First trip to Japan

Hi! How lucky :-)

There is a big thread about Japan here: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/beyond-europe/japan-5af6c49f-5393-499f-b2aa-6cf6b4392ecb
The first post has plenty of useful links; Japan-Guide has some itinerary suggestions but they tend to be fast-paced.

Also, avoid Golden Week if possible, i.e. the period between Apr 29 and May 6, and especially the May 3-May 6 part in 2025. There is a cluster of public holidays in Japan at those dates, making transportation tricky and sights crowded. If your trip spans part of those dates, it is best to plan to be in Tokyo then.

Thank you so much. Unfortunately, we were planning to be there during that time.

I agree with balto that Golden Week would be among my last choices of times to visit Japan.

I've had a number of trips - business and pleasure - to Japan. Most recently 2 mostly pleasure visits in 2023 and one visit last month.

Here's my suggestion - do some google searches for "Golden Route". You will probably find a number of tours itineraries. I am not suggesting a guided tour, but a DIY of the stops on these routes. It's a fairly standard circuit, something like:

Tokyo
(Hakone - can be a day trip from Tokyo or overnight - Mt Fuji general area; Lake Kawaguchiko is another Fuji option)
Kyoto
Osaka
Hiroshima/Mijashima Island

From Osaka or Kyoto (they are commuting distance) - Nara, Himeji, Fushimi Inari as day trips. From Tokyo in addition to Hakone as a day trip, Nikko is highly recommended and Kamakura.

You can add in Takayama, Kanazawa, Nagano region and/or Japanese Alpine area to a basic itinerary if interested

I just tried to draft a model two week itinerary focusing on the above - I can't without knowing interests, but you may get an idea from looking at guided tour itineraries.

If you can indicate how long you want to be gone and general interests, I can suggest more. For instance, I have spent a full week in Kyoto visiting different temples. That would be over-kill for many, but aligns with my interests and experiences in other Asian countries.

I love traveling in Japan. Some upfront study of the train systems from the many online guides is helpful, but once you understand basics, the train system is terrific. Safe country for traveling, I travel mostly as a solo female. English signs everywhere and much English spoken in the areas I've mentioned above. I've never encountered anyone who wasn't extremely helpful and polite - even when I made an error or was confused.

Edit - I agree to avoid Golden Week - good catch from above posters!!! if you absolutely must travel during Golden Week, you will need to purchase train tickets in advance. At other times (except New Years), this is generally not required - buy the day of travel or a few days before. I like the flexibility!!!

Thank you so much. I have just barely started doing my research. We typically spend two months in a country so that we feel that we truly have experienced it. We selected Japan since we have seen a lot...a lot...of European art and historical sites. Art, culture, history, and music tend to be our focus.

I appreciate the assistance tremendously. I helps to hear from people who have actually experienced a country.

If you have 2 months, then Golden Week is less of an issue. I would just plan to avoid long intercity travel on the peak dates (Japan Guide link), and perhaps not be in a top-tier destination like Kyoto at that time. In other words : do not cram your schedule during that period, and it should be fine.

I missed the two month travel period - I assumed you were looking within those months on a shorter time frame. How nice to have that kind of time available!

I should have indicated that my experience is primarily with the island of Honshu. With two full months, you might want to research Hokkaido and/or Okinawa to see if that is of any interest.

With an interest in art, you will want to visit Naoshima, known as the “art island”.

https://boutiquejapan.com/naoshima/

The Chichu museum, designed by Tadao Ando, houses five large and beautiful Monets, carefully bathed in natural light only.

The Chichu museum is part of the Benesse House art complex, which includes hotel rooms in four separate buildings, one of them a museum. Those museum rooms are very expensive, so we stayed in the Park building, with the meal plan. The French-inspired dinner was very well done and delicious.

They open up reservations exactly 180 days in advance and the rooms sell out quickly. I studied the website and functions in advance and practiced using it so I would be able to get our reservation on the appointed day, and that worked. We could only afford one night there; we spent our first night on the mainland in the port town and took the ferry over to Naoshima the next morning. If you have hotel reservations at Beness House they meet you at the ferry with a van, and drop you wherever you like on the route. They take your luggage to the hotel and it will be waiting in your room when you arrive later, after you visit the Art Project installations. The whole experience was amazing.

https://benesse-artsite.jp/en/stay/

Everyone goes to Nara which is fine, but Nikko really gets you out into the countryside and it's wonderful.

There are a ton of travel vlogs on Youtube about Japan, you should also check with the Man in Seat 61 about the trains. They go everywhere and are hyper-efficient but can be pretty confusing, especially since there are multiple companies and the Rail Pass doesn't work with all of them. The Pass used to be a standard suggestion but perhaps now not so much.

JR Rail passes went up in price significantly October 2023. Until then, this pass was frequently both a money saver and a convenience. Now, travelers should be certain to "run the numbers" to see if the JR pass will pay back.

https://www.jrpass.com/farecalculator/137.95/38.66/5/i9i=

There are a number of different rail passes available for different regions and lines:

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357.html

ORDtraveler beat me too it.
Kyoto and Nara are great, plan to spend at least 3 days there. Osaka and Kobe are nice (1 day).

Nikko, north of Tokyo and another great place to do a day trip from Tokyo.

Also, there is a giant Buddha that is near Tokyo, I think to the south. Not a bad trip.
Himeji Castle is great, it is farther down the country from Kyoto.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3500.html

The giant Buddha, the Kamakura Diabutsu, is in Kamakura. Close to Tokyo, and a shorter trip than getting to two other very popular Tokyo day trip areas - Nikko (shrines and nature) or Hakone (views of Mt Fuji, volcanic area, museums, ropeway, nature).

In addition to the Giant Buddha, there are a number of other shrines in Kamakura. My favorite shrine complex is close to the Giant Buddha - Hasedera. Kamakura has a "cute" compact downtown area with shops and restaurants. There is also hiking in the area with views of the ocean.

https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kanto/kanagawa/kamakura-and-around/

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3100.html

Any of the above are very popular as day trips and highly recommended. There are some other popular Tokyo day trips as well.

https://www.japan.travel/en/ca/inspiration/10-best-day-trips-from-tokyo/

scroll down for day trips: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3051.html

Adding - Hakone, Nikko, and to a slightly lesser extent, Kamakura can easily become multiple day destinations. There is enough in Hakone to easily spend several days exploring the region which offers multiple day public transport passes to facilitate this. Likewise with Nikko. Kamakura has enough shrines to occupy a couple days, but the sites are a bit closer together. I don't hear of people staying overnight as frequently there as in Hakone or Nikko. Or, maybe I should keep this to my own experience where Kamakura has made a very pleasant day excursion, but I preferred overnight stays in Hakone and Nikko to satisfy my "see it all" preference!

I'm sorry that I haven't thanked all of you for your really wonderful information. Life has gotten busy. Still planning to do the trip.

Thank you all again!

Be sure to include a visit to Kurashiki, a small city, not too far from Kobe. There is a historic district, with restored former warehouses. I’m recalling folk art or toy museums; also a museum of modern European art.
Another feature of many towns is centers for promoting local crafts by providing hands-on experiences. We did indigo dying, rice paper making, and pottery glazing. We also happened upon an origami show in a city department store, with lessons included in the price of admission.

Osaka will host the World Expo in 2025. It should be fun and on your radar list. Avoid national holidays and weekends. Have a great trip!!!!

What fun!
Tokyo - We stayed at Mitsui Garden Hotel in Gotanda, 5 years ago, perfect for us near JR station, lovely staff, on top floors of a high rise very close to wonderful food, not that expensive! If you decide to stay there, LMK and I can look up a superlative Farm to Table restaurant nearby, in of course a multi-story building nearby, excellent deli /take away on ground floor.

Nezu Shrine - This is by far my favorite shrine in Tokyo. Go on a weekday if possible. https://www.japan-experience.com/all-about-japan/tokyo/temples-shrines/nezu-shrine. There's a small downtown area nearby, LMK and I can try to find it. Frankly, Asakusa was JAMMED when I was there last, even on a weekday so consider skipping it or go first thing in the morning.

Maenohara onsen (old Japanese hot springs) close to Tokyo, you can get a taxi from nearby subway station. I sent some Japanese friends there, they loved it! It's extraordinary. We bathed and then put on our Yukatas to sit in in the tetami mat dining room and look at the Japanese garden, a real treat! Unless you have tattoos... https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1066446-d3387591-Reviews-Maenohara_Onsen_Sayano_Yudokoro-Itabashi_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

We couldn't get reservations while we were there, but have sent others to this stupendous traditional restaurant weirdly close to where I lived in Tokyo, near Tokyo Tower - https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g14129730-d1676624-Reviews-Tokyo_Shiba_Tofuya_Ukai-Shibakoen_Minato_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

(Koya Mountain), Koya-san, a Buddhist retreat area hundreds of years old where you can stay in a monastery, opt in or out of early morning meditation (we opted out). Vegan vegetarian food, very different from any town you might visit. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4900.html.

Had you considered staying in a monastery elsewhere? This one in Kyoto looks pretty amazing, it's on my short list whenever I return. (I lived in Tokyo for 7.5 years so got to Kyoto often.) https://youtu.be/hS4d7i6Mr_E?si=qJqGzEwaFDlpFedn

When I was last in Kamakura, we rented bikes at the train station and biked to an incredible temple in an old bamboo forest, they have a garden pavilion where you can sit and enjoy a cup of green tea, looking out into the garden, it's a treat. Hokokuji temple, https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3120.html

Have a fantastic trip!

Since this is going to be a two month trip, you need to be aware of rules on prescription medication and OTC drugs.

Basically, you are allowed up to a 2 month supply of OTC drugs and a 30 day supply of prescription drugs without a customs declaration. Many OTC drugs in the US are not allowed in Japan.

https://en.japantravel.com/guide/bringing-medicines-into-japan/58063