How many days do I need in Japan?

Seven days can support one coherent route; 10–14 days gives much more room for a second region without turning the trip into continuous transfers.

Do I need a car in Japan?

Not everywhere. Use a car where it unlocks rural or island geography, and avoid paying for it when strong public transport already serves the route.

What should I book first for Japan?

Book the hardest-to-replace transport or peak-season base first, then build flexible city nights around it.

Best Places to Visit in Japan: Regions, Routes and Who Each Suits

Compare Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hakone and Fuji area as stops on your Japan trip, with realistic routing and the trade-offs of adding each destination.

The best places in Japan are not interchangeable. Match each stop to the trip you actually want and to the connections that make the route coherent.

Matsumoto Castle Japan · Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5

Eight places and regions worth building around

Tokyo: multiple city centres, food and the country’s largest transport hub — choose a station base around the next legs of the route
Kyoto: temples, gardens and historic districts — excellent rail access but local buses/metro can be the slow part
Osaka: food, nightlife and a practical Kansai base — strong regional rail network
Hakone and Fuji area: mountain scenery, onsen and Fuji views — weather determines visibility; climbing is a separate trip
Hiroshima and Miyajima: modern history, island shrine landscapes and western routing — shinkansen plus local rail/ferry
Hokkaido: snow, national parks and wide distances — regional flights, rail and cars all matter
Kyushu: Fukuoka, volcanoes and onsen regions — shinkansen plus cars/buses for rural areas
Okinawa: subtropical islands and a distinct travel system — fly; island driving and ferries matter more than shinkansen logic

Nikko Toshogu Yomeimon shrine Japan · Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0

How to choose between them

Start with season and transport, then choose two or three complementary bases. A place that looks close on a map can still be an awkward addition when ferries, mountain roads, airport transfers or station changes are involved.

Hakone Japan Lake Ashi · Photo: Kentagon · CC BY-SA 4.0

For first trips

Prioritise one clear headline experience and leave enough unstructured time to experience the base itself. The itinerary guide shows how to turn these choices into 7-, 10- and 14-day routes.