With overtourism making headlines recently, many travellers will be keen to discover some of the lesser-trodden pathways in popular destinations around the world. Despite Japan’s popularity among visiting Australians, there are still vast areas of the country, brimming with scenic wonders and exciting activities, that are yet to be explored. According to recent figures, here are Japan’s five least visited prefectures by Australian travellers and what they have to offer.
Tottori
Tottori is one of Japan’s smallest and least populated prefectures, with the former castle town of Tottori City at its heart. One of the most popular sights of Tottori includes the Tottori Sand Dunes north of the city. Unlike anywhere else in Japan, you’ll be amazed by the vast desert-like landscape featuring golden rolling sand dunes where visitors can enjoy a range of unusual activities such as camel riding, fat biking, sandboarding, and even paragliding. You can even visit the nearby Sand Museum where you’ll find a series of incredible sand sculptures meticulously crafted by artists from around the world, with the next exhibition launching on the 25th of April 2025.
Other exciting adventure activities to try in Tottori might include hiking Mt Daisen, participating in a Starry Sky Photo Tour, or enjoying a shukubo temple stay at Sanrakuso in the Daisen-Oki National Park.
Another great reason to visit Tottori in summer is for the Shan Shan Festival which runs from the 13th to the 15th of August each year. Over a three-day period, the festival features dance displays – including the Issei Kasa Odori dance parade involving around 4,000 dancers – street stalls, and dance workshops. Visitors are also treated to a spectacular fireworks display on the last evening to close the event.
Saga
Saga Prefecture in Kyushu’s northwest is brimming with natural beauty, historical wonders and traditional artistry. Regarded as the birthplace of ceramics in Japan, Saga is home to the famous pottery towns of Arita and Imari where you’ll find narrow alleys lined with old buildings where finely crafted porcelain is still being made and sold today.
The Saga International Balloon Fiesta is a must-see for visitors to the prefecture in early November. For a five-day period, the skies are filled with the sight of tens of hot-air balloons – illuminated at night by their flames for a spectacular sight. Fireworks and live music are also a key feature of this awe-inspiring sporting event.
Kiyomizu Falls in Ogi, and the Yutoku Inari Shrine are also worth visiting to take in some of the prefecture’s best natural and historic scenes. Meanwhile, during a stay at the Mifuneyama Rakuen Hotel, you’ll be treated with a spectacular exhibition by the renowned teamLab which has been specially curated to tell the story of the history and nature around you.
Yamaguchi
The rural prefecture of Yamaguchi is known for its sights of historical significance and scenic beauty from its well-preserved castle towns and shrines to pristine beaches and mysterious limestone caves. The castle town of Hagi is home to five World Heritage sites as well as being known for its unique style of Hagi Pottery with pottery making workshops offered to visitors keen to experience the local craft themselves.
Unsurprisingly for a prefecture on the coast, Yamaguchi is a great place to visit for its cuisine, with freshly caught local seafood offered in restaurants all around the prefecture. The Karato Ichiba seafood market in Shimonoseki is well worth a visit to see the huge variety of seafood as well as to sample freshly made dishes from its many stalls including pufferfish (fugu) – one of Japan’s most celebrated delicacies.
Rurikoji Temple and Yuda Onsen, the Akiyoshido limestone caves, and the 123 torii gates of Motonosumi Shrine are also highlights of a visit to Yamaguchi, while the prefecture boasts vibrant annual festivals including the Yamaguchi Tanabata Lantern Festival and the Yamaguchi Gion Festival.
Miyazaki
Miyazaki is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, boasting excellent surfing conditions along its coast – with Okuragahama Beach a popular surfing hotspot – and breathtaking coastal drives for road trippers. With its location in southern Japan making for ideal summer weather, Aoshima Beach Park is worth a visit for some sunshine and relaxation on its wide sandy beach, as well as enjoying some of the many water sports on offer. Further inland, why not explore Mt Karakuni with its crater lakes and the nearby hot springs in Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park.
Take a trip to Takachiho Gorge for a rare experience rowing a boat through a deep and misty volcanic canyon, and Manai Falls which cascade into the gorge.
Fukui
Easily accessible from Kyoto and Osaka, the central Japanese prefecture of Fukui offers rugged landscapes and abundant sights of historic significance including the Ichijodani Castle Ruins and Echizen Ono Castle, and the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum – a world-class museum dedicated to the region’s prehistoric past offering one-off exhibitions and excavation experiences which run from the spring to autumn.
Meanwhile, visit the Tojinbo coastline to experience a one kilometre stretch of rugged coastline with jagged cliff faces towering 25 metres above the Sea of Japan. The coastline is a popular place to visit for golden sunsets as well as other highlights such as Oshima, the “Island of Gods”, which can be accessed from Tojinbo by a bridge.
Fukui also offers travellers a selection of immersive cultural experiences such as the Eiheiji Temple Stay. Here, you’ll be invited to enjoy Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, a range of Zen experiences, and the chance to relax in soothing hot baths. With Echizen in Fukui famous for its craftware including lacquerware, the production of Japanese washi paper, glass making, knife making, and pottery, you might also decide to join one of a selection of local craft workshops.
