Guides
Japan trip guides
Hand-authored itineraries for first-time and returning visitors — opinionated, dated, and built around real travel times. Every guide links to detailed pages for the cities, attractions, and restaurants we recommend.
- First-timer7 days
First time in Japan: a 7-day itinerary
Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka — the canonical golden route, done right
A no-fluff 7-day plan covering Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka. Real travel times, honest opinions on what to skip, and what to actually pre-book before you fly.
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- First-timer4 days
Tokyo for the first time: 4 days
What to skip and what to actually book
A 4-day Tokyo plan with one day-trip to Kamakura. Honest about which observation decks are worth it, which neighborhoods to skip, and how to avoid the worst tourist traps in Shinjuku and Shibuya.
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- First-timer5 days
Kyoto + Osaka in 5 days: temples, food, and depachika
A measured pace through the Kansai region
Five days through Kansai: two in Osaka, two in Kyoto, one in Nara. Honest takes on whether you need a JR Pass for this region (you don't), how to time Fushimi Inari, and where to actually eat in Dōtonbori.
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- First-timer3 days
Hiroshima & Miyajima: 3 days
Peace, resilience, and a floating torii at high tide
Three days anchored in Hiroshima: the Peace Memorial Museum and A-Bomb Dome on Day 1, Miyajima island with its floating torii and Mt. Misen hike on Day 2, and Hiroshima's best food neighbourhood, Nagarekawa, on Day 3.
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- First-timer3 days
Hakone & Mt. Fuji: 3 days from Tokyo
Ryokan, rope-ways, open-air museums, and Japan's most iconic peak
A 3-day loop from Tokyo: ride the Romancecar limited express to Hakone, sleep in a ryokan with onsen, complete the Hakone loop (open-air museum, ropeway over Owakudani, Lake Ashi cruise), and catch Mt. Fuji views before returning to Tokyo.
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- Repeat visitor7 days
Hokkaido Summer Road Trip: 7 Days
Lavender fields, fresh seafood, and wide-open landscapes across Japan's northern island
A 7-day self-drive loop through Hokkaido's summer highlights: Furano lavender in peak bloom, the patchwork hills of Biei, Sounkyo Gorge, and the wild Shiretoko Peninsula — a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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- First-timer5 days
Okinawa Island: 5 Days
Turquoise beaches, ancient Ryukyu castles, and unique island cuisine in Japan's tropical south
5 days on Okinawa's main island: explore the Ryukyu capital of Naha, snorkel the coral reefs of the Kerama Islands, visit the reconstructed Shuri Castle, and unwind on the white sands of Cape Maeda and Emerald Beach.
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- Themed4 days
Japan Alps & Nagano: 4 Days
Alpine villages, wild monkeys in hot springs, and the dramatic Kamikochi valley
4 days through Japan's mountain heartland: Matsumoto Castle, the pristine Kamikochi valley, snow-monkey onsen at Jigokudani, the preserved post-town of Narai-juku, and Nagano's Zenko-ji temple.
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- First-timer2 days
Nikko Overnight Trip from Tokyo: 2 Days
Lavish Edo-era shrines, mountain waterfalls, and a sacred lake — all within 2 hours of Tokyo
A 2-day escape from Tokyo to Nikko: the ornate Tosho-gu Shrine complex (UNESCO), the sacred Shinkyo Bridge, Lake Chuzenji, and Kegon Falls — one of Japan's three great waterfalls.
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