Purchasing a Japan Rail Pass is just the beginning of your trip to Japan. To make the most of your visit, and your pass, it is worth deciding on a few places of interest before arriving in Japan. Of course, everyone wants to visit Tokyo and Kyoto, but here we have selected five interesting places that you can go with your JR Pass. All of these places are off the main tourist trail, but will give you a glimpse into the real Japan and the opportunity to experience a greater variety of what Japan has to offer.

5. Shiretoko Peninsula and National Park

Shiretoko Peninsula is located at the very north of Japan, in the north-western area of Hokkaido. As a UNESCO world heritage site, Shiretoko, an old Ainu word which means “end of the earth”, boasts some impressive scenery and wildlife. There are many different types of wildlife to see including many endangered species and Japan’s largest bear population. You can also find plenty of Japanese Onsen hot natural springs that have formed over many thousands of years due to the high volcanic activity, which have made Shiretoko a popular destination for visitors in Japan.

4. Nikko City and National Park

Nikko, also a recognised UNESCO word heritage site is located about 130KM north of Tokyo and is home to the Mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, a National Park and a variety of famous Onsen in the area. Nikko has some truly stunning scenery which includes some of Japan’s most spectacular waterfalls and scenic trails. You can also visit the Futarasan Shrine, which dates to the year 767, as well as experiencing the architectural and decorative masterpieces that are closely associated with the Tokugawa shogun.

3. Tsukiji Fish Market

Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo is the worlds largest wholesale and seafood market and also one of the biggest wholesale food markets of any kind. Tsukiji is a great place to visit and sample some of the best fresh sushi in an area where over 2,888 tons of 450 different types of fish a day are handled, a figure unparalleled in the rest of the world. We recommend visiting between the hours of 5-9AM, when most of the action happens and even the chance to bid on a giant frozen tuna for yourself!

2. Great Seto Bridge

Seto Ohashi is the worlds longest combined road and rail bridge in the world with a total length of 5.8 miles. This huge feat of engineering takes passengers from Okayama on Honshu to the banks of Kagawa prefecture on Shikoku Island. The Bridge is made up of a selection of bridges that hop between the five main islands separating the two cities. Travelling across this bridge in a train is a fabulous way to see some fantastic sites and a great way to make the most of a Japan Rail Pass.

1. Kyushu Island

Hakata in Kyushu is the last stop on on the famous Shinkansen Bullet Train, but there are many interesting things to see and do in Kyushu which makes it a well deserved visit. Nagasaki on the west coast was once the only port to trade outside of Japan which lends it a European feel mixed with Japanese history, where as the hot mud baths and natural springs in Beppu are a fascinating natural wonder. Kyushu is also home to Mt. Aso in Kumamoto, which is the largest volcanic caldera in the world. With a Japan Rail Pass, anywhere in Japan is available for you to experience!

Related Pages:

• Can I look up JR train times online?
• Top 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan
• Narita to Osaka with a JR Pass
• Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama
• Tokyo (Narita) + JR Pass vs. Direct flight

01/11/07 in Hokkaido, Honshu, Internal Travel, Japan, Japan Rail Pass, Kyushu, Nikko, Shikoku, Shiretoko, Tokyo.