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Key points
- The Golden Route, 7 days — 初来日 · 観光 · 7 days
- Eat Your Way West, 7 days — 初来日 · 食 · 7 days
- Onsen & Beach, 8 days — 初来日 · 休暇 · 8 days
- Nikko, Kanazawa, Hida, Matsumoto & Fuji, 9 days — 2度目 · 観光 · 9 days
- Hokuriku, Kyoto & Seto Inland Sea Food Trail, 8 days — 2度目 · 食 · 8 days
- Kyushu Onsen Circuit, 9 days — 2度目 · 休暇 · 9 days
- Hokkaido in Summer, 10 days — 3回目以降 · 観光 · 10 days
- Tohoku Food Journey, 8 days — 3回目以降 · 食 · 8 days
- Koyasan, Kumano & Yakushima: Prayer and Forest, 9 days — 3回目以降 · 休暇 · 9 days
- Japan End to End, 14 days — 長期（2週間〜1か月） · 観光 · 14 days
- Eating Around Japan, 21 days — 長期（2週間〜1か月） · 食 · 21 days
- Long Stay, 30 days (Tokyo base + weekly trips) — 長期（2週間〜1か月） · 休暇 · 30 days
Budgets are per person (lodging, meals, local transport, admissions) plus long-distance travel, excluding international flights, shopping and insurance.
🗓 5 days · 7 days · 10 days · 14 days — Japan itineraries
The Golden Route, 7 days
Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto → Nara → Osaka. The classic first trip that ticks every box.
こんな人に：First-timers on a short holiday who want the famous sights
| Day | Place | What to do | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asakusa & Skytree | Kaminarimon, Nakamise, Senso-ji, Skytree deck at dusk | Tokyo |
| 2 | Meiji Shrine, Shibuya, Shinjuku | Harajuku, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing, Omoide Yokocho at night | Tokyo |
| 3 | Tsukiji, Ginza, Imperial Palace | Breakfast at Tsukiji outer market, Ginza, East Gardens | Tokyo |
| 4 | Hakone | Ropeway to Owakudani, Lake Ashi, Fuji if you're lucky | Hakone onsen ryokan |
| 5 | Kyoto Higashiyama | Kiyomizu-dera, Ninenzaka, Gion at night | Kyoto |
| 6 | Fushimi Inari & Arashiyama | Torii gates at dawn, bamboo grove and Togetsukyo, Kinkaku-ji | Kyoto |
| 7 | Nara → Osaka | Todai-ji and the deer, Dotonbori at night, fly out of KIX | Osaka (or fly home) |
予算の目安（1人・国際線を除く）
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 7 days | 交通などの固定費 | 合計 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 節約 ホステル・カプセル、コンビニと食堂、各駅停車と高速バス | ¥10,000 | ¥70,000 | ¥22,000 | ¥92,000 |
| 標準 ビジネスホテル、居酒屋と名物料理、新幹線の普通車 | ¥25,000 | ¥175,000 | ¥22,000 | ¥197,000 |
| 贅沢 旅館・高級ホテル、懐石とコース料理、グリーン車・貸切・ガイド | ¥60,000 | ¥420,000 | ¥22,000 | ¥442,000 |
固定費の内訳：Trains Tokyo→Hakone→Kyoto→Osaka incl. shinkansen ¥22,000
Tips
- One-way travel, so no need for a Japan Rail Pass — a Suica IC card covers everything
- Kyoto temples are quiet before 9 am; do Fushimi Inari early or at dusk
- Book open-jaw flights (in Tokyo, out Osaka) to save a day
Eat Your Way West, 7 days
Sushi, ramen, takoyaki, okonomiyaki and street stalls — Japan's food, east to west.
こんな人に：People who travel to eat: markets, stalls and izakaya
| Day | Place | What to do | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyosu & Tsukiji | 5:30 tuna auction, seafood bowl and tamagoyaki in the outer market | Tokyo |
| 2 | Shinjuku, depachika, kaiten sushi | Depachika lunch, yakitori at Omoide Yokocho, conveyor sushi | Tokyo |
| 3 | Nagoya → Osaka | Hitsumabushi in Nagoya, then Dotonbori takoyaki and kushikatsu | Osaka |
| 4 | Kuromon Market & Shinsekai | Graze the market, kushikatsu and okonomiyaki at night | Osaka |
| 5 | Kobe → Hiroshima | Kobe beef teppanyaki, then Okonomimura and oysters in Hiroshima | Hiroshima |
| 6 | Fukuoka yatai | Hakata ramen, motsunabe, finish at the Nakasu stalls | Fukuoka |
| 7 | Fukuoka → home | Yanagibashi market, buy mentaiko, fly from FUK | — |
予算の目安（1人・国際線を除く）
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 7 days | 交通などの固定費 | 合計 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 節約 ホステル・カプセル、コンビニと食堂、各駅停車と高速バス | ¥10,000 | ¥70,000 | ¥34,000 | ¥104,000 |
| 標準 ビジネスホテル、居酒屋と名物料理、新幹線の普通車 | ¥25,000 | ¥175,000 | ¥34,000 | ¥209,000 |
| 贅沢 旅館・高級ホテル、懐石とコース料理、グリーン車・貸切・ガイド | ¥60,000 | ¥420,000 | ¥34,000 | ¥454,000 |
固定費の内訳：Shinkansen Tokyo→Nagoya→Osaka→Hiroshima→Fukuoka ¥34,000
Tips
- Hit popular places before 11 or after 2; queues move fast
- Start any izakaya with 'toriaezu nama' (a beer) and 'omakase' (chef's choice)
- Write allergies on paper — fish stock is in almost everything
Onsen & Beach, 8 days
A little city, then a ryokan and Okinawa's sea. The relaxed first trip.
こんな人に：Couples and families who'd rather rest than rush
| Day | Place | What to do | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tokyo (Asakusa, Ginza) | Senso-ji and Nakamise, evening stroll in Ginza | Tokyo |
| 2 | Tokyo (Meiji Shrine, Shibuya) | The forest shrine, Shibuya, long café afternoons | Tokyo |
| 3 | Hakone ryokan | Arrive early afternoon, in-room dinner, onsen, nothing else | Hakone ryokan |
| 4 | Hakone → Tokyo → Naha | Owakudani in the morning, evening flight to Okinawa | Naha |
| 5 | Churaumi & Kouri Island | Whale sharks, Kouri Bridge, beach time | Northern resort |
| 6 | Beach day | Snorkelling, sunset, Okinawa soba | Northern resort |
| 7 | Shuri Castle & Naha | Rebuilt Shuri Castle, Kokusai-dori, Makishi market | Naha |
| 8 | Naha → home | Chinsuko cookies and awamori at the airport | — |
予算の目安（1人・国際線を除く）
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 8 days | 交通などの固定費 | 合計 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 節約 ホステル・カプセル、コンビニと食堂、各駅停車と高速バス | ¥10,000 | ¥80,000 | ¥52,000 | ¥132,000 |
| 標準 ビジネスホテル、居酒屋と名物料理、新幹線の普通車 | ¥25,000 | ¥200,000 | ¥52,000 | ¥252,000 |
| 贅沢 旅館・高級ホテル、懐石とコース料理、グリーン車・貸切・ガイド | ¥60,000 | ¥480,000 | ¥52,000 | ¥532,000 |
固定費の内訳：Trains to Hakone and a one-way flight Haneda→Naha ¥28,000 / Okinawa rental car, 4 days ¥24,000
Tips
- Okinawa needs a car — bring an International Driving Permit
- Book ryokan with dinner (starts 5:30–7 pm) and arrive by 4 pm
- Swim April–October, inside jellyfish nets
Nikko, Kanazawa, Hida, Matsumoto & Fuji, 9 days
Second time: cross central Japan — wooden towns, snow country, the Alps and Mount Fuji.
こんな人に：Done Tokyo and Kyoto; loves old towns and mountains
| Day | Place | What to do | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikko | Toshogu's carvings, Kegon Falls | Nikko |
| 2 | Tokyo → Kanazawa | 2.5 h by Hokuriku shinkansen, Kenroku-en and the castle | Kanazawa |
| 3 | Kanazawa | Seafood bowl at Omicho, Higashi Chaya, 21st Century Museum | Kanazawa |
| 4 | Shirakawa-go | Gassho farmhouses, viewpoint, stay in a farmhouse if you can | Shirakawa-go farmhouse |
| 5 | Takayama | Old town, morning market, hoba miso | Takayama |
| 6 | Matsumoto | Matsumoto Castle, Daio Wasabi Farm | Matsumoto |
| 7 | Lake Kawaguchi & Chureito | Pagoda with Fuji, lakeside onsen | Kawaguchiko |
| 8 | Tokyo | Tokyo Station, Imperial Palace, a single act of kabuki | Tokyo |
| 9 | Tokyo → home | To Narita or Haneda | — |
予算の目安（1人・国際線を除く）
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 9 days | 交通などの固定費 | 合計 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 節約 ホステル・カプセル、コンビニと食堂、各駅停車と高速バス | ¥10,000 | ¥90,000 | ¥58,000 | ¥148,000 |
| 標準 ビジネスホテル、居酒屋と名物料理、新幹線の普通車 | ¥25,000 | ¥225,000 | ¥58,000 | ¥283,000 |
| 贅沢 旅館・高級ホテル、懐石とコース料理、グリーン車・貸切・ガイド | ¥60,000 | ¥540,000 | ¥58,000 | ¥598,000 |
固定費の内訳：Japan Rail Pass 7 days (¥50,000) plus buses to Nikko and Shirakawa-go ¥58,000
Tips
- Lots of back-and-forth, so the Japan Rail Pass pays off here
- Shirakawa-go to Takayama is a 1-hour bus — reserve ahead
- Chureito Pagoda is lit from the front in the morning; cherry blossoms mid-April
Hokuriku, Kyoto & Seto Inland Sea Food Trail, 8 days
Sea of Japan fish, Kyoto kaiseki and matcha, Nada sake, Sanuki udon — regional food for the second visit.
こんな人に：Sushi, kaiseki and sake lovers who want the real sources
| Day | Place | What to do | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kanazawa, Omicho Market | Nodoguro, sweet shrimp, Kanazawa oden | Kanazawa |
| 2 | Toyama | Masu-zushi, white shrimp, firefly squid in spring | Kanazawa |
| 3 | Kyoto, Nishiki Market | Nishiki grazing, kaiseki dinner | Kyoto |
| 4 | Uji | Grind matcha, Byodo-in, matcha parfait | Kyoto |
| 5 | Kobe & Nada | Sake tasting in Nada, Kobe beef dinner | Kobe |
| 6 | Takamatsu, Sanuki udon | Three udon shops, honetsukidori chicken | Takamatsu |
| 7 | Naoshima | Ferry to the art island, Benesse House | Naoshima |
| 8 | Takamatsu → home | Fly from Takamatsu or via Okayama to KIX | — |
予算の目安（1人・国際線を除く）
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 8 days | 交通などの固定費 | 合計 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 節約 ホステル・カプセル、コンビニと食堂、各駅停車と高速バス | ¥10,000 | ¥80,000 | ¥30,000 | ¥110,000 |
| 標準 ビジネスホテル、居酒屋と名物料理、新幹線の普通車 | ¥25,000 | ¥200,000 | ¥30,000 | ¥230,000 |
| 贅沢 旅館・高級ホテル、懐石とコース料理、グリーン車・貸切・ガイド | ¥60,000 | ¥480,000 | ¥30,000 | ¥510,000 |
固定費の内訳：Trains Tokyo→Kanazawa→Kyoto→Kobe→Takamatsu ¥30,000 / One kaiseki dinner (assumed in Standard/Premium) ¥0
Tips
- November–March is snow-crab season: Kanazawa and Toyama shine
- Lunch kaiseki (¥5,000–8,000) is the same kitchen at half the price
- Some Sanuki udon shops open at 6 am; locals do three in a day
Kyushu Onsen Circuit, 9 days
Yufuin, Beppu, Kurokawa, Aso, Ibusuki — drift south through Japan's greatest onsen country.
こんな人に：Onsen and countryside lovers happy to drive
| Day | Place | What to do | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fukuoka → Yufuin | Lake Kinrin mist, Yunotsubo street | Yufuin ryokan |
| 2 | Yufuin | Slow day at the inn, small museums | Yufuin ryokan |
| 3 | Beppu | The Hells, sand bath, toriten | Beppu |
| 4 | Kurokawa Onsen | Three open-air baths with the pass | Kurokawa ryokan |
| 5 | Mount Aso | Nakadake crater, Kusasenri, akaushi beef bowl | Aso |
| 6 | Kumamoto | Kumamoto Castle, basashi, taipien | Kumamoto |
| 7 | Ibusuki | Sand bath, Mount Kaimon | Ibusuki |
| 8 | Kagoshima & Sakurajima | Ferry to Sakurajima, foot bath, kurobuta shabu | Kagoshima |
| 9 | Kagoshima → home | From Kagoshima Airport | — |
予算の目安（1人・国際線を除く）
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 9 days | 交通などの固定費 | 合計 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 節約 ホステル・カプセル、コンビニと食堂、各駅停車と高速バス | ¥10,000 | ¥90,000 | ¥50,000 | ¥140,000 |
| 標準 ビジネスホテル、居酒屋と名物料理、新幹線の普通車 | ¥25,000 | ¥225,000 | ¥50,000 | ¥275,000 |
| 贅沢 旅館・高級ホテル、懐石とコース料理、グリーン車・貸切・ガイド | ¥60,000 | ¥540,000 | ¥50,000 | ¥590,000 |
固定費の内訳：Fly into Fukuoka, out of Kagoshima; 7-day rental car ¥50,000
Tips
- Two or three baths a day is plenty — more and you'll get dizzy
- Buy the Kurokawa bath pass (3 baths) at your inn
- Ibusuki sand bath is 10 minutes; nothing under the yukata
Hokkaido in Summer, 10 days
Third time, go north: lavender, the Blue Pond, Shiretoko's bears and sea, Hakodate at night.
こんな人に：Nature, big skies, cool summers, happy to drive
| Day | Place | What to do | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sapporo | Odori Park, Nijo Market, Ramen Alley at night | Sapporo |
| 2 | Otaru | Canal, sushi street, glassworks | Sapporo |
| 3 | Furano | Farm Tomita lavender, melon | Furano |
| 4 | Biei | Blue Pond, patchwork hills | Biei |
| 5 | Asahikawa → Shiretoko | Long drive, stay in Utoro | Utoro |
| 6 | Shiretoko | Five Lakes, bear-watching cruise | Utoro |
| 7 | Kushiro | Canoe the marsh, robata grill | Kushiro |
| 8 | Obihiro → Sapporo | Butadon, Rokkatei sweets, back to Sapporo | Sapporo |
| 9 | Hakodate | Squid at the morning market, Goryokaku, night view | Hakodate |
| 10 | Hakodate → home | Fly from Hakodate or shinkansen to Tokyo | — |
予算の目安（1人・国際線を除く）
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 10 days | 交通などの固定費 | 合計 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 節約 ホステル・カプセル、コンビニと食堂、各駅停車と高速バス | ¥10,000 | ¥100,000 | ¥65,000 | ¥165,000 |
| 標準 ビジネスホテル、居酒屋と名物料理、新幹線の普通車 | ¥25,000 | ¥250,000 | ¥65,000 | ¥315,000 |
| 贅沢 旅館・高級ホテル、懐石とコース料理、グリーン車・貸切・ガイド | ¥60,000 | ¥600,000 | ¥65,000 | ¥665,000 |
固定費の内訳：Fly into New Chitose, out of Hakodate; 9-day rental car ¥65,000
Tips
- Mid-July is peak lavender; Shiretoko is best June–September
- Distances are huge: Sapporo to Shiretoko is 400 km. Keep drives under 300 km a day
- Bear safety: Shiretoko Five Lakes requires a briefing in some seasons
Tohoku Food Journey, 8 days
Beef tongue, imoni stew, wanko soba, apples, Hakodate squid, Sapporo miso ramen — a food paradise few tourists see.
こんな人に：Third-timers hunting the Japan they haven't tasted yet
| Day | Place | What to do | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sendai | Thick-cut beef tongue, zunda shake | Sendai |
| 2 | Yamagata | Imoni stew, ita-soba, cherries in June | Yamagata |
| 3 | Morioka | The three noodles: wanko soba, reimen, jajamen | Morioka |
| 4 | Aomori | Nokkedon at Furukawa market, apples, Nebuta museum | Aomori |
| 5 | Hakodate | Live squid at the morning market, shio ramen, night view | Hakodate |
| 6 | Sapporo | Miso ramen alley, jingisukan, soup curry | Sapporo |
| 7 | Otaru & Yoichi | Otaru sushi, Yoichi whisky distillery | Sapporo |
| 8 | Sapporo → home | New Chitose Airport (it has a ramen alley too) | — |
予算の目安（1人・国際線を除く）
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 8 days | 交通などの固定費 | 合計 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 節約 ホステル・カプセル、コンビニと食堂、各駅停車と高速バス | ¥10,000 | ¥80,000 | ¥50,000 | ¥130,000 |
| 標準 ビジネスホテル、居酒屋と名物料理、新幹線の普通車 | ¥25,000 | ¥200,000 | ¥50,000 | ¥250,000 |
| 贅沢 旅館・高級ホテル、懐石とコース料理、グリーン車・貸切・ガイド | ¥60,000 | ¥480,000 | ¥50,000 | ¥530,000 |
固定費の内訳：Japan Rail Pass 7 days (Tohoku & Hokkaido shinkansen) ¥50,000
Tips
- Wanko soba in Morioka: 100 bowls earns a certificate — come hungry
- Aomori's Furukawa market 'nokkedon': build your own bowl with tickets from 8 am
- Hakodate to Sapporo is 3.5 h by express; do the morning market first
Koyasan, Kumano & Yakushima: Prayer and Forest, 9 days
Sleep in a temple, walk the pilgrim trail, stand in the rain under ancient cedars. The quiet third trip.
こんな人に：Walkers who want silence and a Japan without crowds
| Day | Place | What to do | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KIX → Koyasan | Cable car up the mountain, night walk in Okunoin | Koyasan temple lodging |
| 2 | Koyasan → Tanabe | Morning prayers, move to Tanabe | Tanabe |
| 3 | Kumano Kodo Nakahechi | Walk from Takijiri-oji to Chikatsuyu | Chikatsuyu minshuku |
| 4 | Hongu → Nachi | Hongu Grand Shrine, Kawayu onsen, Nachi Falls | Nachi-Katsuura |
| 5 | Shirahama | White beach, Sakinoyu seaside bath | Shirahama |
| 6 | Kagoshima → Yakushima | 2-hour jetfoil, stay in Anbo | Yakushima |
| 7 | Shiratani Unsuikyo | Walk the moss forest | Yakushima |
| 8 | Jomon Sugi | 10-hour round trip from dawn (if fit) | Yakushima |
| 9 | Yakushima → Kagoshima → home | 35-minute flight, a last look at Sakurajima | — |
予算の目安（1人・国際線を除く）
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 9 days | 交通などの固定費 | 合計 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 節約 ホステル・カプセル、コンビニと食堂、各駅停車と高速バス | ¥10,000 | ¥90,000 | ¥45,000 | ¥135,000 |
| 標準 ビジネスホテル、居酒屋と名物料理、新幹線の普通車 | ¥25,000 | ¥225,000 | ¥45,000 | ¥270,000 |
| 贅沢 旅館・高級ホテル、懐石とコース料理、グリーン車・貸切・ガイド | ¥60,000 | ¥540,000 | ¥45,000 | ¥585,000 |
固定費の内訳：Fly into KIX, out of Kagoshima; jetfoil to Yakushima; Kumano buses ¥45,000
Tips
- Temple lodgings serve dinner at 5:30 (vegetarian) and hold prayers at 6 am — optional
- Kumano Nakahechi is 15–20 km a day; forward luggage via the tourism bureau
- Yakushima: rain gear is essential. Jomon Sugi is a 10-hour round trip; Shiratani is 3 hours
Japan End to End, 14 days
With two weeks you can cross Japan by shinkansen from Tokyo to Fukuoka — the classics and the countryside.
こんな人に：Anyone with a longer holiday who wants the whole sweep of Japan
| Day | Place | What to do | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tokyo (Asakusa, Skytree) | Senso-ji, Skytree, izakaya night | Tokyo |
| 2 | Tokyo (Shibuya, Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku) | Shibuya, Meiji Shrine, Omoide Yokocho | Tokyo |
| 3 | Nikko | Toshogu and Kegon Falls, day trip | Tokyo |
| 4 | Kanazawa | Kenroku-en, Omicho, Higashi Chaya | Kanazawa |
| 5 | Shirakawa-go → Takayama | Gassho houses, Takayama old town | Takayama |
| 6 | Kyoto Higashiyama | Kiyomizu, Gion, Kamo river | Kyoto |
| 7 | Kyoto Fushimi & Arashiyama | Torii gates, bamboo grove, Kinkaku-ji | Kyoto |
| 8 | Nara | Todai-ji, deer, Naramachi | Kyoto |
| 9 | Osaka | Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, Kuromon | Osaka |
| 10 | Himeji → Hiroshima | Himeji Castle, then the Peace Park | Hiroshima |
| 11 | Miyajima | Itsukushima Shrine, Mt Misen, okonomiyaki | Hiroshima |
| 12 | Fukuoka | Dazaifu shrine, Nakasu stalls | Fukuoka |
| 13 | Beppu or Yufuin day trip | The Hells and a hot spring | Fukuoka |
| 14 | Fukuoka → home | Fukuoka Airport is 5 minutes by subway | — |
予算の目安（1人・国際線を除く）
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 14 days | 交通などの固定費 | 合計 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 節約 ホステル・カプセル、コンビニと食堂、各駅停車と高速バス | ¥10,000 | ¥140,000 | ¥92,000 | ¥232,000 |
| 標準 ビジネスホテル、居酒屋と名物料理、新幹線の普通車 | ¥25,000 | ¥350,000 | ¥92,000 | ¥442,000 |
| 贅沢 旅館・高級ホテル、懐石とコース料理、グリーン車・貸切・ガイド | ¥60,000 | ¥840,000 | ¥92,000 | ¥932,000 |
固定費の内訳：Japan Rail Pass 14 days (¥80,000) plus buses and local lines ¥92,000
Tips
- The 14-day pass pays off easily; reserve seats at any JR ticket office
- Forward luggage to your next hotel with 'takkyubin' (about ¥2,000, next day)
- Kyoto and Osaka hotels spike at weekends — plan them on weekdays
Eating Around Japan, 21 days
From northern seafood to southern kurobuta pork: three weeks eating Japan north to south.
こんな人に：Food first: markets, stalls, breweries and local diners
| Day | Place | What to do | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sapporo | Nijo market seafood, miso ramen alley, jingisukan | Sapporo |
| 2 | Otaru | Sushi street, Yoichi whisky | Sapporo |
| 3 | Hakodate | Morning market squid, shio ramen | Hakodate |
| 4 | Aomori → Sendai | Nokkedon, apples, beef tongue in Sendai | Sendai |
| 5 | Tokyo Toyosu & Tsukiji | Tuna auction, outer market | Tokyo |
| 6 | Tokyo ramen & izakaya | Two ramen, Omoide Yokocho, Golden Gai | Tokyo |
| 7 | Tokyo depachika & Kappabashi | Food halls, knives at Kappabashi | Tokyo |
| 8 | Kanazawa | Omicho, nodoguro, Kanazawa oden | Kanazawa |
| 9 | Kyoto Nishiki | Nishiki, yudofu, kaiseki | Kyoto |
| 10 | Uji & Fushimi | Matcha, Fushimi sake breweries | Kyoto |
| 11 | Osaka | Kuromon, takoyaki, kushikatsu, okonomiyaki | Osaka |
| 12 | Kobe & Nada | Kobe beef, Nada breweries | Kobe |
| 13 | Takamatsu | Three udon shops, honetsukidori | Takamatsu |
| 14 | Kochi | Straw-seared bonito, Hirome market | Kochi |
| 15 | Hiroshima | Okonomimura, oysters, conger eel rice | Hiroshima |
| 16 | Shimonoseki → Fukuoka | Fugu at Karato market, Hakata ramen | Fukuoka |
| 17 | Fukuoka | Motsunabe, mizutaki, Nakasu stalls | Fukuoka |
| 18 | Kumamoto | Basashi, karashi renkon, Kumamoto ramen | Kumamoto |
| 19 | Kagoshima | Kurobuta shabu, satsuma-age, shirokuma shaved ice | Kagoshima |
| 20 | Okinawa (by air) | Okinawa soba, goya champuru, Makishi market | Naha |
| 21 | Naha → home | Chinsuko and awamori to take home | — |
予算の目安（1人・国際線を除く）
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 21 days | 交通などの固定費 | 合計 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 節約 ホステル・カプセル、コンビニと食堂、各駅停車と高速バス | ¥10,000 | ¥210,000 | ¥120,000 | ¥330,000 |
| 標準 ビジネスホテル、居酒屋と名物料理、新幹線の普通車 | ¥25,000 | ¥525,000 | ¥120,000 | ¥645,000 |
| 贅沢 旅館・高級ホテル、懐石とコース料理、グリーン車・貸切・ガイド | ¥60,000 | ¥1,260,000 | ¥120,000 | ¥1,380,000 |
固定費の内訳：Japan Rail Pass 21 days (¥100,000) plus one domestic flight ¥120,000
Tips
- Morning markets run 7–9 am, night stalls from 7 pm; keep lunch light and bet on two big meals
- Most sake breweries need reservations; Nada and Fushimi have walk-in museums
- Stomach remedies (Ohta's Isan, Cabagin) are at any drugstore
Long Stay, 30 days (Tokyo base + weekly trips)
With a month, travel like you live here: base in Tokyo, head out each week to onsen, Kyoto and the islands. Visa-free stays up to 90 days for many nationalities.
こんな人に：Remote workers, sabbaticals, retirees — anyone not in a hurry
| Day | Place | What to do | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Week 1: Living in Tokyo | Shopping streets, sento, markets, parks; see Shibuya and Asakusa on weekday mornings | Tokyo (weekly rental) |
| 7 | Week 2: Hakone & Izu onsen | Two ryokan nights, then slow days in Atami and Shimoda | Hakone, Atami |
| 14 | Week 3: Living in Kyoto | Stay in a machiya, tea ceremony and zazen, morning temples, day trips to Uji and Nara | Kyoto (machiya) |
| 21 | Week 4: Okinawa (winter) or Hokkaido (summer) | Okinawa's sea in winter, Hokkaido's flowers and cool air in summer | Naha / Sapporo |
| 28 | Final days: back to Tokyo | Shopping, sumo or kabuki, izakaya with new friends | Tokyo |
| 30 | Home | From Narita or Haneda | — |
予算の目安（1人・国際線を除く）
| スタイル | 1日あたり | × 30 days | 交通などの固定費 | 合計 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 節約 ホステル・カプセル、コンビニと食堂、各駅停車と高速バス | ¥10,000 | ¥300,000 | ¥90,000 | ¥390,000 |
| 標準 ビジネスホテル、居酒屋と名物料理、新幹線の普通車 | ¥25,000 | ¥750,000 | ¥90,000 | ¥840,000 |
| 贅沢 旅館・高級ホテル、懐石とコース料理、グリーン車・貸切・ガイド | ¥60,000 | ¥1,800,000 | ¥90,000 | ¥1,890,000 |
固定費の内訳：One domestic return flight, two shinkansen returns, weekly hotel rates assumed ¥90,000
Tips
- Weekly and monthly rates are much cheaper (monthly apartments, hostel long-stay deals)
- Manage cash with an IC card and konbini ATMs; buy a 30-day SIM at the airport
- Add 'living' days — sento baths (~¥500) and supermarket deli — to halve your spending
🚄 Shinkansen times and fares
| From | To | Train | Time | Reserved seat (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Shin-Osaka | のぞみ | 2 h 30 min | ¥14,720 |
| Tokyo | Kyoto | のぞみ | 2 h 15 min | ¥14,170 |
| Tokyo | Nagoya | のぞみ | 1 h 40 min | ¥11,300 |
| Tokyo | Hiroshima | のぞみ | 3 h 50 min | ¥19,440 |
| Tokyo | Hakata (Fukuoka) | のぞみ | 4 h 55 min | ¥23,390 |
| Shin-Osaka | Hakata (Fukuoka) | のぞみ | 2 h 25 min | ¥15,600 |
| Tokyo | Sendai | はやぶさ | 1 h 30 min | ¥11,410 |
| Tokyo | Shin-Aomori | はやぶさ | 3 h | ¥17,670 |
| Tokyo | Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto | はやぶさ | 4 h | ¥23,430 |
| Tokyo | Kanazawa | かがやき | 2 h 30 min | ¥14,380 |
| Tokyo | Nagano | かがやき | 1 h 25 min | ¥8,340 |
| Tokyo | Atami | こだま | 0 h 45 min | ¥4,270 |
Approximate times and reserved-seat fares (standard season) from JR timetables. The Japan Rail Pass needs a supplement for Nozomi and Mizuho trains.
🧳 What to pack by season
Spring (Mar–May)
- A light coat and layers: mornings and evenings around 10 °C
- Hay-fever medicine and masks: cedar pollen peaks in March
- A folding umbrella for frequent spring showers
- Comfortable shoes: blossom and temple days easily exceed 10,000 steps
Summer (Jun–Aug)
- Breathable clothes, a hat and sunscreen: humidity over 70% and up to 35 °C
- A folding umbrella: rainy season June–July, typhoons August–September
- Cooling wipes and a hand fan, available at any convenience store
- A light layer for strongly air-conditioned trains and shops
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
- Layers: September is still summer, November is almost winter
- Check typhoon forecasts in September
- Autumn leaves peak mid to late November: book lodging early
- Comfortable walking shoes
Winter (Dec–Feb)
- A coat is enough in Tokyo and Osaka; Hokkaido needs a down jacket and non-slip shoes
- Lip balm and moisturiser for the dry air, plus disposable heat packs
- Ryokan provide towels; bring or buy one for day-trip hot springs
- Many places close from 29 Dec to 3 Jan and transport is crowded
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for a first trip to Japan?
Seven days is enough for the 'Golden Route' of Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka at a comfortable pace. Tokyo alone takes 3–4 days and Kyoto 2. With 10 days or more you can add Hiroshima or Hokkaido.
Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?
It costs ¥50,000 for 7 days. A Tokyo–Kyoto return (about ¥28,000) alone does not pay it off; it pays when you cover three or more cities by shinkansen, such as Tokyo → Kyoto → Hiroshima → Tokyo. For one-way trips an IC card such as Suica is enough.
Do I need cash in Japan, or can I pay by card?
In cities, credit cards and IC cards (Suica, PASMO) work almost everywhere. Small shops in the countryside, temple admissions and festival stalls are often cash-only, so carry ¥10,000–20,000. Convenience-store ATMs accept foreign cards.
When is the best time to visit Japan?
Cherry blossoms peak in late March to early April (Tokyo, Kyoto) and autumn leaves in mid to late November. Summer (July–August) is hot and humid, and typhoons are most common in August and September. Winter brings snow and hot springs in Hokkaido, while Okinawa stays around 15 °C even in January.
