Northeast Asia · Japon

Hi everyone,

Great to be back here—it’s been years!

We’re heading to Japan with the family in mid-July and will mostly explore Kyushu for this second trip. We’ll wrap up with 3 days on Yakushima, but we’re planning to fly back to Osaka from Tanegashima after stopping by the space center. To get from Yakushima to Tanegashima, I’ve found two options: - Depart from Miyanoura port and go to Shimama with the Taiyo II ferry, but it arrives a bit too late for us (it gets in at 10:05 AM, and we need to be at the space center by 10:30 AM…) - Depart from Anbo port, but in that case, the boat goes to Nishinoomote, which is all the way at the north of the island—super inconvenient since the space center is at the very south!

Does anyone here know if there’s another way to make the Miyanoura/Shimama trip besides the Taiyo II ferry (like a private boat, a fisherman’s boat, or something else)? It feels silly to go all the way to the north of the island just to head right back down…

Thanks in advance! !

Hi everyone,

After years of silence and wonderful memories from our exchanges during two trips to South Africa, I’m back on the forum with plans for a trip to Japan.

We’re considering traveling from June 16 to July 9. I know this isn’t the best time weather-wise, but it’s our only option, especially since we want to include climbing Mount Fuji.

Here’s our itinerary—I’d love your thoughts: - Day 1: Arrival at Haneda in the evening (Night in Tokyo) - Day 2: Tokyo (Night in Tokyo) - Day 3: Nikko (Night in Tokyo) - Day 4: Travel to Hiroshima, then visit (Night in Hiroshima) - Day 5: Day in Miyajima (Night in Hiroshima) - Day 6: Day in Kagura Monzen Tojimura (Night in Hiroshima) - Day 7: Travel to Himeji, then visit (Night in Himeji) - Day 8: Himeji (Night in Himeji) - Day 9: Travel to Koyasan (Night in Koyasan) - Day 10: Koyasan (Night in Koyasan) - Day 11: Travel to Nara (Night in Nara) - Day 12: Travel to Kyoto (Night in Kyoto) - Day 13: Kyoto (Night in Kyoto) - Day 14: Travel to Fukui (Night in Fukui) - Day 15: Travel to Kanazawa (Night in Kanazawa) - Day 16: Travel to Hakone (Night in Hakone) - Day 17: Hakone (Night in Hakone) - Day 18: Travel to Kamakura (Night in Kamakura) - Day 19: Travel to Tokyo (Night in Tokyo) - Day 20: Travel to Fujiyoshida (Night in Fujiyoshida) - Day 21: Ascent via Yoshida Trail - Day 22: Descent via Yoshida Trail (Night in Fujiyoshida) - Day 23: Travel to Tokyo (Night in Tokyo) - Day 24: Departure from Narita

Let me know if any stops seem unnecessary or if you’d add something.

I’m planning to rent a car from Himeji (Day 9) until Hakone (Day 16) to make travel easier.

Have a great day!

Thomas

I set off (on October 9, 2010) with my backpack from the Takijiri-oji bus stop, the starting point of the Nakahechi Route, which takes two days to reach Hongu Taisha temple.

Day 1: 12 km and a cumulative elevation gain (CEG) of 750 m. It was raining heavily, but I was well equipped with lightweight Gore-Tex. Spent the night and had a very Japanese meal at the ryokan Tsuki-no-ya at the entrance of the small village of Chikatsuyu-oji.

Day 2: the toughest day: 25 km and 1,000 m of CEG (just as much in descents...). Beautiful weather. Lots of fairly steep slopes with many stairs. Spent the night and had a meal at B&B Café in Hongu. Check out their English website.

Day 3: a rest day to visit Hongu Taisha Temple, then Yunomine Onsen and Kawayu Onsen, where I spent the night at Ashita-no-mori. They’re charming, speak English, and they were the ones who booked my nights for days 2 and 4 since I don’t speak Japanese. Connections between these three villages are by bus. Beautiful weather.

Day 4: Kogumotori-goe branch, taken in the opposite direction to what many pilgrims do. Beautiful weather. 17 km and 450 m of CEG, with just as much in descents. Fairly steep slopes, sometimes slippery stone slabs, and a few stairway sections. Spent the night and had a meal at Koguchi Shizen-no-le.

Day 5: Cloudy but nice weather. Ogumotori-goe branch to Nachi Taisha. Nearly 17 km and 1,250 m of CEG, with 1,000 m in descents. Similar terrain to the other days. Visited the temple, then returned by bus and train to my "logistics base" in Shirahama.

Things to note: > Don’t carry too much water. There are drink vending machines in many places. Bonus: cold drinks and a sugar boost. > This route is a bit technical, but it’s doable for someone who’s prepared physically. PS: I’m 62 and not a superhuman. > Check out the Tanabe City Tourism Bureau website (www.tb-kumano.jp)—it’s very well done—and ask them to send you the small guide with the trail maps (Pilgrimage Route Maps). There’s a certain Brad Towle, very professional and efficient.

In conclusion: a trek off the beaten path, very rewarding to experience. Early October seems like the perfect time. But May or June should be great too. I didn’t encounter many hikers, except a few during the first two days because Monday was a public holiday. All Japanese.

I highly recommend this trail—the only one, along with the Camino de Santiago, to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Feel free to contact me for more details.

Hi there,

We’re traveling to Japan as a family with two kids (10 and 8 years old) next summer, and we’ll have 16 days there.

I’d love to share our itinerary with you to check if it makes sense and also ask a few practical questions.

Day 1: Arrival, settling in, and exploring Tokyo Day 2: Tokyo Day 3: Tokyo Day 4: Tokyo or a day trip to Nikko? Day 5: Tokyo Day 6: Tokyo Day 7: Matsumoto Day 8: Kamikochi or Takayama Day 9: Takayama Day 10: Takayama-Shirakawago-Kanazawa Day 11: Kanazawa Day 12: Kyoto Day 13: Himeji (is a full day needed?) Day 14: Kyoto (Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari—doable in one day?) Day 15: Kyoto Day 16: Osaka Day 17: Departure from Osaka

What would be the ideal neighborhood in Tokyo to stay in? (Good location, kid-friendly, etc.) For getting around, is a pocket Wi-Fi the only/best option? Is the Suica card suitable and sufficient for getting around all of Tokyo? Would the JR Pass be a good option for us? Are the Japanese Alps a good compromise for us if we want to see some of the Japanese countryside and maybe take a breather after the intensity of Tokyo?

Thanks so much in advance for your replies

Hi everyone,

So happy to be back here !

I’m currently planning our first trip to Japan. We’ll be traveling with our two teens, aged 16 and 17. We’re doing a pretty classic loop, but I’d still love to hear your valuable input.

Here’s the itinerary we’re considering:

- Tokyo (5 full days) - Fuji Yoshida (1 night) - Matsumoto (1 night) - Kamikochi / Gokayama (1 night) - Kanazawa (1 night) - Ine (1 night) - Himeji - Kyoto (5 full days)

We’re thinking of renting a car for the Japanese Alps portion.

We’re planning a 3-week trip, so I still have a few days to allocate—maybe in the Japanese Alps.

What do you think of the itinerary? The detour to Ine might seem odd, but I really want to include a coastal part—any thoughts? Is renting a car in Japan a total hassle?

And finally, is it absolutely necessary to book all accommodations in advance if we’re traveling in August? Or can I leave some flexibility for the Kanazawa / Ine / Himeji portion? Maybe if we really love a place and want to stay longer?

Thanks in advance for your tips!!

See you soon,

Gwen

Hi there, We’re planning a trip to Japan with my boyfriend in November 2025. We’ll have 12 full days (excluding flight time), arriving in Tokyo and departing from Osaka. Do you have any itinerary ideas to recommend? We’re up for adventure and discovering the local culture. We’d also love to do some typical activities: watch a sumo match, experience a tea ceremony, stay in a ryokan, etc... We’re open to all suggestions! Thanks! 🙂

Hi there, I’m planning to visit Japan in May this year, and I’d love to try doing it without taking a flight. I’m currently in Vietnam, and my plan is to travel to Shanghai and then take a ferry to Osaka. I can’t find any clear info online about whether this is still possible. Most links mention a weekly departure, but when I check the company’s website, it says passenger transport is suspended.

If any of you have more recent info, I’d really appreciate it!

Have a great day! 😊

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to Japan with my three grown-up kids, who aren’t exactly keen on rushing from one place to another with heavy luggage. I’ve tried to balance things so we can see as much as possible while still giving them time to enjoy the evenings. Here’s what I’ve come up with: - Arrival in Tokyo on May 17 - Staying in Tokyo from May 17 to 22, exploring the city, with a day trip to Nikko (round trip in one day): is it worth it, considering it’s a 2-hour train ride each way? - Sending our big suitcases directly to Osaka - Traveling to Kamakura on May 23: 1 night (with small luggage) - Traveling to Hakone on May 24: 1 night (with small luggage) - Heading to Osaka on May 25: staying from May 25 to June 2 in Osaka, where we’ll pick up our big suitcases Day trips from Osaka: - Kyoto: 2 days (round trip in one day) - Nara: 1 day (round trip in one day) My son would prefer to stay in Osaka for all 8 days, but I’m wondering if it’s a good idea to spend at least one night in Kyoto. What do you think? - Leaving for Himeji on June 3: is it possible to leave both big and small luggage in a coin locker to visit the castle, or is it better to do a round trip from Osaka? - Traveling to Hiroshima: 3 nights from June 3 to 5: - Hiroshima: 1 day - Miyajima: 1 day - Okayama and Kurashiki: 1 day: is it better to do a round trip from Hiroshima and return to Tokyo from there, or spend the night of June 5 in Okayama and head to Tokyo from there? - Back to Tokyo from June 6 to 9, with departure on the morning of June 9. Since I’ve never been to Japan, I’ve tried to focus on the most interesting spots. Are there any places I’ve missed that you think we should add, or others that might not be as worthwhile? About the luggage: is it a hassle to forward it to Kamakura, Hakone, and Kyoto? How much do coin lockers usually cost? My son says the JR Pass isn’t worth it—what’s your take? For accommodations, we’re leaning toward mid-range hotels with good value rather than apartments. Any great tips? I know I’m asking a lot of questions—I really appreciate anyone who can point me in the right direction. Thanks in advance!

Hi there,

Having already visited some of the "classic" spots during my first trip to Japan in 2006, I’d like to show my partner some slightly lesser-known places (all relative, of course!) for our trip planned in November 2025, while still keeping a few of the country’s "must-sees."

Here’s the rough itinerary I’ve sketched out so far:

- Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo – Night in Tokyo - Day 2: Depart for Kamakura – Night in Kamakura or return to Tokyo - Day 3: Depart for Matsumoto – Visit the castle – Night in Matsumoto - Day 4: Matsumoto – Narai – Tsumago – Night in Tsumago - Day 5: Tsumago – Magome (hike) – Night in Magome - Days 6, 7, 8, 9: Depart for Kyoto – Sightseeing – Nights in Kyoto - Day 10: Depart for Kinosaki Onsen – Night in Kinosaki - Day 11: Explore the area around Kinosaki (Takeno? Izushi?) – Night in Kinosaki - Day 12: Depart for Himeji – Visit the castle – Night in Himeji or Hiroshima - Day 13: Miyajima Island – Night in Hiroshima - Day 14: Depart for Onomichi – Night in Onomichi - Day 15: Bike day to Ikuchi Jima / return by ferry – Night in Onomichi - Day 16: Depart for Tomo-no-Ura then Kurashiki – Night in Kurashiki - Day 17: Depart for Okayama – Visit the garden – Night in Okayama - Day 18: Kibi Plain bike ride – Night in Okayama - Day 19: ??? - Days 20, 21, 22: Tokyo – Nights in Tokyo

I’m struggling a bit to gauge how long the travel times will be, despite my online research, so I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice on this itinerary.

Thanks so much in advance for your feedback!

Hi there, In 2022, I went to Japan where I planned to buy a bike (you need to know a trusted Japanese resident or similar, otherwise it's impossible, but you get a registration in return). There are many websites selling second-hand bikes, accessories, and parts at all price points that you can find online. I bought a suitable bike, the right size, for around 600 €, which allowed me to cover the 850 km I had planned. For transport, you absolutely need a soft bike bag, because you must dismantle it to board any train or bus! And even to move it around the station! For express trains in certain regions, you need to make a reservation for oversized luggage (check at the station), and in return, there will be a reserved space. Keep in mind that Japanese people travel with little luggage since they rarely go away for more than a week. So, if you don’t end up with a crowd of tourists... (watch out on tourist routes in Tokyo and Hiroshima). Avoid tourist areas during GOLDEN WEEK in April-May—trains and hotels are fully booked. Take the opportunity to escape to the countryside... For hotel bookings, Booking and Agoda are safe options—you can confidently choose the cheapest ones. In small towns, street life shuts down at sunset, so plan ahead for restaurants. Otherwise, there’s always the konbini! For ferries, there’s no problem, but you may have to pay in some cases. Otherwise, it’s all very pleasant: drivers are very respectful. Bear in mind that driving is on the left side of the road. I took a few trips around Tokyo and its suburbs without any issues, except for orientation. A GPS is essential because many people don’t speak much English or know exactly where they are in relation to your destination. But luckily, there’s the KOBAN—a neighborhood police box where an officer has a big book of maps, and their mission is to help you find your way if you know the address, the neighborhood name, the subway station, or even the name of a bar (!) Otherwise, I cycled on very small roads away from main routes, through small villages, and that’s where you really discover "deep" Japan. Japan is a mix of landscapes, often wilder than what we’re used to in Europe, but also signs of an aging population, with rural exodus and many abandoned houses in the mountainous countryside of SHIKOKU or NOTO. I explored or took rides from town to town, sometimes ahead of or behind my partner, who traveled by train or bus on her own. I met few Japanese cyclists (with very basic bikes) or non-Japanese ones, except for cyclists on the SHIMANAMI route with amazing bikes. No need for a heavy lock—you can find them there. There are also shops for second-hand parts. For safety, ideally, you should get a local SIM card. It’s good to know that in an emergency, your phone will work to call for help—dead zones are rare. I brought the bike back to Europe as checked luggage in a properly sized box with no special formalities, for a transport cost of around 150 €. I got the box from an international bike shop in Tokyo after some searching and resizing it (with a knife and packing tape).

Hi there,

I’d like to travel to Japan with my son. I read that it’s cheaper to fly via Hong Kong to reach other Asian countries. I tried it, and it’s indeed much cheaper, with better flight times on Cathay Pacific, which is a great airline. In short, it’s better—even though I think if I miss a flight, I’d lose everything.

I’d like to know if it’s easy to get around Hong Kong Airport? Do you have to go through customs again in these cases? Do you need to pay for some kind of transit visa?

If the layover is long, is it easy to head into the city for a quick visit?

Thanks for your feedback!

Hi fellow travelers! I’m planning a trip to Japan from March 22 to April 12 and really want to bike the Shimanami Kaido starting from Onomichi, but I don’t cycle regularly. Has anyone here done it and could share their experience or tips? Is the weather in March-April favorable? Should I plan for 2 or 3 days? Electric or regular bike? What’s better—having my luggage forwarded along the route or leaving it in a locker? Any recommendations for accommodations or bike rentals? Thanks in advance for your replies!

Hi fellow travelers! I’d like to do a homestay on a farm in the Oita region, Kyushu. The "farm stays" association’s address isn’t responding anymore. Would anyone have any info? Thanks

Hi there,

My daughter, wife, and I are starting to plan a two-week trip to Japan for... April 2026. My wife wants us to really treat ourselves, so we’re considering business class (we usually fly premium economy or even economy). Since we’re departing from Paris and want a direct flight, we have three options: JAL, ANA, or Air France.

I’ve flown Air France in business quite a bit for work, and I do find it very comfortable. But I wonder if I’m just defaulting to a national bias—maybe the other two airlines have advantages I’m not considering.

If I’m looking at criteria like: - Comfort (especially for sleeping) - Meals - Entertainment

Any advice? Personal experiences? Have any of the three airlines updated their business class on this route recently?

Thanks! !

Hi, I’d like to meet new people in Bordeaux to plan future trips to Japan, Israel, and the United States. I’m also hoping to find opportunities to practice Japanese and English, pick up some basics in Hebrew, and connect with interesting folks.

Hi there,

For our second trip to Japan, we’ll be spending 22 full days in Kyushu. 😎 Here’s our draft itinerary:

1 - FUKUOKA 2 - FUKUOKA 3 - FUKUOKA 4 - FUKUOKA / SASEBO / OJIKA 5 - OJIKA 6 - OJIKA / SASEBO / NAGASAKI 7 - NAGASAKI 8 - NAGASAKI 9 - NAGASAKI / KUMAMOTO +++ car rental +++ 10 - KUMAMOTO / ASO 11 - ASO 12 - ASO / KUROKAWA ONSEN 13 - KUROKAWA ONSEN / KUMAMOTO +++ end of car rental +++ 14 - KUMAMOTO / KAGOSHIMA 15 - IBUSUKI / CHIRAN 16 - SAKURAJIMA (car?) 17 - KAGOSHIMA / YAKUSHIMA 18 - YAKUSHIMA (car?) 19 - YAKUSHIMA (car?) 20 - YAKUSHIMA / KAGOSHIMA 21 - ??? 22 - FUKUOKA

We’ve deliberately skipped the eastern part (from Beppu to Miyazaki…)

We still have a few questions about our itinerary:

Car: For most of our travel, we plan to take the train or bus, except in the Aso region where we’ll rent a car. We’re wondering about Sakurajima and Yakushima: is a car necessary there?

Ojika: Would one night be enough?

Yakushima: Are two full days (plus two half-days) sufficient?

If we keep the schedule as is, we have one extra day to fit in somewhere—any suggestions?

Thanks for your help! 🙂

Hello,

I'm planning to travel from Matsumoto to Tsumago to hike to Magome. Is it reasonable to leave early in the morning from Matsumoto by train, stop in Narai for a stroll (knowing we'll have our big backpacks, I hope there's a luggage locker at the station), and then continue to Tsumago to do the hike to Magome?

Or is it better to stop and sleep halfway in Kiso-Fukushima? (I looked for accommodations in Narai but couldn't find any.)

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Hi there,

I’m continuing to plan our next trip for this coming November.

I’d love to know if it’s realistic to leave Kinosaki Onsen by train in the morning, stop at Himeji Castle (for a visit), and then continue on to Hiroshima to spend the night.

From what I’ve seen, visiting Himeji takes about half a day, and there are coin lockers nearby to store our luggage.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi everyone,

I’m so happy to be posting on this forum again. I’m planning my trip and I’m trying to figure out the train route from Osaka to Odawara. I’ve found direct trains, but I can’t find a direct site for the specific train line (not sure if I’m making sense?!)

Because what I’ve found seems to be a “third-party” site. I can’t seem to find the official site for the specific line. If anyone can shed some light on this, I’d really appreciate it—thanks in advance!

Best,

hi everyone

I’m planning a trip to Japan from May 11 to 26 with Air China.

I’ll be taking Ouigo from Lyon for both the outbound and return trips to get to Roissy CDG.

For the outbound TGV from Lyon, I’ll arrive at Roissy with plenty of time—at least 6 or 7 hours before my 8:30 PM flight (Paris to Beijing, then Beijing to Tokyo). For the return on May 26, I was wondering what time you’d recommend booking my train to Lyon, given that I’ll land at CDG at 7:30 AM (flight from Tokyo). I was thinking of booking a train leaving at 11:00 AM from the SNCF station at CDG to Lyon Saint-Exupéry—does that seem too tight based on your experience?

This is my first time traveling this far with a layover in Beijing, and I’m not familiar with Roissy CDG Airport at all.

Thanks for your advice!

A friend and I are planning to visit Japan this autumn. Beyond the usual spots like Tokyo and Kyoto, we're looking for a nice, relaxing place. I've gathered info on Nikko and the Matsumoto area, and we might even stay in a monastery. We’ll have to choose—any preferences or tips? Thanks

Hi, I’m Algerian and I have a residence permit in France. In two months, I’m traveling to Japan with a Japanese visa, and I have a 16-hour layover in Incheon, South Korea. Do I need a visa to leave the airport and visit the area, or not? On the way back, I have a 20-hour layover in Beijing, and same question—do I need a visa to leave the airport or not?

Thanks for your help!

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to Japan in 2025 and would love to climb Mount Fuji. When is the climbing season, since it seems to be closed in winter? As a mountaineering hiker, I’m interested in the least crowded route. Thanks for any recent tips, and happy New Year to everyone! Aichatou

hi there,

I’m sharing my itinerary for Japan in April. Would love to know if it’s realistic.

Tokyo – 5 days Nagano – 2 days Osaka – 2 days Kyoto – 5 days Hiroshima – 2 days Hakone – 1 day Return to Tokyo

Thanks so much!

Hi there, The Nakasendo trail will take us to Narai. From there, we’d like to take the train to the Mount Fuji area. Which base would be the most convenient from Narai for a 2-day trip around Fuji? Thanks in advance for your tips!

Hi there, We’re heading to Japan soon and booked a room through Booking for our first two nights. The host is asking for a copy of our passports even though we’ve already paid. What do you all think? Thanks

In 2024, Japan welcomed 36.8 million foreign tourists, far surpassing its previous 2019 record. This performance is driven by a weak yen, ambitious tourism policies, and the appeal of its landscapes, traditional and modern culture. Despite this momentum, the country faces overtourism challenges, particularly in Kyoto, where measures like increasing tourist taxes aim to promote more sustainable tourism. The government aims to double visitor numbers by 2030 to strengthen this key sector of the economy. Read more...

Hi there, What are your thoughts on ryokan in Kinosaki?

Which one can you recommend for us with breakfast and dinner included?

This is for 3 nights in October.

Budget = great value for money.

Thanks for all your replies,

Jean

Hello,

What a joy to be back on this forum that I’ve browsed for so many years :-)!

I’m heading to Japan with my partner in November 2025. This will be my second trip there and his first.

I was planning to go from Tokyo to Matsumoto, which I haven’t visited before, and from there, check out Shirahone Onsen and then hike from Magome to Tsumago. However, after reading several travel journals, I’ve realized that the village of Shirakawa-go and its surroundings look amazing. Back in 2006, I visited Takayama, which I loved, but I don’t want to stay there again.

To visit the places mentioned above (Shirahone Onsen, Shirakawa-go, Magome, and Tsumago), I’m thinking that a car might be more convenient than public transport, especially for getting from Shirakawa-go to Magome. Could you confirm if that’s the case? If so, is it easy to rent a car for a few days to do a loop starting from Matsumoto?

Thanks in advance for your valuable tips.

Have a great evening

Hi everyone,

We’re planning a family trip to Tokyo for late October 2026, and I’d love your advice on organizing this stay. Here’s some info to give you a better idea of our situation: • There’ll be two adults (one with a mild mobility impairment, which makes long walks tricky) and a child who’ll be 13 at the time. • We’d like to spend around 15 days there to explore temples, traditional Japanese culture, and, of course, the world of manga and video games.

My questions: 1. Weather in October: What’s the climate like during that period? Should we pack any specific clothing? 2. Flight bookings: When’s the best time to book? And, in your opinion, is it better to fly from Paris or Brussels? 3. Accommodation: We prefer Airbnb-style rentals or similar. Which neighborhoods do you recommend for good location without too much commuting? 4. Trip duration: Are 15 days enough for a first trip? 5. Accessibility: Any specific tips for someone who struggles with long walks (accessible transport, routes, etc.)? 6. Other recommendations: Must-visit spots in Tokyo (or nearby) for a family that loves manga, temples, and Japanese culture?

I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed starting the preparations, so any advice or personal experiences would be super helpful. Thanks in advance for your help!

Looking forward to reading your replies, Sam