Offbeat Japan

An alternative guide to Japan

By Jordy Meow, days exploring and photographing Japan!

Nagoro: Village of Dolls

For those who enjoy driving and don’t find cliffsides and mountain switchbacks too scary, the Iya Valley offers magnificent landscapes and dozens of remote villages, each one more picturesque than the last.

Map of Japan

156 locations

Explore the map

Urban Exploration

We slip through Japan’s forgotten corridors; silent rooftops, rusted tunnels, and cities paused in time.

Latest

Ishizuka, the Forgotten Village of Yakushima Jun 21 Sotodomari Ishigaki-no-sato: Village of Outsiders Jun 21 The Mysterious Game Boy Mailbox Jun 20 Akiyoshidai: Lunar Landscape of Jagged Rocks Jun 18 Sado Mine: The Mountain That Bleeds Gold Jun 17 The Heavenly Carpet of Yabakei Jun 15

Travel guides

Essential reads

What to Do in Tokyo

How Much Does a Trip to Japan Cost

What to Eat in Japan

When to Visit Japan: Month by Month

Illustration aquarelle de Hakone : Mt Fuji, torii flottant de Hakone-jinja, onsen, œuf noir d'Owakudani, sculpture du musée en plein air, bateau pirate du lac Ashi, ropeway, yukata

What to do in Hakone

Your First 24 Hours in Japan

Illustration aquarelle de Fukuoka : yatai et lanternes, ramen tonkotsu, mentaiko, pont rouge de Dazaifu Tenmangu, pruniers en fleurs, char Hakata Gion Yamakasa

What to do in Fukuoka

Living in Japan

Visas, jobs, and what life here is really like.

The Japan Working Holiday Visa

Japan Work Visas

Why Move to Japan

Live maps

Real-time earthquakes, tsunami and typhoons across Japan.

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Tracker Live Japan Typhoon Tracker Live

202+ Adventures to explore

Scenic Coastal Village Nestled in Lush Landscape

Yayoi Kusamas captivating sunflower installation immerses visitors.

Rock Ship of Masuda

Explore Aokigahara: Haunting Beauty & Silence at Mount Fuji - A Unique Experience.

Akiyoshidai meadows, winding road, distant mountain landscape.

Yamaguchi Browse All → Every adventure in one place