Places in Japan That Google Maps Still Doesn’t Know

Having recently ended up in Unazuki Onsen quite by sheer luck and knowing little to nothing about it before I arrived, I have been keenly reading up on the area online. What fascinates and thrills me is discovering that parts of the village are not properly mapped on Google Maps. In 2026, there is still places in Japan that are literally not on the map.

So far, I have come across four places we visited that aren't on the map. I also noticed that one spot is pinned at the wrong coordinates. And I am only a quarter of the way through retracing our steps. There is every likelihood I'll uncover even more. There was a time (before the pandemic) when I would diligently add and correct locations on Google Maps, but not anymore. 

There’s something strangely comforting about knowing that pockets of Japan still exist beyond Google’s reach; places you can only find by exploring them yourself. In a world where almost everything is documented, photographed, and pinned to a digital map or social media, it feels refreshing that a few corners remain uncharted. And I hope it stays that way.