The region of Tajima, which refers to northern Hyogo prefecture, offers a completely different face to that of southern Hyogo, which comprises of big city names such as Kobe where many skyscrapers and vivid colors of neon lights characterize the province. On the contrary, this part of Hyogo is full of nature, history and boasts of premium quality hot springs.

The name means "doll town," and a long time ago the area was famous for its puppet shows, puppet makers, and puppeteers. Nowadays, the only remaining doll "theaters" are the two signature Ningyocho clocktowers. Shows run hourly from 11 a.m. To 7 p.m. but be sure to have your camera ready, because they last only 2 minutes!

Come to Iwate to experience a colorful dreamscape of crystals and light. At the Kenji Miyazawa Fairy Tale Village, you can jump into a world befitting of fairies.

An often-neglected historical edifice but bearing equal significance and prestige not only for its vast, sprawling garden but also more importantly for the Art Deco interiors of Prince Asaka’s former residence, is the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum in Meguro.

Okawachiyama, Saga. As soon as you get off the bus, sightseeing starts. You see the mountains in the background, narrow roads, pottery and porcelain everywhere, a stream and cute little bridges over it.

Once the Kingdom of the Ryukyus, a distinct local culture flourished, with strong influences from China, Indonesia, and other neighbors, who traded dyes, tools, and techniques. Many of these beautiful handicrafts survive today, so when in Okinawa, skip the mass produced souvenirs, and have fun making your own instead.

Yusuhara is a small town in Kochi located in between mountains and holds a population of less than 4000 people. It touts itself as the town above the clouds, and is also known for its eco-friendliness. What this amounts to is a friendly town where everyone seems to know and greet each other everywhere, a town that retires home before it gets dark, and a quiet and peaceful town, all in all providing for a quaint Japanese town experience that would likely surprise you.

Mori Building Digital Art Museum: Epson teamLab Borderless in Odaiba’s Palette Town is the first permanent digital museum in the world, and is easily becoming a must-see for tourists and locals alike. The brainchild of teamLab, a visionary art collective made up of artists, engineers, CG animators and more, this digital wonderland lives up to its 'borderless' name.

When you’re planning your trip to Kyoto the initial thought is to visit all the shrines and historical museums, which of course, are definitely worth a visit. But also, because of this, Japan’s contemporary culture is overlooked when thinking of Kyoto. So why not change the itinerary a bit? Take a day to immerse yourself in the country’s modern times and artworks.

Shimane Prefecture sits on the southwestern portion of Japan's main island, and is the perfect spot to visit if you're looking for an off the beaten path travel experience. Often overlooked by visitors in favor of better known destinations, the region has culture, nature and history by the bucketload – just without the massive crowds to battle!

Combined with the abundance of nature, the 10,000 square-meter site is also an outdoor architectural showcase of Japanese buildings, such as a small arbor hut, painting studio (where Hashimoto originally painted), temple, tea ceremony house, restaurant, the main residence and the museum.

Renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is holding an exhibition in Shinjuku, Tokyo October 1st to February 28th. Her prolific and award winning work has been praised as some of the best in the world.