Explore Japan with Bean JP
Local food, quiet places, and slow travel stories
Explore Japan with Bean JP — beyond the usual guidebooks. From local restaurants and cozy cafés to quiet corners of rural Japan, this is where I share places I’ve actually visited while living here. Most of it starts from Tajima… and slowly expands beyond.
If you’re planning a trip, start here
These are the routes and guides I’d recommend if you’re visiting this area for the first time.
🗺 Day trips
Short routes you can do in a day — Toyooka, Kinosaki Onsen, Amanohashidate, Ine.
🏨 Overnight trips
Slower itineraries if you have more time — where to stay, eat, and move around.
🚐 Camping & road trips
Simple routes for driving, car camping, and exploring the countryside.
♨️ Onsen towns
Simple routes for driving, car camping, and exploring the countryside.
📍 Tajima & beyond
A mix of places I’ve explored — starting from Tajima and slowly expanding further.
📸 Scenic spots & views
Places I stop for the view — coastlines, quiet roads, and small moments worth capturing along the way.
Where I usually eat & drink
Not tourist spots — just places I’ve actually gone back to. Instead of listing names, I’ve grouped them by what you might be looking for — whether it’s a quick meal, a local specialty, or just a place to sit down with coffee.
- 🍜 Quick & simple meals
Ramen, soba, rice bowls — easy places when you just want something good without overthinking. - 🍣 Local specialties
Tajima beef, seafood, seasonal dishes — the kind of food you come here for. - 🌊 Restaurants with a view
Places near the coast or river where the atmosphere is part of the experience. - 🏡 Small local spots
Family-run restaurants, quiet places you might walk past if you didn’t know. - 🍝 Western & casual dining
Pasta, burgers, and simple meals — good for when you want something different. - ☕ Cafés & coffee spots
Places to slow down — good coffee, quiet corners, and sometimes a nice view.
Start from here, then explore further
Most of what I share starts around Tajima, then expands to nearby regions I’ve explored on day trips and short road trips. You can browse by area depending on where you plan to go.
- 🏡 Tajima (Home base)
Toyooka, Kinosaki Onsen, Takeno, Izushi — where I live and explore the most. - 🌊 Tango Coast / Kyotango
Seaside drives, fishing villages, quiet cafés, and coastal viewpoints. - 🏙 Kansai Cities (Kyoto / Osaka / Kobe / Nara)
Easy day trips for food, culture, and city contrast to rural Japan. - 🏯 Himeji & Surroundings
Castle town atmosphere, short stops on the way between Kansai and Tajima. - 🌾 Tottori & San’in Coast
Sand dunes, coastline views, and quieter destinations outside major tourist routes. - 🏕 Shikoku (Upcoming road trip)
A deeper exploration I’m planning — slow travel, camping, and a full loop around Shikoku. I’ll be sharing more soon.
Places you might miss (but shouldn’t)
Most of what I share starts around Tajima, then expands to nearby regions I’ve explored on day trips and short road trips. You can browse by area depending on where you plan to go.
- 🏘 Ine fishing village — traditional boat houses by the sea
- 🌄 Quiet countryside viewpoints — places to stop and just take it in
- ⛩ Small local shrines — simple, peaceful, and often overlooked
Why I share these places
I live and work in rural Japan, and most of what you see here comes from everyday life — not planned trips or sponsored experiences.
This site is simply where I document the places I’ve actually been to, the food I’ve tried, and the small moments I’ve enjoyed along the way.
If you’re looking to experience Japan a bit more locally — this is a good place to start.
Have questions or planning a trip?
If you’re planning a trip to this area or just need a bit of local advice, feel free to reach out. I may not be able to reply to everything, but I’ll try to help where I can.
You can send me a message here [email protected] — or just leave your email to get updates when I publish new posts.