Plan ahead with our routes and itineraries, including the best places to discover Japan while traveling by rail, how to get there and getting around with the JR Pass.
Mount Fuji, Japan’s iconic peak, is a must-visit destination for travelers in Tokyo. Just a short trip from the capital, this UNESCO World Heritage site offers breathtaking views and countless activities.
A day-trip from Tokyo to Mt Fuji and the lesser known Hakone five lakes area is among the favorite experiences of many travelers to Japan.
Hakone is a mountainous town renowned for the stunning views it offers of Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi. Situated less than 100 km west of Tokyo, it’s popular for day trips and weekend breaks from the capital.
Along with the scenic views, there are a number of popular visitor attractions in Hakone. Many people go there specifically for the onsen (hot springs), but you’ll also find points of cultural interest too, including the Hakone Shrine and the Hakone Open Air Museum.
You’ve got just five days to explore one of the largest, most vibrant cities in the world – Tokyo, Japan. With the help of this travel guide, you’ll be able to make the best use of your time – and your Japan Rail Pass – to glimpse all that the Neon City has to offer.
This guide is designed to appeal to travelers with a wide range of interests, including anime and manga fans, history buffs, foodies, and nature lovers. If one “day” of this itinerary is more interesting to you than another, feel free to expand that day’s activities while omitting others. You can also check our Tokyo 3-day itinerary if you plan to stay shorter!
You’ve got three days – three days to tour the second largest city in Japan. What should you see first? Can you taste the best that Osaka has to offer in just two or three days? With the help of this travel guide, yes you can. We’ll help you hit the highlights and provide helpful information along the way.
In March of 2016, the Hokkaido Shinkansen, linking Aomori on Japan’s main island of Honshu with Hakodate on the island of Hokkaido via the Seikan Tunnel, was inaugurated. Until then, access to Hokkaido was challenging, but now with only one transfer, you can get there faster.
The Hokkaido Shinkansen will be extended to Sapporo, and it is scheduled to open by 2039.
Japan is famous for its flowering cherry trees. These trees are much sought after around the world. Cherry blossom festivals are held in such diverse regions as Washington, Vancouver, Paris, Stockholm, and Spain’s Jerte Valley. Still, Japan remains the premier location in the world for viewing the cherry blossoms or attending a cherry blossom festival, especially when seeing Japan by train.
