Fukui, Japan

With a population of just 764,533, Fukui is one of Japan's least populous prefectures - and it shows. The bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the winters can be brutally cold, with heavy snowfall a fact of life. On the plus side, the local cuisine featuring Echizen crabs and genge fish is excellent, and the prefecture is home to impressive cultural sites like Eihei-ji Temple. Overall, Fukui may appeal to those seeking a slower, more traditional pace of life in Japan, but the tradeoffs may be too much for many.