Aeroden

My brother and I are considering a two-week trip to Japan in the spring (late April-early May). We've been there twice already, in Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, Sapporo, and Otaru, and I would like to ask what some more experienced travellers would recommend at this point. We've seen a lot of the major sights in the places we visited previously, and I'm mostly looking for more off the beaten path suggestions.

We're interested in checking out Okinawa, but I've heard that it's a pain to get around without a rental car, which would be problem for us. We're also looking into seeing Nara, Naoshima, and/or Koyasan. Regardless of our other plans, we'll be spending at least a few days in Tokyo to catch up with some friends.

kja

I highly recommend Nara and Koyasan, although I would hardly describe either as "off the beaten path." Kanazawa, Takayama, Shirakowago, and Nikko also come to mind, but again, all are firmly and understandably ON the beaten path.

Have you checked japan-guide?
http://www.japan-guide.com

someotherguy

I think Matsue and the San'in coast (down to Hagi) is one of the most interesting and attractive areas of Japan and it is somewhat off the beaten path. Hagi was one of the centers of the Meiji Restoration so there's a lot of history there, too.

There are many interesting and scenic places in Tohoku that are popular with the Japanese but off the beaten path for western visitors. Same goes for Shikoku.

curiousgeo

Late Spring may be a bit late for this suggestion, but with over 30,000 cherry trees, Mount Yoshino in Nara Prefecture might be an option. It is a premier cherry blossom viewing site.

Another option might be Kanazawa in western Japan, a 2.5 hour Shinkansen ride from Tokyo. It survived the U.S. bombings of WWII so retained historic geisha and samurai districts which are quite interesting. Kanazawa castle and Kenrokuen gardens are also quite nice. Being on the Japan Sea, Kanazawa offers an amazing array of fresh seafood at the Omicho Market and area restaurants.

CaliforniaLady

I second someotherguy's suggestion about the San'in coast of Honshu. You can start in Tottori, which has a lovely hiking area as well as beautiful sand dunes, and then go along the coast to visit Kurashiki, which has fascinating Edo-period buildings. Next, you can stop in Yonago, where you can walk up a hill to see a 360 degree view. You can then go to Matsue, which has many interesting sites, including the famous Izumo shrine and the beautiful Mihonoseki lighthouse on the beautiful rugged coast.

All this can easily be done by local trains along the coastal route. With advance planning, you can stop in one city en route to another for a few hours, as long as you send your luggage ahead. You could also add Hiroshima at the end, and your way back to Tokyo, but that depends on your pace.

MinnBeef

I didn't see any mention in your past travels re. Hakone. Seeing Mt. Fuji and it's snowcap is one of the top 2 or 3 travel highlights of my life. You can easily tour Hakone as a day trip from Tokyo or better yet, stay overnight in a ryokan. Also, Hiroshima is very moving and historically significant. Combine it with an overnight stay on Miyajima island for a memorable couple of days in your schedule.

kja

I agree with CaliforniaLady that Kurashiki is worth a visit. And although I haven't been to Hakone yet, I agree with MinnBeef that Hiroshima and Miyajima are well worth considering. But again, these are not places that I would consider "off the beaten path."