Josh This 5-day Central Japan train itinerary travels from Nagoya to Osaka through Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa and Kyoto using the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass. The route combines scenic mountain rail travel, traditional towns, a UNESCO World Heritage village and some of Japan’s most rewarding historic cities—all within the pass’s five consecutive days of validity. 5-Day Route … Read more
This 9-day Japan train itinerary travels from Tokyo to Osaka by taking the scenic northern route through Nagano and the Hokuriku region instead of using the direct Tokaido Shinkansen. Along the way, you can visit Nagano, Kanazawa, Hikone, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Kobe while making strategic use of the 7-Day Hokuriku Arch Pass. 9-Day Route … Read more
This 6-day Hokkaido train itinerary is designed for travelers who want to explore several parts of Japan’s northernmost island without renting a car. Hokkaido is much larger than many first-time visitors expect, so this route focuses on destinations that can be connected efficiently by JR trains while still allowing time to enjoy each stop. 6-Day … Read more
The Hokkaido Rail Pass offers unlimited travel on most JR Hokkaido trains for 5, 7 or 10 consecutive days, making it worth considering if you plan to explore several parts of Hokkaido by rail. Because Hokkaido is large and some intercity journeys are expensive, the pass can provide good value on routes combining destinations such … Read more
This 7-day Western Japan train itinerary combines Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, Okayama, Kurashiki, Hiroshima and Miyajima while making strategic use of the 5-Day Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass. Instead of activating the rail pass immediately, this itinerary saves its five consecutive validity days for the part of the trip where the more expensive long-distance journeys begin. … Read more
This 17-day Japan rail itinerary takes a different approach to the classic Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka route, combining famous destinations with several cities and regions that many first-time visitors overlook. The journey crosses Central and Western Japan by train, with stops ranging from mountain resorts and historic temple cities to traditional districts, castles, gardens and major food destinations. … Read more
This 9-day northern Japan train itinerary takes you from Tokyo to Sapporo, combining major cities with scenic destinations across Tohoku and Hokkaido. It is designed for travelers who want to go beyond the classic Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka route and experience a very different side of Japan by rail. 9-Day Route at a Glance Tokyo → Nikko → … Read more
This 7-day Japan train itinerary takes you from Tokyo to Fukuoka by Shinkansen, stopping at some of Japan’s most popular destinations along the way. The route combines Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka, making it a good option for travelers who want to cover a lot of ground in a relatively short trip. 7-Day … Read more