Japan In-Depth Travel Guide | 15 Days to Experience the Ultimate Romance of Tradition and Modernity
🗓 [Itinerary Planning | Year-Round Hidden Gems]
✔ Summer (Jun-Aug): Furano Lavender Fields in Hokkaido (peak bloom mid-July) + Osaka Tenjin Festival Fireworks (Jul 25), cool 25°C escapes in Hokuriku region
✔ Autumn (Sep-Nov): Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Momiji Hunting in Kyoto (mid-Nov) + Zen Buddhist cuisine experience at Zenkoji Temple, Nagano
✔ Winter (Dec-Feb): Niseko Powder Snow Skiing + Shirakawa-go Illumination (Dec-Feb only, book accommodation 6 months ahead!)
✔ Spring (Mar-May): Philosopher's Path Night Sakura in Kyoto (late Mar) + Green tea picking & wagashi making in Shizuoka tea fields
🌟 [Two Classic In-Depth Routes | Local's Perspective]
🔹 Kanto + Hokuriku Cultural Route (8 days)
Day1-3 Tokyo Citywalk
❶ Wear furisode kimono at Sensoji Temple & shoot Nakamise Shopping Street (recommend "Wafuku Kobo Miyabi", ¥3,000/set with hairstyling)
❷ Beat the crowds! Private Tokyo Tower observation deck at 6am for sunrise cityscapes
❸ Retro coffee at Kagurazaka's "Kuramae" machiya houses - stone paths & lantern alleys straight from J-dramas
📍 Stay: Smile Hotel Ueno (¥500/night, 3min walk to Ameyoko Market's steak bowls)
Day4-5 Kanazawa + Shirakawa-go
❶ Kenrokuen Garden at 8am sharp - matcha at "Shiguretei" teahouse with koi ponds
❷ Omicho Market's uni+salmon roe donburi (try "Marutake", ¥1,500/bowl)
❸ Stay at Shirakawa-go's thatched "Ogimachi Honjin", learn Hida beef miso soup from hostess
📍 Transport: "World Heritage Bus" from Kanazawa Station (¥2,600/1.5hrs)
Day6-8 Kyoto Slow Living
❶ Fushimi Inari's torii gates: Reverse route from "Okusha" at 7am for empty corridors
❷ Must-do Arashiyama: Hozugawa River rafting (45min, ¥3,900) + bamboo grove whispers
❸ Nanzenji's "Junsei" tofu kaiseki lunch: 12-course melt-in-mouth tofu feast
📍 Stay: Hiiragiya Bekkan (200-year-old machiya, ¥2,000/night with private tea ceremony)
🔹 Hokkaido Nature & Food Route (7 days)
Day1-2 Sapporo-Otaru Healing Trip
❶ Odori Park Beer Garden's "Sapporo Draft" + lamb BBQ set (¥2,500)
❷ Otaru Canal evening lights + glass windchime making at "Kitaichi Garasu"
📍 Stay: ANA InterContinental Sapporo (ocean-view rooms, ¥1,200/night)
Day3-4 Furano-Biei Flower Chase
❶ Farm Tomita's rainbow fields: July lavender + lupines, rent bikes (¥500/day)
❷ Must-stop Biei "Patchwork Road": Panoramic hilltop wheat field shots like Ghibli films
📍 Stay: Shikisai-no-Oka B&B (3min to flower fields, ¥600/night)
Day5-7 Hakodate-Noboribetsu Fire & Onsen
❶ Hakodate Night View: Ropeway (¥1,280) to "Million-Dollar Vista" symmetrical bay
❷ Noboribetsu Hell Valley: 9am soak at "Dai-ichi Takimotokan" outdoor bath with sulfur mists
📍 Stay: Dai-ichi Takimotokan (¥1,800/night with crab+beef feast)
🚃 [Transport Hacks | JR Pass Guide]
Cross-region: Nationwide 7-Day Pass (¥29,000) covers Tokyo-Kanazawa-Kyoto-Osaka + Hokkaido routes
City travel: Tokyo/Osaka metro 24hr pass (¥800) + "Metro Bike" rentals (¥300/30min)
Hokkaido tip: Rent cars! ¥5,000/day for Furano-Biei backroads (Google Maps works perfectly)
🍣 [Foodie's Hidden Gems Map]
❶ Tokyo/Kagurazaka: "Fukudaya" unagi three-ways (¥3,800/set)
❷ Kanazawa/Omicho: "Wajima Fugu" oden with red-throat fish broth (¥1,200/person)
❸ Kyoto/Gion: "Kikunoi" kaiseki (Michelin 3-star, book 1 month ahead, ¥12,000 seasonal set)
❹ Hakodate: "Wakamatsu" morning market uni don (¥2,000/bowl)
🏠 [Accommodation Guide]
✔ Onsen ryokan: Shuzenji "Ryokan Yagyu-no-Sho" (¥1,800/night bamboo private bath)
✔ Design hotel: Tokyo "Ace Hotel" (¥1,200/night Shibuya rooftop bar)
✔ Unique stay: Shirakawa-go thatched house (¥800/night with farm meals)
⚠ [Must-Know Tips]
Visa: 30-day visa-free until 2025! Pre-fill "Visit Japan Web" for instant clearance
Payment: Alipay in cities, carry ¥10,000+ cash for rural areas (7-11 ATMs accept UnionPay)
Onsen rules: Ask about tattoos, shower before bathing, no towels in water
Photo etiquette: No shots inside shrines/temples, ask before photographing locals
💴 [Budget Guide]
▪ Value (¥25,000-30,000/15 days): Business hotels + teishoku meals