Traveling to Japan for 2 to 3 months – what are your tips?

Hi there,

A few friends and I are planning our trip to Japan for next autumn. This will be my first time traveling, which is why we’ve decided to go for a big trip of at least 2 months, maybe even 3.

So far, we’ve estimated the budget to be between 7,000 and 10,000 € per person for the stay. I’m not sure if that’s too high or too low, considering we’ll be moving around a lot.

Here’s a summary of the route we’d like to take:

First, we definitely want to visit the classics like Tokyo, Kyoto, etc. Then head toward Mount Fuji with Fujiyoshida and the surrounding area. We’d also like to visit some less touristy, more authentic spots like the Wakayama region. We’d like to check out some mountain or countryside villages like Shirakawa-go for a few hikes. We’re still debating whether to visit Miyajima and Hiroshima since we’re not sure we’ll have enough time. And we sadly had to cut Hokkaido from our list for the same reason.

I won’t go into every detail since we’ve mapped out over twenty places, but those are the main highlights.

As for our travel style:

We want to take our time. Not try to cram in as much as possible without any breaks or enjoyment. Most of the time, we’ll be staying in Airbnbs and youth hostels. For food, we’ll mix it up between restaurants, pre-made meals, and cooking our own. For transportation, we’re considering renting a car to reach villages in the countryside. (I’m a bit nervous about the road rules over there.) For activities, one or two a day seems reasonable. (Both free and paid ones.) But I have no idea how much souvenirs might cost. I’ve often read on forums that it’s between 200 and 600 €?

My questions:

So, that’s the plan. We’re not sure yet if we’ll go for two or three months. It’ll mostly come down to money. We want to be mindful of our budget but still treat ourselves—no regrets about missing out on an activity or restaurant we really wanted to try.

Do you have any advice or suggestions for us? What do you think of our itinerary? For flight tickets, I’m estimating between 650 and 900 € for a round trip. Does that sound about right? But I have no idea which airline to choose?

Thanks so much to anyone who replies—I’d really appreciate it!

Good evening, I’d first recommend booking your flight ticket before anything else—it’ll be the backbone of your trip. After that, everything else will fall into place. The ticket price will depend on your choices: one stopover or a direct flight. With one stopover, it’ll be much cheaper. For direct flights (from Paris), only Air France, JAL, and ANA offer direct routes to Tokyo. Air France also flies directly to Osaka. Check online comparison sites. Also consider flying into one city and out of another—for example, arrive in Tokyo and depart from Osaka or Fukuoka. Given your budget, 3 months is totally doable by staying in youth hostels. To get around between major cities, buses are affordable—check out CheckMyTrip or 12GO—but also look at domestic flights, which usually cost between 60 and 100 € with checked luggage, depending on the destination. Japan has excellent transport links in every region. Start with the intercontinental flight. When searching, try +/- 3 days, as prices can vary a lot on comparison sites. www.momondo.fr www.kayak.fr

Hi there! In 2 or 3 months, you’ve got plenty of time to make it all the way to Hiroshima and Miyajima—it’s really great! A stop in Okayama and Himeji 😊 too! Happy planning!

Thanks for the tips! We can’t book flight tickets yet because they’re not available for that time of year. So in the meantime, we’re looking for some fun itineraries.

Thanks !

But you're talking about next autumn, so 2025—tickets have been on sale for a while now. Or are you leaving in September/October 2026?

Hi there,

Yeah, 2 nights in Okayama is great, and you could even stop by Kurashiki while you're in that part of Japan. I’d also head to Tottori and Matsue. With 3 months, you’ve got plenty of time!

Ah yes, you're right—I didn’t specify. But I did mean next year, in 2026.

I’m jotting this down !