Let's face it: when we travel somewhere for the first time, especially a place that can seem as foreign as Japan, it's easy to fall into the same tourist trail. Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Okinawa, and Hiroshima – these are Japan's hot spots for tourists. Believe us, we love them, too. We can't get enough of the nightlife in Shibuya and still get thrills when we catch a geisha in one of Kyoto's back streets, so we also understand how simple it is for repeat visitors to revisit the places they know and love. But, much like our other favorite countries across the world, the real Japan is full of hidden gems. And some of them are out-of-this-world beautiful – and closer than you think.