Josh Central Japan is home to some of the country’s most distinctive scenic railway journeys. Instead of simply connecting major cities, these trains take you through mountain valleys, rural landscapes, dramatic gorges and regions known for local food, sake and traditional culture. In this guide, we highlight five sightseeing trains across Chubu, Hokuriku, Nagano and Niigata … Read more
Hida Takayama and Shirakawa-go offer one of the most rewarding countryside escapes in Central Japan. Takayama combines preserved merchant streets, morning markets, traditional food and mountain scenery, while nearby Shirakawa-go is famous for its UNESCO-listed gassho-zukuri farmhouses. The two destinations work particularly well together. Takayama is reached by JR train, while Shirakawa-go is connected by … Read more
Tokyo could easily fill an entire trip, but some of Japan’s most rewarding destinations are close enough to visit by train and return to the city the same evening. From the temples and coastline of Kamakura to the mountain shrines of Nikko, the hot springs of Hakone and views of Mount Fuji around Kawaguchiko, these … Read more
This 17-day Japan train itinerary takes you from Tokyo through Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Hiroshima before continuing deep into Kyushu to Fukuoka, Yufuin, Beppu, Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Kagoshima. It combines many of Japan’s classic first-trip destinations with a much deeper journey into southern Japan, where hot-spring towns, historic port cities, regional food and volcanic landscapes … Read more
This 8-day Central Japan train itinerary takes you from Tokyo to Osaka through Nagano and the Hokuriku region, offering a scenic alternative to traveling directly along the traditional Tokyo–Kyoto route. Instead of taking the Tokaido Shinkansen straight west, you will travel through the Japanese Alps and Hokuriku, visiting Nagano and Kanazawa before continuing through Fukui … Read more
This 15-day Japan train itinerary travels from Sapporo in Hokkaido all the way south to Fukuoka in Kyushu, covering an extraordinary variety of cities, landscapes and historic destinations along the way. The journey combines Hokkaido, Tohoku, Tokyo, Central Japan, Kansai, Hiroshima and Fukuoka using Japan’s long-distance rail network. It is an ambitious trip, but it … Read more
The JR Kansai Area Pass is a short-term regional rail pass for travelers exploring destinations such as Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Himeji and Wakayama using JR West trains. With 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-day options, it can be particularly useful for travelers arriving at Kansai International Airport or making several JR journeys around the Kansai … Read more
This 4-day Kansai itinerary combines Kyoto, Nara, Himeji, Kobe and Osaka while making practical use of the 3-Day JR Kansai Area Pass. The route is designed for travelers arriving at Kansai International Airport who want to see several of the region’s major destinations without buying a nationwide Japan Rail Pass. 4-Day Kansai Route at a … Read more
This 5-day Kyushu train itinerary combines hot spring towns, historic cities, volcanic landscapes and some of southern Japan’s best food while traveling almost entirely by JR trains. Starting and finishing in Fukuoka, the route travels through Yufuin, Beppu, Kumamoto and Kagoshima and is designed to make practical use of the 5-Day All Kyushu JR Kyushu … Read more
The JR Kyushu Rail Pass is designed for international visitors traveling around Kyushu by train. Depending on your itinerary, you can choose a pass covering all of Kyushu or a smaller pass focused on northern or southern Kyushu. The passes cover many JR Kyushu local trains, limited express trains and Shinkansen services, making them worth … Read more