Places to vacation in japan

If you’re looking for a way to get away from it all, look no further than Japan.

This country is a place where you can truly immerse yourself in nature and culture, with a rich history that will leave you feeling like you stepped back in time. It’s also home to some of the most beautiful sights on earth, including Mount Fuji and the snow monkeys of Jigokudani Monkey Park.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try hiking one of the many mountains in Japan—Mount Fuji is a popular choice but there are plenty more nearby! Or if you’d rather just relax and take it easy, there are plenty of beaches around Japan as well as hot springs where you can soak your feet after a long day on the road.

Places to vacation in japan

Tokyo and Kanto

I mentioned in my two weeks in Japan guide that you should spend three days in Tokyo (at most) on a trip of that length. If you have a month to spend in Japan, however, you can extend your stay in Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto region to between five and seven days, whether you explore traditional attractions or the avant-garde Miraikan, the futuristic “Museum of Emerging Science.”

Follow up a full two or three days in Tokyo with a day trip to Nikko, a UNESCO World Heritage city that features a shogun shrine splayed across a scenic hillside. Spend another day in Kamakura, a historical city in Kanagawa prefecture famous (among other reasons) for its giant Buddha, pairing it with underrated Yokohama (namely, Sakei-en Garden and the Cup Noodle Museum) for good measure.

Alternatively (or, if your Japan 1 month itinerary is more flexible, additionally) take an overnight trip or two from Tokyo. Head to towns of the Fuji Five Lakes region like Kawaguchiko, home to Lake Kawaguchi and Fujiyoshida, where most climbers of Mt. Fuji begin their treks, either on your own or with a guided Mt. Fuji tour from Tokyo. Or soak up everything there is to love about Japan’s de-facto onsen capital, Hakone.

Kyoto, Osaka and Kansai

The sheer amount of sightseeing in Kyoto makes it a (pleasantly) bloated part of any one month Japan itinerary. As is the case with Tokyo, you’ll want to spend at least two or three days of your month in Japan in Kyoto, just in the city-proper, enjoying its temples, shrines, forests, ryokan guest houses and culture.

With this being said, having a month in Japan opens up Kyoto’s surrounding Kansai region. For example, you can visit Osaka for longer than a day, devoting at least a full day (or two) to this delectable, quirky city, which really holds its own against Tokyo, in a similar way to how Kyoto does versus Tokyo. As was the case with my two week itinerary, a day trip to Nara is probably all you’ll need for a 1 month Japan itinerary, unless you enjoy deer or ancient wooden structure significantly more than the average person.

My favorite place in Kansai to recommend to travelers, however, is Himeji Castle. Located in Hyogo prefecture about an hour from Osaka (slightly less from Kobe) by Shinkansen bullet train, it’s perhaps Japan’s most picturesque castle, and is particularly beautiful if you can manage to see it during sakura season. Speaking of castles, the ones in Nagahama and Hikone on the shores of Lake Biwa are also worthwhile if you’re seeing Japan for a month.

Shikoku

Get a bus from Osaka Station to Tokushima, gateway to Japan’s most underrated island: Shikoku. Overlooked up until recently by everyone except pilgrims wanting to hike its 88 Temple Trail, Shikoku is a mysterious island filled with pristine nature and perfect cities in just the right combination, especially for a sumptuous one month in Japan itinerary.

Assuming you spend five days each in Tokyo and Kyoto, devote the same number of days to Shikoku. Moving in a clockwise loop from Tokushima, visit enchanting Naruto Whirlpools, dramatic Iya Valley and the gorgeous castle cities of Kochi and Matsuyama, followed up by stops at Dogo Onsen and Kotohira-gu Shrine, in well-manicured Takamastu and in the udon-slurping town of Marugame.

Hiroshima, Chugoku and San’in

After you finish in Shikoku, get a local train from Takamatsu to Okayama (which is itself worthy of a night, if you can spare it) and from there, ride the Shinkansen westward to Hiroshima, which is not only infamous but is the largest city in Chugoku, the westernmost region of Honshu island. Beyond Hiroshima Peace Park (which will take about a half-day of your time), you can enjoy 1-2 days in the Hiroshima area by adding sunset behind the floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima island to your itinerary.

Extend your stay in far-western Honshu island to between 5-7 days by adding in a couple of other excursions. From Hiroshima, the so-called “rabbit island” of Okunoshima is an easy day trip. Alternatively, head far off Japan’s beaten path into the underrated San’in region, from the bizarre Tottori Sand Dunes, to sprawling Izumo Shrine and from the charming small-town of Tsuwano to the lively city of Shimonoseki, the last city in Honshu before crossing over to Kyushu.

Kyushu or Tohoku

Most of this month in Japan itinerary so far has required little choice. Unfortunately, since you’ll have spent between 17-20 days in Japan already if you’ve followed it, you will need to make some decisions as to your travel priorities, starting now.

If you like the urban vibe of Hiroshima and the not-quite-tropical scenery of Shikoku, head southward to Kyushu island. Whether you stick to cities like Fukuoka and Nagasaki or natural experiences such as Beppu Onsen and Yakushima Island (accessible, you should note, via hydrofoil ferry—this alone takes 1-2 days), 3-5 days is more than enough to enjoy the best of Kyushu.

If the thought of exploring rugged northern Japan is more appealing to you, head back the way you came, ride the Shinkansen through Tokyo and up to Sendai, the gateway to Japan’s Tohoku region. Spend 3-5 days exploring the “snow monsters” of Zao Onsen and its (somewhat) nearby Fox Village, Hirosaki Castle (which, in spring, boasts a gorgeous “petal moat”) and Japan’s “Apple City,” Aomori.

Hokkaido or Okinawa

Another important choice is how you’ll end your month in Japan. From Tohoku the most obvious choice is to continue northward to Hokkaido island, spending 3-5 days here before flying back to Tokyo to connect back home. In Japan in winter, skiing in Hokkaido and the Sapporo Snow Festival are your best bests, while Hokkaido wildflowers are a great idea in summer; Hakodate is a great city 365 days per year.

If you chose Kyushu or simply don’t find a Hokkaido road trip appealing, point your compass southeastward to the Okinawa archipelago. Whether you close out your Japan one month itinerary in Naha city, learning about the culture of the Ryukyu Kingdom that once ruled over these islands, or frolic on the tropical beaches of Ishigaki island, it’ll be almost impossible to leave.