country
Japan日本
First trip: fly into Tokyo, out of Osaka (KIX); one bed per region; move between regions on a reserved Shinkansen with bags forwarded. A nationwide JR Pass often loses money.
Japan runs on rail and on time. The failure mode is not a missed temple; it is the last train, a 28-inch case on a city bus, and a lodging door that locks at 23:00. Pick one sleep base per region, cross between regions once on a reserved seat, and let the country rules below apply to every page on this site.
Regions
Kanazawa, Takayama, the Alps
2–4 nights
Hiroshima + Miyajima
1–2 nights
Sapporo, winter and summer trips
4–7 nights
Fukuoka, onsen towns
3–5 nights
Routes that work
First trip, 7 nights
Open-jaw ticket (into HND, out of KIX) saves a half-day of backtracking.
First trip, 10 nights
Add Hiroshima as one night only if you drop a Kyoto day.
Kansai only, 6 nights
Best when the flight lands after 21:00 at KIX.
- Do not zig-zag Tokyo → Kyoto → Tokyo; fly open-jaw (in HND/NRT, out KIX) where fares allow.
- Forward large bags between regions (takuhaibin) the day before; carry a one-night day pack.
- Do not land at Narita after 21:30 with a lodging that locks its door — the page for NRT shows why.
Arrive
Time math
- 5 days
- One region only (Kansai or Kanto)
- 7 days
- Tokyo 3 + Kyoto 3 + Osaka 1
- 10 days
- Tokyo 4 + Kyoto 4 + Osaka 2
- 14 days
- Add one slow region (Chūbu or Kyūshū) — not four cities
Country rules
- IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
Etiquette
- Queue in marked lines on platforms; let passengers off first.
- Quiet on trains; no phone calls.
- Shoes off where there is a step up or a shoe rack.
- Tipping is not expected.
- Golden Week (late Apr–early May)
- Domestic travel peak; book seats and beds early.
- Obon (mid-Aug)
- Rail peak and heat.
- New Year (Dec 29–Jan 3)
- Many businesses closed.
Money & passes
Cash necessity: 3/5
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Convenience-store ATMs are the reliable way to withdraw with foreign cards.
- Tax-free shopping needs your passport at the counter; thresholds apply per store and day.
JR Pass (nationwide)
Usually loses on a Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka trip; run the legs.
Shinkansen with large bags
Reserve the oversized-baggage seat or forward the bag.
Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · Visas and Visit Japan Web
Safety
- Earthquakes and typhoons: follow official alerts (Japan Meteorological Agency) and staff instructions; hotels post evacuation routes.
- Heat stroke is the most common summer risk; plan AC stops every 90–120 minutes.
- Emergency numbers: 110 police, 119 fire/ambulance.
Japan is not part of a Southeast Asia corridor; plan it as its own trip.
Sources
- JR Group — Japan Rail Pass (official)
- Visit Japan Web (official)
- Japan National Tourism Organization (official)
- Japan Meteorological Agency (official)