Author's Note
Introducing a real small Japanese town
How to Make the Most of a Real Japanese Small Town
Scenes from small Japanese towns that call to us

PART 01 How to Travel Japan's Small Towns in the Most Awesome Way

A glance at Japan's small towns
No. 1 in each small Japanese city area
Photographs of delicious restaurants and unique scenery
Small city seasonal travel
A little Kyoto found in a small city
My Art Trip
Exploring traditional markets in small towns
Local specialties and local cuisine
Famous confectionery from small Japanese cities
Local specialty bread loved by locals
Locally Exclusive Souvenirs

PART 02 How to Experience the Most Colorful Japan: Chubu

Small towns in Chubu
How to travel to Chubu

Shizuoka, a view of Mt. Fuji
Shizuoka detailed map
THEME 1 Four Ways to Enjoy Mount Fuji
THEME 2 Shizuoka Specialty Food
THEME 3 Shizuoka Tea Tour

Nagoya, the third city where you can enjoy style and flavor
Nagoya detailed map
THEME 1 Nagoya City Tour
THEME 2 Nagoya Gourmet Tour
THEME 3 Nagoya's Daily Life, Kitsaten
REAL PLUS 01 How to Capture Famous Ghibli Scenes Beautifully at Ghibli Park

Enjoying a hot spring bath in Frog Village
Gero detailed map
THEME 1 A day stroll through a hot spring village
THEME 2 In search of original desserts

Imagining change in tradition Kanazawa Kim?
Kanazawa detailed map
THEME 1: A Walk Through Kanazawa's Famous Spots
THEME 2 Kanazawa Soul Food Tour
REAL PLUS 02 How to beautifully capture the scenery of old Japan Shirakawa-go 白川?

Toyama, the gateway city to a world of mystery
Toyama detailed map
THEME 1 Light City Tour
THEME 2 The taste of Toyama with color
REAL PLUS 03 How to encounter a giant snow wall in spring and summer: Snow Valley

A stroll through the old streets of Takayama, along the market and food.
Takayama detailed map
THEME 1 #Little Kyoto #Traditional Street #Morning Market
THEME 2 Hida Beef Gourmet Road

PART 03 How to Discover the Most Exotic Travel Destinations in Kyushu 九州

Small towns in Kyushu
How to travel around Kyushu

Shimonoseki & Kitakyushu, two cities connected by a tunnel
A lap around the Kanmon Strait
A special way to travel between two cities
AREA 1 Karato 唐?
Karato detailed map
AREA 2 Jojochochofu Castle lower town
Jokamachichofu detailed map
AREA 3 Mojiko Gate
Mojiko detailed map
AREA 4 Kokura Kokura
Kokura detailed map

A Stroll Through the Exotic Port City of Nagasaki
Nagasaki detailed map
THEME 1: A World Tour in Nagasaki
Nagasaki tram main route map
THEME 2 A Journey to Taste Nagasaki's Specialty

History and character nerds, Kumamoto is a paradise for everyone.
Kumamoto detailed map
THEME 1: Tram Analog Travel
Kumamoto Tram Main Route Map

THEME 2 A Pleasant Meal
THEME 3 A stylish cup of coffee
THEME 4 Finding Kumamon in Kumamoto

Miyazaki, a southern city bordering the Pacific Ocean
Miyazaki detailed map
THEME 1 Into the Miyazaki-like landscape
THEME 2 A Day in Obi Castle Village
THEME 3 Taste of Miyazaki

Take the train to the sand hot springs of Ibusuki 指宿
Ibusuki in Kyushu
Ibusuki detailed map
THEME 1 Take the train to the hot spring village
THEME 2: Experience the Nogon Nogon Sand Hot Springs

PART 04 How to travel in a small but happy way Shikoku 四?

Small towns in Shikoku
How to travel around Shikoku

Welcome to Udon-hyeon Takamatsu 高松
Takamatsu detailed map
THEME 1 Takamatsu's Treasure Hunt
THEME 2 I entered Udon School
THEME 3 A bowl of Sanuki Udon!

Naoshima, Teshima, and Shodoshima, island villages surrounded by art
Detailed map of Naoshima, Teshima, and Shodoshima
AREA 1 Naoshima
AREA 2 Teshima 豊島
AREA 3 Shodoshima 小豆島

Matsuyama, a hot spring town loved by artists
Matsuyama detailed map
THEME 1 Travel to famous places in the work
THEME 2 Matsuyama's Delicious Food
REAL PLUS 04 How to enjoy contemplation in a seaside garden Katsurahama

PART 05 How to travel to a seaside town where spring comes Chugoku 中?

Small towns in Chugoku
How to travel to Chugoku

The Transformation of a Quiet Canal Town: Kurashiki
Kurashiki detailed map
THEME 1: Where a New Kurashiki Was Born
THEME 2 The Taste of Kurashiki Made with Fresh Ingredients
REAL PLUS 05 How to Remember the Weight of History Hiroshima ?

Miyajima, the mysterious island where the gods reside
Miyajima detailed map
THEME 1 Three Viewpoints for Appreciating the Otorii
THEME 2 A leisurely stroll through the Omotesando shopping district
THEME 3 Photo time with deer friends
THEME 4 Eel rice bowl and a cup of coffee

When spring comes, take a stroll through the seaside town of Onomichi.
Onomichi detailed map
THEME 1 Onomichi's Lovely Walking Path
THEME 2 Onomichi's Simple Gourmet
REAL PLUS 06 How to Enjoy Japan's Deserts: Tottori Sand Dunes

PART 06 Preparing for a Fun and Exciting Trip

Basic information about Japan
Travel Calendar and Events
Basic travel preparation
Recommended accommodation areas by region
How to Use Travel Apps and Websites
Filling out Japanese immigration documents
Information needed in case of emergency

INDEX

Now the trend is to travel to small Japanese cities full of healing!

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the congested traffic and crowds of big cities like Osaka and Tokyo, it's time to consider a smaller city.
The simple and romantic charm of a small town awaits you.
Because it is small in size, there are many things to see and eat, making it easy to get around on foot. Once you leave the city, you will find beautiful natural scenery that you won't find in a big city.
You can taste famous dishes made with locally produced ingredients, and also get your hands on special products and limited edition souvenirs.
Through close interaction with local people, there are many opportunities to delve deeper into local culture and daily life.
Above all, the leisurely atmosphere where even time seems to flow slowly, once you fall for its charm, you will definitely come back to small Japanese cities.


Find a romantic travel destination with both nature and urban sensibility.

Japan, with its long east-west terrain, has very different climates and landscapes depending on the region.
Due to the nature of being an island nation, you can see the sea in many cities, but its appearance varies greatly.
You will be greeted by a beautiful sea that rivals that of a Southeast Asian resort, and you can also see huge sand dunes along the coast.
Trek between massive snow cliffs that never melt even in spring or summer, admire the giant Gate of God floating on the sea, and encounter works of art scattered throughout the island.
There are places where your heart opens wide at the sight of Mt. Fuji, visible from anywhere just by raising your head.
For those who have only traveled to big cities, a whole new world will unfold before you, completely different from the Japanese travel experience you have had.


Leisurely small towns and travel destinations in Japan

This book introduces about 20 travel destinations in the Chubu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Chugoku regions of Japan.
We will focus on small cities that can be reached directly from Korea by direct flights, such as Shizuoka, famous for Mt. Fuji; Kitakyushu, a suburb of Fukuoka and a base for Shimonoseki travel; Matsuyama, famous for Japan's oldest hot springs; Nagasaki, famous for castella; Nagoya, Japan's third largest city; and Takamatsu, where you can enjoy both taste and style with udon and art tours.
We have compiled a list of recommended travel destinations, carefully selected from small towns and nearby tourist destinations that are relatively unknown to Koreans.
Those planning a trip will find travel tips, and even those without immediate travel plans will find the pleasure of browsing through the book to help them choose their next destination.

Recommended travel destinations by region, organized by theme

Due to Japan's long geographic features, each region has a different atmosphere and unique characteristics.
This book doesn't simply list attractions, restaurants, and shops; it organizes travel destinations by theme, allowing you to fully enjoy the charm of each region.
The topics are diverse, including local specialties, coffee and tea, desserts, markets, hot springs, trains, and famous landmarks featured in the book. The author's detailed recommendations, based on his own personal experience and years of experience in Japan, stand out.
Just skimming through the regional keywords in the table of contents will give you a picture of the travel landscape, and as you turn each page, you'll discover your own new travel tastes.


The best guide for your new trip to Japan

First, let's take a look at the travel destinations you can reach directly from Korea on the back cover.
Once you've figured out the general location and which airlines serve it, take a look at Part 1, "Japan's Small Towns at a Glance."
You can get a quick overview of each region and get a sense of the area through brief introductions of each city, the best time to travel, and recommended star ratings.
Next, we'll further refine our recommendations by theme, including seasonality, streetscapes, art, local specialties, and souvenirs, so you can choose your destination while taking a closer look at everything you need to know about the places to visit, including what to eat.
After exploring the area and choosing a destination to travel to, check and connect the transportation methods to complete your own small city travel itinerary.
We even provide helpful transportation passes, so preparing for your trip isn't difficult.