Japan

Japan Travel Blogs

A practical Japan travel page with my two-week route from Osaka to Tokyo, including Kyoto, Takayama, Mount Fuji and Tokyo. Based on my own trip, with honest tips, hotel ideas and realistic travel advice.

Japan had been high on my travel list for a while. It is a popular destination, and with the Japanese yen favorable during my trip, the timing felt right. I traveled in May, just after the busy cherry blossom season. For me, this was a good period. It was not too hot yet, the biggest spring crowds had passed and the route from Osaka to Tokyo worked well for two weeks.

My route started in Osaka, continued to Kyoto, then went into the mountains to Takayama, followed by Kawaguchiko for Mount Fuji and ended in Tokyo. For a first Japan trip, this route worked well. It gave me a good mix of city life, temples, old streets, mountain towns, lake views and very efficient trains. It was busy at times, especially towards the end in Tokyo, but it never felt impossible to organize. Osaka was my first stop in Japan. I only stayed briefly, but it was a good place to arrive and get into the rhythm of the country. Kyoto became one of the main stops of my trip, with temples, shrines, bamboo, old streets and a day trip to Nara.

After Kyoto, I traveled by bullet and express train to Takayama. This was a good change of pace. Takayama felt smaller, calmer and more traditional. I visited the old town, the morning market and made a day trip to Shirakawa-go. From the mountains, I continued to Kawaguchiko near Mount Fuji. This part of the trip felt more open and relaxed. It is a good stop if you want lake views, nature and a chance to see Mount Fuji without rushing everything into a day trip from Tokyo.

I ended in Tokyo, which was exactly as intense as people say. Maybe more. I stayed in Asakusa and explored areas like Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Ginza and Ueno. Tokyo is exciting, stylish, very busy and sometimes a lot to take in.

Planning your own Japan trip? Start with the route first. Japan is easy to travel through, but it helps to know where you want to slow down and where you just need to accept the crowds, trains and busy city days.

In all my separate blogs I will give you inspirations, information and tips to plan your travel to Japan. Hope you like it and please let me know!