Hidden Japan: Sustainable Travel to Japan’s Unexplored Treasures

Discover Japan’s hidden treasures with acclaimed author, environmentalist, and restorationist Alex Kerr. In this talk inspired by Kerr’s book, Hidden Japan—the Japan Society of Boston's 2026 Book of the Year—he will offer a deeper look at some of the remarkable regions featured in his writing and provide practical insights for travelers on how to thoughtfully explore concealed cultural gems in Japan’s less-visited locales.

Born in the U.S. and based near Kyoto since 1977, Kerr has devoted his career to restoring Japanese historic homes and advocating for responsible and sustainable tourism. Drawing from his decades of experience, he will speak about how the preservation of historic and local communities intersects with Japan’s rapidly growing inbound tourism. In conversation with moderator Jenn Haggerty, he will also highlight concealed pockets of traditional arts, cuisine, and architecture across the country, with honest advice for travelers who consider venturing to Japan’s more remote corners.

Whether you have been reading Hidden Japan along with our community this year or are gathering insights for your next trip to Japan, we invite you to bring your curiosity and take advantage of this special opportunity to hear firsthand from Alex Kerr.

All JSB Members receive a copy of Hidden Japan upon sign-up or renewal in 2026. Join JSB today to get yours!

Alex Kerr - Featured Speaker

Alex Kerr is an environmentalist, travel writer and restorer of old Japanese houses. Born in Bethesda, Maryland, he came to Japan with his family as a child and has been based in Kameoka, near Kyoto, since 1977. He studied Japanese at Yale University, Chinese as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, and has also travelled extensively and written about Southeast Asia.

Starting with "Chiiori," a 300-year old thatched roofed house in Iya Valley, Shikoku, which he bought while still in college in 1973, he has gone on to restore over fifty old houses around Japan. He writes and speaks widely in Japanese as well as in English on rural revival and town planning, sustainable tourism, Japanese art and landscape. For his work he has been appointed a "Visit Japan Ambassador" and received the "Agency for Cultural Affairs Commissioner's Commendation."

Kerr's books include Lost Japan (1993), Dogs and Demons (2001), Living in Japan (2006), Theory of Japanese Landscape (2014), Another Kyoto (2016), Finding the Heart Sutra (2020), Japan Pilgrimage (2020), and Another Bangkok (2021). Kerr's passions are also documented in his TED talks, including The Secrets of Things, 2021, Rural Revival Using What's on Hand, 2019, and New Life for Old Towns through Sustainable Tourism, 2013.

Jenn Haggerty - Moderator

Jenn Haggerty is a luxury travel advisor and founder of Jenn Haggerty Travels, an independent affiliate of Cleveland Circle Travel and a Virtuoso-affiliated advisor. She specializes in highly curated travel to Japan, South Korea, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean, with a particular focus on food, culture, thoughtful pacing, and seamless logistics.

Jenn’s work in Japan is rooted in a deep appreciation for the country’s nuance, from regional cuisine, ryokan, artisans, gardens, and design to the quiet details that make each place feel distinct. She helps travelers move beyond the expected, creating personalized itineraries that are polished, meaningful, and deeply connected to place.

Jenn Haggerty Travels is proud to support the Japan Society of Boston and its mission to connect people with Japanese culture, community, and contemporary life.

Hidden Japan by Alex Kerr

Originally published in Japanese as a call to preserve disappearing facets of Japan's rich and ancient culture, Hidden Japan records Kerr's travels to various remote and lesser-known places where pockets of traditional culture can still be found. Some are faraway—like Aogashima Island, 200 miles south of Tokyo—while others are easy to reach, such as Mii-dera temple just east of Kyoto. The ten engaging essays in this book describe surprising remnants of Japan's fragile physical and cultural environment, including:

• Avant-garde Butoh dancing in the remote village of Tashiro in Akita Prefecture

• How shochu liquor is distilled from tropical ferns on the Pacific island of Aogashima

• An austere but delicious kaiseki meal in rural Tottori Prefecture composed of local herbs and meats

• Anecdotes relating to Kerr's childhood growing up in Japan and his passion for restoring old houses

• The damage caused by governmental infrastructure and reforestation policies, as well as by tourism

• Plus many other topics!