Japan
Ritual, precision and the cherry blossom
Photo: Chureito Pagoda and Mount Fuji 2023-03-07.jpg by Stjepko Krehula, CC BY 4.0. All photo credits
Japan rewards planning more than almost anywhere. The trains run to the minute, the best inns and blossom-season rooms are taken far in advance, and the difference between a good trip and a great one is usually the order things were booked in.
What it's known for
- Tokyo The obvious start and finish, and worth more days than most itineraries give it
- Kyoto Temples, the Gion district and the tunnel of torii gates at Fushimi Inari
- The shinkansen The bullet train network puts Kyoto a comfortable half-morning from Tokyo
- Hakone and Mount Fuji Hot spring inns within easy reach of Tokyo, with Fuji itself on a clear day
When to go
Cherry blossom moves north from late March into April and books out far ahead. Autumn colour peaks through November. Summer is hot and humid; winter is clear and quiet, and the ski season runs January to March.
Getting there
Non-stop from San Francisco to Tokyo, into either Haneda or Narita. A Japan Rail Pass is usually cheaper bought before you travel.
This page is a starting point, not a packaged trip. Larry builds each itinerary around what you want and quotes it once he has confirmed availability and current pricing.