Many folks are seeking "hidden gems" for a trip to Japan. But what does “hidden” actually mean?

In this episode, we look at why travelers ask for hidden gems, why those places often stop being hidden once they appear in the public domain, and why popular places can still be well worth visiting.

We talk about Uji, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa, Naoshima, Koyasan, Ginzan Onsen, the Nakasendo, Kyoto, Miyajima and Himeji. Some are crowded. Some require extra time and effort. None of that necessarily makes them less special.

Highlights:
• What travelers are really looking for when they use that phrase
• Why travel information has a short shelf life
• Why famous and special are not opposites
• How to define your own version of a hidden gem
• The tradeoffs involved in getting away from the usual tourist route
• How to find places that fit your trip instead of following somebody else’s list

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Get started at ⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠⁠

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Episode Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:52) Apology & Confession

(02:30) What's the Real Question?

(05:57) What Do Travelers Seek in Japan?

(08:02) No-Longer-Hidden Gem List

(15:37) Special, Memorable & Different

(20:22) Finding Your Gems in Japan

(24:01) Closing Remarks with Ari

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Theme Music:

"Tokyo Nights" by Snoozy Beats

licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License (free download available from the Snoozy Beats page on Free Music Archive)

-----More Music:

"旅ゆけば" by Tinymemory (Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp)

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Read about this episode on the Japan Travel Pros website:

https://www.japantravelpros.com/podcast/season-1-episode-so-called-hidden-gems-in-japan