Twenty-one days the length of the country, by shinkansen, limited express and car. A trip for seeing a lot of Japan: nine places to stay, two or three nights in each except one night on Miyajima.
Three weeks from the canals of Otaru to the volcano of Aso. Hokkaido, the far north of Honshu, Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Miyajima and Kyushu, almost all of it by train.
Day 1–3
Sapporo and Otaru: Arrival in Hokkaido
Fly into New Chitose and take a private transfer to Sapporo. Three nights to settle in. The Nijo fish market, the old brick buildings of Sapporo Beer, and a day in Otaru, under an hour by train, along the stone warehouses of the canal. Hokkaido crab and sea urchin for dinner.
Day 4–5
Lake Toya and Noboribetsu: Volcano Country
Limited express south to Lake Toya, about two hours. A round caldera lake with an island at its centre and a young volcano still steaming beside it. A morning at Jigokudani, the steaming valley above Noboribetsu, about an hour away by car. Two nights at a hot spring ryokan by the lake.
Day 6–7
Hakodate: The Port at the Southern Tip
Limited express to Hakodate, about two hours. Two nights here. The star-shaped fort of Goryokaku, the old foreign quarter of Motomachi on the slopes above the harbour, the morning market, and the night view from the top of Mount Hakodate.
Day 8–9
Under the Sea to Honshu: Oirase Gorge
The Hakodate Liner to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, about twenty minutes, then the Hokkaido Shinkansen through the Seikan Tunnel to Shin-Aomori, about an hour. A car takes you over the Hakkoda mountains to the Oirase stream, about two hours. The next day is for the gorge: a walk past waterfalls under beech forest to the shore of Lake Towada. A local nature guide for the walk can usually be arranged.
Day 10–12
Tokyo: Three Nights in the City
About an hour by car to Shichinohe-Towada, then the shinkansen to Tokyo, about three hours. Two full days: Meiji Jingu early in the morning, Asakusa with a local guide, a sushi counter, and an evening above the city lights.
Day 13–14
Kanazawa: Gardens and Craft
Shinkansen to Kanazawa, about two and a half hours. Kenroku-en early, before the tour groups. The Higashi Chaya teahouse district, lunch at Omicho Market and a gold leaf workshop.
Day 15–17
Kyoto: Temples at the Quiet Hours
Shinkansen to Tsuruga and the limited express on to Kyoto, a little over two hours. Fushimi Inari at first light, the lanes of Higashiyama, a private tea ceremony and a day trip to Nara. One morning is left free.
Day 18
Hiroshima and Miyajima
Shinkansen to Hiroshima, under two hours. The Peace Memorial Park and Museum. A local train to Miyajimaguchi, about half an hour, and the short ferry to the island. One night on Miyajima, when the day visitors have gone and the great torii stands in the evening tide.
Day 19–20
Kumamoto to Aso and Kurokawa Onsen
The longest travel day of the trip. Itsukushima Shrine early, the ferry and train back to Hiroshima, and the shinkansen to Kumamoto, under two hours. Time for Kumamoto Castle, its keep restored after the 2016 earthquake, then a car up through the Aso caldera to Kurokawa, a hot spring village in a wooded valley. The next day is for Aso: grassland grazed by horses and cattle, a look into the crater when volcanic activity allows, and a short horse ride at Kusasenri if you would like one. In Kurokawa, one pass lets you bathe at several inns.
Day 21
Departure from Fukuoka
A last morning in the baths. Private transfer to Fukuoka Airport, about two and a half hours by car, timed to your flight.
Where you'll stay
The kind of place we look for at each stop. Which one depends on your dates and on what is free when we make the arrangements.
- SapporoA city hotel near the station, handy for the day in Otaru.
- Lake ToyaA hot spring ryokan on the shore, with rooms facing the lake and its island.
- HakodateA hotel by the harbour, a short walk from the morning market and the brick warehouses.
- OiraseA hot spring inn beside the stream, with outdoor baths in the beech forest.
- TokyoA hotel on the upper floors of a tower, with the city below.
- KanazawaA ryokan with an inner garden and a kaiseki dinner, or a quiet hotel near Kenroku-en.
- KyotoA ryokan or hotel near Higashiyama, so the temples are a walk away in the early morning.
- MiyajimaA ryokan on the island, for the evening and the early morning when the ferries are quiet.
- KurokawaA ryokan with detached rooms, each with its own open-air bath.
Highlights
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Hakodate
A port city at the southern tip of Hokkaido, with one of Japan's great night views.
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Oirase Gorge
A forest stream of waterfalls and mossy rocks, walked with a local nature guide if you wish.
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Miyajima
The island shrine and its great torii, seen in the quiet of the evening.
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Aso Caldera
Open grassland inside a vast volcanic crater, with hot spring villages in the valleys around it.
Signature covers trips of 7 to 14 days. Journeys longer than 14 days are planned as Bespoke, priced after our first talk.
This is a sample itinerary. Every STAYGO trip is written from scratch.
You pay hotels, ryokan, restaurants and guides directly, at their own rates. We add no markups and take no commissions. The Signature planning fee is USD 3,500 for your group, for a journey of 7–14 days. Longer or more complex journeys are planned as Bespoke.
During the trip, you reach us through the STAYGO app and WhatsApp. We agree our response hours with you before you leave.
