I spent a year traveling around Japan. Skip the crowded tourist spots and head to these 4 destinations instead.

Hakone and Sapporo are two of my favorite places to visit in Japan.

Sarah O'Keefe

From slurping steamy ramen to strolling through cherry blossoms and searching for vintage Pokémon shirts, Japan has become one of my favorite places to visit.After nearly a year of traveling around the country, I've explored ancient towns, futuristic metropolises, ski slopes, islands, and many quiet cities in between.Even though I know it can be hard for first-time visitors to resist iconic places like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, these cities have become increasingly crowded and usually leave me wanting more.Instead of checking out these tourist hot spots, here are four places in Japan that I always recommend.

Miyajima's architecture and views are worth the trip alone.

I love watching the sunset near the Itsukushima Shinto Shrine in Miyajima.