Japan, through our own travels.
Bright city streets, deer beneath autumn trees, a castle reflected in the water and a mountain that changes the whole view. Our time in Japan brought together very different kinds of travel in one journey.
This guide draws on our own visits to Tokyo, Nara and Osaka, with a separate visit to the Mount Fuji area. It is a starting point for shaping your own trip, with the places we experienced at its heart.
Three cities. Three different chapters.
Tokyo: city lights and streets to explore.
In Tokyo, we explored Shinjuku, local shopping streets and attractions including Tokyo Tower. Shinjuku after dark gave us some of the most vivid city scenes from the trip: illuminated signs, busy streets and plenty to take in between the major landmarks.
Beyond Tokyo: a visit to Mount Fuji.
Our Japan journey also took us to the Mount Fuji area. We have kept this separate from the Tokyo city sights: it deserves its own space in the itinerary, rather than being treated as another stop around the corner.
Nara: three days, with room to wander.
We spent three days in Nara, visiting the deer parks, exploring the main sights and spending time in the local shopping streets. Having that time gave this part of the journey a different pace from the bigger cities.
The deer and autumn scenery feature throughout our photos. Alongside the main attractions, the streets and everyday moments are part of what we remember from Nara.
Osaka: from the castle to the skyline.
Osaka was a highlight of our trip. We visited Osaka Castle, Abeno Harukas and other attractions, seeing the city both from the ground and from above. The castle and the skyline offered two very different views of the same city.
Shape the trip around your interests.
Our route brings together city exploring, park visits, shopping streets and landmark views. You can use those different experiences to decide what deserves more time in your own plan.
Our three days in Nara reflect the time we spent there, rather than a fixed recommendation for every traveller. Start with what you want to experience, then allow space for the journeys between places and for settling into each stop.
Plan the details before you book.
Choose accommodation with your planned visits and transport connections in mind. Look at the whole journey between each place you want to visit, and check booking conditions before committing to flights or places to stay.
For current opening hours, admission information and transport details, use the official resources below. Those details can change; this account focuses on the places we visited rather than fixed prices or a day-by-day schedule.
- Japan National Tourism Organization — travel planning ↗
- GO TOKYO — Shinjuku ↗
- Visit Nara — official destination information ↗
- Abeno Harukas — official visitor information ↗
See more of the journey.
Follow Raahva on YouTube for our travel videos. We’ll connect individual videos with relevant guides as they are published.
Before the journey begins.
Visa and entry requirements depend on your passport, residence and circumstances. Check the current information from the relevant Japanese embassy or consulate before making travel arrangements.
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs — official visa information ↗
Make the journey your own.
Thinking about Japan? We can help with your itinerary, visa application, flights, accommodation and local transportation. Share your requirements and we’ll discuss the details before preparing a personalised quote.
