Tourism to the Japan has skyrocketed in recent years: A record 2.8 million international visitors descended in March 2019, putting the country well on track to meet its 2020 Olympic tourism goals.

To keep clear of the crowds while still seeing the can’t-miss sights, set up a Japan Rail Pass. With seven-, 14-, or 21-day vouchers (exchanged for cards upon your arrival), explore the JR train, bus, and ferry network from end to end along these five themed itineraries, custom-made by our expert. (Explore this epic three-day itinerary of Tokyo.)



© NGP, Content may not reflect National Geographic's current map policy These cities are major stops along five themed rail itineraries, each starting from Tokyo.



Take in the poetic “Three Views”

In 1643, shogunate scholar Hayashi Gahō named the “Three Best Views of Japan”: Matsushima Bay’s pine-covered islands; Hiroshima’s floating Itsukushima Shrine; and Kyoto’s sandy land bridge, Amanohashidate. Immortalized in the work of poet Matsuo Bashō, they’ve since become a legendary tourism loop.

Plan an autumn trip to see these vistas at their best—and make sure to complement your sightseeing with a hearty appetite. In Matsushima, try the grilled scallops, then stop for beef tongue in Sendai before savoring Kyoto’s delicate, traditional kaiseki cuisine and finishing off in Hiroshima with okonomiyaki, an iconic post-war dish.

View Images The floating torii gate of the Itsukushima Shrine at Hiroshima is one of the seminal “Three Views” immortalized in the work of Edo-era poet Matsuo Bashō. Photograph by Yuriko Nakao, Getty Images

The three views route: Tokyo > Sendai > Matsushima > Sendai > Tokyo > Kyoto > Amanohashidate > Kyoto > Osaka > Hiroshima > Miyajima> Hiroshima > Osaka > Tokyo

Walk through history

Japan’s newest Emperor, Naruhito, presides over the world’s oldest continuous monarchy. Though his reign marks several breaks with tradition, there’s no better a time to explore Japan’s millennia of rich history.

The history route: Tokyo> Kanazawa > Kyoto> Shin-Osaka> Hakata > Nagasaki

Savor the seasons

Winter and summer offer their own adventures, but the real show happens during the spring and fall. Two Japanese pastimes—hanami, or flower viewing, and koyo, or colorful leaf viewing—bring the countryside to life with pink blossoms around April and fiery foliage in late September and early October.

In spring, Kanazawa’s cherry tree–adorned Kenrokuen Gardens and Castle are free and open to the public day and night. In the fall, take a bus from Toyama or Kanazawa to UNESCO-recognized Shirakawa-Go to see the famous Gassho-style houses set against the landscape’s autumnal hues.

The spring route: Tokyo > Takao > Otsuki > Mt Fuji > Otsuki > Takao > Tokyo > Kyoto > Shin-Osaka > Okayama > Oku > Setouchi Islands > Oku > Okayama > Shin-Osaka > Kanazawa> Tokyo

The autumn route: Tokyo > Kyoto >Tokyo > Omiya > Utsunomiya > Nikko > Utsunomiya > Omiya > Toyama > Tokyo

Destination: Japan Home to the world’s largest urban metropolis, rugged wilderness, and a culture steeped in ancient tradition, Japan is a traveler’s dream.

Make a ramen pilgrimage

Noodles. All of the noodles. Start in Tokyo at Michelin-rated Konjiki Hototogisu, then hop on the bullet train to sip on Osaka’s Ichimen Ramen after a stroll along Dōtonbori’s canals. At Fukuoka’s Hakata Issou, savor the creamy bone broth and thin straight noodles.

Ask for mountain-side seats on the train back to Tokyo for sweeping views of Mount Fuji before trying the light yuzu citrus broth and vegan options at Afuri Ramen. Cap it all off with a ride to chilly, northern Sapporo for a warm bowl of miso ramen after the February Snow Festival. Don’t forget to slurp—it’s polite.

The ramen route: Tokyo > Osaka > Hakata/Fukuoka > Tokyo > Shin Aomori > Shin Hakodate > Sapporo > Shin Hakodate > Shin Aomori >Tokyo

Soak in the hot springs

This bullet train–light route may be a little slower, but it passes through breathtakingly beautiful landscapes on the way to some of Japan’s best onsens, or hot springs. In Hakone, discover a ryokan (traditional inn) with its own private onsen before traveling on to Dogo-Onsen, one of the country’s oldest, and Tamatsukuri-Onsen, where the Shinto gods themselves are said to have bathed. Return north by way of Tokyo to reach Aizuwakamatsu, where you can enjoy a hot bath alongside a waterfall at Shousuke No Yado Takinoyu.

The onsen route: Tokyo > Odawara > Hakone > Odawara > Tokyo >Okayama > Matsuyama > Dogo Onsen > Matsuyama > Okayama > Tamatsukuri Onsen> Okayama > Tokyo > Koriyama > Aizuwakamatsu > Koriyama > Tokyo