About Nihon Travel Guide
We are a first-hand travel blog dedicated to finding Japan's hidden gems.
Nihon Travel Guide is an independent travel blog dedicated to the Japan most tourists never see — the quiet towns, forgotten shrines, and local spots that rarely make it onto any list.
Every guide is written from first-hand experience. No stock photos, no recycled guidebook content, no AI-generated fluff. Just honest, practical guides to places worth visiting.
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First-hand experience
Every photo and experience is mine
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Original Photos
No Ai photos
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Tokyo Tower visits
Go where locals go
How it started
Trying to look for a beautiful Japanese village
Back in 2023 I was visiting Nagoya and I came across some beautiful images of an old Japanese village on a poster with the words Gifu at the bottom. It was one of the most surreal places I had seen and I made it a mission to visit this place while I was there.
The problem? I didn't know what the name of this village was. I thought Gifu was the village. Imagine my shock when I arrived at Gifu Station the next day seeing a really big city with tall modern buildings — no old buildings in sight.
"I then climbed to the highest point in Gifu City to search for this village."
This search for the beautiful Japanese village took me on an adventure to Japan's outer cities. It showed me there were a lot more interesting places to see outside the main city.
I then spent the rest of the trip looking for more of such places to visit — and the whole time I wished I could show someone else what I was seeing. That they could experience what I was experiencing.
So I decided to start this travel blog, to help others find and experience what I saw.
The process
3am. Google Maps. No plan.
I don’t really enjoy planning itenaries. I go about my trips by literally looking at google maps and going oooh this town sounds interesting, let’s see what’s there. And oooh this place looks interesting, let’s go there today. This takes me to some of the most interesting places that most tourists won’t visit (or notice).
My attention to detail (and OCD-ness) helps me to document what I experience as much as possible. I do love beautiful scenery and hope to be able to display that in the photos we have taken.
Lastly, I have an inability to follow what others like to do. Or whatever is mainstream. You won’t catch me hanging out at Tokyo Tower often. This disability drives me to visit places where others may not, and talk to people where others won’t.
Why this matters
Japan is more than Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto
Japan's countryside is fascinating with alot of interesting places to visit. I genuinely believe that if more people knew these places existed, they'd visit — and that visit would matter to the people who live there.
01
Show what's really out there
Beyond the famous temples and neon streets, Japan has places nobody visits, towns nobody mentions, and experiences nobody photographs.
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Help local communities grow
Every visitor to a hidden town is a meal at a local restaurant, a ticket sold, a small business kept alive.
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Give you practical guides
Not just inspiration — real info on how to get there, what it costs, and whether it's actually worth your time.
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Keep it honest
Every photo is mine. Every experience is first-hand. If a place wasn't worth it, I'll say so.
Who this is for
You'll love this blog if...
You've been to Japan before but want to find more "hidden gems" to visit.
You're tired of seeing the same 5 places on every Japan travel blog and Instagram feed.
You want practical guides — prices, hours, directions — not just pretty reels.
You believe the best travel experiences aren't always the most instagrammed ones.
Nihon Travel Guide
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Interested in working together?
I'm open to collaborations that are a genuine fit for the blog — brands, tourism boards, and businesses that share a focus on authentic, off-the-beaten-path Japan.
The best way to reach me is by email or through the contact form.
hello@nihontravelguide.com Go to contact formWhat I'm open to:
Sponsored articles & destination features
Tourism board & regional partnerships
Hotel & accommodation reviews
Product & experience features relevant to Japan travel
Please note: All sponsored content is clearly disclosed. I only work with brands that are a genuine fit for this blog and its readers.
Disclaimer
Nihon Travel Guide is an independent travel blog run by Timothy Leong. All opinions, reviews and recommendations expressed on this site are entirely my own based on first-hand experience. I am not paid to give positive reviews.
Some posts may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through one of these links. This helps keep the blog running. I only recommend products and services I genuinely use and trust.
Some content may be sponsored or produced in partnership with tourism boards, hotels or brands. All sponsored content is clearly disclosed within the post. Sponsorship never influences my honest opinion.
While I do my best to keep information accurate and up to date, prices, opening hours and availability can change. We aim to find out as much information as possible but details should always be verified directly with the provider or tourist attraction itself.
For more information please see our Privacy Policy.