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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.
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.
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...
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...
Hello Shinjuku!
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...
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...
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...
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...
A street in Gion - the historic district of Kyoto
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 cute 'teahouse'
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...
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....
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...
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...
...After the Storm... Radtour - 3 Tage - 136km - 1190 Höhenmeter
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...
1 Unsere Route auf kyushu 2 impressionen von der überfahrt von Oita nach shikoku
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
🌧🌧☔️ 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...