Where To Go in Japan – 9 Awesome Destinations For a One Month Trip
In light of the Olympics happening at the moment which made my sleeping schedule irregular. Not that I am complaining since I don’t sleep early anyways. Quite happy to watch because Canada is rocking it! Won women’s football gold and the Philippines made history having its first gold medal. Woohoo! The amazing country of Japan where I spent a good one month exploring cities north, south, east, west. A great resource for anyone who wants to go to the best destinations of the country specially right now with the current events happening which inspired this post.
Watching the Olympics, the reporters kept referencing the 2016 Rio Olympics which I had no recollection of because I was in Japan when it happened. I was busy exploring the next host city in Japan for a month. What I remember was that the Prime Minister of Japan at that time dressed up as a character during the closing ceremony. And, how advanced Japan was while I was there, the day of the closing ceremony, shops and stores were popping up and displaying products for the upcoming next olympics. That’s also how I could tell there was the Olympics lol. In 4 years time it’ll be in Japan (5 years time now actually).
The city destinations listed starts from North to South. These places are the destinations where I went for accommodation and from there I did day trips because you get to your destination in a blink of an eye when you travel at ~300km/hr. Their tourism is really good and offer this amazing rail pass for tourists who visits called the JR Pass. It’s so great that there were moments when I’d take it to travel for only let’s say about 30 minutes only to end up at another Prefecture and didn’t even realize how much distance I’ve covered. I can tell you more about it later on and put it up in the resource section!
How I Remember This Japan Month Trip
Japan is seriously amazing and there’s a lot of places to see, things to do, and food to eat! Food that brought me here so I ate everything and my favourite ramen. Every. Single. Day. And no regrets. Super happy when I arrived in this super bustling country full of energy, culture, and adorable people. One month in Japan is not enough but I settled in pretty quickly because I have been waiting for this moment my whole life.
Everything about this trip was great! It was another trip with my university friends around two years after we graduated and worked at different locations. This trip became a reunion and an awesome one being in Japan! I also did solo trips and visited friends who lived here. It was an all encompassing trip where I did every type of travel.
How the heck was I able to afford a long month trip and where did I find the time? I banked enough days from work and used it all up for this trip! While in Japan, I didn’t spend much on transportation because I got the JR Rail Pass. This tourist friendly travel pass lets you travel by train in Japan as long as its JR Rail line so pretty much everywhere. It also comes down to budgeting. I saved a lot for this trip because I know I would want to do everything when I’m in Japan for a month long trip.
I ate a lot. Love Japanese food and my friends are foodies that we tried every Japanese dishes and culinary experience out there. I remember the convenience and flexibility of traveling in Japan. Luggage lockers that I used extensively so I didn’t have to carry my small suitcase that I dragged everywhere or my shopping bags when I’m exploring for a day trip city. Japan is a tiny country, very mobile, and everything just moves fast. You can transport you luggage to your hotel, a residential address or a drop-off location for a certain date and time that I used a lot too. Because, who wants to lug your luggage in the train when space is limited and super cramped.
I listed the destination from north to south in a city, prefecture format. Thankfully I remember my map correctly. Definitely going to do more detailed posts on these later on this one month Japan trip and another one to list the cities I went to for the day trips!
1. Sapporo, Hokkaido – 3 Days
One of my favourite destinations in Japan, amazing food and weather! Summer is Japan is extremely humid and hot but Hokkaido island is up north which is in the same latitude as Toronto, Canada. This means a cooler summer than the main island. I seriously fell in love with Sapporo and Hokkaido that I wished I spent more time in this northern island and did a day trip to Otoro. Next time I’ll be back when I also conquer Okinawa.
A sleeper hit because this city became one of my top favourites in all my destinations in this one month Japan trip. One this I learned while travelling here is that certain cities are famous for a ramen flavour and it turns out Sapporo is famous for miso ramen. I super duper love ramen and it’s one, if not, my favourite food in the world! It’s a dish I’d always have room in my stomach and miso is one of my favourite flavours! And if you love beer, you must go here because it’s where Sapporo, the company lives.
2. Annaka, Gunma – 5 Days
Annaka is a city in the Gunma Prefecture located about 2 hours away from Tokyo or about an hour away using the bullet train transportation. I visited Gunma because I had a friend who worked and lived here (free accommodation is the best!) and also in 2018 in another city Maebashi. I explored a lot and learned so much about the prefecture. Plus my friend has a car so I went to destinations where I didn’t think I could end up visiting because they are not easily accessible by public transportation.
Gunma prefecture is frequently visited by city dwellers for a day trip escapade because it’s fairly close. It’s also an awesome destination for outdoor activities and to enjoy nature. It’s a mountainous region great for hiking, trails, and shrine visits.
3. Tokyo, Tokyo – 5 Days
The capital city of Japan. I don’t need to say anything. It’s Tokyo. Everyone goes here when they’re in Japan. What you see in films, anime, art, photography. It’s all here. 5 days isn’t enough to be honest if you want to do everything so pick and choose what you like to do.
I went to the famous districts Shinjuku, Akihabra, Shibuya, and I wanted to see life size mecha robot because I’m a Gundam fan at Odaiba (I stepped foot on a man-made island!).
4. Nara, Nara – 6 Days
When you hear Nara, the first thing that comes to mind is deer. That’s right, it’s the deer land. I stayed at a friend’s place and got to know Nara really well. It’s also where I had the freshest mochi I’ve ever had from this store near the deer park and you see it in action!The deer park as I call it is part of the Todai-ji Temple, a famous destination for locals and tourists alike.
I also did day trips on top of exploring deer city like Kobe, Himeji, and Ise as well as visited Osaka quite often since it’s so close. If you want to experience traditional Japan and pay less for accommodation, I recommend you stay in Nara since public transportation is easy in Japan. I didn’t spend a cent of transportation for a month so you shouldn’t either.
5. Kyoto, Kyoto – 3 Days
Experience traditional Japan here in Kyoto. This is where I got to stay at those traditional Japanese houses. Slept on those tatami mats in one room with my friends! Kyoto is where the most visited tourist shrine destination in Japan is located made famous by the film Memoirs of Geisha. Yes, you guessed right. It’s the Fushimi Inari Shrine which is a Shinto shrine featured in the film in the scene where a young little girl runs through a series of orange ‘tori’ gates.
There’s more to Kyoto than the shrine. It’s rich in culture and tradition that when I arrived in this historic city exiting Kyoto Station is when I said to myself. “This is it, I’m in Japan!” Shrines, temples, castles, traditional houses, and roads. The culture I’ve been dreaming to experience ever since I was a little kid.
6. Osaka, Osaka – 3 Days
Landing in Osaka International Airpot, this is my first Japanese city. It’s the third most populous metropolitan in Japan, very famous though sometimes get overshadowed by its big brother Tokyo. Osaka is a very famous destination for food. Takoyaki, okonomiyaki, cheestarts to name a few. This is the city where they came from. Obvious, the first thing my friends and I did once we arrived was to eat.
This city is where I experienced how hectic Japanese cities are. No joke on what you see in media specially in the train station. I got lost and ended up in a loop where I couldn’t get out of the Tennoji station of the Yamatoji Line. Luckily, my friends found me. Japanese train station are seriously busy. So many signs everywhere for directions and if you don’t know where to go, you’re going to walk more. Everyone is just moving around. I learned from my mistakes and I learned to adapt with the train culture right away.
7. Kawaguchi, Saitama – 2 Days
Kawaguchi is one of places where you can see amazing views of the iconic Japanese landmark Mt. Fuji. Fuji-san as how Japanese people call the sacred mountain like it’s a person, I spent overnight on the mountain which means I actually climbed it. It’s my third mountain to climb and man was it steep. I’m not the most fit person in the world and I climbed with a friend in the Rockies in Alberta a month before as training lol. Due to extreme weather conditions in the mountain, climbing season is only in the summer which is one of the main reasons why my friends and I went during that time.
Kawaguchi is beside the Kawaguchi Lake, one of the five lakes surrounding Mt. Fuji and it’s the most accessible for public transportation. The gateway to Fuji-san. I stayed here after the climb so I slept a lot, walked around the lake, and ate the signature Yoshida Udon of Yamanashi.
8. Fukuoka, Fukuoka – 3 Days
Fukuoka city in Fukuoka prefecture is famous for tonkotsu ramen. Tonkotsu is pork broth ramen. Pork. Broth. That amazing heavy savour taste broth that I love is famous here. Ichiran, the famous ramen restaurant that has worldwide location and well-known for its one sitting both experience, is from here!
I stayed here because there was a Hilton hotel for me to stay and get points. I was already sold to visit this city because of the ramen and this is an added bonus. Had a really great experience in this hotel. Top notch customer service expected with Japanese culture. There’s even an onsen bath inside the hotel taking my hotel experience to the next level! Apparently, this is where the baseball players stay. Baseball in Japan is huge but sadly I didn’t see these Japanese celebrities during my stay. I explored the city, obviously ate a lot, and did a day trip to experience hell in Beppu.
9. Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto – 2 Days
This is where I stayed at a Ryokan overnight. You can definitely do this in Japan’s major cities like Tokyo and I think Kyoto would be a great destination too. That’s all great but you should go in the suburbs to get an ultimate Ryokan experience away from urban Japan. Ryokan is a type of accommodation in Japan where you stay at traditional inn, stay at traditional Japanese rooms with tatami mats, and bath in an onsen. I had a month in Japan so doing this also was high on my list.
I researched many places for a Ryokan stay for this trip. Even considered ones in Kyoto or in the other major cities but I decided to go more remote. I wanted to go for the ultimate experience so I booked it at Yoshino Ryokan. Staying here brought peace and quiet to my mind and body. Great for mental health knowing the fact that I’m super far away from major cities like Tokyo.
What Actually Happened Was…
Almost everyone I spoke to who went to Japan used Narita Airport while I landed and departed in Kansai International Airport so I haven’t been to Narita. I also only flew within Japan once to go to Sapporo from Tokyo. The JR Rail Pass allowed me to train to all these cities at no added cost. I did purchase a train card that I could use anywhere in Japan (I love Asian travel it’s so convenient!) for the month and it had 10 years expiry date.
Osaka > Kyoto > Fuji (overnight for the climb) > Kawaguchi (overnight) > Tokyo > Sapporo > Tokyo > Annaka > Nara > Fukuoka > Hitoyoshi > Nara and starting from Annaka destination, I did day trips to Japanese destinations.
I loved my time and was very fortunate to be in Japan for a month time that I didn’t wait to be back again after two years. Summer in Japan again and I thought I learned from last time. Next time, I swear it’s going to be fall or spring so I can experience hanami. Actually, winter won’t be bad so I can see Shirakawa-go with snow capped roofs on the Japanese traditional houses to get all the feels.
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