Japan
January 10, 2024

5 unique experiences in Japan to embrace sustainable travel trends

Have you ever thought about taking a sustainable trip to Japan?


Sustainable travel is a form of tourism that utilizes local resources such as nature, culture, traditions, and people to develop the economy while aiming to protect the environment and preserve cultural heritage. Experts have predicted that sustainable tourism will be a prominent trend in the future.


Let's explore Japan through these 5 exciting sustainable travel experiences!

1. Stay Experience in the Traditional Village of Miyama, Kyoto's Ancient Capital

Miyama is a small town about two hours away from Kyoto Station by train and bus. This place still preserves the pristine landscape of Japan with ancient thatched-roof houses amid lush nature. 96% of Miyama's area is forest, so you'll breathe in the fresh air filling your lungs when you visit.


 

Staying in a traditional thatched-roof house and enjoying an authentic Japanese meal (Photo: ©︎かやぶきのお宿　またべ). To escape the hustle and bustle of the city and feel the hospitality of Miyama residents, you can choose to stay overnight in the village with various options like thatched-roof houses, homestays, ryokan inns... Only those who have stayed here can gaze at the starry night sky, the beautiful village scenery in the early morning mist, and experience local cultural activities such as harvest parades and rice planting festivals.
Fire hydrant inspection and firefighting training activities for local residents (Photo: ©︎KYOTO MIYAMA TOURISM ASSOCIATION). In 2021, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) selected Miyama village as one of the 44 "Best Tourism Villages" worldwide for its efforts in developing eco-tourism while preserving natural landscapes and traditional culture.

2. Enjoy green tea at Obuchi Sasaba tea farm in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The lush green tea hills at the foot of Mount Fuji. From Tokyo Station, it takes just about an hour by shinkansen to reach Shin-Fuji Station in Shizuoka Prefecture—a region known for its fertile lands and nearly 1,000-year history of tea cultivation. Obuchi Sasaba is a famous tea garden located in the southern foothills of Mount Fuji, in the city of Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture. Surrounded by quiet forests, it's one of the few spots where visitors can enjoy the stunning views of Mount Fuji and the tea fields unobstructed by modern structures or power lines.
Traditional tea-picking attire (Photo: ©一般社団法人　富士山観光交流ビューロー). The Obuchi Sasaba Tea Festival, held annually in May, attracts about 3,500 visitors. Local middle and high school girls transform into traditional tea-pickers to kick off the festival. The tea leaves here are transported to a nearby tea factory to be processed into green and black tea with distinct aromas and flavors. A portion of the revenue from the tea products is used for the conservation of the Obuchi Sasaba landscape.

Experiencing tea brewing and tasting at Obuchi Sasaba

(Photo: ©一般社団法人　富士山観光交流ビューロー)

The tea preservation association also organizes tea leaf-picking experiences for tourists to promote the unique flavor of this famous tea and preserve the natural landscape of Obuchi Sasaba for future generations.

3, Learn about Shinto at the ancient Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine in Kanagawa prefecture.

Shrine of sacred deities 

(Photo: ©The Tsurugaoka Hachimangu)

 Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is a Shinto shrine with over 800 years of history located in Kamakura city, Kanagawa Prefecture. During the Kamakura Shogunate, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu was the starting point for the rich history and culture of Kamakura, serving as the spiritual sanctuary for its people and the homeland of the guardian deity for Kamakura and the samurai. It takes just a 10-minute walk from JR Kamakura Station or Enoden Enoshima Station to reach the shrine. The expansive shrine grounds include various areas such as the main shrine, gardens, museum exhibition areas, and resting spots...


The historic pathway from the early Kamakura period leading towards the shrine (Photo: ©The Tsurugaoka Hachimangu). Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine hosts numerous ceremonies and traditional cultural festivals throughout the year. Visitors from all over come not only to visit this sacred Shinto shrine but also to experience Japanese traditional culture firsthand.

The Yabusame horseback archery competition held in September (Photo: ©鎌倉市観光協会).


 

4,Cycling at the Shimanami Kaido Road in Setouchi

The road on the bridge crossing the strait (Photo: ©一般社団法人 尾道観光協会).

Shimanami Kaido in Setouchi is a famous cycling route that crosses Japan's first strait-spanning bridge, stretching 70km between Onomichi City and Imabari City. Along this sea route, there are 10 bike stations where tourists can rent and return bicycles.



Shimanami Kaido in Setouchi is not just a dedicated cycling route, but also a "cultural path" with many fascinating sites such as Oyamazumi Shrine, the oldest in Ehime with a 2,600-year-old camphor tree, the museum of Murakami, the Sengoku-period pirate, and Imabari Castle—one of Japan's three largest castles with moats.


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