Hyogo Castles

Recently, when enjoying a couple of leisurely afternoon pints in The Hub, my wife Mai and I chatted with an Aussie lad in Japan on his ‘trip of a lifetime.’ “So, where are you visiting?” my wife asked, more out of politeness than curiosity. “I spent a few days in Tokyo, went to Osaka and Kyoto, and after Nagoya, I’ll have a few more days in Tokyo,” he replied. “Oh, that sounds lovely,” Mai cooed, full of smiles. However, as soon as he’d drained his drink and bade us a farewell ‘G’day,’ Mai rolled her eyes. “Mottainai.” And I had to agree: what a waste. Don’t get me wrong, Kyoto is stunning, Osaka’s a wild night out, and Tokyo has its ‘Big Smoke’ charm, but Japan is such a beautiful, diverse country it seems somewhat wasteful to just hit up the big cities. With that said, Japan’s far-flung spots can be difficult for foreigners, what with the language barrier and the myriad of cultural obstacles you might encounter. Luckily for you, however, I am here with suggestions for places that land in that sweet spot of being both tourist-friendly (and thus easier) and a bit off the beaten track, starting…