Satoyama Jujo, a modern ryokan in Niigata, offers an immersive experience of Japan's natural beauty and cultural depth. The author reflects on their evolving perspective of Japan after years in Tokyo, exploring quiet spaces that reveal authentic experiences. Despite the pandemic's disruptions, a new trend in tourism emerged with many visiting rural areas, which have gained popularity for their richness and tranquility compared to bustling capitals. In 2025, Japan's tourism is thriving, attracting millions of international visitors eager to spend time in more genuine settings.
"These days, I've embraced being a tourist in my adopted country; lingering in ceramics villages where the potters eschew electricity, and discovering remote temples carved into mountainside cliffs."
"The capital's labyrinthine sprawl - more a patchwork of village-like neighbourhoods than a monolithic metropolis - remains endlessly fascinating, with izakayas tucked into narrow alleys and century-old shops wedged between gleaming towers."
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