Planning a holiday in Japan? Perhaps a stopover on your way to China, or maybe you’ve always wanted to visit this island nation with so much history, and you’ve finally found the chance.

Whatever your reason for traveling in Japan you’ll definitely want to see the sights, and the list of justifiably famous places and must-do experiences is long, invariably leaving one wondering what to fit in and what to skip. There’s the temples of Kyoto, and food of Osaka, the bustling metropolis of Tokyo, and the rejuvenating hot springs of Hakone situated below the beauty of Mt. Fuji, to name just a few general destinations.

Any travel guide in your bookstore or on the Internet can tell you what you may want to see. I’m not here to discourage you from following the well-tread paths of the foreign (and domestic) tourists. But I would like to suggest that you take some time to venture far enough beyond those paths in order to experience the charm of the communities not catering to the needs and wants of visitors, but rather more concerned with satisfying their own residents.

It’s not because I want you to discover the almost-forgotten looking Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples dotting the countryside, or find unexpected deliciousness in a modest but cozy family restaurant, or even come across a secluded walking path through the woods or an inexpensive yet delightful hot springs bath at the edge of the river.

It’s because there are so many unbelievably nice people in Japan. Sticking to the tourist routes will avail you with more widely spoken English, more people to follow to your destination, and bigger, cooler things to photograph. But few people have the patience or time to show extraordinary kindness to hundreds of tourists asking for help or directions. That’s why it’s so refreshing to spend time in the quieter, or at least less tourist-crowded, towns and cities.

In fact many of the things you may be visiting in the top-destinations of Japan can be found elsewhere as well, they’re just smaller, less historically significant, and may not look as impressive in your photos. But the kind people you may exchange a few words or a smile with may just leave the most lasting impression of all. The guide books and travel shows can lead you to the oldest, largest, most famous and perhaps even the most beautiful. But none of them can lead you to the kindest. Receiving guidance, advice, recommendations, word of the next day’s weather, a hand-drawn map or any kind of help or friendliness at all is an experience that is inherently personal and will never be exactly repeated. So it sticks with you.

Of course as everyone knows it takes a smile to earn a smile, but sometimes you might start out not with a smile but with a blank face. A willingness to step out on a limb and ask (or, maybe, simply look confused) is a great way to find help anywhere, and everyone’s familiar with that tactic. It works in the cities, at the cultural heritage sites, on the train, and probably in every country. But in Japan, I recommend you visit a less-traveled town for a day or even a few hours, and with just a little luck, you’ll be surprised by how much human kindness you will come across. And that just might be the most precious thing you take home with you.