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Japan is made for the train. The shinkansen turns a sprawling country into a single, effortless line — neon Tokyo one morning, a mountain onsen by afternoon, the temples of Kyoto the next day. A rail pass and a light bag are most of the plan.
When to go
Late March–May for the cherry blossom and October–November for the autumn leaves — both spectacular, both busy, so book early. Summer is hot and humid; winter is clear and cold, with the best Fuji views. Avoid Golden Week and New Year unless you like crowds.
The shape of the trip
How it strings together.
- 1Tokyo
Three or four nights of food, neighbourhoods and shrines to start.
- 2Hakone
A short hop for hot springs, lake views and — on a clear day — Mount Fuji.
- 3Kyoto
The old capital: temples, gardens, and slow evenings in Gion.
- 4Osaka
Finish loud and hungry in Japan's kitchen before the flight home.
Good to know
- ·A Japan Rail Pass can pay off for a multi-city trip — do the maths against point-to-point shinkansen tickets.
- ·Ship your big bag ahead between cities (takkyubin) and travel the trains light.
- ·Book the headline temples and any teamLab tickets in advance for spring and autumn.
Make it yours
Turn this idea into a real, booked trip.
More trip ideas
Keep dreaming.
Two coasts, a tangle of limestone islands, and a couple of days in Bangkok to bookend it.
Design-led cities, long light that never quite fades, and the fjords to finish.
Mulled wine, wooden stalls and lit-up old towns, strung together by train.