Best travel destinations in Japan in 2020

Taking a look at the potential best travel destinations in Japan in 2020, from our own editors picks of travel destinations in Japan through to those of City-Cost users and bloggers, as well as casting an eye on how Japan features on the travel experts' lists of best travel destinations in 2020.

So here we are in 2020 Japan -- the year of the rat, or mouse if that offers more appeal. Sifting through the rodent-based marketing that comes with Japan’s dalliances with the Chinese lunar calendar at this time of year might reveal something a little deeper than a fluffy snack adorned with whiskers. According to observers of such matters, the year of the rat (or mouse), 2020 in this case, is a time to get out of our comfort zone and explore, to make new discoveries befitting of the rat, all curious and inquisitive as it is.

But where will the spirit of the rat see us explore this year? Where are those best travel destinations in Japan in 2020? Indeed, with the numbers of overseas travelers in Japan increasing before our very eyes it’s easy to wonder if there is any part of Japan still awaiting exploration, rather than already laid prostrate to tourist-tat exploitation?

The Japanese government’s target of attracting 40 million visitors to these shores in 2020 continues apace, albeit having stuttered slightly toward the backend of 2019 on accounts of an ongoing spat with South Korea which saw a sharp decline in tourists from that country.  

Still, 2019 was a record-breaking year for travel in Japan with nearly 32 million foreign visitors pitching up in the country. And while the frosty relations between Japan and South Korea show little signs of thawing, hosting an event of the Biblical scale and booming pomp of the Summer Olympics is sure to see at least a spike in visitor numbers.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, which kicks off on July 24, is expected to draw some 10 million visitors to the Japanese capital, around 600,000 of which will have come from overseas to witness the sporting spectacle. Reason enough then to give Tokyo a wide berth during your summer travels in Japan this year?

WATCH - Japan's most attractive regions ranked for 2020!

Not that Tokyo is alone in being a marquee travel destination in Japan at risk of feeling the strain of over tourism, or at least certain districts within the city -- Kyoto has, in recent years, reached a kind of tourist saturation point to the extent that locals in the city have begun to voice their concerns and in some cases open complaints about how tourism has changed the face of the ancient capital from one that was all pretty and so Japanese to one that is noisy, ugly, and hassles the geisha.  

Perhaps travel in Japan in 2020 then should see us tune into the inquisitive spirit of the zodiac rodent and seek pastures new for our travel destinations in Japan, locations that aren’t patrolled by platoons of fanny pack-wearing, selfie stick-wielding, flag-following tourists. 

And it looks like the Japanese government might be singing along to the same tune having announced in December last year plans to create a new law enabling the provision of subsidies for the improvement of access to tourist facilities in various parts of Japan in a bid to get sightseers away from the crowded marquee attractions. 

Is the travel media based outside of Japan singing from the same hymn sheet? Here at City-Cost we fought our way through an assault of pop-up boxes, newsletter appeals and permission to access our web browsing habits in order that we might see how Japan features on lists of the best travel destinations in 2020. 

Japan in travel media "best destination" lists for 2020

Tohoku seems to be a strong contender with the northern region of Japan featuring as one of the top regions in Lonely Planet’s Best In Travel 2020 with the travel guidebook publisher citing Tohoku as “a breath of fresh air for the crowd-weary adventurous visitor.”  

Tohoku also gets a mention in National Geographic as one of the best trips to take in 2020 with staff at the magazine suggesting the region as a destination of escape from the Olympic crowds -- “Tohoku should get a gold medal for best unknown travel wonderland.”

Going even more off-the-beaten-path is Booking.com who in its Travel Predictions 2020 drew from research among more than 22,000 travelers and insights from over 180 million reviews to highlight travel trends in 2020 which, according to the booking site, promises to be a year of travel exploration like never before with a predicted rise in second city travel -- exploration of lesser known destinations in the face of over tourism. 

Booking.com then has Takamatsu, the port city in Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, sandwiched between Swinoujscie (Poland) and San Juan (Puerto Rico) as one 10 top trending destinations for 2020.  

We return to more familiar territory in the form of Tokyo with the Japanese capital coming in at No. 11 in Forbes’ 20 Best Places To Visit In 2020. “Who should go?” questions the magazine. “Foodies,” comes its own answer. 

The U.K. edition of Elle magazine also has Tokyo in their Where You Need To Visit In 2020 list with the city featuring at No. 4. Showing little sign of over tourism-alternative-destination savvy the magazine gives shout outs to the likes of Senso-ji, Meiji-jingu, Skytree and some place called simply “Tower,” which given the context we take to mean Tokyo Tower. Still, to be fair, these spots are among the city’s proudest and loudest boasts.  

Tokyo also makes an appearance on Airbnb’s 20 Destinations To Visit Next Year (meaning this year, 2020) feature. Given the rumored scarcity of beds needed to accommodate visitors to the Japanese capital during the Tokyo Games it perhaps comes as little surprise that Tokyo features on a site that, well, helps to put bums in said beds, so to speak.  

Thus far then Kyoto, a perennial at the upper echelons of ‘best cities in the world to visit’ lists, has been conspicuous by its absence. Perhaps travel-magazine editors have had day-time images of Gion slid across their desks. Still, rare is the year that Japan’s ancient capital doesn’t get at least some mention. In 2020 Condé Nast Traveller has Kyoto at No. 20 in their list of The Best Holiday Destinations For 2020 with the magazine largely citing a number of exciting new hotel openings in the city as it braces for an overflow of Olympic crowds. 

A mixed bag then but writing this from the perspective of a foreigner resident here in Japan it can be all too easy to fall into a kind of snobbery when it comes to observing expert opinion on the best travel destinations in Japan in 2020 given by someone who, likely, isn’t going to be around on these shores, living the Japan experience. 

To this end then we turned to you, users of City-Cost, to ask you what travel destinations in Japan in 2020 are on your radar.

Simple enough, a short questionnaire asking largely where would you like to travel in Japan in 2020 and why? -- your top 5 destinations.

Travel destinations in Japan on your list for 2020

Across all your of top 5 desired travel destinations in Japan in 2020, Hokkaido emerged as the clear favorite with Sapporo (one or two shout outs for the city’s Susukino district), a snowy Hakodate, Otaru, road trips, and an escape from Japan’s sweaty summers cited among the reasons.

"I have never seen or experienced sand dunes so surfing on them would be awesome." - Female (20s) on choice of Tottori Prefecture's sand dunes.

(Chart shows destinations by total number of mentions (regardless of individual ranking)

(Chart shows, by percentage, most popular No. 1 choice of Japan travel destination for 2020)

Despite the crowds in recent years Kyoto still has strong appeal as one of the top travel destinations in Japan in 2020, courtesy in particular of the city’s well preserved temples and shrines. Others simply haven’t been to the ancient capital in a while and would like to reacquaint themselves with the city. Further afield, the coastal city of Maizuru suggests the broader Kyoto Prefecture can offer something more off-the-beaten path.

The islands of Okinawa and Fukuoka City on the island of Kyushu were also well represented among your most desired travel destinations in Japan in 2020.

"I've known about this castle for quite some time but never had the chance to visit it. The black castle just seem so cool in photos ... " - Male (20s) on choice of Nagano Prefecture's Matsumoto Castle.

While the questionnaire didn’t offer any predetermined choices in terms of reasons destinations were offered, from respondents’ comments we were able to cobble together the general themes behind those Japan travel destinations that came forth as No. 1 choices based on keywords in those comments. These “reasons” are detailed in the chart below, each section of which represents the percentage of the total number of keywords we identified. 

While nature and beautiful scenery (largely natural) seemed to be the majority factors behind destination choice it proved hard to narrow things down beyond this.

"I really want to go to the beach as well as do a workshop for dying fabrics specific to Okinawa." - Female (30s)

Japan’s urban destinations though, still commanded a relatively strong presence in destination choice. Where specific cities were named it was the following that emerged as the top urban destinations in Japan for the year ahead (detailed by percentage of big city mentions) : 

(Most desired urban destinations in Japan for 2020 according to City-Cost questionnaire)

Over the festive season we held a campaign of sorts inviting bloggers on City-Cost to create posts sharing their tips on what to see and do across Japan in 2020.  Dive in to these posts right here:

Best travel destinations in Japan in 2020: Editor's picks

So these are our destination picks for the year ahead. In the interests of honesty, we’ve been to all of these places in the relatively recent past so this a list based on personal experience rather than the casting of our eyes on travel trends, the turning of our ears toward the opinions of others, and the pouring over of glossy images from the mundanity of an editorial office desk. 

Kochi Prefecture ..., err, all of it!

In terms of the tourist numbers travel destinations in Japan don't get much more off-the-beaten-path than Kochi Prefecture on Japan's smallest main island of Shikoku. The prefecture, which boasts of being one of Japan's most productive breadbaskets, typically ranks among the country's least visited (receiving visits from just 0.2 percent of the foreign travelers in Japan in 2017, according to data published by the Japan National Tourism Organization).

More fool those that don't make the journey then as Kochi Prefecture is a stunner and should make for one of the best travel destinations in Japan in 2020, before the crowds get clued in to what they've been missing out on. Visitors should make a beeline for prefecture's Nyodo River region, around 20km west of city of Kochi. Word actually got out about the river's brilliant blue color courtesy of a 2012 documentary that aired on NHK. Best seen between August and January, the instabae blue of the Nyodo River is located in a section of calm in the otherwise raging river as it pours down the precipitous Yasui Valley. Even out of season the river wows, especially during the rains of June and July when the area's waterfalls are at their fullest.

Tricky access for the independent traveler has perhaps helped to keep numbers down and one can't help but feel that a lumbering tour bus would struggle on the narrow and winding roads that snake their way up to the Yasui Valley. Still, local authorities have been touting Nyodo blue to the Asian market, as well they might. Get there in 2020, before everyone else does, we say.

As a hub for transport in the region the city of Kochi has a faded tropical charm about it and boasts a stunning castle, interesting museums and attractions related to one of Japan's most important historical figures, the reformer Sakamoto Ryoma. Reflect on your Kochi travels over a few beers at the robust but fun Hirome Market. 

Nishiawa region, Tokushima Prefecture

We're not yet sure how we feel about the concept of the 'workation' (work + vacation). We'd like to see the two as being like oil and water, impossible to mix (although ducking out for a vacation when we should be at work does have a guilty appeal). 

Still, sometimes needs must and what better place to combine the two but in a funky, relaxed shared workspace surrounded not by dystopian skyscrapers but by calming nature. 

Welcome then to another of our best travel destinations in Japan in 2020, the Nishiawa region of Tokushima Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku.

Following on from the model set by nearby Kamiyama (also in Tokushima Prefecture) local authorities and businesses based in towns along the banks of the Yoshino River (a top spot in Japan for whitewater rafting) have identified, adapted and reformed a number of beautiful old properties into co-working spaces, some with attached accommodation options, almost all with some sort of funky cafe.  

(Tsurugi Town streets in the Nishiawa region of Tokushima Prefecture)

With the area being a perfect base from which to explore the stunning Iya Valley (Japan's "Shangri-la," according to some) or take to the Yoshino's world-class river rapids, as well as dip into traditional culture and crafts (Awa Odori dance, "Japan blue" indigo dye fabrics, and oil paper wagasa umbrella-making among others) progressive locals are hoping their comfortable work spaces and some of the highest-speed internet in Japan will be a draw for mid to long-term staying / working /vacationing foreigners. 

We recommend being among them in 2020.

Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture

The ever-so-mellow vibes on the streets of Aizuwakamatsu belay the turbulent and tragic history that visited this city in western Fukushima Prefecture during the second half of the 19th century. When the last of Japan's samurai were retreating ever north after having been defeated by Imperial troops during the Meiji Restoration, Aizuwakamatsu's Tsuruga Castle, at the heart of the then Aizu Domain, became one of the samurai's final strongholds. The castle eventually fell after a month-long siege, bringing about the end of samurai rule in Aizuwakamatsu.

But not the samurai spirit, nor their legacy, which remains strong, visible and often beautifully restored in this charming city. From the reconstructed Tsuruga Castle and informative samurai school buildings and former homes / museums, through to traditional crafts of lacquerware and candle painting championed by the samurai as economic regenerators there's much to keep the traveler busy in Aizuwakamatsu, even if the pace of life here would seem to discourage rushing around. 

The city is also home to a number of sake breweries and their award-winning tipples, reflective of Fukushima Prefecture's status in recent years as the nation's top sake producer.

On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and with the Olympic torch relay starting its Japan journey in Fukushima ahead of the Tokyo Games this summer, 2020 should be a great time to visit Aizuwakamatsu and see how a city and its people find beauty and richness in a turbulent past and use this to aid regional recovery and strive towards a positive future.

Boso Peninsula, Chiba Prefecture

Given that Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, is home to Japan's largest international air hub Narita airport, it's likely that the prefecture already ranks pretty high on the 'Japan most visited' list. Just how many of Narita's tourist arrivals see much more of the region beyond the view from the arrivals lobby is another matter.

If many don't, that's a shame as Chiba has much to offer, and arguably it's shiniest gem is the Boso Peninsula. 

Eyes will likely be on the area's surfing beaches this summer when the Olympic circus rolls into town bringing surfing with it for the first time to let us see some of the world's best paddle out at Tsurigasaki Beach in the town of Ichinomiya at the eastern base of the peninsula. 

The venue at Tsurigasaki Beach has an Olympic capacity of 6,000. If that sounds like too many people to you, local trains and beautiful coastal drives can take you further along the peninsula's coast to discover more beaches and sleepy towns.

That said, the waters around Chiba and Tokyo threaten to be saturated with all kinds of surf craft this summer as a nation of first-timers thinks they have a chance of becoming Kelly Slater.

Inland on the Boso then, could be where it's at for one of the best travel destinations in Japan in 2020.

Take the charming Isumi Line train from Ohara on the coast and head inland to the even more charming town of Otaki, lorded over by a 16th-century castle of the same name.  

The quiet streets (at least on a weekday in spring) of Otaki showcase beautifully preserved and restored old residences, warehouses, breweries and other structures some of which are designated Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan. 

(Oyama Rice Terraces on the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture)

If more rural landscapes are your thing, head up to the stunning Oyama Rice Terraces in Kamogawa at the heart of the Boso. The Oyama Rice Terraces spread 600 m across the slopes of the Mineoka Mountains and consist of over 370 paddies. A cafe (irregular hours) at the Tanada Club boasts an enviable view over the terraces and toward the surrounding mountains.

Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture

As urban as our list of best travel destinations in Japan for 2020 gets then. Kofu City and its surroundings pack plenty in. 

The city itself offers castle ruins, castle-town reproduction buildings home to savvy cafes, restaurants and boutiques, and opportunities for sweeping city and surrounding mountain views. South of the station Heiwa Dori and the smaller streets to its east are home to a collection of bars, izakaya and greasy eats.

Northwest of the downtown area is Yumura Onsen, a rumored bathing spot for celebrated feudal lord and local icon Takeda Shingen, and a great place for a soak after hiking in the mountains that surround Kofu. If you’ve the means, splurge on a room at the storied and lux Tokiwa Hotel Yumura.

(Vineyards of Katsunuma, near Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture)

A short hop on the train from buzzing-with-backpacks Kofu Station brings visitors to Japan’s premier wine country, Katsunuma. Here the hills roll, carpeted with vineyard grape vines among which sit charming temples and shrines, and of course, chances to taste a tipple or two. Or more. Katsunuma Budo no Oka offers wine tasting, eateries, and sweeping views. It’s accessible from Katsunumabudokyo Station (on foot if you’ve got your climbing legs on). 

Further afield, Shosenkyo Gorge is spectacular and offers rich exploration and hiking.

The city of Kofu recently celebrated 500 years since its founding. Such milestones tend to bring new energy and new ideas. A destination to keep an eye on in 2020 and beyond, then! 

What’s on your list of best travel destinations in Japan in 2020? Let us know in the comments!