Shikoku, the smallest of Japan's four main islands, mixes contemporary art, wild gorges and the 88-temple pilgrimage. Reach Takamatsu from Okayama and fly home from Matsuyama. Yayoi Kusama's yellow pumpkin, Naoshima Length 7 days, 6 nights Route Takamatsu → Naoshima → Kotohira → Iya Valley → Matsuyama Best for Art lovers, nature lovers, slow travellers When to go March–May, October–November Rail pass The All Shikoku Rail Pass usually pays off. Make it yours: open this route in the trip planner, add your dates and get travel times, seasonal alerts and links to flights and hotels. Open in the trip planner → The route at a glance Day 1 · Takamatsu : Takamatsu Day 2 · Naoshima : Naoshima art island Day 3 · Kotohira and Iya : Kotohira-gu and into the mountains Day 4 · Iya Valley : Iya Valley Day 5 · Matsuyama : To Matsuyama Day 6 · Matsuyama : Matsuyama Castle and Uchiko Day 7 · Matsuyama : Departure Day 1 · Takamatsu Takamatsu From Okayama, the Marine Liner crosses the Seto O...

Tohoku, the north of Honshu, is green, quiet and full of hot springs. The Shinkansen makes it easy: this loop goes up the east side and back from Aomori. Oirase Gorge in autumn Length 7 days, 6 nights Route Sendai → Matsushima → Hiraizumi → Kakunodate → Aomori → Oirase Best for Travellers looking for fewer crowds When to go Late April (cherry blossoms), summer festivals in August, October (autumn leaves) Rail pass The JR East Pass (Tohoku area) usually pays off on this route. Make it yours: open this route in the trip planner, add your dates and get travel times, seasonal alerts and links to flights and hotels. Open in the trip planner → The route at a glance Day 1 · Sendai : Sendai Day 2 · Matsushima : Matsushima Bay Day 3 · Hiraizumi : Hiraizumi and on to Kakunodate Day 4 · Kakunodate : Samurai district and Lake Tazawa Day 5 · Aomori : To Aomori Day 6 · Oirase : Oirase Gorge and Lake Towada Day 7 · Aomori : Back to Tokyo Day 1 · Sendai Sendai About 1 hour 30 minutes from Tokyo b...

The mountains of central Japan hide some of its best-preserved towns. This loop leaves Tokyo by train, crosses the Alps by bus and comes back on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Matsumoto Castle Length 6 days, 5 nights Route Matsumoto → Takayama → Shirakawa-go → Kanazawa Best for Second-time visitors, hikers, photographers When to go Late April–June, September–November Rail pass The JR Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass or single tickets; the Matsumoto–Takayama leg is by bus. Make it yours: open this route in the trip planner, add your dates and get travel times, seasonal alerts and links to flights and hotels. Open in the trip planner → The route at a glance Day 1 · Matsumoto : Matsumoto Castle Day 2 · Takayama : Over the Alps to Takayama Day 3 · Takayama : Takayama Day 4 · Shirakawa-go : Shirakawa-go to Kanazawa Day 5 · Kanazawa : Kanazawa Day 6 · Kanazawa : Back to Tokyo Day 1 · Matsumoto Matsumoto Castle The Azusa limited express takes about 2 hours 40 minutes from Shinjuku. Matsumot...

Okinawa feels like another country: coral reefs, Ryukyu castles and a laid-back food culture. This easy loop up the west coast of the main island is best done by rental car. Kouri Bridge, Okinawa Length 5 days, 4 nights Route Naha → Onna → Motobu Best for Beach lovers, families, divers When to go April–June and October–November (beach season April–October) Rail pass No rail pass: rent a car (from Naha) or use the airport limousine buses. Make it yours: open this route in the trip planner, add your dates and get travel times, seasonal alerts and links to flights and hotels. Open in the trip planner → The route at a glance Day 1 · Naha : Naha Day 2 · Naha : Shurijo and Ryukyu culture Day 3 · Onna : West coast to Onna Day 4 · Motobu : Churaumi Aquarium and Kouri Island Day 5 · Naha : Back to Naha Day 1 · Naha Naha From Naha Airport, the monorail reaches the centre in 15 minutes. Walk Kokusai Street and the covered Makishi market, where you can have fish cooked upstairs. Kokusai Stree...

Hokkaido is Japan's cool, wide-open north: seafood markets, ramen, flower fields and volcanoes. This loop starts in Hakodate (by plane, or Shinkansen from Tokyo) and ends at Sapporo's New Chitose Airport. Lavender fields in Furano Length 7 days, 6 nights Route Hakodate → Sapporo → Otaru → Furano & Biei Best for Nature lovers, foodies, road trips When to go June–September (lavender in July); December–March for snow Rail pass The Hokkaido Rail Pass can pay off; a rental car is best around Furano and Biei. Make it yours: open this route in the trip planner, add your dates and get travel times, seasonal alerts and links to flights and hotels. Open in the trip planner → The route at a glance Day 1 · Hakodate : Arrive in Hakodate Day 2 · Hakodate : Morning market and Goryokaku Day 3 · Sapporo : To Sapporo Day 4 · Otaru : Day trip to Otaru Day 5 · Furano : Furano and Biei Day 6 · Biei : Biei's hills and Blue Pond Day 7 · Sapporo : Departure from New Chitose Day 1 · Hako...

Koyo, the autumn leaves season, turns Japan's temples red and gold. The leaves move from north to south and from mountains to cities: Hakone peaks in early to mid-November, Kyoto and Tokyo from mid-November to early December. Autumn leaves at Tofuku-ji, Kyoto Length 8 days, 7 nights Route Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto → Arashiyama → Nara Best for Photographers and garden lovers When to go Mid-November to early December Rail pass Single tickets: Hakone is on a private line. Make it yours: open this route in the trip planner, add your dates and get travel times, seasonal alerts and links to flights and hotels. Open in the trip planner → The route at a glance Day 1 · Tokyo : Arrival in Tokyo Day 2 · Tokyo : Tokyo's golden ginkgo Day 3 · Hakone : Hakone Day 4 · Kyoto : To Kyoto Day 5 · Kyoto : Kyoto's maple temples Day 6 · Arashiyama : Arashiyama Day 7 · Nara : Nara Day 8 · Kyoto : Departure Day 1 · Tokyo Arrival in Tokyo Arrive and have a relaxed evening; illuminated gardens l...

Cherry blossoms usually open in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka between late March and early April, and full bloom lasts about a week. This route follows the classic hanami spots and keeps flexible days for the peak. Himeji Castle in cherry blossom season Length 10 days, 9 nights Route Tokyo → Kyoto → Nara → Himeji → Osaka Best for First-time visitors in spring When to go Late March to early April Rail pass A 7-day JR Pass can pay off from Tokyo to Kyoto, Himeji and Osaka. Make it yours: open this route in the trip planner, add your dates and get travel times, seasonal alerts and links to flights and hotels. Open in the trip planner → The route at a glance Day 1 · Tokyo : Arrival Day 2 · Tokyo : Ueno and Chidorigafuchi Day 3 · Tokyo : Shinjuku Gyoen and Asakusa Day 4 · Kyoto : To Kyoto Day 5 · Kyoto : The Philosopher's Path Day 6 · Kyoto : Arashiyama and Heian Shrine Day 7 · Nara : Nara Day 8 · Himeji and Osaka : Himeji Castle Day 9 · Osaka : Osaka Day 10 · Osaka : Departure Day 1 · To...