The first time I visited Japan, I followed the so-called Golden Route and visited three major tourist spots: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
I immediately understood why these three cities were so popular. They all had delicious food, gorgeous temples, and seemingly endless things to see and do.
Since moving here last year, though, I’ve been making a point to venture beyond the usual stops, hoping to see another side of Japan.
There are four day trips — all located within an hour or two of Japan’s biggest cities — that I’d genuinely recommend.
Saitama felt more relaxed than Tokyo, but just as interesting to explore
Saitama made it easy to see a relaxed…
