Visit the Sensoji Temple, Tokyo's oldest and most significant Buddhist temple that dates back to the 7th century. Be sure to stroll along the Nakamise Shopping Street for traditional Japanese souvenirs and snacks before heading to Ueno Park. The park is home to many cultural institutions, including the Tokyo National Museum and National Museum of Western Art.
Take a day trip to the seaside town of Kamakura and see the Great Buddha of Kamakura at Kotoku-in temple. Visit the Hasedera Temple, famous for its beautiful gardens and stunning ocean view. Stroll through the old-style shopping street of Komachi-dori to find some tasty Japanese sweets and unique souvenirs.
Visit the Kyomizu-dera Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site with a panoramic view of Kyoto. Explore the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove for a picturesque walk through towering bamboo stalks. Take an evening stroll through the Gion district to see traditional wooden townhouses and hopefully catch a glimpse of a geisha. Spend a day going on a food tour to sample Kyoto's delicious cuisine, including tofu, udon, and matcha sweets.
Visit Todaiji Temple to see the massive Buddha statue and friendly wild deer that roam freely around Nara Park. Explore the Kasuga-taisha Shrine and admire the thousands of hanging lanterns that decorate the shrine's buildings.
Marvel at the Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan's top three traditional gardens, with its stunning landscape of ponds, streams, waterfalls, and an immaculate tea house. Visit Omicho Market, one of the best food markets in Japan, selling fresh seafood, fruits, and vegetables. Explore the Nagamachi Samurai District, the old residential area of the samurai warriors with preserved Japanese style houses and an old water canal.
Take a sobering visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and learn about the atomic bombing of the city. See the Hiroshima Castle, a stunning structure that survived the bombing and has a rich history dating back to the 16th century. Take a ferry to Miyajima Island to see the famous floating Torii gate and the Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, surrounded by water at high tide.
Visit Osaka Castle, one of the most famous landmarks in Japan and built in the late 16th century. Explore the colorful and lively Dotonbori district, known for its giant neon signboards, fantastic food, and shopping. Take a day trip to visit Amagasaki castle, a hidden gem of traditional Japanese architecture and peaceful gardens.
Explore the charming old town of Takayama, filled with beautifully preserved traditional houses and fascinating museums, including the Kusakabe Folk Museum and the Takayama Jinya. Visit the Morning Market to try some of the tastiest local food and souvenirs. Take a scenic walk through the Higashiyama Walking Course to see the stunning temples and shrines nestled in the rolling hills.
Take a boat ride on Ashinoko Lake, with a fantastic view of Japan's most famous mountain, Mt. Fuji. Visit the Hakone Shrine, a beautiful shrine hidden in the forest with a commanding view of the mountains. Relax in a traditional Japanese hot spring, Onsen, while gazing at the scenic views.
Japan has one of the most extensive and punctual rail networks globally, making train travel the easiest and most convenient way to explore the country. The JR Pass offers unlimited travel on almost all trains, buses, and ferries operated by the Japan Railways Group and is a great way to save money. However, the pass is expensive and is only available to foreign tourists. Therefore, it's essential to plan your itinerary and consider the length of your stay, destinations, and travel time when purchasing tickets or passes.
Estimated Travel Time: 17 hours
Estimated Costs: 58720 yen (7-day JR Pass)
If you have more time, you can add a day trip to Nikko to see the Toshogu Shrine or spend extra days in Kyoto and explore more of its cultural sites. If you have less time, you can skip Kanazawa, Takayama or Hiroshima, depending on your preference. It's important to plan your transportation and accommodation ahead to avoid peak season crowds and high prices, especially during the cherry blossom season in early April and the autumnal leaves in November.
Tokyo has two international airports, Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND). Narita handles most international flights, while Haneda connects mainly to domestic flights and some international destinations, including Asia and North America. Narita is approximately 60 km east of Tokyo and takes about 50-70 minutes by train. Haneda is much closer, only 14 km south of Tokyo and takes around 20-40 minutes by train.
Translation to English (Germany):Besuchen Sie den Sensoji-Tempel, den ältesten und bedeutendsten buddhistischen Tempel Tokios, der aus dem 7. Jahrhundert stammt. Schlendern Sie entlang der Nakamise-Einkaufsstraße für traditionelle japanische Souvenirs und Snacks, bevor Sie zum Ueno Park gehen. Der Park beherbergt viele kulturelle Einrichtungen, darunter das Tokyo National Museum und das National Museum of Western Art.
Machen Sie einen Tagesausflug in die Küstenstadt Kamakura und sehen Sie den Great Buddha of Kamakura im Kotoku-in-Tempel. Besuchen Sie den Hasedera-Tempel, berühmt für seine schönen Gärten und atemberaubenden Meerblick. Schlendern Sie durch die Einkaufsstraße im alten Stil von Komachi-dori, um einige leckere japanische Süßigkeiten und einzigartige Souvenirs zu finden.
Besuchen Sie den Kyomizu-dera-Tempel, ein UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe mit Panoramablick auf Kyoto. Erkunden Sie den Arashiyama Bamboo Grove für einen malerischen Spaziergang zwischen den hohen Bambusstängeln. Unternehmen Sie einen Abendspaziergang durch das Gion-Viertel, um traditionelle Holzstadthäuser zu sehen und hoffentlich eine Geisha zu erblicken. Verbringen Sie einen Tag auf einer Food Tour, um die köstliche Küche Kyotos, einschließlich Tofu, Udon und Matchasüßigkeiten, zu probieren.
Besuchen Sie den Todaiji-Tempel, um die massive Buddha-Statue und freundliche wilde Hirsche zu sehen