1.
foreign country, foreign land
A country or land that is different from one's own. More literary and evocative than 外国, carrying a sense of exoticism, strangeness, or emotional distance.
Usage
More literary and emotional than 外国. While 外国 is the standard, neutral word for 'foreign country,' 異国 evokes a sense of distance, exoticism, or longing. It often appears in literary prose, travel writing, and historical narratives.
The compound 異国情緒 (exotic atmosphere) is especially common when describing places like 長崎 or 神戸 that have historical foreign influence.