Tottori is one of Japan’s smallest and least populated-prefectures.
It has a desert-like landscape with golden rolling sand dunes where visitors can enjoy activities like camel riding, fat biking, sandboarding, and even paragliding.
The Japan National Tourism Organization says recent figures show the prefecture is among the country’s five least-visited by Kiwi travellers.
Next on the lesser-discovered list for Kiwis is Saga Prefecture, the birthplace of ceramics in Japan.
Drawcards include the Saga International Balloon Festival, Kiyomizu Falls, and Yutoku Inari Shrine.
Also on the Kiwi ‘to be discovered’ list is Yamaguchi, which the JNTO says is home to castle towns, beaches and limestone caves, and is known for its seafood and festivals. These include the Tanabata Lantern Festival and the Gion Festival, which features a dance parade of about 2000 people.
Rurikoji Temple, Yuda Onsen, Akiyoshido cave and the 123 torii gates of Motonosumi Shrine are also highlights of a visit, it adds.
Excellent surfing conditions can be found along the coast of Miyazaki at Okuragahama Beach, while further inland there are crater lakes and hot springs in Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park where visitors can row a boat through a deep and misty volcanic canyon (pictured).
The fifth least-visited destination by New Zealand travellers is Fukui, home to castle ruins and a dinosaur museum that has excavation experiences from spring to autumn. Fukui also offers visitors a selection of immersive cultural experiences and craftware including lacquerware, washi paper, glass making, knife making and pottery craft workshops. See more HERE.
