Japan
Japan in September: hidden gems
Step off the beaten track and find the places where Japanese locals love to go: a brewery where they make sake, a waterfall not found in guidebooks, and a residential neighbourhood where everyday life unfolds. These are the discoveries that stay with you.
7 September 2026 · Wayloha editorial · 7 sources
Ishikawa-shuzo Brewery
This is a brewery where you can see how sake is truly made. You can taste legendary junmai alongside fruity varieties. A tour takes some time and money, but you can feel how seriously they take their craft here.
In Japan, you don't eat standing up: you stop, sit down, and enjoy.Japan
Naena waterfall
This is not a tourist attraction. You'll find a real waterfall surrounded by green hills, not far from the big cities, yet feeling like a completely different Japan. Arrive early, because quiet does not mean deserted.
Setagaya
This is a residential neighbourhood where Japanese people live, not tourists. You'll see houses with gardens, small shops, and streets where you can simply wander without a map.
The side streets of Tokyo
Leave the grand boulevards behind. Step into the winding streets where small restaurants, bars, and shops open their doors. No guide will tell you which way to go, and that is exactly the point.
Conveyor belt sushi restaurants
Cheap and pure. You take what you want from the belt and eat right where you sit. Ask for Kaidama: extra noodles in your broth for very little money.
Ramen houses
A bowl of ramen does not cost much and fills you up well. Many Westerners ask for Kaidama: extra noodles for the same price. You don't eat past your stomach; you eat until you are full.
Supermarkets at the end of the day
Around five o'clock, supermarkets offer discounts on fresh food that must be sold that day. Buy your vegetables, fish, or ready-made meals at a discount. Keep them in your fridge for tomorrow.
