Deciding where to go in Japan is a mammoth task, because travelling well in this country isn’t only about where you go, but how you move through it. Treat this guide as a framework, not a checklist – understand the unwritten rules, stay curious, and respect the places and people that define it.
Japan is a country of deliberate contrasts – where bullet trains blur across the landscape and stillness lingers around the next corner. One moment you’re beneath Tokyo’s neon skyline; the next, sinking into a hinoki-scented onsen listening to a river outside your ryokan window.
This guide by Tokyo Halfie charts a route beyond the classic Tokyo-Kyoto dash. The headline destinations are here, along with detours that stay with you long after you’ve left: hot spring towns glowing at dusk, alpine trails tracing snow-fed rivers, and fishing villages reinvented as open-air museums.
Tokyo
Go for: distinct neighbourhoods, sky-high views and a world-class dining scene
Tokyo isn’t one city so much as a constellation of neighbourhoods, each with its own personality. Start with the icons: Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Shinjuku’s electric glow, and the street food in Asakusa near the gates of Sensō-ji. Explore Harajuku and Omotesandō’s fashion avenues, and Ginza’s elegant boutiques and galleries. Visit Toyosu Market for tuna auctions and fresh sushi, then browse and snack your way through Tsukiji’s outer stalls.
Pick a panoramic view – Shibuya Sky, Tokyo Skytree or Roppongi Hills – before returning to street level for omakase counters, kissaten coffee houses and speakeasies tucked above convenience stores. Tokyo holds the most Michelin-starred restaurants, yet shines just as brightly in midnight ramen joints. For immersive experiences, step inside teamLab’s boundary-pushing digital art, or feel the charged atmosphere of a sumo tournament in Ryōgoku.
Then dive deeper: delve into Akihabara and Nakano for otaku culture and retro arcades, wander Ueno’s museum-filled parklands, or slip into calmer corners like bookish Jimbochō, nostalgic Yanaka and canal-side Nakameguro. For something polished, Daikanyama and Aoyama offer minimalist boutiques, concept stores and airy cafes. Tokyo also works well as a base for scenic day trips to Kamakura, Hakone or Nikkō.
Kyoto
Go for: temple mornings, shrine visits and traditional crafts
Kyoto was the imperial capital for more than a thousand years, layered with 12 centuries of history and home to over 2,000 temples and shrines. Around marquee sights such as Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, Fushimi Inari’s mile-long tunnel of vermilion torii and the lantern-lit lanes of Gion, crowds swell quickly, especially during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons. Visit early for breathing room, then slip away to lesser-known sites and hidden gardens where mossy courtyards and tatami rooms rest in near-silence.
Craft and culture run deep here. In Nishijin and Higashiyama, meet textile artisans, ceramicists and lacquer masters keeping centuries-old traditions alive. Machiya townhouses reborn as design-focused ryokan, natural-wine izakaya and third-wave coffee bars bring new energy to traditional streets.
For a meaningful detour, make your way to Uji – Japan’s matcha capital – for riverside walks and tea houses where whisked green tea becomes a meditative ceremony. Kyoto is a must-stop in any guide on where to go in Japan.
Osaka & Nara
Go for: street food, late-night energy and historic sites
Osaka is where Japan loosens its collar – a city built on casual eats and late nights. Begin in Dōtonbori, where a giant mechanical crab flexes above the canal and the Glico running man billboard lights up the riverfront. The air is thick with the sizzle of takoyaki grilling on cast-iron plates and the hum of crowds drifting between signs and steam.
Duck into the shotengai arcades of Tenma or Ura-Namba for kushikatsu skewers dipped in communal sauce, okonomiyaki flipped inches from your seat, and tiny standing counters where beer and highballs flow shoulder-to-shoulder with locals.
By day, take a short train to Nara, where sacred deer roam freely through parklands and temple paths, bowing gently for biscuits. Trails wind through wooded groves to Tōdai-ji’s Great Buddha, before continuing along stone walkways toward Kasuga Taisha. With fast rail links in every direction, Osaka makes an ideal anchor for exploring Kansai, placing Kyoto, Kobe and Himeji within easy reach.
Hokkaido
Go for: powder snow, big nature and wide-open horizons
Hokkaido, Japan’s northern frontier and its largest prefecture, feels expansive and elemental – a land carved by volcanic calderas, wind-swept coastlines and deep forests that reach the sea. It works beautifully as a bolt-on via a short flight, but just as easily merits an entire trip of its own.
Sapporo is a lively urban gateway, with exceptional seafood markets and relaxed beer halls. In winter, the Snow Festival turns the city into an open-air gallery of ice and light, while mountain resorts such as Niseko and Rusutsu deliver the famously fluffy “Ja-pow” snow, alongside natural hot springs and charming ski towns.
When the snow melts, Hokkaido turns technicolour: wildflower meadows sweep across the landscape, lavender fields bloom in Furano, and hiking trails are dotted with wildlife. Cycle through patchwork farmland in Biei or kayak across glassy caldera lakes. Fresh seafood is abundant year-round, but summer adds sweet corn and Yubari melon.
Tohoku
Go for: hot spring villages, samurai heritage, and spirited festivals
Descending from Hokkaido into Honshu, Tohoku reveals Japan’s quieter soul, shaped by small-town warmth and deep tradition. In Yamagata, Zao Onsen is famed for its surreal juhyō “snow monsters” and sulphur-rich hot springs, while Okitama offers sunrise canoeing on mirror-still Lake Shirakawa.
Continue to Aizu-Wakamatsu in Fukushima, where samurai heritage still threads through daily life. Walk the training grounds of Nisshinkan School, roam the illuminated ramparts of Tsurugajo Castle, and slip into riverside baths at Ashinomaki Onsen. End in Ouchijuku, a preserved Edo-period post station lined with thatched rooftops and handmade noodle shops.
In summer, time your visit with a regional matsuri – Aomori Nebuta, Akita Kanto or Sendai Tanabata festival – and feel the fierce local pride.
Kanazawa & the Hokuriku Coast
Go for: beautifully preserved districts, serene gardens and outstanding seafood
On the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa blends heritage and modern design. Wander the Edo-era streets of Higashi Chaya District, former samurai neighbourhoods and traditional geisha houses, where narrow lanes and dark-wood facades feel lifted from another era. Across from Kenroku-en – one of Japan’s three great gardens – the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art provides a striking glass-and-light contrast.
Omicho Market is the place to discover the region’s seafood bounty. In winter, seek out Kano-gani snow crab and prized female Kobako-gani rich with roe, alongside amaebi (sweet shrimp), buri (yellowtail) and uni (sea urchin), served as sashimi bowls, sushi or charcoal-grilled at casual counters.
With the Hokuriku Shinkansen now linking directly to Tokyo, Kanazawa fits smoothly into a wider itinerary and acts as a springboard to Kaga onsen towns, minimalist coastal ryokan and wave-carved lookouts along the rugged shoreline.
The Japanese Alps
Go for: Alpine air, mountain views and thatched-roof houses
In the mountains of central Honshu, the Japanese Alps offer a restorative counterbalance to the megacities. Start in Takayama, where preserved merchant houses, sake breweries crowned with cedar balls and morning markets selling mountain vegetables set an unhurried pace. Many travellers rush to Shirakawa-go, but its UNESCO-listed thatched farmhouses now draw heavy tour-bus traffic; instead, visit Hida Folk Village, a serene hillside hamlet.
Beyond Takayama, the region stretches across some of Japan’s most dramatic mountain scenery and snow sports. Hakuba Valley – host of the 1998 Winter Olympics – spans ten interconnected ski resorts with deep powder. Nearby Nozawa Onsen blends varied ski terrain with a characterful hot spring village, while Karuizawa, closer to Tokyo, offers a compact ski area and the Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza, an upscale outlet complex.
When the snow melts, trade skis for alpine trails: the turquoise rivers and suspension bridges of Kamikochi lead into peaceful highlands.
Setouchi & the Art Islands
Go for: open-air art exhibitions, contemporary architecture and island-chain cycling
Scattered across the Seto Inland Sea, Naoshima and its neighbouring islands feel like a living art playground. Once quiet fishing communities, they now host world-class museums where architecture and nature merge. On Naoshima, Tadao Ando’s poured-concrete designs shape Chichu Art Museum, Benesse House and the Lee Ufan Museum, while Yayoi Kusama’s polka-dot pumpkins stand guard along the shoreline.
In Honmura, the Art House Project transforms traditional homes into immersive installations by James Turrell, Hiroshi Sugimoto and other celebrated artists, turning village streets into a walkable gallery. Ferries link to nearby Teshima and Inujima, where former rice granaries, abandoned schools and industrial ruins have been reborn as site-specific art spaces.
Continue south to Onomichi, the gateway to the Shimanami Kaidō – a 70-kilometre cycling route connecting Honshu and Shikoku by a chain of bridges and citrus-covered islands. Rent bikes on the waterfront and pedal island-to-island between Ikuchijima, Ōmishima and Imabari, stopping for lemon soft-serve at seaside cafes above blue-green waters.
Hiroshima & Miyajima
Go for: meaningful reflection, island shrines and floating torii views
Hiroshima balances reflection with remarkable resilience. Begin at the Peace Memorial Park, walking from the Atomic Bomb Dome to the museum and its cenotaph – a route that invites thoughtful stillness. Afterwards, wander the riverside boulevards and stop for Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki layered with noodles, or regional specialities like freshly shucked oysters harvested from nearby bays.
A short ferry ride away lies Miyajima, home to Itsukushima Shrine and its vermilion “floating” torii gate appearing to hover above the water with the tide. Take the ropeway up Mount Misen for panoramic Seto Inland Sea views, then stroll along maple-lined paths accompanied by friendly and curious deer. Sample momiji-manju – maple-leaf-shaped cakes baked fresh in shopfront windows and filled with sweet bean paste or custard – a beloved local treat.
Kyushu & Yakushima
Go for: riverside ryokan, geothermal landscapes and subtropical forests
Fukuoka sets the tone for Kyushu’s easygoing spirit. Evenings centre around yatai – open-air food stalls lining rivers and side streets – serving Hakata ramen, yakitori, gyoza and oden, alongside icy highballs beneath the warm glow of hanging lights. The city is also known for motsunabe and mizutaki hot pots, as well as dishes rich with mentaiko (spicy pollock roe).
Head inland to some of Japan’s most atmospheric onsen towns: Kurokawa Onsen, with lantern-lit streets and ryokan known for outdoor baths; Beppu, alive with steaming vents and bubbling pools; and Yufuin, home to intimate art museums and boutique stays. Crown the journey at Mount Aso, whose immense volcanic caldera offers sweeping, horizon-wide views.
Yakushima feels like another world – a subtropical island wrapped in mist and carpeted in emerald moss. Ancient cedar forests drip with rainfall, rivers carve deep gorges, and trails wind past gnarled roots. The island is said to have inspired Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke, and it’s easy to see why. Hike to the colossal Jōmon Sugi, believed to be over 2,000 years old, or follow gentler paths through the moss-laden Shiratani Unsuikyo ravine.
Okinawa & the Outer Islands
Go for: tropical beaches, coral reefs and slow-island living
Far to the south lie the tropical islands of Okinawa, with a relaxed pace and a unique culture distinct from the rest of the country. In Naha, on the archipelago’s main island, counter-style diners serve taco rice, Okinawa soba with braised pork belly, umibudō sea grapes and charcoal-grilled island vegetables, alongside awamori bars and craft brewers dotted around the city. Between meals, Shuri Castle and traditional Ryukyuan architecture reveal the islands’ layered history.
From Naha, sail or fly to the outer islands. Ishigaki is a strong base for reef-bright snorkelling and easy access to the wider Yaeyama chain. Taketomi moves at an even slower pace: low-slung houses, coral-stone walls and water buffalo carts tracing sandy lanes. Iriomote, wild and jungle-covered, offers mangrove rivers, waterfall trails and kayaking through dense subtropical forest. Miyakojima delivers clear-water coves and white beaches ideal for long swims and reef dives – a fitting finale to a journey through Japan’s far south.