East Asia
Japan
Where ancient ritual and cities of the future sit side by side — and every detail carries meaning.
Photo: Fabio Montello / Unsplash
Japan surprises even those who have read about it for years. In a few hours the bullet train carries you from Tokyo's neon streets to the wooden houses of Kyoto, where stone paths are still swept each morning and tea is prepared to rules that are centuries old.
Yet Japan is far more than its famous cities. In the valleys of the Japanese Alps, on the islands of the Seto Inland Sea or in the hot-spring villages of Kyushu you'll find a slower rhythm, traditional ryokan and a cuisine that changes with every region and season.
It's a wonderful choice for a first long-haul journey, too: well organised, easy to travel and remarkably hospitable. The art is in shaping a route that leaves time not only to see, but to feel.
Why go
- 01
Kyoto and the ancient capitals
Temples, teahouses and gardens best visited early, while the lanes are still quiet. Close by lies Nara, with its great wooden temples and deer wandering freely through the park.
- 02
Food worth the journey
From tiny izakaya and morning markets to a kaiseki dinner at a ryokan, eating is one of the best ways to understand Japan. Every region takes pride in its own dishes and seasonal flavours.
- 03
Mountains, villages and a slower pace
The Japanese Alps, the Kumano Kodo pilgrim trails or the old Nakasendo road through the Kiso Valley — places to walk between wooden villages and cedar forests.
- 04
Stays that become part of the story
A ryokan with its own hot-spring bath, a night in a temple on Mount Koya or a contemporary hotel above Tokyo — in Japan, where you stay is part of the experience.
Ways to travel
Ways to experience it
Ways to travel aren't separate paths — the best journeys often bring several together.
Culture & discovery
Temples, crafts, tea ceremonies and meetings with makers — with a guide who helps you understand what you're seeing.
Tailor-made journeys
Trains, transfers and stays arranged so the journey flows smoothly, at your own pace.
Exceptional stays & escapes
Hot-spring ryokan, design hotels in the cities and nights spent in temple lodgings.
Adventure & active travel
The Kumano Kodo and Nakasendo trails, cycling between the Inland Sea islands and, in winter, skiing in Hokkaido.
Family journeys
Trains, technology, parks and nature — Japan easily captivates children and adults alike.
Honeymoons & special journeys
Peaceful ryokan, cherry-blossom or autumn-colour season, and dinners you'll remember for a long time.
Japan
Journey inspiration
Illustrative ideas for how a tailor-made journey could look. Not bookable packages: no prices, dates or inclusions are implied.
0114–18 days
Classic Japan, unhurried
Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Nara with time to spare — private guides at the start, then the freedom to explore on your own.
Culture & discovery · Tailor-made journeys
Plan something like this0218–21 days
From the Alps to the Inland Sea
Takayama and the Kiso Valley, the art islands of Naoshima and Teshima, and a day cycling the Shimanami Kaido bridges.
Adventure & active travel · Culture & discovery
Plan something like this0312–14 days
Japan for the whole family
Tokyo's museums and parks, a night in a Hakone ryokan and Kyoto at a gentler pace — with free afternoons to rest.
Family journeys · Tailor-made journeys
Plan something like this
Planning your journey
When to go
Spring (March–May) and autumn (October–November) are often considered the most pleasant, with cherry blossom and autumn colour, though they are also busier. Summer is warm and humid; winter suits skiing in Hokkaido and quieter city stays. Blossom and foliage timings vary from year to year.
How long to allow
For a first visit we suggest at least 12–14 days; three weeks allows for both cities and countryside. Fewer places, with more time in each, works best.
Natural combinations
Japan deserves a journey of its own, but a few days on a beach afterwards — in the Philippines or Indonesia, say — work beautifully. For culture lovers, Vietnam is a natural continuation.
Areas to explore
Tokyo and surroundings
A megacity of distinct neighbourhoods, with Hakone and Nikko close by.
Kyoto and Kansai
The old capitals, Nara, Osaka's food scene and Mount Koya.
The Japanese Alps
Takayama, Kanazawa, the Kiso Valley and mountain trails.
Setouchi and Hiroshima
Art islands, Miyajima and a gentle coastline.
Hokkaido
Northern wilderness, summer flowers and winter snow.
General guidance only. Weather, seasons and wildlife are never guaranteed, and travel requirements are always worth checking before you go.
Sample journey
More journey inspiration
14–18 days
Japan — beyond the first impression
Tokyo, the Kiso Valley, Kanazawa, Kyoto & Naoshima
Culture & discovery · Tailor-made journeys
12–14 days
Japan with children, at a gentle pace
Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara & Osaka
Family journeys · Culture & discovery
9–11 days
Hokkaido in winter: snow, hot springs and red-crowned cranes
Sapporo & Otaru, Niseko, the Daisetsuzan, the Kushiro wetlands, Akan & Mashu, Shiretoko's drift ice
Adventure & active travel · Wildlife & nature
11–13 days
On foot through old Japan: the Kumano Kodo and the Japanese Alps
Pilgrim trails on the Kii Peninsula, a temple night on Mount Koya, Takayama, Kamikochi and Matsumoto
Adventure & active travel · Culture & discovery
12–14 days
Japan's quieter south: Kyushu and Shikoku
Fukuoka, Nagasaki, the Aso caldera, hot-spring towns, Matsuyama, the Iya Valley and Takamatsu
Culture & discovery · Exceptional stays & escapes
The Journal
Visit the JournalDestination guides
When to go to Japan: the seasons, honestly
Blossom and red maples are only part of the story. What Japan looks and feels like through the year, which weeks are hardest, and when it makes sense to go.
6 min read
Destination guides
Japan beyond the classic route: slower regions and quieter rhythms
Tokyo, Kyoto and the bullet train in between make a fine introduction. How to go further: which regions reward a longer look, where to sleep, and how to pace it all.
5 min read
Destination guides
How many days do you need in Japan? What fits into 10, 14 or 21
Honest travel arithmetic: how many days you really get on the ground, what's realistic in ten days, two weeks or three – and what not to attempt.
4 min read
Planning a journey
Where to go when you only know you want to go somewhere
Sometimes the wish to travel arrives before the destination. A few honest questions – about feeling, interests, time, season, pace and budget – can narrow the world down to a handful of places.
4 min read
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