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Japan Travel Guide with all Links

  • Writer: Ine Vandenwyngaert
    Ine Vandenwyngaert
  • Feb 12
  • 8 min read

Updated: Feb 13


Japan Destinations




Find all the places to go, eat, drink, and stay in Japan on Google Maps, follow and save the list, do the following:


  1. Tap on the link to open it (click button below)

  2. Tap Follow. This list will now be added to the group of lists you follow.

  3. Optional: To unfollow a list someone shared with you, tap the list Saved.

If you follow the list we made, all our saved places of Japan will show up in Your Places. The places will also appear as suggested locations in Google Maps.




Tokyo




Kawaguchiko & Five Lakes District



Matsumoto


  • How to get there: Kawaguchiko to Otsuki via Fujikyu Railway (local or the Fujisan View Express). Transfer at Otsuki to the JR Chuo Line (often the Limited Express Kaiji) to Kofu. Transfer at Kofu to the Limited Express Azusa which takes you the rest of the way to Matsumoto.

  • Travel time: 3-4 hours

  • How to get around: walking & train/bus to Alps

  • Highlights: Matsumoto Castle, Daio Wasabi Farm, Nakamachi and Nawate streets, Matsumoto City Museum of Art

  • Days needed: 3-4 days if used as base for Alps (otherwise 1 day is enough)

  • Where we stayed: Tabino Hotel lit Matsumoto (near train station - $$)


Kiso Valley (Nakasendo Trail)


  • How to get there: Train from Matsumoto Station to Nakatsugawa by JR Shinano Limited Express + taxi/local bus from train station track no. 3 to Magome

  • How to get back to Matsumoto: Bus Tsumago to Nagiso Station + train Nagiso to Matsumoto by JR Shinano Limited Express

  • Travel time: 1.5-2 hours one-way 

  • Days needed: day trip from Matsumoto (or stay 1-2 nights)




Kamikōchi



Takayama



Shirakawa-go


  • How to get there: Direct bus from Takayama Nohi Bus Center to Shirakawa-go Bus Terminal

  • Travel time: 1 hour

  • Highlights: Ogimachi Castle Ruins Observatory, visit inside historic houses (Wada, Kanda or Nagase House), cross the Deai Bridge

  • Days needed: 0.5-1 day


Kanazawa


  • How to get there: Direct bus from Shirakawa-go Bus Terminal to Kanazawa Station

  • Travel time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

  • Highlights: Kanazawa Castle, Kenroku-en Gardens, Omicho Market, Higashi Chaya Geisha District, Nagamachi Samurai District

  • How to get around: on foot

  • Days needed: 1-2 days

  • Where we stayed: Tokyu Stay Kanazawa ($$) 


Kyoto



Nara


  • Day trip from Kyoto

  • How to get there: Kyoto Station to Kintetsu-Nara Station via Kintetsu Railway (or JR Nara Line to Nara Station, but it’s further)

  • Travel time: 45 mins

  • Highlights: Nara Deer Park, Tōdai-ji, Wakakusayama Hill Hike, Yoshikien Garden


Hiroshima



Miyajima


  • How to get there: Direct Aqua Net ferry from Motoyasu Bridge OR take the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi Station, then hop on a short 10-minute ferry ride across to the island

  • Travel time: 45 mins by direct ferry or 1 hour by train + ferry

  • Highlights: Itsukushima Shrine and floating torii gate, scenic ropeway to Shishi-iwa Observatory, taste Momiji Manju, hiking from Momijidani bridge to Mount Misen

  • How to get around: on foot

  • Days needed: 1-2 days (possible as day trip from Hiroshima)


Himeji


  • How to get there: Direct Shinkansen from Hiroshima Station to Himeji Station

  • Travel time: 1 hour

  • Highlights: Himeji Castle, Koko-en Garden, Otokoyama Haisui’ike Park viewpoint

  • How to get around: on foot

  • Days needed: 0.5-1 day


Osaka



Nachikatsuura


  • How to get there: direct train from Osaka Station to Kii-katsuura Station via the Kuroshio Limited Express 

  • Travel time: 4 hours

  • Days needed: 2-3 days

  • Where we stayed: NemKumano by WhyKumano ($$)


Okinawa (Kerama Islands)


  • How to get to Okinawa Main Island: train from Kii-katsuura Station to Hineno Station via the Kuroshio Limited Express and transfer to Kansai-Airport Station via Kansaikuko Line. Then take a flight to Naha International Airport

  • How to get to the Kerama Islands: Ferry from Tomari Port

  • Travel time: 3 hours 40 mins (train) + 2 hours 15 mins (flight) + 35-50 mins ferry 

  • Highlights: Furuzamami Beach, Ama Beach snorkeling off the shore with turtles, Mt. Takatsuki observation decks hike, Nishibama Beach, Aharen Beach, Tokashiku Beach, Kubandaki lookout, renting an electric scooter or ebike to drive around the islands

  • Days needed: 5-7 days

  • Where we stayed:



Suggested Itineraries


2 weeks classic route


  • Tokyo (3 days)

  • Lake Kawaguchiko (2 days)

  • Takayama (2 days)

  • Shirakawa-go (day trip from Takayama)

  • Kyoto (3 days)

  • Himeji (1 day)

  • Hiroshima (2 days)


2 weeks off-the-beaten path


  • Tokyo (2 days)

  • Takayama (2 days)

  • Kamikochi (as day trip from Takayama via Nohi Bus (bound for Shinhotaka Ropeway) to Hirayu Onsen + transfer to shuttle bus to Kamikochi)

  • Shirakawa-go (1 day)

  • Kanazawa (2 days)

  • Okinawa (6 days)


3 weeks classic route


  • Tokyo (3 days)

  • Lake Kawaguchiko (2 days)

  • Takayama (2 days)

  • Shirakawa-go (day trip from Takayama)

  • Kyoto (3 days)

  • Nara (day trip from Kyoto)

  • Himeji (1 day)

  • Hiroshima (2 days)

  • Miyajima (day trip from Hiroshima)

  • Okinawa (5 days)


3 weeks off-the-beaten path


  • Tokyo (2 days)

  • Matsumoto (1 day)

  • Kiso Valley (day trip from Matsumoto)

  • Kamikochi (day trip from Matsumoto)

  • Takayama (2 days)

  • Shirakawa-go (1 day)

  • Kanazawa (2 days)

  • Kyoto (2 days)

  • Himeji (1 day)

  • Nachikatsuura (3 days)

  • Okinawa (5 days)


1 month


  • Tokyo (2 days)

  • Lake Kawaguchiko (2 days)

  • Matsumoto (2 days)

  • Kiso Valley (1 day trip from Matsumoto)

  • Kamikochi (2 days)

  • Takayama (2 days)

  • Shirakawa-go (1 day)

  • Kanazawa (2 days)

  • Kyoto (3 days)

  • Nara (day trip from Kyoto)

  • Himeji (1 day)

  • Hiroshima (2 days)

  • Osaka (2 days)

  • Nachi-katsuura (3 days)

  • Okinawa (5 days)



Transportation: Everything You Need To Know!


1. Trains & Shinkansen (Bullet Trains)


  • SmartEX: The official app/site for the most popular Shinkansen line (Tokyo → Nagoya → Kyoto → Osaka → Hiroshima). It allows you to link your ticket to your IC card (Suica/Pasmo).

  • JR West Online: Best for travel in Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Kanazawa.

  • Klook: A very user-friendly third-party site for buying point-to-point Shinkansen tickets and JR Passes if the official sites reject your international credit card (a common issue).


2. Buses (Highway & Overnight)


  • Willer Express: The most popular highway bus company for tourists. They have high-quality "pink buses" with comfortable seats.

  • Japan Bus Online: A great aggregator for various local and long-distance bus lines across the country.

  • Kosokubus: Excellent for comparing prices between different highway bus operators.


3. Ferry in Okinawa



4. Planning & Local Transport


  • Navitime Japan Travel: The gold standard for checking schedules. It even has a "JR Pass filter" to show you only the routes covered by the pass.

  • Google Maps: Unbeatable for local city travel and walking directions.



Buying at the Station: Is it okay?


  • For Local/Rapid Trains: Yes, 100%. You just tap your IC card (Suica/Pasmo) and go. No need to buy a paper ticket.

  • For Shinkansen/Limited Express: It’s usually fine to buy these at the Green Ticket Machines or the Ticket Office (Midori-no-Madoguchi) right before you board.

  • The Exception: During "Peak Seasons" (Golden Week in May, Obon in August, or New Year’s), trains sell out days in advance. In those cases, booking online is a must.


The "Two-Ticket" System (Base Fare vs. Limited Express)


Train travel in Japan is priced in layers:


  1. The Base Fare (Fare Ticket): This is the cost to get from Point A to Point B. This is what you pay for the "slow" local train.

  2. The Limited Express Surcharge (Super Express Ticket): This is the "upgrade" fee. You pay this extra amount for the speed of the faster train and the comfort of a reserved or nicer seat.


When you use a "Limited Express" train, you will often end up with two paper tickets (one for the fare, one for the speed/seat). You have to feed both into the ticket gate at the same time! If you use an IC card for the base fare, you still have to buy the paper "upgrade" ticket at a machine.



Luggage forwarding services


Luggage forwarding, known in Japan as Takuhaibin, is a highly efficient door-to-door delivery service that lets you send suitcases between airports, hotels, and even convenience stores. By using this service, you can travel "hands-free" on trains and buses, usually receiving your bags the very next day for a modest fee (typically ¥2,000–¥3,500 per bag).


Here are three major companies that offer this service:


  • Yamato Transport (Kuroneko): The market leader, easily recognized by its "black cat" logo. They have the widest network, allowing you to drop off or pick up luggage at almost any hotel or convenience store (like 7-Eleven or FamilyMart) in the country.

  • Sagawa Express: A major competitor to Yamato that offers similar nationwide hotel-to-hotel and airport delivery. They are often found at dedicated service counters in major train stations like Tokyo or Kyoto Station.

  • JAL ABC: Specialized primarily in airport-to-hotel and hotel-to-airport transfers. They are a great choice if you want to ship your bags immediately upon landing at Narita, Haneda, or Kansai Airport so they are waiting at your hotel when you arrive.

World Wild Hearts

Hi! We are Ine & Zac. An international travel couple from Belgium and the US. We created World Wild Hearts to inspire new adventures and help you plan your next trip. Use these tips, stories, and guides to inspire your next adventure of a lifetime!

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