Tokyo
Neon and quiet in the same afternoon. Sushi counters, department store food halls, shrines tucked between towers, and neighborhoods that each feel like their own city.
Best for First impressions, food, shopping
Why Japan
Japan blends deep tradition with the future. Bullet trains connect Tokyo's energy, Kyoto's temples, Hakone's hot springs and the quiet of the Japanese Alps.
Highlights
- Tokyo
- Kyoto's temples and gardens
- Hakone and Mount Fuji
- A night in a traditional ryokan
Where to go in Japan
The places our travelers love most, and what each one does best.
Getting around the classic route
- Tokyo to HakoneAbout 1.5 hours by train
- Hakone to KyotoAbout 2.5 hours by bullet train
- Kyoto to NaraAbout 45 minutes
- Kyoto to Osaka15 minutes by bullet train
- Osaka to HiroshimaAbout 1.5 hours by bullet train
- Tokyo to KanazawaAbout 2.5 hours by bullet train
Hakone & Mount Fuji
Lakes, ropeways and hot springs with Fuji on the horizon. One night at a traditional inn here is the reset most travelers remember.
Best for Ryokan stays, onsen, views
Kyoto
Temples, gardens, wooden teahouses and the geisha district of Gion. Give it at least three nights; it rewards slow mornings.
Best for Culture, gardens, fall color
Nara
An easy day trip from Kyoto, with a giant bronze Buddha, ancient temples and friendly deer that bow for crackers.
Best for Families, history, a gentle day
Osaka
Japan’s kitchen. Street food in Dotonbori, a lively castle park, and the easiest airport for flying home.
Best for Food lovers, nightlife
Hiroshima & Miyajima
A moving morning at the Peace Memorial, then the floating torii gate on Miyajima island at high tide.
Best for History, reflection, scenery
Kanazawa
Samurai and geisha districts, one of Japan’s great gardens, and superb seafood, about two and a half hours from Tokyo.
Best for Second-timers, crafts, gardens
Hokkaido
Wide open landscapes, powder snow in winter and lavender fields in July, a short flight north of Tokyo.
Best for Skiing, nature, summer escapes
When to go
Late March to early April for cherry blossoms. October and November for fall color.
Spring and fall are Japan’s showpiece seasons, and they book up early. The months in between have their own rewards, and fewer people to share them with.
- JanQuiet and crisp
- FebPlum blossoms, ski season up north
- MarCherry blossoms by month’s end
- AprCherry blossoms, Golden Week
- MayFresh green, warm days
- JunRainy season begins
- JulHot and humid, festivals
- AugHot, Obon holiday crowds
- SepTyphoon season, warm
- OctClear skies, early color
- NovFall foliage at its best
- DecLights, early winter quiet
Peak season Shoulder season Low season
Average temperatures and rainfall
Jan2.4″
Feb2.2″
Mar4.6″
Apr5.3″
May5.5″
Jun6.6″
Jul6.1″
Aug6.1″
Sep8.9″
Oct9.2″
Nov3.8″
Dec2.3″
Jan2.1″
Feb2.6″
Mar4.2″
Apr4.6″
May6.0″
Jun7.9″
Jul8.8″
Aug6.1″
Sep7.0″
Oct5.6″
Nov2.9″
Dec2.3″
Average daily high and low in °F, with average monthly rainfall in inches.
Spring
Cherry blossoms arrive in Tokyo and Kyoto in late March and peak in early April. It’s magical and very popular, so we book nine to twelve months out. Golden Week, from April 29 to early May, is Japan’s busiest holiday; we plan around it.
Summer
June brings the rainy season, then July and August turn hot and humid. It’s festival season, and a great time for Hokkaido, the Japan Alps and hiking near Mount Fuji, when the climbing trails are open.
Fall
Our favorite season. Clear skies and comfortable days from October, with maples turning in Hakone first and peaking in Kyoto from mid-November into early December. Early September can still bring typhoons.
Winter
Crisp, sunny and quiet in the cities, with lights, hot springs and snow-dusted temples. Hokkaido and the Alps are world-class for skiing. Many places close January 1 to 3 for New Year’s.
Ideas by month:
Trip ideas
Starting points only. Every Japan trip we plan is built around you.
First Time in Japan
Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Nara by bullet train.
Japan Off the Beaten Track
The Kiso Valley, Takayama and Kanazawa.
Where you'll stay
Luxury city hotels and traditional ryokan inns with hot springs. We choose every hotel ourselves and know which rooms have the view.
Good to know
The small things that make a big difference once you land.
Travel light between cities
Japan’s luggage forwarding service sends your suitcases from one hotel to the next, usually overnight. We arrange it, so you ride the bullet train with just a day bag.
Trains, simplified
A tap-and-go transit card (or your phone’s wallet) covers city trains and buses. For bullet trains, we compare a rail pass against individual tickets for your exact route.
Cash still helps
Cards are widely accepted in cities, but temples, small restaurants and rural inns often prefer yen. Convenience store ATMs work with U.S. cards.
No tipping
Tipping isn’t part of the culture, and great service is simply expected. A sincere thank you, “arigatou gozaimasu,” goes a long way.
Ryokan and hot springs
A night at a traditional inn means tatami rooms, a multi-course dinner and a soak in the baths. Some public baths don’t allow visible tattoos, so we can book rooms with a private bath.
Book early for the seasons
For cherry blossoms or fall color, the best hotels fill nine to twelve months ahead. Outside those weeks, a few months is usually plenty.
Japan questions
When is the best time to visit Japan?
Late March to early April for cherry blossoms. October and November for fall color.
How long should I spend in Japan?
Most of our travelers spend 10 to 14 days in Japan. We'll shape the length around what you want to see and how you like to travel.
Can Global Escapes plan a private trip to Japan?
Yes. Every trip we plan to Japan is designed around you, with hand-picked hotels, private guides where they make a difference and support while you travel. Call 706.549.1164 or tell us about your trip below.
Tell us about your Japan dream.
Share as much or as little as you like. A member of our team will reach out personally to start shaping your trip.
Rather talk it through? Call 706.549.1164