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Off The Beaten Path

skiers descending powder slopes with mount yotei in the background representing iconic skiing in japan.

Off The Beaten Path

28 October 2025

Skiing in Japan: Powder, Resorts & Practical Tips

Powder, heat, quiet streets after last lift. This guide shows you how to thread them together: where to land, where to sleep, when to move, when to wait....

  • Off The Beaten Path

    TADAIMA Shimoda: Japan’s Month-Long Coliving Programme

    A month of living and working in a small Izu port ...

    A large diverse group of participants and community members gathering in a decorated hall for the TADAIMA 2025 program launch.
    A month of living and working in a small Izu port ...

    Written by: Simon Martin

    2 September 2025
  • Off The Beaten Path

    Bettei-OTOZURE: A Luxury Escape into Japan’s Past

    Eighteen rooms, each with a private hot spring bat...

    A guest room at Bettei-OTOZURE with a lounge chair, tatami and wooden floors, and glass doors opening onto a wooden terrace facing the forest
    Eighteen rooms, each with a private hot spring bat...

    Written by: Giulia Wilzewski

    13 August 2025
  • Off The Beaten Path

    Scenic Rails: Japan’s Most Breathtaking Train Routes

    If you think of train travel as just a way to get ...

    local train crossing bridge over river with mountain village backdrop highlighting quiet rural scenic railway travel in japan.
    If you think of train travel as just a way to get ...

    Written by: Samantha Arnaldo

    11 July 2025

Learn about the side of Japan that most tourists miss! Our off-the-beaten-path guides showcase the hidden treasures of the country, from tranquil villages to secluded mountains. Go beyond the golden route of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and escape the typical haunts to explore the true essence of Japan. Every corner offers a new adventure, steeped in tradition and beauty, waiting for those who venture off the well-trodden path.

  • quiet rural train station platform in japan surrounded by countryside and mountains showing authentic local railway travel experience.

    Discovering Japan’s Rural Train Stations

    The map may show tracks, but the journey isn’t marked. These are the quiet thresholds where stories ...

    By: Paul Converce

    25 June 2025
  • A stunning outdoor private onsen bath at Wanosato ryokan in Takayama surrounded by a lush bamboo forest and illuminated by warm evening lights.

    Top Ryokans in Japan for an Unforgettable Stay

    What if the stillness of snow, the rhythm of cedar forests, and the hush of paper walls could speak?...

    By: Simon Martin

    5 June 2025
My Neighbour Totoro Studio Ghibli’s beloved film, brought to life
on stage by the Royal Shakespeare Company
The family’s move to the countryside,
recreated live on stage
Soot sprites swarming live on stage,
just as you remember them from the film
Joe Hisaishi's iconic score,
performed by a live band and singer
Musicians play from treehouses
above the stage at every performance
Winner of six Olivier Awards
and five WhatsOnStage Awards
The beloved Totoro made real, with puppets
built by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop
Totoro and the Catbus, live Satsuki and Mei, live in London The soot sprites are real Hisaishi's score, live nightly Musicians in the treehouses Award-winning, final months Six Olivier Awards Book your seats From screen to stage Choose your date Book tickets Book tickets Book tickets See Totoro live

More From Our Off The Beaten Path Archive

  • traditional ryugon ryokan building with illuminated exterior reflected in calm water at dusk.

    The Ryokan Collection: Curating Japan’s Finest Inns

    By Simon Martin

    28 April 2025

  • Preserved wooden buildings along a quiet street in Tsumago village reflecting Edo period architecture and showcasing a historic Japanese village travel destination.

    10 Authentic Japanese Villages Worth Visiting

    By Santiago Campodonico

    28 March 2025

  • pilgrim walking up stone steps toward torii gate marking the beginning of kumano kodo pilgrimage in japan.

    Kumano Kodo: Japan’s Ancient Pilgrimage Trail

    By Santiago Campodonico

    14 March 2025

  • A stunning digital painting of the iconic sea railway from the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away showing a yellow and orange train gliding across the ocean surface. This magical scene is famously inspired by real life locations like Shimonada Station in Ehime and the Hanasaki Line in Hokkaido.

    Studio Ghibli Locations in Japan You Can Actually Visit

    By Simon Martin

    13 November 2024

  • hiker walking through traditional torii gates in a forest in japan capturing spiritual hiking experience and off the beaten path trails in japanese nature landscape.

    Top Alternatives to Mount Fuji for Outdoor Exploration

    By Keltie Mechalski

    20 October 2024

  • traditional japanese meal spread with regional dishes and local specialties on a shared dining table representing off the beaten path food in japan.

    Japan Off the Menu: Top 10 Local Eats To Try

    By Simon Martin

    10 October 2024

  • yasaka pagoda in kyoto surrounded by greenery showcasing traditional japanese temple architecture near kiyomizu dera in historic capital city.

    Kyoto Walking Tour: Tea and Shrine Experience

    By Vahan Rickards

    21 August 2023

  • Visitors wearing kimono walking through a historic Kyoto street with traditional wooden houses and pagoda, highlighting Kyoto’s cultural heritage, temples, and preserved traditional lifestyle.

    Hidden Gems of Kyoto: Unveiling Timeless Charms

    By James Taylor

    29 May 2023

Previous

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Next
My Neighbour Totoro Studio Ghibli’s beloved film, brought to life
on stage by the Royal Shakespeare Company
The family’s move to the countryside,
recreated live on stage
Soot sprites swarming live on stage,
just as you remember them from the film
Joe Hisaishi's iconic score,
performed by a live band and singer
Musicians play from treehouses
above the stage at every performance
Winner of six Olivier Awards
and five WhatsOnStage Awards
The beloved Totoro made real, with puppets
built by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop
Totoro and the Catbus, live Satsuki and Mei, live in London The soot sprites are real Hisaishi's score, live nightly Musicians in the treehouses Award-winning, final months Six Olivier Awards Book your seats From screen to stage Choose your date Book tickets Book tickets Book tickets See Totoro live
Rebellious Bodies Butoh Festival 2026
16 Oct to 22 Nov 2026
Three generations of butoh on one UK stage, for the first time
Mitsuyo Uesugi returns to The Place after 46 years
London · Bangor · Newcastle · Norway
See what's on

Trending Articles

  • 1

    Scenic Rails: Japan’s Most Breathtaking Train Routes

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    Studio Ghibli Locations in Japan You Can Actually Visit

  • 3

    Discovering Japan’s Rural Train Stations

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    10 Authentic Japanese Villages Worth Visiting

  • 5

    Kumano Kodo: Japan’s Ancient Pilgrimage Trail

Final show 3 Jan 2027 My Neighbour Totoro Book tickets

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