Oct–NovWhen the famous place is too crowded, the Sea of Japan side usually has a smaller version within a few hours. Each guide says what you gain and what you lose.
Kyoto had 62.8 million visitors in 2025. Kanazawa, Obama and Takaoka are 1h 41m to 3h from Kyoto Station and carry a fraction of the crowds. For Shirakawa-go, Gokayama has the same UNESCO listing and a fraction of the visitors.
| Famous name | Quieter options | Distance | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instead of Kyoto | Kanazawa, Takaoka, Obama, Kumagawa-juku, Eiheiji | 1h 41m–3h from Kyoto | Open guide → |
| Kanazawa or Takayama? | Two bases compared, with the quieter options | 2h 15m apart by bus | Open guide → |
| Instead of Shirakawa-go | Gokayama and light-up fallbacks | 1h 03m from Shin-Takaoka | Open guide → |
| The little Kyotos | Jōhana, Echizen-Ōno, Obama, Iiyama, Takayama | 1h 30m–3h from Kyoto | Open guide → |
| Japan's "three great" sights | Kenrokuen, Takaoka Daibutsu, Kurobe, Tateyama, Kehi Jingū | On one train line | Open guide → |
Kanazawa is the closest match: 1h 41m from Kyoto, with teahouse districts and a great garden. For temples and old streets try Obama and Kumagawa-juku. See the full Kyoto comparison.
Toyama, Takaoka and Gokayama are quieter than either at midday. Kanazawa or Takayama compares the two and points to the quieter options.