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You are here: Home / Asia / Japan / The Perfect One Month Japan Itinerary And Travel Guide

The Perfect One Month Japan Itinerary And Travel Guide

March 21, 2020 by Lotte 21 Comments

Japan is a beautiful country with a history of emperors and samurai, unique culture and religion, ancient temples, impressive castles, and stunning nature.

Japan never ceases to amaze and it’s one of my favorite countries in the world. We’ve made two trips to Japan, one as a couple and one with our 1-year-old son, altogether we’ve spent almost two months exploring Japan and I’d love to go back for another trip.

This Japan itinerary gives you several options to explore this truly unique nation, depending on your preference and the amount of time you have available. It includes some of the most popular places to visit and things to do in Japan, but also several off the beaten path destinations.

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1 Month In Japan: A Complete Itinerary And Travel Map

Japan itinerary

Table Of Contents
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  • Japan itinerary
    • Itinerary for Japan and Japan travel map
    • The perfect one month itinerary in Japan
    • Important things to know when planning a trip Japan
    • Where to stay in Japan on a budget
      • The best budget tip to save on accommodation in Japan
    • One month Japan itinerary
      • Day 1 – 3: Tokyo
      • Day 4 – 13: Hokkaido
      • Day 14 – 16: Hiroshima and Miyajima
      • Day 17 – 19: Nara and Koyasan
      • Day 20 – 22: Kyoto
      • Day 23 – 28: The Japanese Alps
      • Day 29: Goodbye Japan…
    • Alternative Japan itineraries (7 and 10 days + 2 and 3 weeks)
      • Japan itinerary 7 days
      • 10 day Japan itinerary
      • Japan 2 week itinerary
      • Japan 3 week itinerary
    • Japan recommended itinerary: in conclusion

Itinerary for Japan and Japan travel map

You can find our itinerary of Japan on the map below, as well as our accommodation and the highlights we visited during our trip to Japan.

Japan itinerary map things to do

You can find the interactive map here

The perfect one month itinerary in Japan

  • Day 1-3: Tokyo
  • Day 4-13: Hokkaido
  • Day 14-16: Hiroshima and Miyajima
  • Day 17-19: Nara and Koyasan
  • Day 20-22: Kyoto
  • Day 23-28: Japanese Alps (Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, Takayama, Kamikochi, and Matsumoto)
  • Akan National Park Lake Onneto Hokkaido Japan
  • Blue pools Hokkaido Japan Furano
  • Kamikochi top of Yakedake Japan
  • Miyajima island Mount Misen Japan

Important things to know when planning a trip Japan

What is the best time to visit Japan?

While Japan is a year-round destination, the best and most popular times to visit are March–May and September–November.

Sakura (cherry blossom season) is very important in Japan and there is even a daily Cherry Blossom report with up-to-date information where the flowers are at their most beautiful.

The changing color of the leaves in Autumn is almost equally popular, there is a daily report to monitor this as well.

We personally visited once in April/May and once in October and had very comfortable temperatures and mostly sunny weather.

Especially in the Alps (Honshu) and on Hokkaido, winter in Japan can be extreme with freezing temperatures and lots of snow. Summer is hot and humid and not the most comfortable time to visit Tokyo or Kyoto. Be sure to pack appropriately!

Which currency is used in Japan?

The official currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen (¥). Here you can find the current exchange rates, at the time of writing €1 is approximately 120¥ and $1 is around 110¥.

How to travel around Japan?

Japan has an excellent public transport system and is famous for the ‘shinkansen’, also known as the bullet train. During both our trips to Japan we mostly traveled by public transport (train, bus, MRT, and ferry).

For our road trips on Hokkaido and Shikoku, we rented a car. The public transport network on these islands isn’t as great as on Honshu, plus, driving on these islands is an awesome experience.

If you plan on covering large distances in Japan within a short period of time, it’s interesting to check out the Japan Rail Pass. This pass gives you unlimited trips on all JR trains, JR buses, and several other lines. You can choose a pass valid for 7, 14 or 21 consecutive days.

Note that the Japan Rail Pass costs a substantial amount of money and is not always the most economical option. It’s worth calculating the costs of your itinerary to Japan with and without the rail pass to see which option is best for you.

You can use Hyperdia to check the costs or your intended Japan itinerary and decide whether or not the Japan Rail Pass is worth the money for your trip.

Bullet train Japan

Where to stay in Japan on a budget

I have to admit I was slightly worried about finding affordable accommodation before traveling to Japan, the country of the rising sun. This is why I searched Agoda, Booking, and Airbnb meticulously to find the best possible options.

While we definitely spend more on accommodation during our Japan family trip in 2019 than when we were backpacking Japan as a couple (with a tent) in 2016, I can say from personal experience that it is possible to find (relatively) cheap places to stay in Japan.

Though let’s also face the fact that prices in Japan are not like in Southeast Asia, you won’t be able to find a pretty pool villa for €25 a night…

The best budget tip to save on accommodation in Japan

Go camping! During our first Japan trip, we brought a small tent and stayed at several campsites around Japan, which were only €7-€13 a night. Another advantage is you get to wake up with views like the one in the picture below.

Camping in Japan Hokkaido

Here is a list of all the places we stayed at during our travels around Japan.

TokyoCandeo Hotels Tokyo Shimbashi€110/$120Agoda Booking
Lake ShikotsuCampsite Morappu€12,80/$14Website 
Lake ToyaNakatoya Camping Ground€7,20/$8Website 
HakodateHotel WBF Hakodate€57/$62Agoda Booking
FukushimaSlept in our car (parking lot)free
Toyako OnsenSlept in our car (parking lot) free
FuranoLog Yukari Guesthouse€24/$26AgodaBooking
SōunkyōSlept in our car (parking lot) free
Akanko OnsenSlept in our car (parking lot) free
SapporoHotel Areaone Chitose€48/$53AgodaBooking
HiroshimaHiroshima Pacific Hotel€40/$45AgodaBooking
MiyajimaCampground Tsutsumigaura€8/$9Website 
NaraBaek’s place€38/$42Airbnb 
KoyasanKoyasan Guesthouse Kokuu€59/$63Agoda Booking
KyotoThe B Kyoto Shijo €58/$63Agoda Booking
KanazawaAPA Hotel Katamachi€40/$45AgodaBooking
TakayamaHida Guesthouse Gekka€50/$55AgodaBooking
KamikochiKonashi-daira campsite€13/$14,50Website 
MatsumotoAlpico Plaza Hotel€70/$75 AgodaBooking
Narita airportNarita Gateway Hotel€63/$69AgodaBooking

Accommodation discount: if you have never traveled with Airbnb before you can get €30 of your first Airbnb stay with this link!

Golden Week

Golden Week is the period from the 29th of April to early May and includes a number of Japanese holidays. During this week many Japanese people go on holiday and accommodation can be extremely difficult to find.

If you are traveling in peak season and Golden Week in particular: book your accommodation in advance!

During our first trip to Japan, I was looking for accommodation for a night during Golden Week. I have never seen Agoda and Booking come up with only 2 available hotels in an entire city, the cheapest one was €400 a night… I was very happy to have our tent and car as a backup option!

One month Japan itinerary

I have written detailed guides for pretty almost all the places we visited in Japan, with more information about our day-to-day activities, transportation, and accommodation. You can find the links to those posts in the itinerary below.

If you have less time available to explore Japan, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Further on in the post, I also suggest shorter options (7 and 10 days, plus 2 and 3 weeks) for your Japan travel itinerary.

Day 1 – 3: Tokyo

Shibuya crossing in Tokyo from above

Of course, no visit to Japan is complete without exploring Tokyo. The city of flashing neon, hidden alleys, ancient temples, the famous Tokyo Sky Tree, and the most Michelin stars of any city in the world. Tokyo offers days (or should I say months) of activities.

Tokyo is the most populous metropolitan area in the world and while the city can be extremely busy at places like Tokyo Station and Shibuya Crossing, there are also much more quiet areas, like lovely Ueno Park.

We’ve visited Tokyo several times, twice for several days and once during a stopover. Each trip. we discover more to see and do in this unique capital, mixing ultramodern and century-old traditions! Top things to do are:

  • Asakusa and the Senso-Ji Temple: don’t miss this beautiful historic neighborhood in Tokyo. Here you can find quaint little streets, boutique shops, and the impressive Sensō-Ji temple.
  • TeamLab Borderless Digital Art Museum: this amazing interactive museum creates a fairytale world filled with light and colors. Don’t miss the Crystal World and the Forest of Resonating Lamps. Be sure to buy a ticket online as they often sell out!
  • The Tokyo Sky Tree: the Tokyo Sky Tree is currently the second-tallest building in the world (only the Burj Khalifa in Dubai is higher). There are two observation decks, one at 350 meters and at 450 meters high, offering impressive views over Tokyo city. Buy your ticket online to save money and skip the queue.

Check out my Tokyo itinerary and what do do in Tokyo with kids. 

Where to stay in Tokyo:
Candeo Hotel Tokyo Shimbashi

Day 4 – 13: Hokkaido

Jigokudani Hell Valley Hokkaido Japan

I was already sold on Hokkaido when I was still on the plane (from Tokyo to Sapporo). From my window seat, I could see nothing but nature. And nature is what I love the most.

Cities are nice, but nature is best…

I loved our time on Hokkaido, the island is wild, untamed and completely blew me away with its natural beauty. There are impressive volcanoes, extensive forests and vast lakes. Also, it was cold! And I mean cold…

Cold Hokkaido Japan dam

Hokkaido showed me once again the power of nature, the wind was fierce and freezing, we endured snow and hail, but also got to enjoy days of sunshine and admire the famous cherry blossoms (sakura).

  • Farm Tomita Hokkaido Japan
  • Matsumae Hokkaido Hakodate

We explored Hokkaido by car, in my opinion, the best way to get around this island. We discovered places we wouldn’t have been able to visit if we didn’t have a car and each of those places was absolutely incredible. A couple of the highlights of our Hokkaido trip were:

  • Noboribetsu and Jigokudani (Hell Valley): this volcanic park with bubbling mud pools, steaming vents and a kaleidoscope of colors is highly worth a visit. The highlight is Oyunuma Pond, a steaming lake with a surface temperature of 50°.
  • Matsumae Castle: a beautiful traditional Edo style castle surrounded by thousands of cherry blossom trees. Matsumae Castle is worth a visit during any time of the year but is particularly stunning during sakura.
  • Furano: my favorite town on Hokkaido with a myriad of things to do. You can visit a cheese or wine factory (or both), go for a hike, admire the vivid Blue Pools and much more. Stay here at least two nights if you have time!

Check out my Hokkaido road trip guide. 

Day 14 – 16: Hiroshima and Miyajima

Hiroshima
  • Japan Hiroshima Castle
  • Hiroshima Castle sightseeing

We went from the cold of Hokkaido to the comfortable spring temperatures of Hiroshima and Miyajima Island.

Visiting Hiroshima was a very moving experience. It felt strange to wander around streets that were completely and utterly destroyed when the A-bomb was dropped during WWII in 1945. An entire city lost… I couldn’t, and still can’t, grasp the enormity of that tragedy.

When in Hiroshima, there are several places you must visit, to learn about the history of the city:

  • The Atomic Bomb Dome: the atomic bomb dropped by the United States Army detonated about 600 meters above this building, which is why it’s still (partially) standing. It’s a vivid reminder of the tragic history of Hiroshima.
  • The Children’s Peace Monument: dedicated to the children who died in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
  • Hiroshima Castle: the original castle was also destroyed by the atomic bomb, but has been reconstructed perfectly (like you could expect anything less in Japan). Explore the museum inside, wander the gardens and admire the view from the top of the caste.

Check out my Hiroshima itinerary.

Where to stay in Hiroshima:
Hiroshima Pacific Hotel
Miyajima
Miyajima island floating Torii gate in the water Japan

From Hiroshima, we traveled to Miyajima Island (also called Itsukushima). Miyajima is a beautiful green island and a great place for outdoor lovers like myself. Things to do are:

  • Itsukushima Shrine and the ‘floating’ Torii gate: this is definitely the top attraction of Miyajima Island. The shrine is built over the water and supported by pillars. If you can, time your visit with high tide and the sunset for an unforgettable view.
  • Hike to the top of Mount Misen: Mount Misen is a 535 meters tall ‘mountain’ on Miyajima Island. Three official trails lead to the summit, though you can also do part of the ascend by ropeway.
  • Daisho-in Temple: this ancient temple was founded in the year 80. Don’t miss the multicolored sand mandala, the beautiful lanterns hanging from the ceiling of the Henjokutsu Ichigandaishi cave and the many little statues found all around the complex.

Check out my Miyajima Island guide.

Where to stay on Miyajima:
Campground Tsutsumigaura

Day 17 – 19: Nara and Koyasan

Both Nara and Koyasan are very interesting places to visit. While Nara offers some of the most famous temples in Japan, Koyasan is considered a sacred place and remains a popular pilgrimage destination even today.

Nara
1 Month In Japan: A Complete Itinerary And Travel Map

Nara, while far from a big city, is home to about 400.000 people and most well-known for its temples and deer. And we saw plenty of both during our one day visit to Nara. Some of the highlights in Nara are:

  • Naramachi District: in the former merchant district of Nara, you can find traditional wooden houses, pretty little shops, art galleries and much more. When strolling around this beautiful neighborhood, you will feel like you have stepped back in time.
  • Todaiji: Todaiji roughly translates into Great Eastern Temple, a fitting name for this huge and impressive temple. Housing the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue, a visit to this temple should definitely be on your Nara itinerary.
  • Nara Park: go for a stroll in Nara Park, one of the oldest parks in Japan. Nara Park is home to hundreds of deer, which have become a symbol of the city. Several of Nara’s highlights are located in the park as well, such as the aforementioned Todaiji, but also Kofukuji and the Nara National Museum. 

Check out this great guide to Nara for more details!

Where to stay in Nara:
Baek’s place (Airbnb)
Koyasan
  • Koyasan chōishi-michi pilgrimage trail
  • Choishi Michi Pilgrimage trail Koyasan

From Nara, we traveled to Koyasan. or Mount Koya, to be exact. We hiked the 24km Koyasan Chōishi-Michi pilgrimage trail, definitely a highlight of our trip. The fog drifting through the forest made the entire experience magical and mysterious…

And if our trip to Koyasan wasn’t perfect enough already, the next day was sunny with a clear blue sky.

Vermillion Kongobu-ji temple Mount Koya Japan

Some of the places in Koyasan you must visit are:

  • Okunoin: the oldest graves on this cemetery date back to the year 816. Okunoin is a UNESCO heritage site, with over 200.000 tombstones, many of them covered by thick layers of moss, and the Kobo Daishi’s mausoleum.
  • Garan: this is Koyasan’s central temple complex. Pictured above is the 45-meter high vermilion Konpon Daito Pagoda, one of the most impressive buildings within the complex. Another notable building is the Kondo Hall, a large wooden temple used for important ceremonies. 
  • Daimon Gate: a magnificent two-story wooden gate that marks the end of the 24km Koyasan Chōishi-Michi pilgrimage trail. Believe me when I say you’ll be very happy to see this gate, it means you’ve finished your hike and made it all the way to Koyasan!

Check out my Koyasan chōishi-michi hiking guide.

Where to stay in Koyasan:
Koyasan Guesthouse Kokuu

Day 20 – 22: Kyoto

  • Arashiyama bamboo forest Kyoto Japan
  • Torii gates Kyoto Fushimi Inari Shrine

Kyoto with its many temples and other highlights was another great place to visit in Japan. We strolled around the busy streets for two days (three nights) and didn’t nearly see everything there is to see in Kyoto…

I liked the vibe of the city and the gorgeous weather didn’t hurt either. And again, the food… Oh Japanese food, I would travel back to Japan today for a bowl of abura soba or ramen! In any case, when in Kyoto, definitely visit these places:

  • Gion: Gion is the historic district of Kyoto, a maze of narrow streets and alleys lined with old (wooden) buildings, restaurants, cafes, and traditional teahouses. If you are lucky, you may even spot a real geisha!
  • Kinkakuji (the Golden Pavilion): possibly the most famous construction in Kyoto, this temple was originally the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. Later it became a temple and with its golden exterior and splendid architectural style, it’s highly worth a visit.
  • Inari Fukushi shrine: for me, this was the highlight of our trip to Kyoto. You probably have seen many photos similar to the one pictured above (on the right), however, actually walking this famous path below the Torii gates yourself is a very special experience.

Check out my Kyoto itinerary.

Where to stay in Kyoto:
The B Kyoto Shijo

Day 23 – 28: The Japanese Alps

Lowa Lady Light GTX hiking shoes

Though our entire trip around Japan was amazing, the Japanese Alps were definitely one of my favorite areas. I love mountains, though unfortunately, we don’t have any in the Netherlands. I also love hiking and this is something we did a lot in the Alps.

Kanazawa
Kenruko-en garden Kanazawa - Japan itinerary

We started our journey through the Alps in Kanazawa to stroll around the lovely Kenruko-en garden.

Shirakawa-go
Shirakawa-go (白川郷, Shirakawagō) village in Japanese Alps

The next day we got on a bus to Shirakawa-go, famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old!

Takayama
Old shops in Takayama village Japanese Alps

The next city on our Alps itinerary was Takayama, where we explored the old neighborhoods and Hida Folk Village.

Kamikochi
1 Month In Japan: A Complete Itinerary And Travel Map

The absolute highlight of our Japan trip was Kamikochi, one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

I spent three days in Kamikochi. We were surrounded by stunning mountains and scaled a volcano (Mount Yakedake). We slept in our little tent at a very well-managed campsite and wandered around the valley. Suffice to say, I was completely and utterly happy.

Matsumoto
One month Japan itinerary - Matsumoto Castle

Last but not least we visited the beautiful castle in Matsumoto, one of Japan’s most famous and well-preserved historic castles.

During our second trip to Japan, we spent 3 nights in Matsumoto, it’s a very convenient hub to explore the Japanese Alps and a nice city as well.

Check out my Japanese Alps itinerary and Kamikochi camping and hiking guide.

Where to stay in Matsumoto:
Alpico Plaza Hotel

Day 29: Goodbye Japan…

From Matsumoto, we traveled back to Tokyo to catch our flight back home. I was sad to leave because we had such an amazing month in Japan…

From the wilds of Hokkaido with its hauntingly beautiful nature and it’s bitter cold to the tragic and terrible history of Hiroshima.

From the floating Tori gate of Miyajima to the peaks of Kamikochi, the temples in Kyoto and the mysterious forest of Koyasan, it was a wonderful trip. And that’s not even taking into account all the delicious food!

Japan is an amazing country and I highly recommend to add Japan to your travel bucket list, you won’t regret it.

Hokkaido 10 day road trip itinerary

Alternative Japan itineraries (7 and 10 days + 2 and 3 weeks)

Japan itinerary 7 days

If you just have 1 week in Japan, don’t worry! While you cannot see everything the country has to offer, you can get a taste and feel of the country. Here is my suggestion for a 7 day Japan itinerary:

  • Day 1-2: Explore Tokyo
  • Day 3: Make a day trip from Tokyo (such as Mount Fuji, Kamakura or Nikko)
  • Day 4: Take the Shinkansen to Kyoto (2 hours and 15 minutes) and explore Kyoto
  • Day 5-6: Explore Kyoto
  • Day 7: Return to Tokyo and fly home (you can also fly out from Osaka)

10 day Japan itinerary

This Japan 10 day itinerary includes the major cities Tokyo and Kyoto, but also the beautiful nature of Koyasan and the famous temples (and deer) in Nara.

This Japan 10 days itinerary isn’t too fast-paced, however, you will get to visit five very different places in Japan:

  • Day 1-2: Explore Tokyo
  • Day 3: Make a day trip from Tokyo (such as Mount Fuji, Kamakura or Nikko)
  • Day 4: Take the Shinkansen to Kyoto (2 hours and 15 minutes) and explore Kyoto
  • Day 5-6: Explore Kyoto
  • Day 7-8: Hike the Koyasan Chōishi-Michi pilgrimage trail and explore sacred Koyasan
  • Day 9: Visit Nara
  • Day 10: fly home from Osaka
Kinkakuji temple Golden Pavilion Kyoto Japan

Japan 2 week itinerary

This 2 week Japan itinerary includes the major highlights of Japan, without rushing around the country. During your 2 weeks in Japan, you’ll visit the cities Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima and get to enjoy some beautiful nature (and temples) in Koyasan and on Miyajima island.

  • Day 1-3: Explore Tokyo
  • Day 4: Make a day trip from Tokyo (such as Mount Fuji, Kamakura or Nikko)
  • Day 5: Take the Shinkansen to Kyoto (2 hours and 15 minutes) and explore Kyoto
  • Day 6-7: Explore Kyoto
  • Day 8-9: Hike the Koyasan Chōishi-Michi pilgrimage trail and explore sacred Koyasan
  • Day 10-11: Travel to Hiroshima and learn about the tragic history of the city
  • Day 12-13: Go hiking on Miyajima island and admire the famous floating Torii gate
  • Day 14: fly home from Osaka

Japan 3 week itinerary

With this 3 week Japan itinerary, you get to experience very different sides of Japan. You’ll explore several interesting cities, spend a night in Koyasan and hike around the Japanese Alps.

When you have 3 weeks in Japan, I suggest the following route:

  • Day 1-3: Explore Tokyo
  • Day 4: Make a day trip from Tokyo (such as Mount Fuji, Kamakura or Nikko)
  • Day 5: Take the Shinkansen to Kyoto (2 hours and 15 minutes) and explore Kyoto
  • Day 6-7: Explore Kyoto
  • Day 8-9: Hike the Koyasan Chōishi-Michi pilgrimage trail and explore sacred Koyasan
  • Day 10-11: Visit Nara
  • Day 12-13: Explore Osaka
  • Day 14-20: Travel around the Japanese Alps (Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Takayama, Kamikochi, and Matsumoto)
  • Day 21: Fly home from Tokyo

Japan recommended itinerary: in conclusion

I hope this post has given you an idea of what to see in Japan, you can download the map of our Japan one month itinerary below.

If you have any questions, leave a comment or send me a message.

Download 1-month itinerary

This post was updated in March 2020.

  • Planning a trip to Japan? This perfect Japan itinerary includes Tokyo, Hokkaido, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nara, Koyasan, Kyoto, the Japanese Alps (Kamikochi) and Matsumoto. Read about the best things to do in Japan and check the included map to see where to find all the Japan highlights. #Japan #Asia #Travel #Itinerary
  • Planning a trip to Japan? This perfect Japan itinerary includes Tokyo, Hokkaido, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nara, Koyasan, Kyoto, the Japanese Alps (Kamikochi) and Matsumoto. Read about the best things to do in Japan and check the included map to see where to find all the Japan highlights. #Japan #Asia #Travel #Itinerary

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About Lotte

About Lotte - author of Phenomenal Globe Travel Blog
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Comments

  1. Shannon

    October 31, 2016 at 3:42 pm

    For some reason I always think of busy compact cities and quiet blossom gardens when I think of Japan, but it’s great to see a mountainous side to it too. A very useful guide which I’m pinning for later!

    Reply
    • Lotte

      October 31, 2016 at 10:17 pm

      Both can be found in Japan (the busy cities and beautiful gardens) but amazing nature as well! I am happy could show you another side of Japan, thanks for pinning:-)

      Reply
  2. Lotte

    November 14, 2016 at 3:34 pm

    Thanks Isabel, really helpful 🙂

    Reply
  3. Ella

    March 21, 2017 at 11:54 pm

    Hi Lotte!

    Thank you for such a DETAILED and awesome post about Japan. We are also going for 1 month, and we’re excited to more or less follow your footsteps! We’re going in August though, and are expecting everywhere (including Hokkaido) to be quite hot. What month did you guys go in?

    Cheers

    Reply
    • Lotte

      March 22, 2017 at 9:18 am

      Hey Ella, so nice to hear from you and I am really happy to hear you like the Japan itinerary:-). I’m sure you’ll have a great time, Japan is awesome! I think July and August on Hokkaido are very hot and humid (though Hokkaido should be a nice temperature according to the locals). We went at the end of April/start of May, freezing at night and about 12 degrees during the day. Have a wonderful trip and let me know if you have any questions! Lotte

      Reply
  4. Olaf

    November 16, 2017 at 10:22 am

    My family visited Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto a summer ago. Your right, it was a trip I will not forget! We had the chance to see many of the sights you discussed. It is wise when planning an itinerary, do so by neighborhoods. This ensures you get a lot of sights in. Be prepared to be exhausted every night.

    Thankfully we will return next year for my daughter’s semester abroad. I book marked this post to help set our itinerary. Thanks so much for sharing your experience!

    Reply
    • Lotte

      November 19, 2017 at 8:19 am

      Hi Olaf,

      Japan is definitely a country you will never forget, so unique both in culture, food and architecture… Lucky you that you’ll be going back next year, I hope you have another unforgettable trip in Japan!

      Lotte

      Reply
  5. Carolina

    January 30, 2018 at 7:34 pm

    Hi!! i’m so happy i found this blog, i’m travelling in April to Japan for 1 month with my boyfriend, and i we love hiking and nature too, and we were thinking about a roadtrip by car too in Hokkaido, so it is perfect! it was very very useful! thank you !! and if you love mountains and nature, you would love my country (Chile), specially Patagonia.

    Reply
    • Lotte

      January 31, 2018 at 8:52 am

      Thank you so much Carolina! I hope you have a wonderful trip in Japan and Hokkaido:-) Let me know if you have any questions.

      I would love love love to visit Chile, it’s on my bucket list… I’ve seen so many pictures of Patagonia and it looks absolutely spectacular!
      Enjoy your trip,
      Lotte

      Reply
  6. Anna

    November 1, 2018 at 10:02 pm

    Hello Lotte, how much apx. did you spent per months per person (flight tickets excluded), please?
    Thank You Anna

    Reply
    • Lotte

      November 6, 2018 at 2:22 pm

      Hi Anna,

      You can find a detailed budge breakdown of our Japan trip here: https://www.phenomenalglobe.com/japan-travel-budget/. We spent €107/$122 as a couple (so for the two of us together). Let me know if you have any other questions!

      Lotte

      Reply
  7. Deric Thai

    November 15, 2018 at 7:43 am

    Hey, I tried downloading your 1 month itinerary powerpoint but I dont think its fully uploaded properly? Is it possible to get a fully detailed itinerary to your trip? also I have questions about the JR Pass, once I get it, do I need to reserve seats on trains ahead of time or do I just show up and I get to get on the train?

    Reply
    • Lotte

      November 16, 2018 at 12:43 pm

      Hi Deric,

      Sorry to dissapoint you but yes, this is it. This map is to give people an overview of Japan and how much of the country you can explore in a month. All the detailed information on how to get to a certain place is mentioned in the posts about those places (e.g. the Japanese Alps), let me know if you have any questions after reading those!

      About the JR Pass, you don’t have to make a reservation (we never did) as all trains have both reserved as unreserved seats. Reservations can be made at a JR ticket office (found on larger stations). Have a great trip!

      Lotte

      Reply
  8. Scott Jordan

    December 22, 2018 at 11:07 pm

    Hello Lottie!

    this is an incredible post, found it very helpful!

    I am planning a rather ambitious cycle trip during august/sept summer 2019. My intention is to cycle around Tohoku over a month period or so staying at hostels and airBnB along the way. However i am finding that there doesn’t appear to be many hostels in the north of Honshu. I noticed you didn’t stay anywhere in Tohoku i was wondering was that because of a similar reason?

    How far in advance would you advise booking rooms to stay?

    Thanks for your help
    Scott

    Reply
    • Lotte

      December 24, 2018 at 1:10 pm

      Hello Scott,

      Thank you for your kind comment! Your cycle trip sounds amazing:-) I actually didn’t research that area, Japan is such a large country and there is so much to see, there was only so much we could visit in one month. The Tohoku area didn’t make the cut… I checked http://www.hatinosu.net/ and there are some campsites but you are right about Airbnb and Booking showing very few options! Perhaps you can try finding a Japanese hotel booking site or you can consider carrying a small tent.

      We didn’t book that far ahead, I think only a couple of weeks and on Hokkaido only 1 or 2 days.
      I hope this helps! Have a great trip:-)

      Lotte

      Reply
  9. Alex Ek

    June 13, 2019 at 7:08 pm

    Hello! I am wondering how you contacted the campsite in Miyajima. Thank you so much for this blog! It’s really helped a lot!

    Reply
    • Lotte

      June 13, 2019 at 7:44 pm

      Hi Alex,

      Very welcome! I actually didn’t contact the campsite, we just showed up:-) Sorry I can’t be more help. Have a great trip!

      Lotte

      Reply
  10. Brendon

    September 8, 2019 at 12:34 pm

    HI there,

    Did you get any vaccinations for your trip to Japan? Specifically, for Japanese Encephalitis?

    Cheers,
    Brendon

    Reply
    • Lotte

      September 9, 2019 at 8:18 pm

      Hi Brendon,

      Thank you for your email and we didn’t get any vaccines specifically for Japan. However, we already had many vaccines (Hep A&B, MMR and tetanus etc). We did not get the Japanese Encephalitis vaccines, though I’m no medical expert so I don’t feel qualified to give any advice regarding health issues. I recommend to check with your doctor and discuss the pros and cons with him/her:-). Have a great trip to Japan!

      Lotte

      Reply
  11. Daniel

    January 6, 2021 at 10:28 am

    Fantastic itinerary. I will keep this in mind for the next time I travel:-)

    Reply
    • Lotte

      January 7, 2021 at 1:12 pm

      Thank you Daniel, let’s hope we can travel (safely) again in the near future:-)

      Reply

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