Simon and I were lucky enough to spend two full months traveling across Japan — and it was absolutely incredible!
We completely fell in love with the country and can’t wait to go back.
If you ever get the chance to go for a longer trip, we can’t recommend it enough. Taking your time allows you to truly experience the richness of Japan and immerse yourself in its fascinating culture.
But don’t worry if you only have one or two weeks! In any case, here we’re sharing our itinerary, our favorite places, and plenty of tips to inspire you and help you plan your own adventure.
Le Japon est un pays vaste. Il est certes plus petit que la France (378 000 km² contre plus de 551 000 km² de superficie), mais le pays est 3 fois plus long que chez nous et s’étend sur 3 000 km du Nord au Sud (contre 1 000 km pour la France).
En 2 mois, on aurait bien voulu parcourir le pays du soleil levant dans sa totalité, mais c’est malheureusement chose impossible… On a donc du faire des choix, bien à contre coeur (mais en se disant qu’on reviendrait un jour) et voici à quoi a ressemblé notre itinéraire :
Japan is a vast country. While it’s smaller than France (378,000 km² vs. 551,000 km²), it’s about three times longer, stretching 3,000 km from north to south (compared to 1,000 km in France).
In two months, we would’ve loved to explore every corner of the Land of the Rising Sun — but that’s simply impossible. So, we had to make some tough choices (promising ourselves we’d come back one day).
Here’s what our route looked like:
This route includes all the classic must-sees — Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara — but also allowed us to go deeper, off the beaten path, and explore regions still untouched by mass tourism.
Depending on your available time and interests, you can easily pick ideas from our journey to create your own itinerary.
We’ve also created a Japan E-Book, which includes not only our best tips and advice, but also 4 ready-to-use itineraries depending on your trip length (10 to 25 days).
You’ll also get access to our interactive Google Map with over 600 pins across the country — restaurants, hotels, temples, must-see spots, parking areas, and more — to help you personalize or even build your own itinerary from scratch.
From France, the easiest way to reach Japan is, of course, by plane. Expect around 12 to 13 hours of flight time for a direct trip (and longer if you have a layover).
Our tips to find the best flight deals:
A reasonable round-trip fare ranges from €600 to €800 per person (outside peak tourist season).
If you find tickets under €500, grab them — that’s an amazing deal! (Just make sure to check for hidden fees or long layovers.)
As for us, we flew with Air China, booking our flights eight months in advance (July 2024 for March 2025).
We paid €600 round-trip per person, including two checked bags. Honestly, everything went smoothly — great service, comfortable flight — we can only recommend them!
For booking, after comparing dates and prices, we went through Ulysse, which we really like because they handle any issues directly with the airline. Their customer support (based in France) is also super responsive — and that’s always reassuring when traveling long-distance!
Once we arrived in Japan, it was time to explore!Here’s a look back at our two-month journey — the major stops we made, our impressions, and of course, our favorite places.
An arrival in Japan immediately immersed us in a mix of modernity and tradition. There’s a kind of American-style grandeur, but with that uniquely Japanese charm and sense of respect.
We loved wandering through the streets and shops, discovering beautiful temples like Gotoku-ji and Meiji-Jingu, and exploring both the famous neighborhoods (Shibuya, Harajuku) and the lesser-known ones (Nakano, Ikebukuro).
After Tokyo, we rented a car in Yokohama and set off on an 11-day road trip through the south and west of the capital — starting with Kamakura.
We loved this coastal town and its temples. The vibe is super relaxed, which was refreshing after Tokyo. Special mention for the monorail (the upside-down metro) that passed right in front of our accommodation — futuristic atmosphere guaranteed! We were like kids again.
Next stop: Hakone, which we explored under the rain (but honestly, the mood was perfect for it).Then we continued toward Mount Fuji, driving around the volcano to admire it from every angle. Despite some moody weather, the views were spectacular — we couldn’t get enough 🤩.
Then we headed for the Japanese Alps. Lots of driving in this region, but it was totally worth it.
Our biggest crush here was Echizen Daibutsu ❤️ in Katsuyama — a massive temple housing one of Japan’s largest Buddha statues, surrounded by 1,000 smaller ones.It’s an incredible, peaceful spot far from the tourist crowds. And just nearby, a castle museum makes the landscape even more surreal, with mountains in the background — picture-perfect!We also explored Shirakawa-Go, Takayama, Matsumoto, and Nikko — all charming towns (though Matsumoto didn’t completely win us over).
After returning our rental car in Yokohama, we hopped on a Shinkansen to Kyoto, a city that has kept its traditional soul, far from the modern skyscrapers.
The temples and neighborhoods are stunning, no doubt about it, but there were so many tourists that it did spoil the experience a little.
Still, skipping Kyoto would be a crime — the city is full of gems like Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera, and our favorite, Kennin-ji Temple ❤️.
Next, we took the train to Osaka, and of course, we couldn’t miss Universal Studios ❤️!
There’s less to see here compared to Tokyo or Kyoto, but the modern vibe is fun, and there are still some great sites — like Osaka Castle.
We also adored Katsuo-ji Temple ❤️, famous for its many daruma dolls (located between Kyoto and Osaka).
We made a short stop in Nara to meet the famous free-roaming sika deer.
We stayed one night to really soak up the atmosphere, arriving early enough to enjoy the park before the crowds. A peaceful and magical experience in the forest!
We continued with a mini road trip on the Kii Peninsula, south of Nara, to explore some of Japan’s most beautiful natural landscapes: Tsubosaka-dera ❤️, Koyasan, Yunomine Onsen, and Nachi Falls ❤️.
Fewer tourists, stunning scenery — total bliss!
We ended our trip with a van road trip across Shikoku and Kyushu, discovering parts of Japan we had never seen online. It was unforgettable!
From volcanic areas to tiny villages, beaches, waterfalls, gorges, forests, and hot spring towns — it was pure magic.Our favorites ❤️: indigo dyeing in Naruto (address + discount in our E-Book), Gate in the Sky, Ashizuri Underwater Observatory, and Mount Aso.
We wrapped up our trip with a few days back in Tokyo, revisiting neighborhoods we loved, making day trips to Kawagoe and Ushiku Daibutsu, trying out a Round1 ❤️ (a massive entertainment complex), and stocking up on all the souvenirs we still hadn’t bought.
A perfect way to end the adventure!
Unlike our usual articles, we won’t be writing detailed city guides this time — because we’ve already included everything (and more!) in our Japan E-Book.
It was months of work: research, site visits, photography, fact-checking, and carefully putting it all together in one clear, inspiring guide.
If you’re planning a trip to Japan, our E-Book will save you so much time — and it’s also a great way to support us so we can keep sharing travel inspiration and tips.
A huge thank you to everyone who buys it — we hope it helps you experience a trip as unforgettable as ours! ❤️
Even with two full months, we had to make some tough choices.
If we’d had more time, we would have explored:
Just a few more ideas to add to your ever-growing Japan bucket list! 🇯🇵
In Japan, just like anywhere else, there are many types of accommodations.
You’ll find the usual hotels, Airbnbs, and hostels, but also more traditional or unique options like ryokans (traditional inns where you sleep on futons), capsule hotels (a bed in a small private pod), and love hotels (bookable by the hour or for the night).
There are even shukubo, temple stays where you spend the night with Buddhist monks and share their meals — a truly unique experience.
Contrary to what you might think, accommodations in Japan aren’t always expensive. There’s something for every taste and every budget!
Here’s a selection of the places we stayed at and loved during our two-month trip (and if you want even more recommendations, you’ll find them all in our Japan E-Book).
What we loved:
Minor downside:
Reservations: booking.com/park-hotel-tokyo
Adress : Japon, 〒105-7227 Tokyo, Minato City, Higashishinbashi, 1 Chome−7−1 汐留メディアタワー フロント 25F
GPS Coordonates: 35.662883, 139.759429
What we loved:
Minor downside:
Reservations: booking.com/shiba-park-hotel
Adress: 1 Chome-5-10 Shibakoen, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0011, Japon
GPS Coordonates: 35.658730, 139.752117
What we loved:
Minor downside:
Reservations: booking.com/hotel-mets
Adress: 1 Chome-2-1 Ofuna, Kamakura, Kanagawa 247-0056, Japon
GPS Coordonates: 35.351137, 139.530781
What we loved:
Minor downside:
Reservations: booking.com/ikoi-fuji
Adress: 886-1 Oishi, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0305, Japon
GPS Coordonates: 35.527456, 138.738297
What we loved:
Minor downside:
Reservations: booking.com/hotel-kan-raku
Adress: 1031-1 Higashitanaka, Gotemba, Shizuoka 412-0026, Japon
GPS Coordonates: 35.298013, 138.944570
What we loved:
Minor downside:
Reservations: booking.com/hotel-nishimura
Adress: 1 Chome-149 Nagatacho, Fuji, Shizuoka 417-0055, Japon
GPS Coordonates: 35.160540, 138.676758
What we loved:
Minor downsides:
Reservations: booking.com/delish-love-hotel
Adress: 1746 Shimogirimachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0041, Japon
GPS Coordonates: 36.184038, 137.256372
What we loved:
Minor downside:
Reservations: booking.com/celecton-matsumoto
Adress: 1 Chome-3-38 Josei, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0875, Japon
GPS Coordonates: 36.238422, 137.965113
What we loved:
Minor downsides:
Reservations: booking.com/kanugawa-park
Adress: 1409 Kinugawaonsen Ohara, Nikko, Tochigi 321-2522, Japon
GPS Coordonates: 36.823591, 139.713639
What we loved:
Minor downside:
Reservations: booking.com/ren-apartment
Adress: 36ｰ1 Fukakusa Ichinotsubocho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0012, Japon
GPS Coordonates: 34.96874661600534, 135.76884716559172
What we loved:
Minor downside:
Reservations: booking.com/confidence-ron
Adress: 1-chōme-9 Itachibori, Nishi Ward, Osaka, 550-0012, Japon
GPS Coordonates: 34.67926524150614, 135.4956418963167
What we loved:
Minor downside:
Reservations: booking.com/loco-minamiichi
Adress: 10-4 Minamiichicho, Nara, 630-8373, Japon
GPS Coordonates: 34.68005490580403, 135.82930638097153
Shukubo at Ekoin Temple, à Koyasan
What we loved:
Minor downsides:
Reservations: booking.com/ekoin
Adress: 497 Koyasan, Koya, Ito District, Wakayama 648-0211, Japon
GPS Coordonates: 34.21253848068412, 135.59388692698656
What we loved:
Minor downside:
Reservations: booking.com/gran-hotel
Adress: 2 Chome-3-17 Midorigaoka, Shingu, Wakayama 647-0043, Japon
GPS Coordonates: 33.71944997492492, 135.98875491161917
What we loved:
Minor downside:
Reservations : samuraicampers.com
Rental branches: Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Okinawa
Getting around Japan can be an experience in itself. There are plenty of options, but some require a bit of planning ahead so you don’t waste time once you’re there.
First things first — as soon as you land (directly at the airport), grab a Suica or Welcome Suica card. If you have an iPhone, you can even add it directly to your Wallet. It’s free, and you can top it up instantly with just one click. Honestly, it’s a game-changer — you can use it for trains, subways, buses, vending machines, and even in convenience stores. We used ours every single day during our two months in Japan!
Here’s an overview of the main transportation options:
A few practical tips:
We’re not going to lie — in Japan, we traveled as much with our taste buds as with our eyes! 😋
Japanese cuisine is a whole world of its own — rich, varied, and absolutely delicious. And contrary to popular belief, it’s not all about sushi and sashimi.
Of course, we enjoyed plenty of ramen 🍜, those comforting bowls of noodles in flavorful broths that change from region to region.
We also loved gyoza 🥟, the crispy pan-fried dumplings that go perfectly with any meal.
Sushi 🍣 is obviously a must-try, but you’ll rediscover it here — the quality of the fish and the rice preparation are on another level!
We also indulged in udon 🍲 (thick wheat noodles), soba (thin buckwheat noodles), Japanese curry (mild yet flavorful), and tonkatsu or karaage, delicious breaded pork or fried chicken dishes.
When it comes to street food, we fell in love with okonomiyaki (savory pancake/omelet with regional variations), takoyaki (octopus balls), and even corn dogs — not the healthiest, but oh-so comforting!
And of course, matcha 🍵 everywhere — in drinks, desserts, and pastries!
In short, Japan is a foodie’s paradise. Every meal is an adventure, every city has its specialties, and you can eat very well without breaking the bank (around €5 in konbinis or €10–15 in restaurants).
For us, it truly was a “journey within the journey,” and our best advice is to try everything, even if it seems unfamiliar — you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised!
That’s it — the end of our two-month Japan itinerary recap!
We hope our experience and advice help you plan your own trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the planning (totally normal — it took me nearly two months to organize everything between research, bookings, and logistics), we’ve created a complete Japan travel guide to help you from A to Z. It’s packed with practical info, itineraries, and local recommendations based on our real experiences.
🎁 As a thank you, here’s a 10% discount code for our E-Book: FOXJAPON10.
Not booked your flights yet? Check out Ulysse
➡️ and don’t forget to use our referral code PL316TD9L to get €10 off your first booking (just enter it at checkout before payment).
And of course, feel free to share your own Japan experiences and travel tips in the comments below ☺️
1. Seeing Mount Fuji: If you have time, stay several days and book accommodation with free cancellation — the mountain is often hidden by clouds, so flexibility is key! Check the weather daily and adapt your plans.
If you’re short on time, you can also do a day trip from Tokyo — just go when the skies are clear!
2. More Japan advice: Don’t miss our article “10 Things to Know Before Traveling to Japan.” We cover everything from payments and SIM cards to public transport, etiquette, and things to avoid — plus exclusive promo codes!
How about we chat?