Shimane prefecture is a mountainous, sparsely populated, coastal prefecture located in the Western part of Japan’s Honshu Island in the Chugoku region. As of February 2022, it’s Japan’s second least populated prefecture with a population of 665,205 individuals.   Shimane borders Yamaguchi prefecture to the southwest, Hiroshima prefecture to the south, and Tottori prefecture to the east. 8 cities make up the prefecture, with the smallest being Goku and the …

Introduction  Fukui Prefecture, often overlooked by both local and international travelers, remains one of Japan’s best-kept secrets. Situated along the scenic Sea of Japan coast, this quiet yet captivating region is rich in history, natural beauty, and unique attractions. In the first installment of our guide, we uncovered some of Fukui’s most well-known sites, from ancient castles to prehistoric discoveries. Now, we’re taking you further off the beaten path …

Introduction  Located on the Sea of Japan coast, Fukui Prefecture is part of the historic Hokuriku region of Japan and presides in the Chubu region of Honshu. Its capital city is Fukui City with other major cities being Sakai, Echizen, and Sabae.  Fukui arguably remains one of Japan’s hidden travel destination gems, with not many tourists, both local and international, even so much as glancing in its direction on …

Introduction  Tohoku is a region of Japan’s Honshu Island, known for its winter sports, harsher climates, and mountainous terrain. It traditionally consists of the following 6 prefectures: Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi, and Yamagata.   Literally named, North East Region or Tohoku Chiho in Japanese, it’s unsurprising that the region has marketed itself as a prime winter destination for both local and international tourists due to its geographical location that …