The Hidden Japan

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The Hidden Japan Boutique tour agency focusing on deep Japan experiences in the Tohoku Region. Discover the Hidden Japan, discover the hidden you. So what are you waiting for?

The aim of The Hidden Japan is simple: to get you to come here. We cannot believe why a place with as rich a culture, as deep a history, as wonderful a people, isn’t on the itinerary of the many travellers to this beautiful country. Japan truly is a place of endless discovery. We find that even after years of living here, even after years of learning about the history and experiencing the culture,

even after years of eating the best food, and even after years of meeting the most amazing, and sometimes profound people, that we are only just brushing the surface. The Hidden Japan is your chance to experience first-hand a side of Japan like no other. We will share hidden gems that we have found, in the hope that you come and check them out, and in the hope that you are as entranced by them as we have been, and will be. Come discover the Hidden Japan, come discover the hidden you!

Experience the Bounty of Snow Country with All Your Senses: Hot Springs and CuisineNestled at the foot of the sacred Mt....
26/12/2024

Experience the Bounty of Snow Country with All Your Senses: Hot Springs and Cuisine

Nestled at the foot of the sacred Mt. Gassan, Nishikawa Town in Yamagata Prefecture is one of Japan’s most extraordinary areas for snowfall. Feel the bounty of the land that takes root in this area with all of your senses!

After enjoying activities in the snow (as described in our last post!), warm up your chilled body by relaxing in a large hot spring bath and sauna at a stylish ryokan inn. For guests who enjoy more privacy while bathing, no worries! Your room comes complete with a covered open-air bath to enjoy at your leisure.

Nishikawa also boasts incredible cuisine. Warm yourself to the core with a meal at the ryokan, carefully crafted from a wealth of local ingredients. And at Dewaya, a local establishment famous for its wild vegetable cuisine, enjoy a luxurious and personalized meal as the chef prepares and serves the dishes before your eyes.

We look forward to seeing you on a tour this winter!

https://thehiddenjapan.com/snow-adventures-and-hot-springs-a-winter-journey-in-nishikawa/

https://www.kkday.com/ja/product/185511

https://www.klook.com/en-US/activity/126199-nishikawa-snow-castle-private-2-days-tour/

#自然と山岳信仰が融合する生まれ変わりの“冬旅”

This winter, discover a wonderland of snow!Nestled at the foot of the sacred Mt. Gassan, Nishikawa Town in Yamagata Pref...
12/12/2024

This winter, discover a wonderland of snow!

Nestled at the foot of the sacred Mt. Gassan, Nishikawa Town in Yamagata Prefecture is one of Japan’s most extraordinary areas for snowfall. This winter, why not come to Nishikawa to experience special snow activities in this enchanting area?

Construct a “snow castle” by digging and carving into a mountain of snow to create a special space where you can spend time in a magical atmosphere, which can only be experienced in Nishikawa!

Enjoy the great outdoors with a variety of other snow activities, such as snowshoe trekking and riding a banana boat through the snow at Mt. Gassan Snowland!

We look forward to seeing you on a tour this winter!

https://thehiddenjapan.com/snow-adventures-and-hot-springs-a-winter-journey-in-nishikawa/

https://www.kkday.com/ja/product/185511

https://www.klook.com/en-US/activity/126199-nishikawa-snow-castle-private-2-days-tour/

#自然と山岳信仰が融合する生まれ変わりの冬旅

Looking for a dazzling culinary journey? The chefs table dinner of Dewaya in Nishikawa Town is a world famous restaurant...
20/11/2024

Looking for a dazzling culinary journey?
The chefs table dinner of Dewaya in Nishikawa Town is a world famous restaurant located in the mountains of Yamagata.

Experience the mountain cuisine at its very finest in this spectacular dining experience.

Farm to table dinner with Chef Murayama who owns Pas Mal, a famous restaurant in Yamagata City recognized as one of the...
10/11/2024

Farm to table dinner with Chef Murayama who owns Pas Mal, a famous restaurant in Yamagata City recognized as one of the Japan Time’s exclusive Destination Restaurants last year.

Last week one of the worlds top YouTubers visited Yamagata and took part in our pufferfish and sushi workshop with Chef...
29/10/2024

Last week one of the worlds top YouTubers visited Yamagata and took part in our pufferfish and sushi workshop with Chef Suda. He was a great guest and we are looking forward to his video on this region!

Today we welcomed our largest group ever of 130 to the Port of Sakata. A special thanks to the for their wonderful per...
05/10/2024

Today we welcomed our largest group ever of 130 to the Port of Sakata. A special thanks to the for their wonderful performance!

#酒田 #酒田市 #山形

Last month our team was in Alaska for a project for the American government to work with Magister Squid and develop new ...
16/09/2024

Last month our team was in Alaska for a project for the American government to work with Magister Squid and develop new cooking techniques.

Chef Takeshi Suda and Toshiyuki Inoue caught these squid and worked with them in Alaska to make delicious sashimi and cooked dishes.

This squid is much larger than Japanese variants and has a sweeter and tender meat that makes it excellent for many applications.

Learn more about Magister Squid

A trip to Rebun Island off the Northern Coast of Hokkaido. This small island serviced by a ferry is an option for those ...
14/09/2024

A trip to Rebun Island off the Northern Coast of Hokkaido.

This small island serviced by a ferry is an option for those looking to truly go remote and spend time in a local community with few if any other foreign tourists.

Star photos on Rebun Island off the coast of Hokkaido.
04/09/2024

Star photos on Rebun Island off the coast of Hokkaido.

This weekend we went to the Mogami River Fireworks Festival in Nagai. This festival in Yamagata Prefecture allows you to...
05/08/2024

This weekend we went to the Mogami River Fireworks Festival in Nagai. This festival in Yamagata Prefecture allows you to experience the joys of a grand summer festival while still feeling the charms of the local community.

As the sun set, we enjoyed eating local favorites at the food stalls, as well as playing some fun games for prizes. By evening they lit up the night sky with hundreds of fireworks over the river.

Thank you Cherise Masukawa for capturing these beautiful moments.

One of our top recommendations for those visiting Northern Japan is a traditional Japanese dinner course at a ryotei wit...
22/07/2024

One of our top recommendations for those visiting Northern Japan is a traditional Japanese dinner course at a ryotei with a private Maiko performance in Yamagata City. This is one of the top ways to experience both traditional culinary arts of Japan alongside a once in a lifetime chance to interact with its famous geisha culture so up close!

#山形市

Last week we promoted our home of Yamagata City at Anime Expo 2024 and had incredible feedback for those looking to get ...
16/07/2024

Last week we promoted our home of Yamagata City at Anime Expo 2024 and had incredible feedback for those looking to get away from the crowds and see the more authentic side of Japan. We already have customers who signed up from tours and even a group coming this month after making sudden changes to their itinerary to come here!

https://thehiddenjapan.com/yamagata-city-tour-anime/

Photos from the opening ceremony of Anime Expo 2024 where we brought out a maiko group from Yamagata to perform in front...
09/07/2024

Photos from the opening ceremony of Anime Expo 2024 where we brought out a maiko group from Yamagata to perform in front of thousands of people and countless more on live TV broadcast around the world.

The Hidden Japan is currently at Anime Expo 2024 in Los Angeles! We are running a Tohoku Region promotional booth in the...
07/07/2024

The Hidden Japan is currently at Anime Expo 2024 in Los Angeles!

We are running a Tohoku Region promotional booth in the Entertainment Hall.

Come by to learn about Yamagata city, Sendai City, Yonezawa City, and Yamagata Prefecture. You can also meet a geisha group from this region who is performing throughout the expo.

This week we will be at Anime Expo in Los Angeles with Maiko from Yamagata Prefecture! We will also be running a Tohoku...
03/07/2024

This week we will be at Anime Expo in Los Angeles with Maiko from Yamagata Prefecture! We will also be running a Tohoku Region tourism booth in the entertainment hall. Please come by and say hello.

Photos from a sea to table adventure last weekend off the coast of Yamagata. We took our catch to a local sushi restaur...
17/06/2024

Photos from a sea to table adventure last weekend off the coast of Yamagata. We took our catch to a local sushi restaurant to prepare our fish into sashimi and enjoyed dinner together after a day out on the ocean.

#庄内釣り #庄内 #山形観光

The Sankyo Soko Warehouses of the port city of Sakata. These historic warehouses stored rice grown in Yamagata before i...
04/06/2024

The Sankyo Soko Warehouses of the port city of Sakata.

These historic warehouses stored rice grown in Yamagata before it was shipped out across Japan via sea and played a key role in establishing Yamagata as one of the key rice producers of this country.

To this day, Yamagata's Tsuyahime and Yukiwakamaru rice is regarded as the best rice in Japan for its rich flavor, aroma and texture.

A special shamisen performance arranged for our guests who chose to get engaged here in Yamagata! Special thanks to fo...
01/06/2024

A special shamisen performance arranged for our guests who chose to get engaged here in Yamagata! Special thanks to for arranging this last minute!

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As the winter finally releases its snowy hold over Northern Japan, the most beautiful time of the year here is about to begin! From seeing sakura with snowy mountains in the background to mountain harvesting for wild spring vegetables experiences, Spring offers many of our favorite experiences here in Japan. One of our highest recommendations is a kayaking experience through a submerged forest with fresh green leaves on the lake of Shirakawa in the Okitama Region. See more about some of our Spring experiences below. https://thehiddenjapan.com/sunrise-kayak/

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The Hidden Japan

Travellers to the Tohoku Region are of a special breed. They understand that there is more to Japan than the big three (Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka), and are able to take the leap into the unknown, completely unaware of what they might discover. The trouble is though, without a little knowledge of a place you don’t know what you’re missing out on. We at The Hidden Japan have lived in the Tohoku region, not merely visited, and we have a deep understanding of what’s going on, and what is of interest to overseas travellers.

We understand that this place is magical, and is not getting the recognition it deserves, and you know what? We’re ok with that! We understand first-hand the problems associated with tourism. Overcrowded shrines, people who just take a snapshot of a location without truly understanding the culture. That’s not who we are.

It’s simple: we are about giving the most immersive experience imaginable. We believe that you haven’t really been to a place if you haven’t gotten into the shoes of the people who live there, haven’t seen what they’ve seen.

If you want to see a side of Japan like no other, if you want to be alone in an ancient shrine, a modern museum, or if you want to try food that is only available up here, come visit The Hidden Japan.