Our Japan Travel Itinerary: Tokyo, Hakuba, Hakone, Kyoto

There is a lot to do in Japan and planning your very first trip could seem daunting. For our own maiden trip to Japan, our initial thoughts were to cover Tokyo and nearby cities and then fly to Hokkaido and spend a few days there. Later though, we decided that for a 11 days trip it will be a lot of running around so we changed our plans and decided to soak in the places at a slower, more relaxed pace.

Here is a summarised version of what we covered overall:

• Tokyo (Day 1-4) – Explored this sprawling metropolis. See our things-to-do in Tokyo here.
• Hakuba (Day 5-6) – Relaxed and enjoyed some peace, quiet and snow at this little ski village. We took our very first ever ski lessons here! See our travel vlog from Hakuba here.
• Hakone (Day 7-8) – Enjoyed the slow pace in this small town and took a day tour to enjoy beautiful landscapes.
• Kyoto (Day 9-11) – Soaked in the historic side of Japan in this former capital.

Frequently Asked Questions and Tips:

• Airport Transfers: Wherever you are in the world, chances are that you will land in Tokyo on your very first time in this country. There are two airports you can fly into – Narita and Haneda. Haneda is closer to the city and to get to the city you can take buses. Narita is further away and best option is to take the Narita Express that runs every 30 mins.
• Getting around in Japan: Public transport is safe and efficient so we suggest you get subway passes in places like Tokyo and Kyoto. For intercity travel on the Shinkansen (bullet trains) invest in the Japan Rail Pass. Do note that the JR pass also works on certain lines in the city subways, so check before you plan your day. Make sure to collect your JR passes at the airport. We purchased the passes online and collected the passes at Narita. Understanding the Shinkansen? Read this very helpful guide, link here.
• When did we visit: We visited in late winter as it’s the non-peak season. It was a welcome change for us and we enjoyed the winter days. Cherry Blossom is obviously the peak tourist season but that also means loads of crowds, high prices and advance bookings for everything. The other popular season to visit is autumn. With the changing hues, the landscapes look beautiful.
• Where did we stay: We stayed in Airbnbs in Tokyo and Kyoto which were cozy, clean and pocket friendly. In Hakuba and Hakone, we stayed in hostels. K’s House in Hakone was a great hostel stay where we slept on tatamis. And almost everywhere, you get the heated toilet seats which were so awesome in the winters! :D. Get SGD $45 off (approx. USD $35) on your very first Airbnb stay using this link, click here.
• As taxis are quite pricey you will be hauling your luggage quite a bit. So try to travel light.
• Download a translation app as english doesn’t take you too far. Labels in supermarkets and shops are also often only in Japanese.

Hopefully this post gives you a starting point when planning your own trip. Happy travels! And if you have any questions, leave them in the comments.