Travel
Day trips from Tokyo: Kamakura, Nikko, Hakone, Mount Fuji and more
How to reach Kamakura, Nikko, Hakone, the Fuji Five Lakes, Yokohama, Kawagoe and Mount Takao from Tokyo, what to see in each and how long to allow.
Japan travel guides
Itineraries, where to stay, hotels and road trips in Japan.
Tokyo
Travel
University of Tokyo campus tour: the Akamon, Yasuda Auditorium and Hongo
Visiting the University of Tokyo: the Akamon gate, the ginkgo avenue, Yasuda Auditorium, Sanshiro Pond, the Komaba campus, getting there and where to stay.
Travel
Tokyo in 3 days: a first-visit itinerary planned by area
A three-day Tokyo plan grouped by area: Asakusa, Ueno and Skytree, then Meiji Jingu, Shibuya and Shinjuku, then Tsukiji, the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower.
Travel
Tokyo in 4 days: a first-visit itinerary that keeps travel short
A four-day Tokyo plan grouped by area: Asakusa and Ueno, Harajuku to Shinjuku, Ginza and the bay, and a flexible last day in Kamakura or west Tokyo.
Travel
Where to stay in Tokyo: the main areas compared for a first visit
Tokyo is vast, so your base shapes every day. How Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Asakusa, Roppongi, Ikebukuro and Shinagawa compare, plus trains, IC cards and airports.
Kyoto
Travel
Kyoto in 3 days: a practical itinerary grouped by neighbourhood
A three-day Kyoto plan: Higashiyama and Gion, then Arashiyama and the Golden Pavilion, then Fushimi Inari and the Philosopher's Path, with booking and timing tips.
Travel
Kyoto University campus tour: the clock tower, Yoshida and beyond
A guide to visiting Kyoto University: the clock tower and camphor tree, the Yoshida campus, student life in Sakyo, the Philosopher's Path and where to stay.
Travel
Kyoto in 2 days: a first-time itinerary, east side then west
A two-day Kyoto plan grouped by area: Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera and Gion on day one, then Arashiyama, the Golden Pavilion and Pontochō on day two.
Travel
Day trips from Kyoto: Nara, Osaka, Himeji, Uji and more compared
Kyoto sits at the heart of the Kansai rail network. How to reach Nara, Osaka, Himeji Castle, Uji, Kobe and Lake Biwa for a day, what to see and how long to allow.
Travel
Where to stay in Kyoto: station, downtown, Gion or Arashiyama?
Kyoto's sights are spread out and its buses get crowded, so location matters. How Kyoto Station, Downtown, Gion, Arashiyama and the north compare, plus ryokan tips.
Osaka
Travel
Osaka in 3 days: a food-first itinerary with a Nara half-day
A three-day Osaka plan: the castle and Dotonbori, then Kuromon, Shinsekai and Tennoji, then a Nara morning and Umeda at sunset, with booking and timing tips.
Travel
Where to stay in Osaka: Namba, Umeda, Shinsaibashi, Tennoji and more
Osaka has two centres and excellent trains. How Namba, Shinsaibashi, Umeda, Tennoji, Shin-Osaka, Nakanoshima and the castle and bay areas compare, and who each suits.
Travel
Osaka University campus tour: Toyonaka, Suita, Minoh and Tekijuku
A guide to the University of Osaka's three campuses: the 1920s hall and museum at Toyonaka, Suita beside the Expo park, new Minoh, plus transport and where to stay.
