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We’ve always been fascinated with Japan, and it was high on our bucket list (probably higher on Catarina’s). When we’ve finally decided to book our flights, it was time to start thinking about our itinerary. How should we move around? Which were the places we didn’t want to miss? Should we buy a return flight ticket to start and finish in the same city? If you have the same doubts, you’re in the right place to begin planning your trip.
How to move around
Japan railway network (JR) is extremely efficient, not to mention fast. You can comfortably go from one city to another on one of its Shinkansen (bullet trains). However, train rides are tremendously expensive, and that’s why they’ve come up with the JR pass: a card which is valid in all JR lines, letting you move freely across the country for the number of days you’ve purchased it.
According to the length of your trip, you can choose between a 7, 14, or 21 consecutive days pass. Also, you can opt to travel in first-class train cars (called Green Cars), or in the regular ones. We recommend you stick with the economy class since it is already amazingly pleasant, safe, and spacious. Additionally, it gives you the flexibility of boarding a train directly, since with the Green Pass you’ll need to reserve your seat before each ride.
How to Buy a jr pass
- You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan under the entry status of “temporary visitor”;
- You’re a Japanese citizen living abroad who meet certain conditions.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES TRAIN?
Of course!
Traveling by plane can be an option too, and you can find some competitive rates online (check out the special fares on ANA website). However, you’ll waste more time in airport procedures than you would by just hopping on a train. Moreover, most train stations are located right in the heart of each city, which is something you don’t see happening with airports.
Renting a car and hitting the road is another alternative. You might find it a cheaper choice in case you’re a big family. Our love for road trips is not a secret (you can read here our amazing road trips through Iceland and New Zealand), and we think it can be a wonderful way of getting to know Japan. And we can only imagine how polite drivers the Japanese must be! Still, you’ll need an International Driving Permit which you should obtain in your own country. Be sure to check if your country has bilateral agreements with Japan, and to take care of these bureaucracies well in advance.
Nonetheless, there’s a reason why most people opt to take the train when it comes to visiting Japan. It combines comfort and convenience, allowing you to save precious time in this amazing country.
ITINERARY
We’ve bought a return flight ticket Lisbon-Tokyo, which means we’ve started and finished our trip in the same place. There is no real advantage of doing it, and actually, it isn’t the perfect option if you want to maximize your time. However, we’ve found a cheap flight ticket and decided to grab the deal.
We believe this itinerary is a perfect introduction to a country like Japan. You get to see major cities, more traditional ones, a little bit of the countryside, and even an off the beaten path destination.
Here you can see our full itinerary for the two weeks:
There’s no such thing as spending too much time in Tokyo. The city is huge, and no matter how many days you decide to stay, it will never be enough. We explored Tokyo for 5 days and barely scratched its surface. We think this Tokyo itinerary might help you decide how much time you want to dedicate to the city.
Takayama (2 nights) is a small town in the mountainous Gifu Prefecture. We really wanted to experience the rural side of the country, and this was the perfect place to do it. The old town is unmissable, and you’ll also find many beautiful walks and shrines. During the winter, be prepared for the low temperatures – after all, you’re in the Japanese Alps!
Kyoto (2/3 nights) was an incredible surprise for us. After hearing negative feedback from a lot of people, we were picturing it as a complete tourist trap. How wrong were we! Yes, some places are unbearably packed with tourists, but if you avoid rush hours and explore the lesser-known neighborhoods, we’re sure you’re going to love Kyoto as much as we did!
We left Kyoto in the morning, heading for Hiroshima to spend the day. You can easily spend hours wandering around the historical sites and museums dedicated to the victims of the nuclear bomb that destroyed the entire city, back in 1945. Even though it is a sensitive and disturbing subject, it shouldn’t be ignored, and it’s a big part of Japan recent History.
Later that afternoon, we took a train from Hiroshima station to Miyajimaguchi (26 minutes), and from there, we took the ferry (10 minutes) to Miyajima. Miyajima island (1 night) is known for its forests, ancient temples, and the famous Torii Gate. It’s a great option to spend the night on the island since most tourists visit it as a day trip, meaning you’ll get to experience the magical scenery just by yourself.
On the next day, we headed to the city of Osaka (2/3 nights) that is an equivalent word for fun. Some people refer to Osaka as Japan’s kitchen, linked to the high number of restaurants and street food you’ll find. The city is filled with bars and nightclubs, which makes it a great place to relax and enjoy the laid-back vibes.
While in Osaka, we decided to visit Naoshima on a day trip – notice that on the map, we recommend you visit it during your journey between Hiroshima and Osaka since it makes much more sense. It ended up being one of the highlights of our entire time in Japan! Whether you’re in Hiroshima or Osaka, take the train to Okayama station (1 hour), and then take the Uno JR line to Uno station (50 minutes). Finally, from Uno station is just a quick walk to the Uno port, where you’ll find the ferry to take you to the island (20 minutes). You can opt to spend the night there, or just explore it during the day before heading to your next destination. Nevertheless, it’s an incredible off beaten path experience! Don’t skip it!
IF You have more time...
There’s so much more to explore in Japan that you’ll leave already wanting to go back. Here’s a list of more destinations that you can either include on this itinerary or save for a next journey!
- Kanazawa: Less than 3 hours away from Takayama, you’ll find the beautiful city of Kanazawa. It has many beautiful gardens, traditional neighborhoods, and cultural attractions. Visit the Kanazawa castle, the Kenroku-en Garden (considered one of the top three in the country), and explore both the Samurai and Geisha districts.
- Mt Koya: The center of Shingon Buddhism, this small spiritual town is the perfect place to experience a unique overnight stay at a temple with the monks.
- Nara: Located less than one hour from Kyoto and Osaka, Nara was Japan’s first capital. For that reason, it has some of the largest and oldest temples in the country. Moreover, you’ve probably seen pictures of the cute dears that can be found in Nara Park.
- Ski Resorts: If you’re a winter sports lover, Japan will amaze you. It has more than 500 ski resorts, and some of them are among the best in the world. We would love to spend some time around the Sapporo region, where you’ll find places like Niseko or Rusutsu.
- Hakone: Hakone belongs to the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, and it’s a perfect escape from the bustling Tokyo. On a clear day, you can even marvel at the stunning views of Mt. Fuji.
- Okinawa: Okinawa islands have remained a well-kept secret. Nowadays, more people head there due to its sandy beaches and tropical climate, hoping to spend some relaxing days laying in the sun.
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