Plan your Japan trip

Plan Japan with japanguide.se

Build a considered Japan trip through curated routes, seasonal choices, and city-specific recommendations. When the plan is right, a Japan specialist has useful context.

How the planner works

Choose a route, adjust pace and themes, watch the map update, and send planning context with the real decisions.

Choose a season

SpringSummerAutumnWinter

Choose a pace

CompactBalancedSlow

Curated routes

Classic first trip

Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka in a dependable first-time route.

First-time travelers who want cities, onsen, and the classic stops in one route.

Cities: Tokyo · Hakone · Kyoto · Osaka

Day plan

  1. Day 1Arrive in Tokyo
    Land, settle in, and keep the first evening local.
  2. Day 2Tokyo in contrast
    Move between high-energy districts and quieter neighborhoods.
  3. Day 3Hakone and onsen
    Shift into ryokan tempo with mountain air and a slower day.
  4. Day 4First Kyoto day
    Temple lanes, tea houses, and an early evening.
  5. Day 5Kyoto with rhythm
    Go deeper into a few neighborhoods instead of chasing a checklist.
  6. Day 6Osaka after dark
    Move south and let food and evening energy lead the day.
  7. Day 7Final full day
    Final shopping, one last meal, and easy logistics home.
  8. Day 8Departure
    Depart via Kansai or return to Tokyo depending on flights.

Slow culture & craft

Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Nara with a slower rhythm and a craft-driven lens.

Travelers who prioritize craft, urban texture, and reflective cultural stops.

Cities: Tokyo · Kanazawa · Kyoto · Nara

Day plan

  1. Day 1Tokyo: start
    A short introduction through a few clear districts.
  2. Day 2Tokyo: design and tempo
    Keep focus on a few neighborhoods with the right tone.
  3. Day 3Kanazawa: craft day
    Shift to a more compact city with a strong identity.
  4. Day 4Kanazawa: tea and old districts
    Let the day be led by walking and craft-related stops.
  5. Day 5Kyoto: historic rhythm
    Kyoto extends the calm established in Kanazawa.
  6. Day 6Kyoto: deeper dive
    Temples, gardens, and carefully chosen cultural addresses.
  7. Day 7Nara: stillness
    End with a quieter final stage.
  8. Day 8Departure
    Return toward the airport with minimal friction.

Food & city pulse

Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto with food, energy, and evening life at the center.

Travelers who want every day to build toward a strong evening.

Cities: Tokyo · Osaka · Kyoto

Day plan

  1. Day 1Tokyo: first evening
    Keep the first night local and set the culinary tone.
  2. Day 2Tokyo: markets and neighborhoods
    Let the day be shaped by several smaller stops.
  3. Day 3Tokyo: night focus
    Save energy for the day's main evening meal.
  4. Day 4Osaka: straight into it
    Move south and let meals dictate the map.
  5. Day 5Osaka: street food and late hours
    Expect more pace and more spontaneity.
  6. Day 6Kyoto: contrast
    Shift into a quieter, still food-led rhythm.
  7. Day 7Kyoto: final dinner
    End with one final destination dinner.
  8. Day 8Departure
    Depart via Kansai.

Calm onsen & city contrast

Tokyo, Yokohama, Hakone, and Kyoto with recovery and contrast built in.

Couples or small groups who want cities without staying in high gear the whole time.

Cities: Tokyo · Yokohama · Hakone · Kyoto

Day plan

  1. Day 1Tokyo: arrival
    Short first evening and easy logistics.
  2. Day 2Tokyo: calmer districts
    Start with a softer urban focus.
  3. Day 3Yokohama: harbor walk
    A shorter side-step with more air and less friction.
  4. Day 4Hakone: check-in
    Switch into onsen mode and keep the day simple.
  5. Day 5Hakone: full day
    Views, baths, and a calmer main thread.
  6. Day 6Kyoto: quiet arrival
    Kyoto takes over without raising the tempo.
  7. Day 7Kyoto: final full day
    Walks, culture, and a calm ending.
  8. Day 8Departure
    Depart via Kansai or back through Tokyo.

Curated stops in each city

The planner reuses the site's existing hotels, restaurants, sights, and guides so the experience stays consistent.

Tokyo

Hakone

Kyoto

Osaka

Kanazawa

Nara

Planning checks

Current notes are used as decision support when dates, transport, tickets, closures, or hotel areas may be affected.

21/09/2026

Choose help by the decision that feels hardest

Planning starts with the intake. A Japan specialist can then help where the risk is highest.

Email a Japan specialist