Plan ahead with our routes and itineraries, including the best places to discover Japan while traveling by rail, how to get there and getting around with the JR Pass.
Hirosaki Castle is one of the top sights to see if you are in Aomori Prefecture in the north of Japan. One of only a handful of Japanese castles not rebuilt during the modern era, Hirosaki Castle stands as a monument to the country’s historic architecture.
Listed by the Japan Castle Foundation as one of the “100 Fine Castles of Japan”, Hirosaki is the only castle in the Tohoku region that was constructed in the Edo Period (1603-1867).
Traveling from Hakodate to Sapporo in Hokkaido is fast and easy using Limited Express services, which are fully included with a Japan Rail Pass.
This complete guide can help you to plan your journey between the two popular destinations on Japan’s northernmost island.
Narita International Airport is the gateway most travelers take into Japan. It is located in the Chiba prefecture some distance from Tokyo. There are a number of options available for travel to Osaka after your plane touches down. The following guide can help you select the travel services that are right for you.
Osaka has become a destination by its own merits. As a port city, Osaka is known for its merchants and delicious food, especially street food. In fact, Osaka is sometimes referred to as “the kitchen of Japan.”
Fukuoka and Nagasaki are two of the biggest metropolitan areas in the north of the southern Japanese island of Kyushu and among the most popular destinations in the area.
Travelers planning to visit Kyushu have various transportation options available for getting between these metropolitan areas, including by train on the Limited Express Kamome train and local JR train services.
Kyoto is famous for its classical Buddhist temples, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines, and traditional wooden houses. It used to be the capital of Japan and is one of the best places to get a feel for Japanese traditions from the iconic Edo Period.
Japan is known for its safe and fast rail system. In addition to getting from place to place, many travelers wish to enjoy the ride – especially when it takes them past beautiful, picturesque scenery of the Japanese countryside.
The Hida Limited Express is a train that does just that. It is named after the former Hida Province on the west side of the Hida Mountains, which is now the northern expanse of the Gifu Prefecture in Chubu. Today, it is the primary means of reaching Takayama.
