There’s more than sushi and Mount Fuji in Japan! Travel to the poetically-nicknamed Land of the Rising Sun has never been more popular, but too many visitors never get beyond the country’s big three destinations of Tokyo, Osaka and ancient Kyoto.

Of course you’ll want to savor the skyscrapers, cutting-edge technology, anime, gaming, neon nightlife and street foods of Tokyo and Osaka, Japan’s two biggest cities. Not to mention the ancient temples, tea ceremonies and cultural heart of Japan in Kyoto.

Japan was isolated from the rest of Asia and the world for so long it developed a truly one-of-a-kind culture – one that modernized in the 20th century in an equally unique way. From urban to rural, seaside to mountain top, tropical to almost Nordic, all of the 47 prefectures or states of the nearly 2000-mile long archipelago on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ have breathtaking sights, flavors, products, crafts and authentic traditional and modern lifestyle experiences you’ll never have anywhere else, and you’ll never forget.

The Japan National Tourism Organization, along with Japan’s two major international airlines, want to help visitors immerse yourself more in this fascinating country. Recently, ANA and JAL airlines have been offering special fare programs for international visitors with inbound flights to Japan to book domestic flights inside Japan to explore. Your travel advisor can help you plan your ideal Japanese adventure.

Here’s a list of Japan’s 43 other states: and a sampling of what extraordinary experiences they hold for the traveler willing to get out of the big three destinations:

Hokkaido – Japan’s largest and northern-most prefecture and outdoor playground with legendary powder snow in winter, milky-blue volcanic mineral waters of Shirogane Blue Pond, and famous snow monkeys.
Aomori – Northern apple country with a festival with giant illuminated floats, an Edo-era castle, and artisanal lacquerware.
Iwate – Rugged coastal park, limestone formations, hearty mountain noodles, cast-iron kettles, and thousands of drummers dancing through a summer festival.
Miyagi – A coastal prefecture of scenic pine islets, oysters, a vivid emerald volcanic lake with alpine ridges, and an edamame Zunda shake.
Akita – Forest hot springs with thatched-roof inns, fierce festival carved faces, fine sake, char-grilled rice logs, and faithful Akita dogs.
Yamagata – An ancient hotspring town with gas lamps and riverside inns, cherry orchards, treats and wine, lacquer chopsticks and quiet mountain temples.
Fukushima – Samurai heritage and culture, thatched post towns, ‘five-colored’ volcanic ponds, and resilient rural hospitality.
Ibaraki – Garden vistas, a seaside park and coastal breezes, a bronze Buddha that’s one of the world’s largest statues, fermented soybeans and plum liqueur.
Tochigi – Shrines in ancient cedar forests and cedar crafts, river and canyon-side hotspring resorts, UNESCO shrine, dramatic falls, and gyoza dumplings that draw crowds.
Gunma – Mountain onsen country where steaming streets meet alpine trails with open air baths amid forests and snow, cool-climate sake, miso-glazed buns and wish-granting figurines.
Saitama – Edo-style warehouses, river canyons, a world-class rail museum, bold retro silk textiles, craft brew and char-grilled eel.
Chiba – Temple town heritage, long surfing beaches, peanut snacks, and Narita airport gateway convenience.
Kanagawa – Bayside modernity of port city Yokohama meets temple towns and volcanic hot springs and lakes wth Mount Fuji views and steamed dumplings.
Niigata – Snowy rice heartland with sake breweries and windswept coasts, gold mining heritage, and charcoal-grilled rice crackers in endless flavors.
Toyama – A deep bay for sushi-grade seafood backed by dramatic peaks, open-air trolleys through sheer canyon gorges, sleek glasswar, and firefly squid glowing in the bay.
Ishikawa – Gold-leaf arts and crafts, samurai streets, and gardens in slow-paced Kanazawa, a firm sand beach you can drive on.
Fukui – Sea cliffs, temples, Japan’s beloved dinosaur museum, hand-forged blades from a storied smithing town, and sweet winter crab prized throughout the country.
Yamanashi – Classic views of Mount Fuji, thick noodles in pumpkin-miso broth, Japan’s signature white wine from native grapes, gems and jewelry.
Nagano – Japan’s black alpine moated castle, soba noodle culture, famous lacquerware, snow-monkey steam baths, and royal mountain retreat town.
Gifu – Timber towns, mountain rivers, night cormorant fishing, thatched UNESCO hamlets, washi paper umbrellas, and marbled local wagyu beef grilled or as sushi.
Shizuoka – Green-tea terraces and tastings and sweets, hills rolling toward pine sea views of Fuji’s southern slopes.
Aichi – Industrial innovation meets Nagoya castle and comfort foods like pork cutlet in rich miso sauce, warm local sake in the pub; famous ceramics and quiet beaches.
Mie – Sacred shrines, pearl divers and jewelry, and soulful coastal cuisine like noodles in inky sauce.
Shiga – Lake country where castle towns ring Japan’s largest freshwater mirror, fermented sushi, historic canal rides, Japanese beef jerky.
Hyogo – Port bustle, white-castle pride, carbonated hot-spring legend and world-famous, melt-in-your-mouth Kobe beef.
Nara – Ancient capital with a cherry-blossom covered mountainsides, colossal bronze Buddha, herds of tiny deer, deer sweets and souvenirs, persimmon-leaf-wrapped sushi.
Wakayama – Pilgrim paths and retreats, citrus groves, pickled plums, plum liqueur, and ocean-carved shrines.
Tottori – Wind-shaped dunes on the Sea of Japan, sand sculpture museum, pear sparkling cider, cakes and gummies, forest hiking, superb snow crab.
Shimane – Mythic shrines, silver mines, and quiet castle towns, basalt cliffs and sea pillars, washi paper making, mini sacred ropes.
Okayama – Top-ranked garden with teahouses, unglazed, flame-marked ceramics, Momotaro folklore and sweets, peach liqueur, rural cycling and canal walks.
Hiroshima – Atomic bomb UNESCO peace park, ‘floating’ vermilion island shrines, maple leaf shaped cakes with bean filling, and savory okonomiyaki pancakes.
Yamaguchi – White-walled samurai residences, pottery kilns, pufferfish cuisine, and photogenic, five-arch wooden bridge and Japan’s largest limestone cave.
Tokushima – August dance festival, citrus zest, one of the world’s strongest whirlpools, indigo-blue textiles.
Kagawa – Famous udon noodles you can make yourself, olive groves and products.
Ehime – Hilltop castle with sea-to-mountain views, oranges, fried fish cakes, and Japan’s oldest hot springs.
Kochi – Ocean-going history, yuzu citrus orchards and cuisine, bonito fish tataki, and famously clear river for paddling.
Fukuoka – Lively yatai open air food stalls, sake, sochu and ramen noodles, beaches, hand-painted clay dolls, and a gateway to Korea and China
Saga – Quiet fields hiding historic and world-class porcelain kilns where you can paint your own, ancient moats, buttery wagyu beef and award-winning breweries.
Nagasaki – Cosmopolitan port with historic foreign merchant enclave, island churches, and cuisine with early international influences.
Kumamoto – One of the world’s largest volcanic calderas, stone castle and rustic forest baths, a lovable bear mascot and horse sashim
Oita – Eight hotspring areas with colorful ‘hells,’ sand-bath beach scenes, bath salt souvenirs, tempura chicken with local citrus splash.
Miyazaki – Laid-back surf vibe, mythic gorges, and phoenix-themed myths and souvenirs, sweet potato shochu.
Kagoshima – Volcano views, ancient cedar forests, island hopping adventures, black pork, orange-glowing pottery and carved black ceramics.
Okinawa – Subtropical beaches and coral reefs, a proud indigenous identity, drumming and dances, guardian lion-dogs, stir-fried bitter melon with tofu and pork.