All in Towns & Villages

Ozu Castle Town

Once a key military outpost and bustling river town nestled in the mountains of western Shikoku Island, Ozu has reemerged as the vibrant cultural center of the region, owing to its acclaimed approach to sustainable tourism. Discover more about Ozu's captivating transformation in my feature for BBC Travel—a testament to its charm as one of Japan's most delightful destinations.

The Fishermen of Ine

As part of a community-led program of marine ecotourism that is successfully bringing new life to the fishing village of Ine while preserving the integrity of its traditions, the fishermen of Ine have opened their unique funaya boathouse-residences to guests so that they can experience the camaraderie, delicious seafood, and beautiful marine world that the fishermen have enjoyed for centuries.

Takehara 竹原

For centuries, the enterprising merchants of Takehara have combined their commercial instincts and ambitions with a love of food and good eating to put their country town at the forefront of developments in Japan's food history.