Where will you go in Japan?
Choose a destination for its sights and food, then check a local camera view and plan transport around the parts of town you actually want to visit.
Osaka
For food and neon-lit streets, start in Namba and Dotonbori. For a city view from above, head to Umeda. Decide where you want to eat before trying to fit both neighbourhoods into one day.
Explore this destinationTokyo
Tokyo’s neighbourhoods offer very different days out: Asakusa for old shopping streets, Shinjuku or Shibuya for a busier evening. Disneyland, DisneySea and Fuji-Q are outside central Tokyo, so give each park its own day.
Explore this destinationSapporo
Sapporo Station, Odori Park and Susukino make a straightforward city route. In snowy weather, it is often easier to spend longer in one area than to keep crossing town.
Explore this destinationKobe
Kobe feels different by the harbour and in the mountains. Walk Meriken Park and Harborland on a shorter visit, or make time for Mt. Rokko. USJ is in Osaka, so set aside a full day if you plan to visit from Kobe.
Explore this destinationKyoto
Gion and Higashiyama are on Kyoto’s east side; Arashiyama is to the west. With only one day, focus on one side so you can spend more time walking and less time crossing the city.
Explore this destinationFukuoka
Use Hakata as a transport base, Tenjin for shopping and dinner, and Ohori Park for a quieter walk. Huis Ten Bosch, with Miffy attractions and evening illuminations, is a separate day trip to Sasebo in Nagasaki.
Explore this destinationMatsuyama
At Matsuyama Castle, go up to the keep or enjoy the view from below. Allow more time at Dogo Onsen if you plan to bathe. Try sea-bream rice for a meal, and look for Ehime citrus juice at the airport or in town.
Explore this destinationHiroshima
On a first visit to Hiroshima, give Peace Memorial Park and Museum time and attention. They tell the story of the atomic bombing and its victims. Afterwards, head towards Hondori if you want to look for Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.
Explore this destinationOkinawa Main Island
Okinawa’s main island is long. Naha’s markets and Kokusai Street belong to a different day from a trip up the northern coast.
Explore this destinationIshigaki Island
For a Yaeyama island day trip, check ferry times at Ishigaki Port first. Kabira Bay is in Ishigaki’s northwest, not a walk from the port. If you plan both on one day, allow time for the ferry and the trip across Ishigaki.
Explore this destinationMiyakojima
On Miyakojima, give the beaches and an Irabu Island drive their own time. Clear-looking water does not tell you whether swimming or boat trips are safe that day.
Explore this destinationSome stops and routes include ticket or transport-pass links. Check dates, inclusions and prices with the booking provider.