Exploring the Most Beautiful Towns of Japan

North of Sapporo, Otaru is a small coastal city with a beautiful canal that’s equally inviting in both summer and winter. The Otaru Canal is lined with warehouses, giving off an industrial feel that juxtaposes the old-world Japanese buildings you’ll also find around town. The walkway along the canal is illuminated by oil lamps, and gets further dolled up in the colder months for the annual Otaru Light Snow Path. When wandering around town, explore Sakaimachi Street, a picturesque shopping drag, peek into Otaru’s famed antique shops, and stop by Otaru Beer. Otaru is known for having Ainu—an Indigenous Japanese people—roots, and it became a true hub of Hokkaido in the 1920s, though that torch was eventually passed to Sapporo. Nonetheless, the buildings that flourished when Otaru was a business and economic center of the north still stand; for example, the former Bank of Japan Otaru Branch is now the Bank of Japan Otaru Museum.

A town in the Shizuoka Prefecture, about two hours outside Tokyo by express train, is named for the oldest temple on the Izu peninsula, Shuzenji Temple, built in 807. A river runs through town, framed by vibrant red bridges and trees that put on a color show in the fall. In the middle of the river, you’ll see Tokko-no-Yu spring, the source of Shuzenji's hot spring water. You can enjoy Shuzenji’s hot springs while walking through town at their public, outdoor foot baths, perched in view of the river and scenic bridges. There’s a bamboo forest, which travelers will find between Kaede Bridge and Katsura Bridge—lie down on the circular wooden platform amidst the bamboo trees so you can gaze up at them. In some of these intimate towns there isn’t a high-end lodging option, but you can stay at a Relais & Chateaux property in this Izu peninsula village: Asaba.

Iwadeyama, founded in 1591, is about a four-hour drive north from Tokyo in Miyagi prefecture. The town's former samurai villa, Yukiban, and surround traditional garden are a nationally designated historic site. Centuries ago, Date Masamune was gifted the Iwadeyama area and the Masamune family subsequently built Iwadeyama Castle as their home. Today, the castle site is a park with a gorgeous view of the Uchikawa River—the river was once the outer moat of Iwadeyama Castle. When Masamune’s heir was left to preside over Iwadeyama, he married a woman of Kyoto nobility, which is why the area has been influenced heavily by Kyoto style and culture—to the extent that the town now has the nickname “Elegant Little Kyoto.”

An under-the-radar, small port city outside Kyoto, Obama has claims to fame beyond sharing a name with the 44th U.S. President. Along scenic Wasaka Bay, the town’s name roughly translates to “little beach.” An amalgamation of eastern influence, the most historic part of town, Sanchomachi, has Chinese cultural elements, while Kyoto design informs the newer parts of the city. You’ll need a few days to even scratch the surface of the historic temples in Obama; visit Wakashime, built in 714 and arguably the most picturesque of the town’s temples. For more of an in-depth foray into the Fukui temples, find Hagaji, a temple dating back to the 1400s, nestled into the forests lining the village of Obama.

The castle town of Aizu in Fukushima Prefecture is perfect for history lovers, mainly because it’s a gateway to centuries of samurai tradition. As the Meiji Restoration concluded, the Aizu clan remained loyal to the shogun and became known as the last remaining samurai clan. It only stands to reason that their town would offer unlimited insight into samurai culture. To see this history first hand, visit Aizu Bukeyashiki (a reconstructed samurai mansion) and Ouchijuku (a former samurai post). Travelers can also visit Fukushima Museum to gain overall historical context of the prefecture. In terms of scenery, Aizu is often called a “castle town” and sees mountains on all sides—Mount Bandai being the most prominent. It’s also home to award-winning sake, which can really only enhance the scenery. Visit Suehiro Sake Brewery to further your rice wine research.

Enoshima is actually an island within the Kanagawa Prefecture, about an hour out of Tokyo by car. The main drag of the isle city is Nakamise Dori (Street) brings you to Enoshima Shrine, erected to Bentsen, the goddess of good fortune. Benten, also a goddess of wealth, music, and knowledge supposedly created the island of Enoshima in all its beauty. The southern coast of Enoshima is particularly scenic, and travelers can visit the Iwaya caves, built into the jagged cliffs and protecting buddhist statues within. Finally, Enoshima Sea Candle, the lighthouse on the island, is a fixture and best seen from a cruise around the island.

Asuka is just outside Kyoto, south of Nara City, and home to some of the country’s first temples, shrines, and monuments. In the fifth and sixth centuries, Asuka was chosen by successive emperors to serve as Japan’s political, artistic, and religious capital. Travelers should see Asuka-dera, one of the oldest standing temples in Japan, built in 588. Amakhashi hill offers views of the entire town of Asuka, while Kashihara Shrine is dedicated to the first emperor of Japan. Guests can also wander the nearby streets of Imaicho in Kashihara City, which still has the largest neighborhood of authentic Edo period buildings in the country—they would have been built from 1603 to 1867. Asuka sees cherry blossoms in the spring, bright foliage in the fall, and travelers can stay at the cozy schoolhouse-turned-bed-and-breakfast, Shinrajuku, nestled amidst the town’s rice paddies.