東京 TOKYO
Tokyo
Shibuya · Asakusa · Shinjuku · Harajuku · Ginza · Ueno · Odaiba
日本旅 · THE JAPAN JOURNEY
日本を旅する
Japan
Unfolded.
From neon nights in Tokyo to silent temple mornings in Kyoto, from snow-covered Hokkaido to the tropical islands of Okinawa. Discover Japan through places, people, food, seasons and stories.
東京 TOKYO✦京都 KYOTO✦大阪 OSAKA✦
富士山 FUJI✦奈良 NARA✦北海道 HOKKAIDO✦
沖縄 OKINAWA✦東京 TOKYO✦京都 KYOTO✦
大阪 OSAKA✦富士山 FUJI✦奈良 NARA✦
日本 · JAPAN · 47 PREFECTURES · 1 JOURNEY
The idea
A country of contrasts.
Japan is not one destination. It is a collection of completely different worlds connected by fast trains, quiet roads, mountain paths and coastal towns. Tokyo can feel futuristic and overwhelming, while a small temple garden may make the same day feel almost silent.
This guide is designed for travelers who want more than a checklist: iconic cities, ancient temples, volcanic landscapes, regional food, onsen, Japanese craftsmanship, nightlife and the small details that make a journey memorable.
47Prefectures
4Distinct seasons
∞Ways to explore
01 · Places to begin
Five faces
of Japan.
Start with the places that define the classic journey - then use them as gateways to discover quieter regions beyond the main route.
01 · KANTO
Tokyo
Skyscrapers, tiny izakaya, Shibuya crossings, old neighborhoods, museums and a city that never seems to stop.
02 · KANSAI
Kyoto
Temples, gardens, tea houses, bamboo forests and historic streets.
03 · KANSAI
Osaka
Street food, neon nights, castles, markets and an energetic local culture.
04 · CHUBU
Mount Fuji
Japan's iconic mountain surrounded by lakes, forests, hot springs and viewpoints.
47 prefectures
From Hokkaido to Okinawa
From Hokkaido to Okinawa
02 · The country
One archipelago.
Many Japans.
The main tourist route is only the beginning. Japan stretches from the snowy north of Hokkaido to subtropical Okinawa, with mountains, forests, coastlines and cities in between.
01
Hokkaido
Snow, national parks, seafood, ski resorts and wide open landscapes.
02
Kanto
Tokyo, Yokohama, Nikko and the modern heart of Japan.
03
Chubu
Mount Fuji, the Japanese Alps, Takayama, Kanazawa and mountain villages.
04
Kansai
Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and one of Japan's richest concentrations of history and food.
05
Kyushu & Okinawa
Volcanoes, hot springs, tropical islands, beaches and distinctive regional cuisine.
03 · Cities
Where should
you go?
For a first trip, Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka form the classic backbone. Add Nara, Hiroshima, Fuji, Kanazawa or Hokkaido depending on your time.
京都 KYOTO
Kyoto
Gion · Higashiyama · Fushimi Inari · Arashiyama · Kiyomizu-dera
大阪 OSAKA
Osaka
Dotonbori · Osaka Castle · Umeda · Shinsekai · Kuromon Market
奈良 NARA
Nara
Deer Park · Todai-ji · Kasuga Taisha · ancient capital atmosphere
広島 HIROSHIMA
Hiroshima
Peace Memorial Park · Miyajima · Itsukushima Shrine · local cuisine
金沢 KANAZAWA
Kanazawa
Kenroku-en · samurai districts · tea culture · traditional crafts
04 · History
Centuries in
one journey.
Japan's modern cities sit alongside layers of history - ancient capitals, samurai government, castle towns, Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and centuries-old craft traditions.
8th century
Nara
Japan's early imperial capital period leaves an enduring legacy of temples, sculpture and Buddhist culture.
794 → 1868
Kyoto
For more than a millennium, Kyoto remained at the center of court culture, religion, art and craftsmanship.
1603 → 1868
Edo & the Samurai
The Edo period shaped castle towns, merchant culture, urban life, arts and many traditions travelers still encounter today.
1868 →
Modern Japan
Industrialization transformed the country, while Tokyo became the political and economic center of a rapidly modernizing Japan.
Today
Tradition × Future
Bullet trains, robotics, anime, contemporary architecture and digital culture exist alongside shrines, tea ceremony, gardens and crafts.
05 · When to go
Four seasons.
Four different trips.
Japan changes dramatically throughout the year. Spring and autumn are especially popular, while summer and winter offer their own experiences.
01
Spring
March — May
Cherry blossoms, fresh greenery, comfortable city walks and gardens.
- Sakura viewing
- Kyoto gardens
- Tokyo parks
- Fuji viewpoints
02
Summer
June — August
Hot and humid in many areas, but packed with festivals, fireworks and mountain escapes.
- Summer festivals
- Fireworks
- Hokkaido
- Mountain hikes
03
Autumn
September — November
Cooler weather, vivid foliage and some of Japan's most atmospheric landscapes.
- Red maple leaves
- Kyoto temples
- Nikko
- Mountain villages
04
Winter
December — February
Snowy mountains, ski resorts, illuminations and steaming onsen.
- Hokkaido powder snow
- Onsen
- Snow festivals
- Winter cuisine
06 · Experiences
Don't just see Japan.
Feel it.
Some of the best memories come from ordinary moments: sitting at a counter, soaking in an onsen, walking through an old neighborhood or watching the city disappear behind a train window.
Temple Morning
Start early, before the busiest hours. Walk through temple grounds, gardens and historic streets.
Culture · Slow travel
Sushi Counter
Try regional seafood, sushi, ramen, udon, soba and small neighborhood restaurants.
Food · Local life
Onsen
Slow down in a traditional hot spring town and experience one of Japan's most relaxing rituals.
Wellness · Nature
Night Tokyo
Neon streets, izakaya, late-night ramen, tiny bars and neighborhoods that transform after dark.
City · Nightlife
07 · Food
The taste
of Japan.
Japanese cuisine is deeply regional. What you eat can change completely from Tokyo to Hokkaido, Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyushu or Okinawa.
Essential
Sushi & Sashimi
Comfort
Ramen
Osaka
Street Food
Tradition
Kaiseki
08 · Itineraries
Choose your
journey length.
These are flexible examples. Japan's railway network makes it possible to combine major cities with regional day trips and longer adventures.
Classic first visit
Tokyo → Kyoto
03 DAYS
09 · Getting around
Move like
the locals.
Trains are one of the easiest ways to travel between Japanese cities. Major urban areas also have extensive subway and bus systems. [oai_citation:1‡Viaje a Japón](https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/how-to-travel-by-train-and-bus-in-japan/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Shinkansen
Japan's famous high-speed railway. The Tokaido route connects Tokyo with Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka.
Best for · City-to-city travel
Local Trains
Perfect for neighborhoods, day trips and regional exploration. In major cities trains can run every few minutes.
Best for · Everyday travel
IC Cards
Useful for many trains, subways and buses. Always check whether a particular rural bus or route accepts IC payment.
Best for · City transport
10 · Before you go
Japan, made
simple.
Small practical details can make the journey much smoother.
💴 Money
Currency: Japanese yen (JPY). Carry some cash for smaller restaurants, rural areas and traditional shops, even though card and digital payments are increasingly common.
📱 Connectivity
Internet: eSIM, SIM and pocket Wi-Fi are common choices. Download offline maps before leaving major cities.
👟 Shoes
Etiquette: be prepared to remove shoes at many homes, traditional restaurants, temples and other places. Follow posted signs.
🚆 Trains
Manners: keep your voice low, avoid phone calls on trains and allow passengers to leave before boarding. [oai_citation:2‡Viaje a Japón](https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/japanese-manners-dos-and-donts/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
♨️ Onsen
Bathing: rules vary, but traditional baths normally require washing before entering the communal bath and following the facility's instructions.
🗑️ Litter
Tip: public bins can be less common than visitors expect. Carry a small bag for your rubbish until you find an appropriate disposal point.
11 · Experiences
Private tours.
Local stories.
Example packages for the portal. Prices are indicative starting prices, not live booking offers, and should be replaced with your actual supplier rates before publishing commercially.
SJ · 001
Tokyo After Dark
Shibuya, hidden bars, neon streets, local food and Tokyo nightlife with a private English-speaking guide.
SJ · 002
Kyoto Heritage
Gion, Higashiyama, temples, traditional streets and an introduction to Kyoto's cultural history.
SJ · 003
Fuji & Hakone
A full-day escape from Tokyo with Fuji viewpoints, lake scenery and an optional onsen experience.
SJ · 004
Nara & Tea
Deer Park, Todai-ji area, quiet streets and a traditional tea experience.
SJ · 005
Samurai Experience
Traditional sword culture, armor, history and a hands-on experience designed for visitors.
SJ · 006
Japan Essentials
A customizable 7-day introduction combining Tokyo, Fuji, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka.
12 · Budget
How much does
Japan cost?
Approximate planning ranges only. Actual costs depend heavily on season, hotel category, city and how frequently you use long-distance trains.
| Category | Budget traveler | Comfort | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hostel / night | ¥3,500–6,000 | — | — |
| Hotel / night | — | ¥9,000–20,000 | ¥30,000+ |
| Meals / day | ¥2,500–4,500 | ¥5,000–9,000 | ¥12,000+ |
| City transport / day | ¥700–1,500 | ¥1,000–2,500 | ¥2,500+ |
| Activities / day | ¥0–3,000 | ¥3,000–8,000 | ¥10,000+ |
| Typical 7-day trip | ¥90k–130k | ¥150k–240k | ¥300k+ |
13 · Visual Japan
A country
of details.
Architecture, mountains, lantern-lit streets, gardens and everyday scenes are part of what makes traveling through Japan so visually distinctive.
14 · Plan with us
Your Japan
starts here.
Tell us how many days you have, what you want to see and what kind of trip you imagine. We can prepare a sample route, destination ideas and tour options.
Emailhello@japansamurai.jp.net
LocationTokyo · Japan
LanguagesEN · JP · RU
ResponseWithin 1 business day
15 · FAQ
Before you
leave.
Short answers to the questions most first-time visitors ask.
For a first visit, 7-10 days gives you enough time for a Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka style route. With 14 days you can comfortably add Fuji, Nara, Hiroshima or a regional destination.
Major cities are very accessible by public transport. Trains and shinkansen connect many of the main destinations, while rural travel usually requires more planning.
There is no single best season. Spring is associated with cherry blossoms, autumn with foliage, winter with snow and onsen, while summer offers festivals and mountain escapes. JNTO highlights all four seasons as distinct travel experiences. [oai_citation:3‡Viaje a Japón](https://www.japan.travel/en/gc/tips/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
They make a very practical first-trip combination. Tokyo provides the huge modern metropolis, Kyoto the historic and cultural side, and Osaka a different urban atmosphere with a strong food culture.
Respect local signs and customs, keep your voice down on public transport, remove shoes where requested, queue properly and avoid phone calls on trains. Following what locals do is usually a good guide. [oai_citation:4‡Viaje a Japón](https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/japanese-manners-dos-and-donts/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)