▲ 134 r/ExploreLocalJapan
Hankō Danrin in Sosa City, Chiba Prefecture.
Its grand yet simple beauty is striking.
There are hardly any tourists.
You can spend a quiet and leisurely time here.
u/Hitoshi_1011 — 2 days ago
r/ExploreLocalJapan
The view from Mt.Kasagatake
The mountain is located in the Japanese northern alps 🗻
We can enjoy this panoramic view from there!
u/Evening-Film-772 — 2 days ago
▲ 250 r/ExploreLocalJapan
Goshogawara Tachineputa Matsuri 2026 - Newest Float
Sarutahiko no Okami
u/SophisticPenguin — 3 days ago
Found a hidden gem Ryokan in Nishi-Izu, Japan! "Banjou-ya" offers amazing seafood and authentic hot springs. ♨️🐟
Hello everyone! I recently stayed at a traditional guesthouse (Minshuku) called "Banjou-ya" in Kumomi Onsen, Nishi-Izu, and it was absolutely fantastic. To my surprise, a massive boat-wrap of fresh sashimi and a whole simmered splendid alfonsino (Kinmedai) were included as standard! The natural hot spring (Onsen) was super authentic and rejuvenating. If you're exploring the Izu Peninsula and want a truly local, warm experience with incredible food, I highly recommend booking directly with them. Check out my full review with photos on my blog! (Link in comments)
★NAHKISM Blog
https://nahki.hatenablog.com/entry/2026/08/18/215221
u/NAHKI-7 — 2 days ago
Spending my last days alive in Japan
Hi fellow weebs :)
**SO MANY REPLIES** I will read over the weekend. Thank you everyone.
My name is David and I am 46. Over my life I have been to Japan many many times (probably 10+ at this point) and lived there for 2 years back in 2023.
In 2020 during the height of COVID I was diagnosed with cancer. I went through chemo and had it removed and I was clear for the next few years.
Unfortunately it has returned and I have decided not to go through the aggressive chemo again and this time let nature take its course.
My specialists predict without treatment I will live comfortably until mid next year.
I have decided I would love to spend my last few months as a healthy adult back in the country I love. No other country I have been to makes me feel as welcomed, zen and at home as Japan. I have flights and accomodation booked for Oct 2026-April 2027 and will then return to Australia and spend my last few months with family.
Sob story aside - I want to experience so many different things in my time there.
What are you recommendations? I want to hear all of your favourite places. Off the beaten track. I don’t want tourist traps as I will visit them regardless and would have been numerous times.
I want sweet little locations where I can spend time and appreciate my favourite country. It can be a cute cafe. A park. A hike. A mountain. A lake. A village.
I’d love to see things and experience things I haven’t.
I don’t want sympathy. I appreciate the thought but I want this all about Japan not about my journey.
Thank you all! Xx
u/Jaquake — 5 days ago
Japan’s Northern Alps are breathtakingly beautiful
Mount Kasagatake (笠ヶ岳) is one of the most beautiful mountains in Japan’s Northern Alps, standing at 2,898 meters above sea level.
Its name means “Umbrella Mountain,” referring to its distinctive umbrella-shaped summit. From the top, you can enjoy spectacular views of some of the Northern Alps’ most famous peaks, including Mount Hotaka, Mount Yari, and Mount Norikura.
u/Evening-Film-772 — 5 days ago
▲ 154 r/ExploreLocalJapan
Aomori Neputa Matsuri 2026 - Winning Float
"Hokkai no Yu" (Hero of the North Sea)
u/SophisticPenguin — 5 days ago
Next generation in training! Kids watching and dancing along at Ikeda Awa Odori Festival
While the adults performed their traditional dance in full costume, local kids in the crowd couldn't resist dancing along while watching them. It was so heart-warming to see how this centuries-old tradition gets passed down to the next generation naturally.
Location: Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture
Event: Ikeda Awa Odori Festival (いけだ阿波踊り)
u/ehime_japan — 4 days ago
▲ 51 r/ExploreLocalJapan
A scene from the Awa Odori—one of Japan's three major festivals—held in Tokushima Prefecture during the just summer Obon season.
u/Sea-Leadership1747 — 4 days ago
▲ 74 r/ExploreLocalJapan
Omihachiman, Shiga Prefecture
If you like an old vibe I recommend Omihachiman in Shiga. I went there last month and it was very quiet, not many tourists at all. There is also a nice cable car!
u/Morthimpeall — 5 days ago
Happy Obon 2026
Happy Obon, everyone! Wishing you a peaceful holiday filled with good memories, warm baths, cold beer, and time to appreciate the people who came before us.
u/japanfoodies — 6 days ago
Nachi Falls during pandemic, January 2022.
English / 日本語 / Français
January 2022, Japan. 🇯🇵
In the middle of the COVID period, I visited Nachi Falls — and the place was completely deserted.
I found myself alone in front of this immense waterfall, surrounded by nature and silence. Literally no other visitors. Just me, the shrine staff, and the sound of the water.
Standing there, facing one of Japan’s most beautiful waterfalls with absolutely nobody around, felt almost unreal.
A magical moment that I’ll never forget.
2022年1****月、日本。🇯🇵
コロナ禍の真っただ中、那智の滝を訪れました。
驚くほど人がいなくて、境内にいたのは、神社の方々を除けば文字通り自分ひとり。
目の前には壮大な那智の滝。聞こえてくるのは滝の音だけで、周りには誰もいませんでした。
日本を代表する美しい滝を、たったひとりで眺めるという、まるで現実ではないような時間。
今でも忘れられない、特別で素晴らしい瞬間でした。
Janvier 2022, Japon. 🇯🇵
En pleine période du Covid, je visite les chutes de Nachi. L’endroit est complètement désert.
Je me retrouve seul face à cette immense cascade, entouré par la nature et le silence. Littéralement aucun autre visiteur. Il n’y a que moi, le personnel du sanctuaire et le bruit de l’eau.
Se retrouver ainsi seul face à l’une des plus belles cascades du Japon, sans personne autour, donnait presque l’impression d’être hors du temps.
Un instant magique que je n’oublierai jamais.
u/Select-Imagination17 — 6 days ago