From Nikko northwards my route was altogether off the beaten track, and had never been traversed in its entirety by any European. I lived among the Japanese, and saw their mode of living in regions unaffected by European contact.
1970, Bohdan S. Wynar and Anna Grace Patterson, American Reference Books Annual, D. A Rothschild, Libraries Unlimited Inc., p. 235,
It is not the author's purpose to dwell on famous attractions, but rather to go off the beaten track, and frequently the tourist is encouraged to leave the car and explore the surrounding country on foot.
The search for authenticity arguably motivates backpackers to travel off the beaten track in search of areas not yet contaminated by tourists or other backpackers.