INDEPENDENT JAPAN TRAVEL GUIDES

Less rushing.
More Japan.

Find a route that fits your time—with realistic hotel bases, transport checks and room to explore.

How long have you got?Days include arrival & departure

A first taste of Japan · 6 nights

  1. Tokyo
  2. Kyoto
  3. Osaka

Three bases. For fewer check-ins, stay in Tokyo and Kyoto and visit Osaka for the day.

See this 7-day plan
Arashiyama bamboo grove

Photo: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo credit & license

Bamboo Forest, Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan.jpg · Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0.

Source credit: Own work

Attribution source 1

Resized to 960 pixels wide by Wikimedia thumbnail service; no other edits. The displayed image remains available under the linked license. No endorsement by the photographer is implied.

A window into Kyoto ↗

FIND YOUR KIND OF TRIP

What draws you to Japan?

All 47 prefectures & map →

Four possible starting points—not one combined route. Pick a region, then build around it.

Beyond the classic route: six things to do in Saga →

PLAN THE PRACTICAL PARTS

One question. A useful guide.

All travel guides →

WHAT’S COMING UP

Match your trip to an event.

Dates & event guides →

Sources checked: 26 Sept 2026 · Confirm dates with the organizer before booking.