Chasing Japan
Bright cities. Quiet discoveries.
From Tokyo and Kyoto to Mount Fuji and the Japanese Alps, explore our stories, itineraries, and practical guides for your own journey through Japan.
- Tokyo
- Kyoto
- Osaka
- Nara
- Kobe
- Mount Fuji
- Magome
- Tsumago
- Takayama
- Kanazawa
- Shirakawa-go
YOUR JAPAN JOURNEY STARTS HERE
First time in Japan?
Start with our impressions from the road and a guide to planning your Tokyo stay.
CITY LIGHTS & EVERYDAY DISCOVERIES
Tokyo
Neon-lit neighborhoods, busy crossings, and a city that rewards curiosity.
Explore Akihabara – Tokyo’s Amazing Anime District!
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Experiencing Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing
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Sample Itinerary for Dazzling Tokyo
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How to Get to the Imperial Palace Tokyo By Train Using the JR Pass
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How to Get to Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo Using the JR Train or Subway
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OLD STREETS & TIMELESS TEMPLES
Kyoto
Bamboo paths, golden temples, and quiet streets with stories to tell.
The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove: One of Kyoto’s Prime Attractions
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Why is Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) a Must-See in Kyoto?
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Gion and the Truth about Geishas
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Top Places to See in Historical Kyoto
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How to Get to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto Using the Train
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How to Get from Tokyo to Kyoto
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THREE CITIES, THREE DIFFERENT MOODS
Osaka, Nara & Kobe
Dotonbori after dark, the sights of Nara, and Kobe from waterfront to waterfall.
A Walking Tour around the Minami District of Osaka, Japan
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Dotonbori: Osaka’s Dazzling Nightlife Spot
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Visiting Iconic Osaka-jo (Osaka Castle)
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Places to Visit in Kobe in One Day
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Nunobiki: A Hidden Waterfall in Cosmopolitan Kobe
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Top Reasons to Visit Nara, Japan
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How to Get From Kyoto to Kobe?
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How to Get from Kyoto to Nara?
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How to Get from Nara to Osaka
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How to Get from Tokyo to Kobe Using the Japan Rail Pass
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How to Get from Osaka to Kobe
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How to Get to Osaka from Tokyo Using the Bullet Train (Shinkansen)
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LAKES, MOUNTAINS & THE OLD ROAD
Mount Fuji & the Kiso Valley
Lake views, old post towns, and the walking trails between Magome and Tsumago.
Lake Kawaguchi-ko and the Mt Fuji Vista
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Tsumago The Glorious Postal Town of Japan’s Kiso Valley
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A Visit to Enchanting Magome, Japan
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Hiking the Nakasendo Trail, Kiso Valley Japan
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How to get from Tokyo to Kawaguchiko (Mount Fuji) by Train (using the Japan Rail Pass)
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How to get from Kawaguchiko to Magome, Tsumago and the Nakasendo Trail (using the JR Pass)
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MOUNTAIN TOWNS & SLOWER DAYS
The Japanese Alps & Kanazawa
Takayama, traditional village stays, and the gardens and streets of Kanazawa.
The Top Sites to See in Kanazawa for Free
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Why Stay at a Ryokan in Japan
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Our Tour Experience visiting Shiragawa-ko and Ainokura
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Why the Gassho Houses of Japan are World Heritage Sites
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Why You Should Visit Takayama, Japan
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How to Get from Tokyo to Kanazawa the Fastest Way (Using the JR Pass)
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How to Get from Takayama to Kanazawa?
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How to Get From Kyoto to Kanazawa using the Japan Rail Pass
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How to Get from Tsumago (the Nakasendo Trail) to Takayama
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Ready to go?
Planning your Japan trip?
See the flight and hotel sites we book with, then follow our Japan Rail Pass guides from city to city.
40 guides about Japan.