Region
Tokyo
The dazzling capital, where ancient shrines sit beside neon-lit towers, Michelin-starred counters and tiny backstreet bars, and every neighborhood feels like a city of its own.
Destinations · Asia
Japan.
The land of the rising sun.
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The country
From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the peaceful temples of Kyoto, Japan blends ancient ritual and modern wonder like nowhere else on earth. It is a country of exquisite detail: in its gardens, its cuisine, its craftsmanship and its quiet codes of courtesy.
Ride the shinkansen past Mount Fuji, soak in a mountain onsen, lose an afternoon among Kyoto’s vermilion torii gates, then surface into the dazzling energy of a Tokyo night. The contrast is the point, and the pleasure.
We help you navigate this unique and fascinating culture with insider knowledge of where to stay, what to eat, and how to travel it well.
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Currency
- Japanese yen (¥)
- Ideal trip
- 10–14 nights
- Best for
- Culture & cuisine
William's take
Why we love Japan.
Japan might be my favorite country in the world. Tokyo is one of the coolest cities anywhere: it is absolutely massive and yet incredibly clean, and the people are some of the kindest and most respectful you will ever meet. You get this rare mix of deep history, delicious food and genuinely beautiful nature, all in a single trip.
One of my favorite things to do is head into the Japanese Alps and visit Kanazawa, an old samurai stronghold, where you can trace both samurai and geisha history and then soak in a natural hot spring at a traditional onsen. It is the side of Japan a lot of first-timers miss, and it is unforgettable.
Kyoto is the cultural capital of the country, and a day trip to Nara to meet the famous deer is truly a special experience. Then there is Osaka, the food capital, where you can eat some of the best Kobe beef, wagyu and street food Japan has to offer. Whatever you love, Japan delivers it at a level few places can match.
Planned by Chima Travel, a family agency serving travelers since 1918 and now in our fourth generation. Proud members of ASTA, with IATA accreditation.
When to go
The best time to visit Japan.
Japan turns on two hinges — the cherry blossom in spring and the koyo color in autumn — and the rest of the calendar swings around them. This is how we'd read the year across the desk, primes worth booking a year out and the quiet stretches that are quietly yours.
Late March–May
Cherry blossom season, when the country turns pink and the parks fill with hanami picnics. The most beautiful and most sought-after window, so we book hotels and rail many months ahead.
October–November
Autumn foliage, with maples turning crimson and gold across the temple gardens of Kyoto and the mountains of the Alps. Crisp, clear days and our other favorite season.
June
The early-summer rainy season (tsuyu) brings lush green and hydrangeas, fewer crowds and softer rates. Showers come and go, and a flexible day or two keeps it easy.
July–September
Hot and humid in the cities, but the season of summer festivals and fireworks, and ideal for escaping to the cooler highlands of the Japanese Alps and Hokkaido. Early autumn keeps the heat into September before the color turns.
December–February
Cold, clear and calm, with the fewest crowds and good value. Snow blankets the Alps and the north, the onsen are at their most inviting, and Mount Fuji is often at its sharpest.
Where to go
The regions of Japan.
Japan rewards travelers who pair the great cities with a few quieter corners rather than racing from end to end. These are the areas we weave together most often, each with its own rhythm, table and landscape, from the neon energy of Tokyo to the mountain villages of the Alps.
Region
Kyoto
The cultural heart of Japan, with more than a thousand temples and shrines, the vermilion torii of Fushimi Inari, raked gardens and the lantern-lit lanes of geisha-district Gion.
Region
Osaka & Nara
Osaka's exuberant street-food culture paired with Nara, Japan's first capital, where bowing deer roam the parks around the great bronze Buddha of Todaiji.
Region
Hakone & Mt Fuji
A mountain retreat of hot-spring ryokan, open-air art and lake cruises, all in the shadow of Mount Fuji, an easy hop from Tokyo by train.
Region
Hiroshima & Miyajima
A city of remembrance and renewal, paired with the sacred island of Miyajima and its famous floating torii gate rising from the sea at high tide.
Region
The Japanese Alps
Snow-capped peaks, hot-spring towns and the thatched gassho farmhouses of Shirakawa-go, alongside the old castle town of Takayama and the post towns of the Nakasendo.
A sample journey
One way to spend a week in Japan.
- 1 Days 1–3
Tokyo
Open in the capital at full intensity: sushi at dawn, backstreet izakaya at night, ancient shrines and dazzling towers, with a day to wander whichever neighborhoods catch you.
- 2 Day 4
Hakone & Mt Fuji
Slip into the mountains for hot-spring ryokan, open-air art and lake views beneath Mount Fuji, before boarding the shinkansen west.
- 3 Days 5–7
Kyoto
The cultural heart of Japan at a slower pace: the thousand torii of Fushimi Inari, temple gardens at first light, a tea ceremony and the lantern-lit lanes of Gion.
- 4 Day 8
Nara & Osaka
Day-trip to Nara for the great bronze Buddha and the bowing deer, then on to Osaka for its famous street food and buzzing nightlife.
- 5 Days 9–10
Hiroshima & Miyajima
Finish in the west with the Peace Memorial and a quietly moving afternoon, then the ferry to Miyajima and its floating torii gate at high tide.
Every itinerary we build is bespoke: this is a starting point, not a package.
Getting around
- By bullet train
- The shinkansen is the backbone of almost every Japan itinerary, gliding city center to city center past Mount Fuji and on to Hiroshima, punctual to the minute. For multi-city routes we advise whether a Japan Rail Pass earns its keep.
- In the cities
- Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka run on clean, dense subways and a tap-and-go IC card. We base you so the neighborhoods you came for are out the front door, with a private guide to smooth the busier shrines and markets.
- By car & driver-guide
- For the mountain villages, the thatched gassho farmhouses and the post towns of the Nakasendo, we pair the rail with a private driver or hire car where the freedom to stop pays off.
Where to stay
- Tokyo
- We favor a sleek high-floor hotel in Marunouchi or Ginza for the views and the dining, or a quieter boutique stay in Asakusa or Yanaka for a more traditional, low-rise side of the city.
- Kyoto
- A machiya townhouse or a ryokan with its own garden puts the temples and tea houses on your doorstep. We pair a central base with an evening of kaiseki dining and a morning garden before the crowds.
- Hakone & Mt Fuji
- A traditional ryokan with a private onsen and a Mount Fuji view is the classic indulgence here, with kaiseki dinner served in your room and a soak under the stars.
- The Japanese Alps
- A hot-spring inn in Takayama or near Shirakawa-go for the mountain air and the thatched-roof villages, with hearty Hida beef and sake at the table.
Rail tickets, passes, internal transfers, guides and ryokan bookings are all arranged as part of every itinerary — the connections are handled before you arrive.
Good to know
Japan travel questions.
How many days do you need in Japan?+
Seven nights lets you pair Tokyo and Kyoto at a comfortable pace, with a day trip or two. Ten to fourteen nights is the sweet spot for a fuller journey, adding Hakone and Mount Fuji, Nara and Osaka, and Hiroshima and Miyajima, with the bullet train tying it all together.
When is the best time to visit, and when is cherry blossom season?+
Late March to May for the cherry blossom and October to November for the autumn foliage are the two prime windows. Blossom timing shifts each year and moves south to north, so we plan dates around the forecast and book well ahead, since these are the busiest weeks of the year.
Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it, and how do the trains work?+
Often, yes. For a multi-city trip the JR Pass can cover the shinkansen and most JR lines on one ticket, and we advise on whether it pays off for your route. The trains are punctual, spotless and easy, and we handle the reservations and an IC card for city subways so it all runs smoothly.
Will the language be a barrier?+
Rarely, and far less than people expect. Signs and ticket machines in the cities offer English, the welcome is unfailingly gracious, and we pair you with English-speaking guides at the key sites. A few polite phrases go a long way, and we brief you on the ones that matter.
Should we carry cash, and what etiquette should we know?+
Japan is increasingly card-friendly, but cash is still useful for smaller restaurants, shrines and rural spots, so we suggest carrying some yen. A little etiquette goes far: remove your shoes where indicated, keep your voice low on trains, and skip tipping, as excellent service is simply the standard. We share a short briefing before you go.
From the journal
Reading on Japan.
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Onsen in Kyoto
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