Tokyo
- Tokyo (Central/South Area + Shibuya + Shinjuku)
- Tokyo (Ueno + Skytree) (North + Skytree + Views)
- Tokyo (Harajuku + Asakusa)
JAPAN · 17 days
Japan — 17 Days
An unforgettable route through Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kanazawa, Takayama, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima and Miyajima.
Trip route
A trip designed to discover the best of Japan, combining vibrant cities, ancient temples and landscapes that look like they're straight out of a film.
Over 17 days you'll travel through Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, rural areas like Takayama, and unique spots like Miyajima or Mount Fuji.
Tokyo · days 1, 2, 3Kamakura · days 4Fujikawaguchiko (Mount Fuji) · days 5Kanazawa · days 6Shirakawa-go · days 7Takayama · days 7Kyoto · days 8, 9, 10Nara · days 11Osaka · days 12, 13Hiroshima · days 14Miyajima · days 14Tokyo · days 15, 16, 17
Interactive map — drag and zoom to explore the route.
🗓️ Trip at a glance
1Tokyo
2Tokyo
3Tokyo
→4Kamakura
→5Fujikawaguchiko (Mount Fuji)
→6Kanazawa
→7Shirakawa-go
→7Takayama
→8Kyoto
9Kyoto
10Kyoto
→11Nara
→12Osaka
13Osaka
→14Hiroshima
→14Miyajima
→15Tokyo
16Tokyo
17Tokyo
Who is this trip for?
Ideal if it's your first time in Japan and you want to see the essentials without missing anything important, while also discovering some special spots off the beaten path. Perfect if you want an organized, optimized, stress-free trip.
- First time in Japan
- Travelers who want an organized, stress-free itinerary
- Anyone looking to combine city, culture and nature
- Foodies, from street food to high-end omakase
What this itinerary includes
This itinerary is designed so you don't have to waste hours researching or wondering what to do each day.
Includes:
- Detailed, optimized day-by-day plan
- Maps with every important point
- Real restaurant and accommodation recommendations
- Complete transport guide (metro, bullet train, cards)
- Paperwork and important things to sort before the trip
- Realistic estimated budget
- Tips and mistakes to avoid
Planning a trip to Japan can easily take more than 15 hours of research across blogs, videos and unclear websites. Here you have everything organized, filtered and optimized so all you have to do is enjoy it.
The route
The trip, city by city
Scroll and watch the route draw itself, stop by stop.
Kamakura
- Day Trip to Kamakura
Fujikawaguchiko
- Fuji - Fujikawaguchiko (Nature + Calm)
Kanazawa
- Fuji → Tokyo → Kanazawa (Traditional Japan)
Shirakawa-go
- Kanazawa → Shirakawa-go → Takayama (Rural Japan)
Takayama
- Kanazawa → Shirakawa-go → Takayama (Rural Japan)
Kyoto
- Takayama → Kyoto (Transition to Cultural Japan)
- Kyoto (Fushimi Inari + Arashiyama)
- Kyoto (Temples + Traditional Streets + Local Vibe)
Nara
- Day Trip to Nara (History + Deer + Calm)
Osaka
- Kyoto → Osaka (Chaos, Food and Energy)
- Osaka (More Chaos or Culture, You Decide)
Hiroshima
- Osaka → Hiroshima → Miyajima (Emotional Shift)
Hiroshima and Miyajima
- Osaka → Hiroshima → Miyajima (Emotional Shift)
Tokyo
- Miyajima → Tokyo (The Home Stretch)
- Tokyo (Last Full Day – Farewell to Japan)
- Return (Departure Day)
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Take a look at the document
Open the sample PDF: the cover, the index and an example day, to see the level of detail before you decide.
Or read the sample day here
Recommended area to stay: Shinjuku (best connections and atmosphere)
Goal for the day: Start with energy and visit iconic spots.
Morning
Start the trip at Tsukiji Outer Market, one of the most authentic places for your first contact with Japan. Here everything revolves around food: small stalls, fresh fish, intense aromas and constant movement.
Personal recommendation: try sushi or tamagoyaki (sweet eggs). There are tons of options for traditional food and desserts. Here I tried the best piece of wagyu I've ever had in my life.
Ideal time: 9:00 – 11:30. How to get there: Subway → Tsukiji Station.
Then head to Zojo-ji temple (20 minutes by subway). It's one of those places that surprises you without expecting it: a traditional temple with Tokyo Tower right behind it. From there you can walk to the tower.
Afternoon
Shibuya, the famous crossing, is one of those experiences you have to live. Thousands of people crossing at once, giant screens, noise, energy.
What to do:
- Shibuya Crossing
- Hachiko statue
- Shops and cafés
How to get there: JR Yamanote Line
Evening
Shinjuku (neon lights and nightlife area). Here begins the most chaotic and fun side of Japan.
- Omoide Yokocho - a narrow alley, small restaurants, local atmosphere
- Golden Gai - tiny bars. Very authentic
Recommended restaurants
Tsukiji (morning)
- Sushi Daiwa. Fresh market sushi, very good quality
- Yamazaki Tamagoyaki. To try the typical sweet Japanese egg
Shibuya (afternoon)
- Uobei Sushi. Cheap, fast and fun sushi (ideal first time)
- Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera. Top-class sushi, very affordable
- Gyukatsu Motomura. Breaded meat you finish cooking yourself
- Ginza Steak. All you can eat wagyu (€50)
- Mukai. One of the best kaisendon spots in Tokyo
- Goryonsan. A favorite kushiyaki spot.
- SG Low. The best izakaya in Tokyo.
- Katsudon-ya Zuicho. The line is worth it.
- Rokuetei Hitsumabushi.
- Hirokiya Shibuya. The best wagyu.
- Ikura Shibuya.
- Udon Shimbori. Carbonara udon.
Shinjuku (night)
- Ichiran Ramen. An individual ramen experience, very iconic
- Ushigoro S. Shinjuku
- Tofu Cuisine Sorano. A unique experience, the perfect spot.
- Omoide Yokocho (several spots). Ideal for dinner with no plan → yakitori, local food
If you feel like going a bit further to eat: Toriyoshi - Kichijoji. A super authentic spot.
Personal recommendation: Don't obsess over finding "the best restaurant." In Japan, the average quality is incredibly high, even at small, little-known places. Let yourself go: walk around, notice the places that catch your eye and walk in without overthinking it. Often, the best meals of the trip happen exactly that way, unplanned. Trust the process, because wherever you eat, it's very likely to be spectacular.
Also included
Where to stay and where to eat
A sample of the itinerary's real recommendations — the full itinerary includes the complete list by city, with options for every budget.
Where to stay
Tokyo · Mid-range
Shinjuku Granbell Hotel
Modern, rooftop bar, young energy — steps from Shinjuku station. Our pick if you want city energy without giving up comfort.
Kyoto · Modern ryokan
Sowaka Kyoto
A reinvented ryokan in a traditional neighbourhood: tatami floors, careful design and Japanese ritual, without giving up Western-traveller comfort.
Fujikawaguchiko · Luxury · glamping
Hoshinoya Fuji
Luxury glamping with direct Mount Fuji views. Not just a hotel — one of those trip moments you remember for years.
Where to eat
Shinjuku, Tokyo · Iconic ramen
Ichiran Ramen
Individual booths, total silence and a perfect tonkotsu broth. Tokyo's most iconic ramen experience — the perfect way in.
Tokyo · Omakase · first-timer
Sushi Tokyo Ten
20-25 pieces, great value for the quality, and easy to book. The ideal omakase if it's your first time at the counter.
Dotonbori, Osaka · Local icon
Kani Doraku
The crab restaurant with the giant mechanical crab on the façade. Pure Osaka: loud, fun, and genuinely good seafood.
Our favorite activities in Japan
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Before you book
Prepare your trip to Japan
Travel Guides
Best time to visit Japan: season by season
Japan can be visited all year round. What each season offers, when it's most crowded and when prices are best.
Travel Guides
Where to stay in Tokyo: Shinjuku, Shibuya or Ginza
In Tokyo, location matters more than the hotel itself. How to choose between Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ginza, with real hotels for every budget.
Travel Guides
Is the JR Pass worth it? The maths on my Japan route
I didn't buy it and I recommend skipping it. Here's the maths on my 17-day route: what the individual journeys cost, what the pass costs and why it doesn't pay off.
Travel Guides
Best things to do in Japan: our favorite experiences
The experiences we recommend most in Japan: an early start at Fushimi Inari, Shibuya Sky at sunset, a night on Miyajima, an onsen, a tea ceremony and an omakase.
Travel Guides
Japan entry requirements: visa, Visit Japan Web, forms
What you need to enter Japan: when you don't need a visa, which documents to carry and how to save time at immigration with Visit Japan Web.
Travel Guides
Where to stay in Kyoto and Osaka: hotels by budget
Gion or Higashiyama in Kyoto, Namba or Shinsaibashi in Osaka. Real hotels by budget in both cities.
FAQ
What do I receive when I buy an itinerary?
You receive the full day-by-day itinerary, with real accommodation, restaurant and activity recommendations, transport guidance, a detailed budget and practical tips. As soon as payment completes, you automatically get an email with the downloadable PDF and access to your private trip page, where you can browse the whole itinerary online.
Is the itinerary a PDF?
The PDF is one part of the product, not all of it. Every itinerary also lives on a private digital page, easy to browse from your phone, with each day expandable and all the information organized. That page also includes an interactive Google Maps map with the itinerary's places.
Do I get access to Google Maps?
Yes. After purchase, each itinerary's private digital page includes an interactive Google Maps map of the trip's places, grouped by type, that you can open from your phone. The itinerary also explains how to reach each place.
Can I use it offline?
The PDF can be viewed offline. The digital version of the itinerary will require a connection, though we're considering offline options for the future.
Can I access it on my phone?
Yes. Both the PDF and your private digital trip page are designed to be read comfortably from your phone while travelling.
This section contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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