Tourists stand in front of the main railway station in Kanazawa, in central Japan. More international tourists are looking to visit smaller cities and towns during their travels in the country. © Kyodo

Thinking small: Japan lures tourists away from big cities

Nation's travel industry welcomes visitors looking to get off the beaten track

AKIRA KITADO, Nikkei staff writer

June 9, 2023 06:00 JST

TOKYO -- On her third trip to Japan, Hannah Cotillon of the U.K. was happy to get away from the country's biggest tourist destinations.

"I liked visiting the provincial cities because it was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto," said Cotillon, who spent more than two weeks traveling with a friend. "We were able to rest and recharge in Onomichi and Kanazawa," she added, referring to cities in the prefectures of Hiroshima and Ishikawa, respectively.