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Mount Fuji rises above a calm lake, framed by red and orange maple leaves at sunrise.

Japan

Tokyo's neighborhoods, Kyoto's temples, onsen towns in the mountains, and a rail network that makes it easy to see a lot in one trip.

Best timeMar to May, Oct to NovMoneyJapanese yen (JPY)PlugsType A and B, 100 VMain airportTokyo (TYO)
Approved by TravPa Editors, Nov 3, 2026
Autumn maples frame Mount Fuji across the water.
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Overview

Most first trips pair Tokyo with Kyoto, linked by the Shinkansen in a little over two hours. Add Hakone for hot springs and views of Mount Fuji, or Osaka and Nara for street food and the deer park.

Plan around the seasons: spring and autumn are the most comfortable and the busiest, June brings the rainy season, and July and August are hot and humid.

When to go

BestGo with a plan
janColdfebColdmarBestaprBestmayBestjunRainyjulHotaugHotsepTyphoonsoctBestnovBestdecCold

Cherry blossoms usually peak in late March to early April in Tokyo and Kyoto. Autumn leaves peak from mid to late November.

Every month in detail: weather and recent fares

Itineraries

Rows of vermilion torii gates follow a stone path through a wooded hillside.
A wooded path beneath rows of vermilion torii gates.
Kyoto in 2 daysFushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, Pontochō, Arashiyama, Ryōan-ji, Kinkaku-ji, Nishiki Market, Nijō CastlePacked pace
A cook turns steaming takoyaki with picks in a cast-iron street-stall pan.
Takoyaki cooking in a street-stall pan.
Osaka in 3 daysOsaka Castle, Kuromon Market, Dotonbori, Nara, Sumiyoshi Taisha, Shinsekai, Umeda Sky Building, TenmaBalanced pace
A wide gravel path leads through tall trees toward a Shinto shrine gate.
A quiet approach to a shrine through tall trees.
Tokyo in 3 daysAsakusa, Ueno, Skytree, Meiji Jingu, Shimokitazawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Tsukiji, teamLabBalanced pace
A wide gravel path leads through tall trees toward a Shinto shrine gate.
A quiet approach to a shrine through tall trees.
Tokyo in 5 daysAsakusa, Ueno, Shibuya, Tsukiji, Hama-rikyu, Kamakura, Enoshima, Toyosu, OdaibaBalanced pace
A white high-speed train passes green rice fields with forested mountains behind.
A high-speed train crosses the countryside beside rice fields.
Japan in 7 daysTokyo, Asakusa, Shibuya, Kyoto, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, Osaka, DotonboriBalanced pace
A white high-speed train passes green rice fields with forested mountains behind.
A high-speed train crosses the countryside beside rice fields.
Japan in 10 daysTokyo, Kamakura, Enoshima, Kyoto, Nara, OsakaBalanced pace
A white high-speed train passes green rice fields with forested mountains behind.
A high-speed train crosses the countryside beside rice fields.
Japan in 14 daysTokyo, Kamakura, Enoshima, Toyosu, Kyoto, Arashiyama, Nara, Osaka, NakanoshimaBalanced pace

Where to stay

KyotoDowntown around Shijō for restaurants and trains, Gion for temples on foot, Kyoto Station for day trips.Best areas to stay in KyotoHotels in Kyoto
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OsakaNamba for food and nightlife, Umeda for trains and shopping.Best areas to stay in OsakaHotels in Osaka
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TokyoShinjuku for trains and nightlife, Asakusa for a calmer old-town base, Ginza for central and upscale.Best areas to stay in TokyoHotels in Tokyo
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Getting around

  • Shinkansen: Tokyo to Kyoto takes about 2 hours 15 minutes on the Nozomi.
  • JR Pass: Since the October 2023 price rise it pays off only on long rail loops. Price your route first.
  • IC cards: Suica, PASMO and ICOCA work on most city trains and buses, and in convenience stores.
  • Rental cars: Worth it in Hokkaido and Okinawa, rarely in Tokyo or Kyoto.

Before you go

Travel insuranceHealth insurance from home often doesn't cover care abroad. Check what your plan includes, then compare cover for your dates.
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Phone dataAn eSIM gives you data for maps and train times from the moment you land.How a travel eSIM works
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