How to Plan the Best Trip to Japan

I know better than anyone how overwhelming it can be to plan a trip to Japan. There are thousands of options for itineraries, hotels, activities – you name it. With The Japan Diaries, I help you plan a trip to Japan so you can experience the journey of your dreams to the land where truly everything is possible.

Okay, the "best" trip to Japan doesn’t really exist. Everyone has different wishes and expectations. That’s why I can’t tell you exactly what your trip should look like, but I can give you the tools to create your own ideal itinerary. Let’s start at the beginning.

Step 1: Booking Your Flights

You’ve already made the most important decision: you’ve decided to go to Japan. Awesome! From here, things will start falling into place. The first thing you’ll need is a plane ticket to actually get there.

Think carefully about when you want to visit Japan. In the summer months, it gets very hot and humid, which might limit the activities you can do. In winter, it can get quite cold and even snowy. So it’s a good idea to already start thinking about step 2: your travel itinerary. What do you want to do most in Japan? If you want to go skiing, winter is obviously the right time. If you want to see the cherry blossoms, it’s best to go around March/April.

When booking your flight, you might want to consider flying in and out of different airports, depending on your route. Japan has several major international airports:

• Tokyo Narita

• Tokyo Haneda

• Fukuoka

• Kansai International Airport (near Osaka and Kyoto)

• Nieuw-Chitose in Hokkaido

If you already have a rough idea of your itinerary, you could, for example, fly from Amsterdam to Tokyo and return from Kansai Airport. This is convenient if your trip ends in Osaka or Kyoto. It saves you the need to travel all the way back to Tokyo by train – saving both time and money. Planning with this in mind can really make your journey smoother!

Step 2: Creating Your Itinerary

This is usually when it starts to feel overwhelming. There’s so much to see in Japan, and you’re probably only going for 2 or 3 weeks. That’s definitely not enough time to see everything, so you’ll need to make some choices.

On my first trip to Japan, I visited only Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka (with a day trip to Nara). That trip lasted 2 weeks. It’s a route many first-time visitors follow – and for good reason! These cities offer a great introduction to Japan’s highlights. You can even add a side trip to Mount Fuji to this 2-week itinerary.

Going to Japan for the first time and staying 3 weeks? Lucky you! You could fit in one or two additional cities. I personally like to keep things close together – I’m not a fan of domestic flights or super long train rides. In that case, you could add Naoshima Island, Kanazawa, Takayama, or Hiroshima to your list. These spots give you a different taste of Japan.

Don’t mind longer travel times? Then you could consider flying to Sapporo or Okinawa. Sapporo is especially beautiful in winter due to the heavy snowfall, while Okinawa is ideal in summer: this tropical island is often called “the Hawaii of Japan.”

Make a list of the places you want to visit and think carefully about how many days you want to spend in each. I recommend staying at least 2 nights in one place – otherwise, you’ll spend more time traveling than actually experiencing the destination. Here’s how many days I’d suggest per location:

• Tokyo: at least 4 days – but you could spend weeks there without getting bored.

• Kamakura: doable as a day trip from Tokyo. Add one day to your Tokyo stay.

• Mount Fuji: 2 days.

• Hakone: 2 days.

• Kyoto: 3 days is enough to see the highlights.

• Osaka: 2 days is fine, add 1 extra day if you’re visiting Universal Studios.

• Nara: can be a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka – add at least half a day to your stay.

• Naoshima Island: 2 days.

• Hiroshima: 2 days, add up to a day more if visiting Miyajima Island.

• Kanazawa: 2 days.

• Takayama: 2 days.

• Sapporo: at least 4 days.

• Fukuoka: 2 to 3 days.

• Okinawa: at least 4 days, more if you want a proper beach break.

Don’t forget to factor in travel time between destinations. Add up all your days – if the total doesn’t fit your available travel window, you’ll have to make cuts. Don’t worry – chances are, you’ll want to come back to Japan anyway!

Step 3: Booking Your Accommodations

Japan is an extremely popular destination, and many hotels and ryokans get fully booked well in advance. So make sure to book early – preferably a few months ahead. I like using booking.com. If I’m still unsure about my itinerary, I book hotels with free cancellation. That way, I can always adjust later if needed.

Step 4: Deciding What You Want to See

Everyone’s dream trip to Japan looks different. Some want to see all the major sights; others prefer a slower pace. Of course, each city has its must-sees – but that doesn’t mean you have to do them all. Write down which activities sound fun to you. You don’t have to stick to this list rigidly, but it gives you a good starting point. Also, think ahead about activities you may need to reserve, like Shibuya Sky, the Ghibli Museum, or Universal Studios.

-> Check here which activities you really need to book in advance.

Step 5: Enjoy the Anticipation!

In the months leading up to your trip, you might find yourself watching a lot of TikToks about things to do or eat in Japan. I know I do! I like to make a list of recommendations I want to try. I save interesting TikToks and mark restaurants and attractions on a special Google Maps list. This also helps during your trip – if you don’t know where to go, just check your map and see what’s nearby. I absolutely love this part of the trip planning process!