Japan

Travelogues Japan

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Vacation in Japan : Highlights & Travel Tips

Japan is a destination that blends ancient tradition with cutting-edge modern life in a way few countries can match. Travelers can move from serene temples and bamboo groves in Kyoto to the neon energy of Tokyo, then on to mountain hot spring towns, coastal villages, and world-class ski regions. What makes Japan especially memorable is the care and craftsmanship found in everyday life—whether in seasonal cuisine, beautifully maintained gardens, efficient transportation, or the deep sense of hospitality that shapes the travel experience.

Key highlights include exploring Tokyo’s distinct neighborhoods, visiting Kyoto’s shrines, temples, and geisha districts, seeing Osaka for food and nightlife, and experiencing natural beauty from Mount Fuji views to autumn foliage and spring cherry blossoms. Many travelers also enjoy riding the shinkansen, staying in a ryokan, soaking in an onsen, and sampling regional specialties such as sushi, ramen, kaiseki, and street food. Practical tips: get an IC transit card for easy local travel, reserve popular accommodations and train tickets early during peak seasons, learn a few basic Japanese phrases, carry some cash for smaller shops, and pack according to the season since weather varies widely across the country.

Popular travel destinations Japan

Best time to travel Japan

The best time to visit Japan is generally March to May and October, when popularity peaks and travelers can enjoy mild weather, seasonal scenery, and many of the country’s most iconic experiences. Spring is ideal for cherry blossoms, while October offers comfortable temperatures and beautiful autumn colors with fewer summer weather challenges.

All travel reports from Japan

Day 12 (Tokyo)

On the penultimate day in Tokyo, our goal was the largest anime store in the world. We took the not-so-crowded train to Ikebukuro, and upon arrival, we found ourselves in a huge...

The Imperial Palace in Tokyo

We wait for a long time at the gates of the Imperial Palace. With 70 other visitors, we are allowed to enter the outer area of the palace through the gate. We are led past the...

Arriving in Shinjuku

Hello Shinjuku!

Day 9 (Kanazawa-Tokyo)

After another amazing breakfast in Kanazawa, we went straight from the hotel to the train station and then took the Shinkansen to Tokyo. I slept well during the journey and...

Day 9 (Kanazawa)

The breakfast in Kanazawa was the best of the entire trip. The Japanese often eat warm breakfast, so there is usually little that we know from breakfast in Europe, like bread or...

NAKADAKI ART VILLAGE

Our journey takes us to Nakadaki Art Village in Isumi. Unlike Tokyo, it is a vibrant natural environment. We are able to stay in our own hut here and feel protected among the...

Snow Monkeys

Another special feature of the city of Yamanouchi is that there is a group of macaque monkeys living here who have made it a habit to bathe in the hot springs. The monkeys use...

The old Kyoto

A street in Gion - the historic district of Kyoto

In the Japanese Alps

Takayama is located west of the Japanese Alps. About a 90-minute bus ride away is Kamikochi, a valley in the middle of the northern Alps. This area is part of the Chubu Sangaku...

A trip to Yamanaka Onsen

A cute 'teahouse'

Off to Fuji!

Three consecutive days off, so let's go to Fuji. I'm actually not far from Fuji. However, there is a small mountain range between the hostel and the mountain. So, to Fuji, a...

The Silver and Golden Pavilion

In the east of Kyoto is the Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion or Ginkaku Temple. It is not really silver and it is not known whether there were actually plans to make it silver....

Mount Takao

Finally arrived at the top of the mountain. At nearly 600m, there is a beautiful view, even though the air is not entirely clear. Unfortunately, the center of Tokyo, which is 50...

Something in the city and festival at Kanda Myoujin Shrine

There was a lot going on in the city when I walked home from bouldering. I stumbled upon a nice summer festival at Kanda Myoujin Shrine. There, I treated myself to a cucumber on a...

Wakayama east coast

 ...After the Storm... Radtour - 3 Tage - 136km - 1190 Höhenmeter 

Yokohama - Kobe Crossing, March 31, 2026

Our captain prefers to drive along unpaved backroads instead of the highway. This means it's pretty bumpy and shaky. However, we are doing well for now, but there are noticeably...

Mit der Fähre nach Shikoku

1 Unsere Route auf kyushu 2 impressionen von der überfahrt von Oita nach shikoku

Food Five

Monday 28.4 Cafeteria Food! Only ¥687. I’m a saver The vegetables are available at a cold buffet and cost about ¥170 per 100g. So it's quite cheap and filling! My own bowl...

Mountains Day

The last weekend with Mountain Day was very beautiful, but also quite exhausting. The nightlife in Japan was also very interesting to experience. I was able to see the sunrise...

Sado - bike festival and smaller activities

We only did some smaller activities in the next few days, so I'll summarize them here. On Friday, Ayuna showed us how a traditional tea ceremony in Japan takes place....

Day 10 (Tokyo)

Our first real day in Tokyo started with a mega breakfast. It not only looked very good, but also tasted better than anything we had before. In addition, we could choose what we...

Arrival in Tokyo

Finally, we have arrived after an 18-hour flight. We are trying to navigate around the airport and even find an affordable train to Tokyo. We still have a little hike to our...

28.01.2020 - Day 33 - Tokyo, Japan

🌧🌧☔️ what can I say... it rained heavily all day today and that at about 7 degrees. And what do you do in Tokyo with such weather? You take the subway 🚇 to the new Olympic...

27.01.2020 - Day 32 - Tokyo, Japan

Ohaiyou Gozaimasu.... This morning we landed at Tokyo Haneda Airport shortly after 6am. Tokyo greeted us with cold temperatures of around 3 degrees. After the 27 degrees...

Wochenendausflug ins herbstliche Nikko 🙈🙉🙊

26. und 27.10.2019 – 3 Affen, Tempel, Wasserfälle, Berge, See, Hochmoor und endlich Herbst! Ein weiteres, vor allem im Herbst äußerst beliebtes Reiseziel der Tokyoer ist die...

Osaka Castle

Located in the heart of Osaka, Osaka Castle is a magnificent castle surrounded by an impressive complex. Inside the castle is a museum that explains the history of the castle...

Nagano and Matsumoto

Since October 5th, Laura and Jens have been visiting. We spent the first 5 days in Kanazawa and then went to Nagano, where the 1998 Winter Olympics took place. But there's not...

Next Stop: Takayama

Yes, September is already over and so is my work at the hostel in Kanazawa. On the last evening, the entire hostel staff went to an Izakaya (Japanese bar): 2 hours...

The historic village of Shirakawa-go

For 5 days, Melanie and Anja are visiting me in Kanazawa. So off to Shirakawa-go :) Shirakawa-go - actually three villages - is located between Kanazawa and the Japanese Alps....

Old Tokaido - Hiking

Tokaido - translated as 'Eastern Sea Road' - was one of the 5 major routes of the Edo period (17th to 19th century) between Tokyo and Kyoto. Today, not much of it remains. A 3...