Forget Cities, Japan's True Magic Lies in Its Countryside

The island nation is full of places that offer an escape from the frenetic pace of modern life and too many tourists

- Bloomberg

Have you had the feeling recently that everyone you know has been (or is about to go) to Japan? You're not wrong. Last December there was an almost 30% increase in international visitors from the previous year, and the government predicts the country will double its annual onslaught of tourists to 60 million arrivals by 2030.

If you plan to be among that number, you will quickly realize that there's something of a standard itinerary for first-timers: Tokyo-Kyoto. A stay in hypermodern Tokyo followed by a visit to Kyoto's Zen temples may not be groundbreaking, but there's a reason both cities are on everyone's list. They rank among the most compelling destinations on our planet.

But there's a crucial part of the plan that needs tweaking: the countryside stay. Japan's international reputation and allure may be forged in its cities, but the island nation's true magic reveals itself high up in the majestic beauty of its mountains or down among its quiet oceanic coves. And there are the numerous small inns that have sprouted up near Japan's many onsen, a bathing hot spring, where visitors can escape the frenetic pace of modern life. Hakone lures a lot of travelers in search of a "plus-one" option. Situated only 90 minutes west of Tokyo, the hilly region has scores of geothermal baths. But beware: Thanks to their convenient location, Hakone's once peaceful hamlets are now overwhelmed with large resorts.