Rakuten Travel taps int'l demand for off-the-beaten-path Japan spots

The governments are seeking to draw more visitors to Japan's rural areas to revitalize local economies and divert inbound travelers from the too heavily trafficked "Golden Route" focused on Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Mount Fuji

Then the paths get beaten down and the whining begins. Guaranteed. They do know what country this is, don't they? They do understand that tourists don't always follow the "rules," don't they?

'"I think people will keep coming back and keep wanting to discover the deeper Japan," Jeremy Bek'

That there is a "deeper" Japan has been held out as enticement forever and foreigners keep looking for it, deceiving themselves. In fact, in Japan, it is closer to what you see is what you get. Just open your eyes to what is really in front of you. And if time is short, watch the local TV; if even shorter, just watch the ads. These will be better guides.

@Moonraker… exactly!