21 day pass itinerary

Itinerary - 21 Days

1. Day 1

   Location

   UK to Tokyo

   UK to Tokyo.
   After departing the U.K. on day 1, you’ll arrive in Tokyo on the next day so sit back, relax and enjoy your flight – Japan awaits!

2. Day 2

   Location

   Tokyo

   On arrival at the airport (Narita or Haneda) on day 2, exchange your JR Pass Exchange Order for and start using your 21-Day Japan Rail Pass!
   
   Our suggestions:
   Why not head to Shibuya crossing and try out some Japanese food (and if you're feeling really adventurous some karaoke)? You could also check out the old and the new in Asakusa, with Sensoji, a 7th century Buddhist temple, hugely popular at new year and then look up at the Sky Tree, Japan's tallest structure. (You're welcome to go up it and look down at everything else, as well!)

3. Day 3

   Location

   Tokyo

   Our suggestions:
   Why not head to Shibuya crossing and try out some Japanese food (and if you're feeling really adventurous some karaoke)? You could also check out the old and the new in Asakusa, with Sensoji, a 7th century Buddhist temple, hugely popular at new year and then look up at the Sky Tree, Japan's tallest structure. (You're welcome to go up it and look down at everything else, as well!)

4. Day 4

   Location

   Tokyo to Takayama

   Travel from Tokyo to Takayama!

5. Day 5

   Location

   Takayama

   Explore Takayama - Another major attraction is the Hida Folk Village, an open air museum with 30 well-preserved traditional houses from the Hida region that are open to be explored and give a window into everyday life in the past in Japan. There are also workshops whereby visitors can learn how to make local crafts. The dusty, medieval atmosphere of Takayama castle town remains in this impeccably preserved and very beautiful area. It is still home to old fashioned sake breweries and traditional merchants’ houses with latticed bay windows.

6. Day 6

   Location

   Takayama to Kanazawa!

   Travel from Takayama to Kanazawa!
   Kanazawa is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture and offers many interesting tourist attractions. Since Hokuriku Shinkansen opened in 2015, the journey from Tokyo has become much more convenient.

7. Day 7

   Location

   Kanazawa

   Explore Kanazawa!
   We suggest visiting Kenroku-en - Historical and Cultural Heritage Reflecting the Kaga Hyakuman-Goku culture. The Kenrokuen Garden has 6 sublime attributes that embodies the perfect landscape garden. The 6 attributes are: a water course, panorama, antiquity, spaciousness and seclusion. It is one of the three greatest gardens in Japan along with Kairakuen and Korakuen, and also one of the most visited attractions in Kanazawa.

8. Day 8

   Location

   Kanazawa to Kyoto

   Travel from Kanazawa to Kyoto!
   Kyoto is the former capital of Japan and was the Emperor's residence for over a thousand years. Kyoto is the home of Japan’s traditional culture and famous for its many temples, shrines and other ancient sites. You may even see the famous Geisha and Maiko that live and work in the Gion area.
   Kyoto is located in the Kansai area of western Japan and is within easy reach of Osaka, Nara and Kobe.

9. Day 9

   Location

   Kyoto

   Explore Kyoto 1!
   I hope you're ready for some temples!
   What Tokyo is to skyscrapers, Kyoto is to temples. They're everywhere and many of them are spectacular. Particular highlights include Kinkakuji, Kiyomizu-dera, and Roan-ji.

10. Day 10

    Location

    Kyoto

    Explore Kyoto 2!
    I hope you're ready for some temples!
    What Tokyo is to skyscrapers, Kyoto is to temples. They're everywhere and many of them are spectacular. Particular highlights include Kinkakuji, Kiyomizu-dera, and Roan-ji.

11. Day 11

    Location

    Kyoto

    Explore Kyoto 3!
    I hope you're ready for some temples!
    What Tokyo is to skyscrapers, Kyoto is to temples. They're everywhere and many of them are spectacular. Particular highlights include Kinkakuji, Kiyomizu-dera, and Roan-ji.

12. Day 12

    Location

    Nara

    Take a relaxing day trip to the beautiful city of Nara!
    Enjoy the day sightseeing in Nara, another old capital renowned for its giant Buddha and deer that roam free throughout the city.

13. Day 13

    Location

    Himeji

    Take a day trip to see the Himeji Castle! Himeji is the home of the stunning Himeji Castle also known as the 'White Herron Castle', widely regarded as the premier example of traditional Japanese castle architecture. It is both a national treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The view from the top is spectacular, and it is a very popular tourist spot in cherry blossom season.

14. Day 14

    Location

    Shikoku

    Travel to Japan’s lesser known, more rural and unique island of Shikoku!
    There you’ll have the opportunity to visit some truly spectacular hidden gems that the world hasn’t discovered -- yet. Shikoku may be the smallest of Japan's four islands however, it can also be considered as the most beautiful. Full of mountains and rivers, Shikoku has been a destination for pilgrims for centuries, the 'henro' or the 88 temple pilgrimage loops around this island and it is not uncommon to see them clad in white walking this route. Shikoku is a place where the Japanese go to get back to nature -- and you can too!

15. Day 15

    Location

    Hiroshima, Shikoku

    Free time explore more of Shikoku!
    
    Another day another fantastic location in Japan!
    Travel to Hiroshima, the home of the Peace Museum, a sombre but moving and important site.

16. Day 16

    Location

    Miyajima

    Take a day trip from Hiroshima to Miyajima island to see Itsukushima Shrine, a beautiful red gate that emerges directly out of the ocean.

17. Day 17

    Location

    Fukuoka

    Travel from Hiroshima to Fukuoka!

18. Day 18

    Location

    Fukuoka

    Free time to explore Fukuoka! The prefectural capital Fukuoka is the largest city in Kyushu and the 7th most populous in Japan. It is located in southern Japan and is only a three-hour ferry ride from the South Korean city of Busan. The Fukuoka airport is one of the very few airports in Japan located in a city and only 5 minutes away from Hakata station (the 2nd stop) - one of the hubs of the charming Fukuoka city.

19. Day 19

    Location

    Oita

    Oita is located in the eastern part of Kyushu along the Setonaikai (Seto Inland Sea). Given the mountainous inland areas, Oita offers natural scenic beauty and super fresh seafood every season.

20. Day 20

    Location

    Osaka

    Osaka prefecture is located in the centre of Kinki region and in the Midwest of Japan. Osaka prefecture has the third largest population after Tokyo and Kanagawa. Since it is close to the former capitals of Japan, Kyoto and Nara, it has prospered as a commercial city.

21. Day 21

    Location

    Osaka to UK

    On your final day, fly home from Osaka Kansai Airport.