teatimeabroadAre you ready to plan your dream trip to Japan? This incredible country truly has something for everyone, no matter when you visit. Do you want to walk under the iconic cherry blossoms in the spring, or chase the fiery autumn leaves in the fall? Are you looking to hike Mt. Fuji in the summer, or hit the world-class slopes in the winter?
As first-time visitors, Sebastian and I wanted to dive straight into Japan’s rich history and legendary cultural hotspots. After endless research, we decided to book our adventure for November—and it was the best decision we could have made. While spring gets all the fame, autumn is arguably just as beautiful, way less crowded, and much easier on the wallet. The Japanese even have a specific word for this season: Momiji-gari, or “autumn leaf hunting.” Spanning from early November to the first of December, our trip was filled with brilliant festivals, stunning city illuminations, clear blue skies, and perfect, crisp weather.
3 Week Itinerary
This itinerary can be modified for 2 weeks by removing the last two stops: Naoshima and Lake Kawaguchiko.
- Base 1 – Tokyo (5 nights)
- Base 2 – Nikko (2 nights)
- Base 3 – Kyoto (5 nights)
- Nara day trip
- Osaka day trip
- Base 4 – Hiroshima (2 nights)
- Base 5 – Naoshima Island (3 nights)
- Base 6 – Lake Kawaguchiko (4 nights)
You can find the full route on google maps by clicking the link here.
Cities Visited
Tokyo in 4 days, 5 nights
Tokyo is the largest city in the world based on population, yet it somehow feels cleaner and calmer than most. There are many facets to experiencing the city. Explore Tokyo through sites like the Shibuya Crossing, guided tours, museums, parks, shrines and temples, and shopping. I would normally include food in this list, but the food is so good in Japan that I think it’s safe to say there are no bad options. Numerous food tours are available on the website With Locals.
Nikko in 3 days, 2 nights
The town of Nikko lies a few hours north of Tokyo. This area offers stunning natural landscapes and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visit the cherry blossoms in spring or enjoy the stunning autumn leaves framing the lakes and waterfalls in fall.
I found this town listed mostly as a day trip, but I would advise against that for two main reasons: 1) Although the bullet train has direct routes from Tokyo, it still takes nearly 2 hours to reach, and then you have to take local transport or rent a car for the main hotspots; 2) The area is absolutely stunning and deserves to have its own moment in your trip.
We stayed 2 and a half days, but I wish we had extended at least one extra. We used trains and buses everywhere. This was fine, but I think it’s worth renting a car to save time and explore more extensively. You will want as much time as possible to explore the nature, temples and shrines, and neighboring spa towns.
You can read more about this part of the trip in the article I wrote, Slow Travel in Nikko, Japan.
Kyoto in 6 days, 5 nights
Historic Kyoto was the Imperial capital of Japan for over 1000 years. When you think of Japan, you are likely imagining Kyoto. This city is the center of culture and history. Some of Japan’s most famous temples and shrines are located here, including the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, known for its long tunnel of 10,000 torii gates. Make sure you also visit the Gion entertainment district, where Japan’s highly admired geisha still train and work.
In my article, Behind the Porcelain Mask, I write about the experience of attending an interview and performance given by a maiko, an apprentice geisha.
Kyoto is a wonderful base for exploring Japan’s rich history, but also for day trips. We spent one day in Nara to feed animal-friendly cookies to the infamous Nara deer. Watch out! They don’t act as cute as they look. A well-placed head-butt gave me a nasty bruise on my thigh, and another deer nipped Sebastian in the thigh. Still, we had a blast fleeing the naughtier animals and watching them harass tourists.
Osaka is another great day trip from Kyoto. This city is popular for nightlife, but also for its major foodie scene. I couldn’t choose between the online food tours, so we made up our own. We spent hours wandering through the famous covered food market, Kuromon Ichiba Market. I used this Osaka Travel Guide to choose our dishes.
Hiroshima in 3 days, 2 nights
This city was the site of the world’s first atomic bomb attack on August 6, 1945. A visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is an essential part of understanding Japanese history. It is not the only reason to visit, however. Hiroshima has grown into a beautiful and thriving city.
The coastal location makes it a great base for an island day trip. We took a riverboat and a ferry from the mainland to Miyajima Island. This island is home to the iconic Itsukushima Shrine, a massive torii gate that appears to float in the sea during high tide.
Our highlight from the island was a steep walk through Momijidani Park’s nature trails. There are networks of walking and hiking trails that connect to a rope bridge and various viewpoints. Some people wore hiking boots, but we had on regular shoes which were just fine. During our fall visit, many of the trees were bright shades of orange and red. The opportunities for photos here are wonderful. Higher up the path, we had open views of Mount Misen and the mainland coast. This day is one of my favorite memories of the entire trip.
Naoshima in 4 days, 3 nights
One of my top priorities when planning my trip to Japan was to seek-out unique opportunities for immersing myself in art. It turns out they have an entire island dedicated to this!
Look no further than Japan’s Island of Art for a truly special travel experience.
Lake Kawaguchiko in 5 days, 4 nights
There was no way I was going all the way to Japan without seeing Mount Fuji. The Kawaguchiko lake district is a perfect base to take some of the most stunning pictures of the mountain’s profile. We were lucky to receive mostly clear, blue skies for our time here.
We spent many hours walking around the lake, enjoying beautiful nature trails and opportunities to enjoy the golden leaves of fall. We also spent a day at arguably one of the best theme parks we’ve ever visited. A short distance by bus from the lake is the Fuji-Q theme park.
I grew up in Orlando, Florida, which some might consider “the land of roller coasters,” yet I found the rides at this park surprisingly fun. Fuji-Q isn’t an enormous park, but it definitely had some of the most creatively designed rides I’ve ever experienced! I would highly recommend a visit on a cloudy day if you have the time. You can choose between purchasing individual ride tickets or an all-inclusive ticket for the whole park.
Let’s Chat: What’s on Your Japan Bucket List?
Planning a trip to Japan can feel overwhelming, but I hope our autumn adventure gave you some inspiration! There really is no wrong time to visit this incredible country, but there is something extra magical about the fall.
Now, I want to hear from you! Have you ever been to Japan, or is it still sitting at the top of your bucket list? Which season would you most want to experience? Let me know in the comments below!
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