Make sure you come to Japan prepared! There’s a lot to think about when planning your trip to Japan. Today, I’ve simplified it for you. Check this guide out for some great Japan travel itinerary tips from someone who has done this quite a few times.
Let’s think.
The first thing to think about when making your Japan travel itinerary is, of course, what you want to do. I recommend making a list of all the places you want to go in Japan. For most travelers, these are essentially Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, plus day trips from these places. Activities such as seeing the deer in Nara, visiting Hiroshima, seeing Himeji Castle, etc. can typically be done during a day trip from one of these cities. That isn’t to say you can’t stay elsewhere if that’s where your interests lie!
Once you have a rough list, think about where you want to fly into. There are two main options for this: Tokyo (Haneda or Narita Airports) or Osaka (Kansai International Airport, and occasionally Itami). At the time of writing, it seems to be cheaper to fly into Tokyo as there are more flight itineraries available, however, it will of course depend on your airline and where you are flying from.
There’s no right place to start your trip, so I’d choose based off of price or simple personal preference.
How long to stay?
Depending on the length of your trip, I recommend, to the average person, spending 1/3 of your time in and around Tokyo, 1/3 in and around Osaka/Kyoto, and 1/3 on daytrips outside of these places.
Tokyo is well known for being big and exciting, with endless food options, entertainment, anime stores, game centers, and more. But while Tokyo people mostly keep to themselves, the people of Osaka are known for being friendly and (by Japanese standards) boisterous. Osaka has amazing regional food, such as Takoyaki (fried octopus balls) and Okonomiyaki (savory cabbage pancake), and a uniquely “Osaka” feel.
Kyoto is my personal favorite city, and as the former capital of Japan, is well known for its stunning traditional beauty. Kyoto is a must-visit for any visitor to Japan. For the ultimate Kyoto experience, check out our local historical tour with photography for you to take home with you!
I recommend not spending less than one week in Japan unless you are dropping in on a larger trip. If you’re spending the money to come all the way here, you may as well try to stay for, optimally, 8-9 days (or more). (Of course, any time spent here is better than no time.)
One of my personal Japan itinerary tips is to not underestimate Kyoto. I’ve had quite a few people on our tour who told me that they wished they could spend less time in Osaka and more time in Kyoto. Kyoto is truly, quintessentially, Japan. For that reason, it will likely be one of the most fascinating places on your trip. There’s also a LOT to do. Three days minimum will give you time to comfortably see a decent amount of what there is to see.
Where to start my itinerary?
When thinking about making your Japan travel itinerary, don’t stress. The country is filled with exciting things to do, so you really can’t go too wrong. Here’s some things to think about:
Depending on the length of your stay, you may want to take a day upon arriving to rest. Jet lag can hit hard, and trying to go to sleep at a normal local time is critical for adjusting as quickly as possible. Some people may experience little symptoms, and some, like myself, may feel ill for almost a week. Be careful when planning the first day or two of your itinerary as, if you overbook yourself, may make yourself feel worse or needing to cancel an activity.
For most visitors, staying for a week or two, I recommend spending the first 1/3 of your stay in the area you fly into. Flying into Tokyo means staying in Tokyo for a few days and enjoying all there is to see there. There are many day trips you can make from Tokyo, including great spots to catch Mt. Fuji or visit an onsen.
After this, I would recommend taking the shinkansen to Osaka or Kyoto (or vice versa, if you flew in there). These cities are about half an hour to an hour’s train ride apart, and you can choose to stay in whichever city interests you more and travel to the other during the day, or stay a few nights in each.
There’s a lot of resources for finding what to do in each city. Once you have the foundation of your trip laid out, you can start filling it in with activities.
Where to stay?
The next thing to think about when planning your Japan travel itinerary is where you should stay.
When travelling in Japan, there are three main types of places to stay: hotels, hostels, and rentals (e.g. Airbnbs). I’ve stayed at all three, and have had positive experiences at all of them. What you choose will primarily depend on: your budget, the number of travellers, where you are visiting, how long you’re staying, and personal preference.
Typically, hotels will be the most expensive option. However, they are also the most reliable and familiar. If you have reward points with a certain hotel chain, it may be a good idea to stay with them during your trip. I also recommend hotels to older travellers and those who are worried about knowing what to do in Japan. Nearly all major hotels will have staff who speak English and who are able to easily help with any issues or concerns on your trip.
Hostels are a great option for young people or solo travelers. Many are marketed towards tourists or foreign travelers and also have staff who speak English. Although some have individual rooms, many have shared rooms and facilities. Some also have nice shared kitchens that can be used for those who want to save some money. One hostel I visited even had regular takoyaki parties where guests could get together and learn how to make this delicious food.
The third option is rentals/apartments, the most common of which is Airbnbs. I had some uneasiness about Airbnbs in America, but found that in Japan, the standard for Airbnbs is very high. In 2018, the Japanese government made it so that Airbnb owners had to register their properties after they fully met new regulations. This eliminated many properties who didn’t comply with these regulations. Current properties are identified with a license number. Airbnbs are usually more affordable than hotels. There’s a variety of types, but many are small one room apartments for single or couple travelers or large room apartments with a multitude of pull-out sofas and futons for bigger groups.
Myself and my customers have had positive experiences in all of these places, so don’t stress too much about it. Choose something that you can afford and where you will feel safe and comfortable.
Where to eat?
One of the biggest things travellers look forward to in Japan is enjoying all the amazing cuisine. Make sure that, before your trip, you take a little (or if you’re like me, a lot) of time to think about what you want to eat!
For a list of food you can’t miss, check here, and for a guide to some of our favorite restaurants, check here!
I’m a huge foodie, so I tend to plan my itinerary around food. But for most people, it’s best to decide on a few restaurants or things you want to eat beforehand so that you don’t have to spend 30 minutes on a crowded train just trying to get to lunch. Japan has a lot of delicious restaurants, and many won’t be in my guides, or any guides, especially mom and pop stores which are often hidden gems. (I, like most people, have found a few that will be kept secret. 😉 )
It’s also important to note that if you have any dietary restrictions, to follow this guide so that you don’t run into any issues! Common allergies such as to seafood, dairy, wheat, or soybeans can, fairly easily, be avoided, as long as you’re willing to prepare a little beforehand.
How do I get around?
As you might imagine, you’ll probably be using a lot of trains in Japan. This is standard practice in Japan, and the trains go most places and are timely whilst doing so.
You have several options when travelling by train, and those are to buy a fare payment card, tickets from the train station, or a JR Pass.
The JR Pass is only available to tourists and allows unlimited travel on certain bullet trains, local trains, and buses for a specific period of time (i.e. 7 days, 14 days, or 21 days). You can use this (https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/) resource to determine if the pass is worth it or not. Unless you are travelling via bullet train (shinkansen) more than a few times, in my personal opinion, it is not worth it.
[Note that from October 2023, the cost of the JR Pass will increase by 69%! If you’re travelling here after this point, I do not recommend buying the pass unless you’re going to be doing some very extensive bullet train usage–most people will not.]
I personally recommend the Welcome Suica card, which can be purchased at the airport. Here’s more information about it (https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/welcomesuica/welcomesuica.html). It works as a touch-to-pay for a vast majority of buses and trains throughout Japan’s bigger cities. I find that buying a ticket is not only a waste of time, but can be stressful because of needing to remember cash and not losing it before arriving at your next stop.
Most cities also have a robust taxi system, so feel free to use them as you see fit. Most drivers do not speak English so I recommend showing where you want to go on Google Maps if the name is too complicated for you to feel comfortable pronouncing.
Anything else to know for my Japan travel itinerary?
I recommend thinking about all the things you want to do before you travel here. Maybe save them on Google Maps or write them down. Think about the souvenirs you want to buy, what you want to eat, etc. This will save you stress once you get here. If you’re travelling with family or friends, make sure to have a conversation beforehand about what everyone wants to do so there’s not any arguing once you’re here. (I say it because I’ve seen it, lol.)
To save stress in Kyoto, I recommend our tour! Not only will you get photos to take home with you, but it will save you a whole lot of planning for your time here.
I hope this guide helped you feel a little more comfortable planning your Japan travel itinerary!