Travel
How to Dodge the Tourists: Off the Beaten Track in Japan
Seven alternative destinations in Japan beyond the perennial favorites of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.
The low yen has boosted Japan to the top of many bucket lists.
Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty ImagesIf it felt like everyone you knew had vacationed in Japan in 2024, it was because they probably had.
According to the country’s tourism agency, a record 36.9 million people travelled to Japan in 2024, up 47% from the previous year, as the weak yen helped boost the Asian nation to the top of many bucket lists. Last year's figures surpass the previous record of 31.9 million visitors in 2019, right before Covid hit, by 15.6%.