Why I love Japan

“I’ve spent most of my adult life in Japan and now it feels like home to me. I love the food: it’s incredibly varied and nourishing and there seems to be no end to the culinary discoveries one can make. I love the combination of a hike in the mountains followed by a long soak in an onsen. But, most of all, I love the meticulous and careful nature of the Japanese people, reflected in every aspect of Japanese life, from...” Read More

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Chris Rowthorn
Writer

Top experiences in Japan

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The Fixer's tour of secret Tokyo

Shinji Nohara knows Tokyo like no other. A lifelong local, he’s the ‘Tokyo Fixer’, the foodie who fed fugu (puffer fish) to Anthony Bourdain, who consults with some of the world’s best restaurants, and who regularly guides the great and the good around Tokyo’s lesser-known highlights. Best of all, he agreed to give this Lonely Planet writer a taste of the city, Shinji-style.

Soba noodles at Sasuga © Tom O'Malley / Lonely Planet
Tom O'Malley
Lonely Planet Writer
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Travel guides

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Japan adventures

$4164 Nature & wildlife

Discover Japan

From the towers and gadgets of Tokyo to the serenity of sacred shrines and the soaring beauty of Mt Fuji, this trip provides the perfect blend of guided excursions and free time to explore this fascinating region at your own pace. Linger in the gardens of Kyoto, shoot through the mountain air on a Shinkansen bullet train, and stay in a traditional ryokan for the ultimate in Japanese luxury.
$3119 Photography

Backroads of Japan

Tokyo and Kyoto—the modern and imperial capitals of Japan, respectively—represent the perfect merger of the ancient and the contemporary. On this trip, you’ll thoroughly explore both and everything in between, from traditional villages and miles of rice fields to ancient temples and the stunning vistas of the Japanese Alps. Snow monkeys, geishas, the teeming pedestrian scrambles of Tokyo’s Shibuya district, and the impossibly friendly staff of your traditional ryokan are just a few of the locals you’ll meet and never forget.
$665.43 Small group tours

Kyoto and Nara 2-Day or 3-Day Rail Tour by Bullet Train from Tokyo

Leave Tokyo on the bullet train to visit the heritage-filled cities of Kyoto and Nara, staying overnight in Kyoto, on your choice of a guided 2-day or 3-day excursion. Visit Nara’s many gorgeous temples and shrines on the first afternoon, then have a full-day tour of Kyoto’s highlights on the second day. Have the option of a second night in Kyoto, with the third day free to explore the city further. Return trip by bullet train to Tokyo and hotel transfer is included on both tours.
$638.53 Small group tours

3-Day Mt Fuji, Kyoto and Nara Rail Tour by Bullet Train from Tokyo

See the iconic highlights of Japan on a 3-day guided tour to Mt Fuji, Kyoto and Nara. Visit revered Mt Fuji, take a boat cruise on Lake Ashi and an aerial tram ride up Mt Komagatake. Head to Kyoto on the bullet train and take in the beautiful city on a morning tour to the Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, and Kyoto Imperial Palace. Then see Nara’s famous sites including Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and Nara Park (Deer Park). Stay two nights in Kyoto with optional return to Tokyo.
$303.83 Small group tours

2-Day Mt Fuji, Hakone and Bullet Train Tour from Tokyo

Escape the big-city bustle to explore Mt Fuji, stay in scenic Hakone then zoom back to Tokyo by bullet train on this overnight jaunt. With an informative guide, you’ll visit 5th Station, cruise Lake Ashi and take a ride on the Mt Komagatake Ropeway. Then soothe away your cares in an ‘onsen’ (hot spring bath) at your Hakone accommodation and have a day free to explore this exquisite resort town at your leisure, using a transportation pass. Upgrade to include breakfast and dinner with Japanese-style rooms at your hotel.
$587.73 Small group tours

2-Day Mt Fuji and Kyoto Rail Tour by Bullet Train from Tokyo

Combine a visit to Mt Fuji with a bullet train ride and Kyoto sightseeing on this activity-filled 2-day tour from Tokyo. Day 1 introduces you to Japan’s natural beauty with a drive up Mt Fuji by coach, a cruise on Lake Ashi and a ride on the Komagatake Ropeway. Experience another Japan must-do with a high-speed adventure on the bullet train (aka Shinkansen) to Kyoto, where you’ll spend Day 2 exploring this important city and its many cultural attractions, such as Nijo Castle and the Golden Pavilion. You can either stay in Kyoto on your own after your tour, or return to Tokyo by bullet train. Choose from four hotel options.
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