In northern Japan, the autumn season brings a series of festivals, known locally as aki matsuri (秋まつり), celebrating the harvest, nature, and local heritage. These festivals remain particularly distinctive, often overlooked by travelers. In this article, I will guide you on how to understand, experience, and enjoy them correctly, so read until the very end!
Three towns. Three stories. One question: What’s next for the Japanese countryside? Around the world, big cities attract younger generations with promises of opportunity, culture, and connection, but facing overcrowding, overtourism, and skyrocketing living costs. Meanwhile, rural towns are shrinking, often overlooked and underimagined. This piece explores how small Japanese towns are rewriting that narrative with creativity, community, and bold ideas.