Mount Fuji with cherry blossoms

Japan Trip Catalogue

Discover the most interesting places to visit in Japan using our trip catalogue and example itineraries

Start Your Journey

Which Areas to Visit in Japan (and in What Order)

Design a trip that flows. Start with an arrival hub for easy logistics, move to culture-rich heartlands, then finish amidst nature or along the coast. Use these templates as a catalogue to sketch your own sequence.

If you love

  • Food markets, pop culture, and design → begin in Tokyo (Kantō)
  • Temples, gardens, and craftsmanship → anchor in Kyoto/Osaka (Kansai)
  • Alpine towns and hiking → add the Alps (Nagano/Gifu)
  • Volcanoes, hot springs, and island life → add Kyūshū & Okinawa
  • Snow and wide landscapes → add Hokkaidō & Tōhoku

A sensible country flow

  1. Arrival Hub (Tokyo/Osaka/Fukuoka)
  2. Historic Core (Kyoto/Nara/Kobe)
  3. Nature Segment (Alps or Onsen region)
  4. Extension (Hiroshima/Naoshima or Kyūshū/Hokkaidō)
  5. Depart from a different hub, if possible

Passes & logistics

  • Point-to-point tickets are best for city pairs
  • Regional rail passes shine for clustered travel
  • Pack light: coin lockers and luggage-forwarding smooth transfers

Short Trip (3–5 Days): Tokyo Core with a Classic Day Trip

Urban immersion, one cultural escape, minimal check-outs. Ideal for first-timers or return visitors with limited time.

Suggested Order

  1. Day 1: Arrive Tokyo → neighborhood walk and food market
  2. Day 2: Tokyo traditions + contemporary design
  3. Day 3: Day trip to Kamakura or Nikko
  4. Day 4: Subculture and architecture circuits
  5. Day 5: Flex morning → depart

Daily Outline

DayAreaLearning FocusNotes
1Asakusa → UenoSensō-ji etiquette, street foods, museum hoppingBuy IC card; early night to reset
2Meiji Shrine → Harajuku → OmotesandōShinto basics, youth fashion, flagship architectureBook a tea intro near Aoyama
3Kamakura or NikkoZen temples & coastal trails, or lavish shrines & cedar forestsLeave by 8:00; back by 18:00
4Shibuya → Daikanyama → RoppongiUrban design, book culture, contemporary art museumsEvening observation deck
5Tsukiji/Toyosu → GinzaSeafood literacy, craft knives, department-store basementsAirport by rail in ~45–70 min

Practical Tips

  • Base in one hotel near a major JR/Subway hub
  • Reserve museum time slots where required
  • Kamakura = mellow; Nikko = ornate and hilly

Swap-Ins

  • Hakone for onsen and art park (loop via lake/rail)
  • Kawagoe for Edo-era streets closer to Tokyo
  • TeamLabs or Ghibli sites for pop-culture emphasis

Medium Stay (7–10 Days): Tokyo → Alps → Kyoto/Osaka

Balance city, mountains, and classical capitals. One intercity move at a time keeps the pace humane.

Daily Outline

DayBaseExcursionsLearning Focus
1TokyoAsakusa, SumidaBuddhist/Shinto etiquette, riverfront history
2TokyoHarajuku, ShibuyaSubculture and contemporary design
3TokyoNikko or KawagoeCraft gilding or Edo streetscapes
4Matsumoto/TakayamaCastle or old townFeudal architecture, woodcraft, mountain foods
5Matsumoto/TakayamaShirakawa-go (opt.)Gasshō-zukuri farmhouses & winter living
6KyotoGion, HigashiyamaWalking etiquette, tea, gardens
7KyotoArashiyamaBamboo groves, river boats, Zen villas
8KyotoNara or OsakaTemple art or merchant food culture
9KyotoFushimi Inari AMPilgrimage paths, shrine symbolism

Logistics & Pass Strategy

  • Tokyo → Alps: Limited Express or Shinkansen + bus
  • Alps → Kyoto: Hida or Shirasagi connections
  • Use regional passes (Alps/Kansai) or point-to-point fares
  • Forward luggage Tokyo → Kyoto; carry a 2–3 day bag to the Alps

Variants

  • Beach swap: Kanazawa instead of Takayama, then to Kyoto
  • Hiroshima day from Kyoto/Osaka for peace education

Order & Flow (9 Days)

  1. Days 1–3: Tokyo base
  2. Days 4–5: Matsumoto or Takayama (Alps)
  3. Days 6–9: Kyoto base with Osaka/Nara day trips

Start in Tokyo for arrival ease; end in Kansai for historic depth and good outbound flights.

Month-Long Japan Exploration (~30 Days): North to South Arc

A grand circuit that respects seasons and reduces backtracking. Move roughly every 3–4 days, mixing cities, heritage towns, and nature.

Base Day Trip Travel Day

Days 1–4: Tokyo Base

  • Base
  • Asakusa, Ueno museums, Meiji Shrine
  • Day trip: Kamakura or Nikko
  • Focus: etiquette, food markets, contemporary art

Days 5–7: Tōhoku or Hokkaidō Segment

  • Travel Day
  • Sendai/Aomori or Sapporo/Otaru depending on season
  • Focus: festivals, snow culture, regional cuisines

Days 8–10: Japanese Alps

  • Base
  • Matsumoto/Takayama; optional Shirakawa-go
  • Focus: castle carpentry, mountain foodways

Days 11–16: Kansai Capitals

  • Base
  • Kyoto core districts, Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari
  • Day trips: Nara, Osaka, Himeji
  • Focus: tea, gardens, merchant culture

Days 17–19: Inland Sea Art & History

  • Day Trip
  • Okayama/Kurashiki, Naoshima art islands
  • Focus: garden design, contemporary curation

Days 20–23: Hiroshima & Miyajima

  • Base
  • Peace education, Itsukushima Shrine
  • Optional coastal cycling segment

Days 24–27: Kyūshū Hot Springs & Volcanoes

  • Base
  • Fukuoka street food, Beppu/Yufuin onsen, Mt. Aso
  • Focus: onsen etiquette, caldera geology

Days 28–30: Okinawa Wind-Down

  • Base
  • Naha & island hop (Zamami/Taketomi if time)
  • Focus: Ryukyuan arts, coral-safe practices

Seasonal Adjustments

  • Winter: extend Tōhoku/Hokkaidō; shorten Okinawa
  • Summer: emphasize Alps and Inland Sea; avoid midday heat in cities
  • Spring/Autumn: prioritize Kyoto/Nara and festival towns

Smart Rail Choice

  • Use regional passes per block (Tohoku, Hokuriku, Kansai, Kyūshū)
  • Open-jaw flights: into Tokyo, out of Fukuoka or Naha
  • Luggage-forwarding on every long transfer

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