Japan
"Bullet trains, quiet shrines, and the best food on earth"
Japan is the rare country that rewards both the planner and the wanderer. Neon megacities sit an hour by train from cedar forests and hot-spring villages, temple gardens are raked before breakfast, and even a convenience-store sandwich is suspiciously good. Come for the culture, stay because everything works.
Best Time to Visit
March to May (cherry blossoms) and October to November (autumn colours)
Mar – May (Spring)
Cherry blossoms roll north from Kyushu to Hokkaido. Beautiful, mild, and very busy.
Jun – Aug (Summer)
Rainy season in June, then hot and humid. Festival season and hiking in the Alps.
Sep – Nov (Autumn)
The sweet spot: crisp air, red maples, fewer crowds than spring.
Dec – Feb (Winter)
Powder snow in Hokkaido, quiet temples in Kyoto, and onsen weather at its best.
Getting Around
Japan's rail network is the backbone of any trip — punctual, spotless, and reaching nearly every corner of the country.
🚄 Shinkansen
Bullet trains link Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and beyond at 300 km/h. Reserve seats in peak season.
🎫 IC Card (Suica/ICOCA)
One tap card for metros, buses, lockers and convenience stores across most of the country.
🚌 Highway Buses
Overnight buses are a third of the train price and save a night of accommodation.
🚗 Rental Car
Only worth it for rural Hokkaido, Tohoku or the Japanese Alps — cities are better car-free.
💡 Google Maps transit directions are accurate to the minute in Japan, including which train carriage to board.
Suggested Itineraries
Arrive in Tokyo
Narita/Haneda transfer, settle in Shinjuku or Shibuya, first ramen and a gentle neighbourhood walk.
Tokyo Classics
Senso-ji, Nakamise shopping street, teamLab or the Imperial Palace gardens, Shibuya at night.
Tokyo Neighbourhoods
Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast, Harajuku and Omotesando, Golden Gai for a nightcap.
Shinkansen to Kyoto
Morning bullet train, afternoon at Fushimi Inari (go late, the crowds thin), dinner in Pontocho.
Kyoto Temples
Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji rock garden, Arashiyama bamboo grove and the Katsura riverside.
Nara Day Trip
45 minutes by train: Todai-ji's Great Buddha, deer park, then Gion at dusk back in Kyoto.
Osaka & Departure
Dotonbori street food crawl and Osaka Castle before flying out of Kansai.
☕ Too much? Totally allowed to swap a monument for a long lunch. The place isn't going anywhere, and neither is your curiosity.
Highlights
Must See
- Tokyo
- Kyoto's temple districts
- Mount Fuji & Hakone
- Hiroshima & Miyajima
Local Cuisine
Insider Tip
Buy a Japan Rail Pass only if you're doing long-distance hops — for a Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka loop, single tickets are usually cheaper.
More sparks for Japan
Stories, films and books to keep the daydreaming going.
Mountains, Museums & Desert Nights: Even More Hotels Worth Booking For Themselves
Inspiration · 7 min read
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AI-generated editorial illustration — Unofficial AI-generated editorial illustration inspired by the destination and atmosphere of the film or series. Not an official poster or promotional image.
Shoplifters
Tokyo, Japan
Kafka on the Shore
by Haruki Murakami · Takamatsu & Shikoku, Japan