Timing your trip
Best Time to Visit Japan
Sample routes
Japan Itineraries
These are starting points, not fixed schedules. Swap days freely — Japan rewards you for slowing down in a neighbourhood you love.
First-Timer's Classic
Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka
The essential Japan route — covers the major highlights without the pressure of fitting in too much.
Days 1–3
Tokyo
· Senso-ji temple in Asakusa at 7am
· Shibuya crossing and scramble
· Harajuku Takeshita-dori or Omotesando
· teamLab Planets (book weeks ahead)
· Tsukiji outer market breakfast
· Shinjuku — Park Hyatt bar or Kabukicho night walk
Day 4
Nikko or Kamakura day trip (optional)
· Or use Day 4 as a slow Tokyo day
· Kamakura: Great Buddha + coastal temples
· Nikko: Toshogu shrine in mountain forest
Days 5–6
Kyoto
· Fushimi Inari shrine at 6am (before crowds)
· Arashiyama bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji garden
· Nishiki Market food walk
· Gion evening — stone-paved Ishibe-koji lane
· Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) morning
· Day 6: Nara day trip (1 hr by train)
Day 7
Osaka
· Dotonbori street food: takoyaki, okonomiyaki
· Kuromon Ichiba morning market
· Osaka Castle grounds
· Shinsekai kushikatsu district
· Fly home from Kansai International Airport (KIX)
🚅 Transport note: Tokyo → Kyoto: Shinkansen (2 hrs 15 min). Kyoto → Osaka: JR or Hankyu (15–30 min). JR Pass: marginally worth it on this route — calculate before buying.
Japan Essentials
Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto → Osaka + Hiroshima
Adds Hakone and Hiroshima to the classic route. You see Mt. Fuji views, an onsen ryokan, and one of Japan's most powerful sites.
Days 1–3
Tokyo
· Same as 7-day plan, but pace is less rushed
· Add: Tokyo National Museum (Ueno)
· Add: Yanaka old shitamachi neighbourhood
· Add: Day trip to Kamakura
Days 4–5
Hakone
· Romancecar train from Shinjuku (90 min)
· Ropeway over Owakudani volcanic valley
· Lake Ashi cruise with Mt. Fuji views
· Onsen ryokan night (book 6–8 weeks ahead)
· Gora Kadan or Hakone Kowakien Yunessun
Days 6–7
Kyoto
· Fushimi Inari at dawn
· Philosopher's Path in autumn leaves
· Nishiki Market and Gion evening walk
· Nara day trip
· Kiyomizu-dera temple on the hillside
Day 8
Hiroshima + Miyajima
· Peace Memorial Museum (allow 2 hrs)
· Peace Memorial Park cenotaph
· Ferry to Miyajima — floating torii gate
· Itsukushima Shrine on the island
Days 9–10
Osaka
· Dotonbori food tour
· Osaka food: fugu, kappou, takoyaki
· Shinsekai retro neighbourhood
· Day 10: relax or explore Kyoto again
· Fly from KIX
🚅 Transport note: JR Pass (14-day) recommended for this route. Covers Shinkansen to Hiroshima and Hakone Romancecar. Calculate: Tokyo–Hiroshima–Osaka shinkansen alone = ¥36,000+.
Deep Japan
Tokyo → Tohoku or Hakone → Kyoto → Hiroshima → Fukuoka → Nagasaki
Two weeks allows you to go south into Kyushu — Japan's most underrated region — or north into the quieter Tohoku mountains.
Days 1–3
Tokyo
· Relaxed pace — Asakusa, Shibuya, Harajuku
· Day trip to Kamakura or Nikko
· teamLab Planets or Mori Art Museum
Days 4–5
Hakone
· Overnight onsen ryokan
· Mt. Fuji views from Lake Ashi
· Hakone Open Air Museum
Days 6–8
Kyoto
· Three full days to go deeper
· Philosopher's Path, Kurama mountain day trip
· Nara and Uji day trips
· Gion evening, Pontocho dining alley
Day 9
Hiroshima + Miyajima
· Peace Memorial, Miyajima floating torii
· Okonomimura (Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki)
Days 10–11
Fukuoka
· Hakata ramen — multiple tastings
· Yatai evening along the river
· Ohori Park morning
· Dazaifu Tenmangu day trip
· Yanagawa canal boat (day 11)
Days 12–13
Nagasaki
· Atomic Bomb Museum (90 min minimum)
· Dejima Dutch trading post
· Glover Garden hillside views
· Nagasaki champon noodles
Day 14
Fly home
· Fly from Fukuoka (FUK) or return to Tokyo by Shinkansen
🚅 Transport note: JR Pass (14-day, ~¥50,000) covers all Shinkansen on this route including Nagasaki Kamome Shinkansen. This is the route where the Pass clearly pays for itself.
交通
Japan Rail Pass — Is It Worth It?
The JR Pass is the most common question in Japan travel. The honest answer: it depends on your route. Here's how to decide.
Quick decision rule
Add up the cost of your Shinkansen journeys at full price (check at Hyperdia or the JR website). If the sum exceeds the Pass price, buy the Pass. If it's close, the convenience of unlimited travel usually tips it.
What does it cover?
Most JR trains nationwide including Shinkansen (except Nozomi and Mizuho on the Tokaido-Sanyo line), JR local trains, and some JR buses and ferries. Does not cover Tokyo Metro or private railways (Hankyu, Kintetsu, Keio).
Is it worth buying?
Calculate your route first. The break-even point for a 7-day Pass (¥50,000) is roughly Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima–Tokyo (≈¥52,000 in separate tickets). If you're only doing Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka, it probably doesn't pay off.
Which pass to buy?
7-day (¥50,000), 14-day (¥80,000), or 21-day (¥100,000). Regional passes (JR Kyushu, JR Hokkaido) are cheaper for focused trips. Buy before you arrive — it cannot be purchased in Japan.
Where to buy?
Online via JR Pass official website, Japan Rail Café (London/Paris), or authorised travel agencies. You exchange the voucher for the physical pass at any JR ticket office on arrival.
The Nozomi Shinkansen rule
The Pass does not cover the Nozomi (fastest Shinkansen on the main line). Use Hikari or Sakura instead — 20–30 minutes slower but fully covered by the Pass.
IC card tip:Even with a JR Pass, get a Suica or Pasmo IC card. Subways, buses, and convenience stores don't accept the JR Pass — and IC cards load instantly at any JR or Metro station.
費用
Japan Travel Budget Guide
Japan is not the expensive destination its reputation suggests. Mid-range travel is very achievable. Budget travel is excellent. Luxury is world-class.
Budget
¥7,000–¥12,000 / day
Accommodation
Hostel dorm or capsule hotel (¥2,500–¥5,000)
Food
Convenience store + ramen + teishoku lunch sets
Transport
Day passes on subways; avoid Shinkansen
· 7-Eleven and Lawson have excellent ¥500–¥800 meals
· Ramen shops and gyudon chains (Yoshinoya) are ¥500–¥900
· Free: temples with outdoor grounds, parks, Senso-ji forecourt
Mid-range
¥15,000–¥30,000 / day
Accommodation
Business hotel or 3-star hotel (¥8,000–¥15,000)
Food
Mix of sit-down restaurants, izakaya, one nice dinner
Transport
JR Pass + some subways
· Izakaya dinner + drinks: ¥2,500–¥4,000
· Lunch at soba / sushi counter: ¥1,200–¥2,500
· One Michelin Bib Gourmand meal: ¥3,000–¥5,000
Luxury
¥60,000–¥200,000+/ day
Accommodation
Aman Tokyo, Park Hyatt, or onsen ryokan (¥35,000–¥150,000+)
Food
Kaiseki dinner included in ryokan; Michelin-starred restaurants
Transport
JR Pass + taxis
· Ryokan kaiseki dinner + breakfast: usually included in rate
· Taxi in Tokyo: ¥5,000–¥12,000 between central neighbourhoods
· Hatsumode and temple entrance fees: ¥500–¥1,000 each
Currency: Japan is still largely cash-based. ATMs at 7-Eleven, Lawson, and Japan Post accept foreign cards reliably. Withdraw ¥30,000–¥50,000 on arrival and carry cash. Credit cards are accepted at major hotels and department stores, but many restaurants and all shrines are cash-only.
準備
Essential Apps & Prep
Download and configure these before you board.
Google Maps
Offline maps + transit directionsDownload offline maps for Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka before you fly. Works on subway platforms.
Google Translate
Menu and sign translation via cameraPoint your camera at any Japanese text — menus, signs, tickets. Works offline with Japanese pack downloaded.
Hyperdia or Navitime
Train route finderMore accurate than Google Maps for train connections, especially for the Rail Pass (can filter Nozomi Shinkansen out).
IC Card (Suica / Pasmo)
Pay for trains, buses, and konbiniAdd Suica to iPhone Wallet (iOS 16+) or get a physical card at any JR or Metro station. Works everywhere.
LINE
Messaging app used by nearly all Japanese peopleAdd your hotel, ryokan, and any restaurant reservation contacts on LINE — they'll respond faster than email.
tabelog or Google Maps
Restaurant discovery and reservationsTabelog is Japan's most trusted restaurant rating site. Google Maps reviews have improved significantly for Japan restaurants.
The one thing to sort first: your eSIM
All the apps above are useless without internet. Japan airport Wi-Fi is patchy. Get a Japan eSIM before you board — it activates automatically when you land.
Compare Japan eSIM plans — from $12 →Pre-Departure Checklist
3+ months out
Book flights
Book onsen ryokan and popular hotels (especially for cherry blossom or autumn leaf season)
Apply for JR Pass if needed (buy before you arrive)
Check visa requirements for your nationality
6–8 weeks out
Book teamLab Planets or Borderless tickets (sells out weeks ahead)
Book Michelin-starred or popular restaurants
Book Ghibli Museum tickets (lottery opens months ahead)
Book popular experiences (tea ceremony, sumo practice)
1–2 weeks out
Download offline Google Maps for each city
Download Japanese language pack for Google Translate
Set up Suica on your iPhone Wallet (or plan to get a physical card on arrival)
Notify your bank of Japan travel
Before boarding
Purchase Japan eSIM (activates on arrival)
Screenshot hotel address in Japanese (for taxis)
Convert ¥30,000–¥50,000 at your home bank or plan to use 7-Eleven ATM on arrival
Pack: universal adaptor (Japan uses Type A, same as US/Canada)
Continue planning
City Guides
Deep dives into Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nara, Hakone, and Fukuoka — neighbourhoods, food, and the things guidebooks miss.
Read city guides →Hotels & Ryokan
From capsule hotels to imperial villa ryokan — every type of accommodation Japan offers, with honest picks across all budgets.
Browse accommodation →Local Experiences
Tea ceremonies, ramen classes, sumo morning practice, and more — book with guides who live what they teach.
Browse experiences →