Japan’s urbanized and rural areas, it is quite noticeable that those from the latter carry a more relaxed vibe than the former. The reason behind this is because the majority of people that live in cities such as Tokyo and Osaka are busy with work and quite strict when it comes to their schedules.

Less or not at all crowded transportation systems

Foreign travelers who have already gone on a tour around Tokyo know how crowded its trains can get. During rush hour, riding the train can get quite suffocating, with everybody getting pressed against each other due to the number of people going to or from work.

A great advantage of taking a vacation in the countryside is that one will rarely experience having to sit right next to another person on the train or bus. This is because the residents in these areas prefer to either walk or ride their bikes from one place to the other.

In that sense, it is also a good idea for tourists to ditch the transportation systems and try exploring these towns as the locals would.

Events and festivals

One of the things tourists look forward to when visiting Japan is its countless events and festivals that showcase the country’s history and culture. In terms of concept, practice, and traditions, these celebrations are pretty much the same in the different regions of Japan.

However, a lot of people consider the festivals in the countryside to be preferable than those in the metropolitan cities due to the preparations involved and the people attending.

Regardless of whether or not a person is a new resident in the area, he will most likely be asked to help with the upcoming celebrations as a means to unite the whole community. Tourists will rarely get a chance to interact with the locals in this way when in cities like Tokyo.

Furthermore, the majority of the crowds attending the festivals held in Japan’s urban areas consist of foreign travelers, which may not really be a big deal to some but does affect the overall vibe, in a way.

Break from technology

Japan is known for being the leader in innovative technologies. However, it can get quite tiring to always be in the fast-paced world where nearly everything is automated and forming real connections can get quite challenging.

Taking a trip to the countryside is a great way to take a break from everything and simply enjoy some peace and quiet with the locals. However, this does not mean that Japan’s rural areas do not have access to things such as internet or modern amenities. These places are just as equipped but simply prefer the old ways of living.

Cultural immersion

Last but not at all the least, choosing to visit the countryside of Japan is an effective way to instantly immerse oneself in the Japanese culture and lifestyle.

Unlike in places like Tokyo, Japan’s rural towns and villages have fewer residents that know how to speak or understand English, leaving tourists to get a bit creative in understanding the ways of the locals.

At times, this may get a bit frustrating but finally being able to get the rhythm of things can be incredibly satisfying.

Countryside Towns/Villages Near Tokyo – Karuizawa, Hakone, Etc.

Conveniently enough, there are a handful of places near Tokyo which are considered to be countryside towns. These are great for those who do not want to travel too far away from the metropolis but also not close enough to still feel the busyness of the city.

Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture

At the base of Mount Asama, an active volcano of Honshu, Japan, the charming town of Karuizawa can be located. It can be reached within an hour from Tokyo through the shinkansen (high-speed train).

In 1957, the ward served as the place where Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko met for the first time. As such, it has become a popular retreat place for couples looking to spend a romantic day trip together, away from the busy crowds.

It is also known for being a great place for hot springs (onsen), hiking trails, and viewing koyo (autumn colors) during the months of June, August, and April.