Darker cells are stronger weather or travel-fit months. The second row is crowd pressure.
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Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
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Quick answers
When is the best time to go?
Start with March, April, May, October & November. Choose August only with a written reason.
Is this a good honeymoon pick?
Romance score 90/100 sits next to crowd 86/100 — read both.
How crowded does it get?
On red months, empty midday or change region.
What should I budget per day?
Use bands in JPY. Mid is the baseline. Not a live fare.
Do I need a visa?
Many passports enter visa-free for a short stay — verify yours.
How many days do I need?
Countries breathe at 7–12 days, honeymoon islands at 5–8. Continents: pick one region.
Read Japan as regions such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, not as a pin.
Tokyo-Hakone-Kyoto-Osaka is the spine.
Regions
- Tokyo — Tokyo is stop 1 in a Japan map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Kyoto — Kyoto is stop 2 in a Japan map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Osaka — Osaka is stop 3 in a Japan map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Hokkaido — Hokkaido is stop 4 in a Japan map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Kanazawa — Kanazawa is stop 5 in a Japan map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Naoshima — Naoshima is stop 6 in a Japan map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
Routes
- Tokyo-Hakone-Kyoto-Osaka — Tokyo-Hakone-Kyoto-Osaka — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Hiroshima-Miyajima-Naoshima — Hiroshima-Miyajima-Naoshima — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Sapporo-Furano-Biei — Sapporo-Furano-Biei — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Kanazawa-Shirakawa-go — Kanazawa-Shirakawa-go — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
Icons
- Tokyo — Why Tokyo photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Kyoto — Why Kyoto photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Osaka — Why Osaka photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Hokkaido — Why Hokkaido photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Kanazawa — Why Kanazawa photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
Pairings
- Slow pair — Pair Tokyo with Kyoto; drop a third stop before you add one.
- Weather pair — Do not force a wet coast and a dry highland into the same week.
- Honeymoon pair — Two city nights plus three quiet nights recover better than a trophy circuit.
Dropping the third city is usually a gain.
When to goPlacesHow to travelCultureCostHoneymoon notesToday