🤔 Best Places to Visit in Japan for First Timers! Which city to visit in Japan?

🤔 Best Places to Visit in Japan for First Timers! Which city to visit in Japan?

hey welcome back i’m Venise from Flip Japan and this is episode three of our Japan trip planning series today we’re talking about a super important part of the planning process how long should you stay in Japan and where should you actually go these two questions kind of go hand in hand the time you’ve got affects what you can fit in and where you want to go might help you decide how many days you really need so let’s break it down first up how long should you stay now if you’re flying in from far like Europe the US Canada definitely factor in jet lag and the longhaul recovery you don’t want to touch down and dive straight into a packed itinerary even if you’ve only got a week try to build in some buffer time to just settle in get your bearings and actually enjoy yourself that’s why most first- timers stay around 2 to 3 weeks here that tends to be the sweet spot it gives you enough time to see some of the big cities like Tokyo and Kyoto and in a few day trips and maybe visit a more rural or coastal area and have some flexibility for spontaneous adventures which let’s be honest are usually the most fun part if you’ve got just a week or less that’s totally okay as well you can still have a really solid trip the key is just not trying to do too much stick to one main area or region keep travel time within places short and focus on soaking in the experience instead of checking everything off your massive list and if you’ve got a month or even longer amazing that gives you so much freedom to slow down get off the beaten path and explore places most tourists never make it to just keep in mind that your visa situation will determine how long you’re legally allowed to stay so double check that before locking anything in now once you’ve got a rough idea of how long you can stay you can start thinking about where you actually want to go and honestly this is the fun part because Japan is packed with amazing regions let’s quickly go over the big ones just so you get a feel for how the country is laid out hokkaido is Japan’s northmost region it’s all about wild nature epic ski resorts seafood and wide open spaces it’s perfect in winter if you’re into skiing or snowboarding or even just snowy scenery and cozy vibes but it’s also beautiful in summer with lavender fields and cool mountain air towns like Saporo Otaru and Hakodate are great starting points next is Tohoku just north of Tokyo this region is super underrated you’ll find traditional onsent towns beautiful coastal drives mountains and fewer crowds it’s amazing in autumn for fall colors and great if you want to experience rural Japan without going too far offrid kanto is where Tokyo is so it’s usually where everybody lands but there’s a lot more here than just the capital you’ve got day trip spots like Niko Kamakura and Yokohama plus Fuji 5 lakes area if you want a good view of Mount Fuji without climbing it heading west you’ll hit Chubu kind of the center of the country it’s home to places like Nagano Takayama Matsumoto and Kanazawa this region is great for nature castles hot springs and traditional town if you like that old school scenic vibe with fewer people you probably love it here then you’ve got Kansai which is a must for most first-time travelers that’s where you’ll find Kyoto Osaka and Nada kyoto has a lot of temples and tradition osaka is food and fun and nar is deer and shrine it’s such a solid base if you want variety without moving around too much further west in Chugoku which includes Hiroshima Okayama and Yamaguchi if you’re into history coastal views or just want something more laid-back this region’s a hidden gem yamaguchi especially is super peaceful with charming towns and quiet temples it’s one of those spots that flies under the radar but totally delivers down south you’ve got Shikoku smaller super local and full of beautiful nature there’s also pilgrimage trails and river valleys and then there’s Kyushu which has Fukuoka Beu Kumamoto and more it’s hotring heaven the food is next level and it has a really unique cultural feel definitely worth checking out if you’ve got the time and finally way down in the south is Okinawa it’s got tropical beaches a totally different vibe from mainland Japan and amazing diving and snorkeling think relaxed island time meets Japanese hospitality so yeah Japan has 46 prefectures across these regions and they’re all very different from one another it’s one of the best things about the country no matter how many times you go there’s always somewhere new to explore most people start with the big three which are Tokyo Kyoto and Osaka these cities are super popular for a reason they’re packed with sites easy to navigate and really well connected by trains tokyo is your go-to if you want that crazy mix of tech fashion history food anime and big city vibe it’s fast it’s wild and there’s always something happening just keep in mind that Tokyo is very big one of the biggest cities in the whole entire world so even though there are a lot of tourist sites there are also a lot of local neighborhoods that you can check out if you’re into the buzz of modern Japan this is your place kyoto is basically the opposite vibe it’s all about temples shrines tea houses quiet streets and traditional culture it’s perfect if you want to slow down see a more historical side of Japan and experience those peaceful garden moments you see in the travel photos then you’ve got Osaka super fun super friendly and famous for street food neon lights and that more laidback no frrills local vibe it’s also a great base for short day trips to places like Nada Coobe or even Himeji if you’re into castles if you’ve got more time or you’ve already been to these places there are so many other incredible regions to explore like if you want beach days and laid-back island life try Okinawa for unreal powder snow and winter vibes you can head on over to Hokkaido if you’re into culture and coastal scenery Kanazawa Hiroshima Fukoka and Yamakuchi are all amazing and often way less crowded looking for something a little bit quirky or unexpected you can try Fukui fukui’s got epic coastal views and an actual dinosaur museum there’s also Otaru and Hokkaido for a cozy wintry port town feel you’ve got 46 prefectures to choose from each with its own local flavor so there’s no one-izefits-all answer here the important thing is to be realistic about how many places you can fit into your time frame train travel in Japan is super efficient but bouncing around too much can still eat up a lot of your day especially if you’re carrying around luggage or trying to squeeze in tight transfers it can also be really expensive our advice choose a few base cities make sure they’ve got good access to day trips and transportation and build your trip around what actually excites you not just what shows up on every tourist list and don’t stress about missing anything japan’s not the kind of place you can see all in one go most people come back again and again and that’s part of the magic so once you’ve decided how long you’ll be staying here and which regions you’re most drawn to you’re ready for the next step putting it all together into an itinerary that actually works that’s what we’ll be covering in episode 4 so stick around for that if this helped hit that like button and subscribe to the channel and drop a comment and letting me know how many days do you have and what’s one place you have to include in your trip we have more resources to help you figure out what places to visit in Japan so definitely check out our channel as well as our website and social media all right see you in the next one let’s keep planning your dream Japan

🇯🇵 Planning a Trip to Japan? Here’s Where You NEED to Go! ✈️🌸

Not sure which cities to visit on your Japan adventure? Whether it’s your first trip or you’re coming back for more, this video breaks down the must-see destinations across Japan — from the buzzing streets of Tokyo to the historic temples of Kyoto, the foodie paradise of Osaka, and beyond.

We’ll cover:
✅ Top cities to visit in Japan
✅ What makes each place unique
✅ Hidden gems you shouldn’t miss

This is your ultimate guide to choosing where to go in Japan — made simple and exciting! 🗾

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🎥 Stay tuned for more videos about Japan life & travel, Japanese culture and more, subscribe and click the bell notification!
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Here’s a gift box for your Japan travel, Japan life & Japanese culture & more!

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👉 Japan Travel Guide: The Japan Guide to help you explore the ins and outs of Japan
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What to watch next

Experience Japan
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNNwG4D-YGbbxZaNaaGvJ-f2xtPy11jok

Traveling in Japan
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNNwG4D-YGbb98Ztu90uoVMt6XZwVw65F

Life in Japan
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNNwG4D-YGbZxl2PNWGVUAOMWTydYoM75

Moving to Japan
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNNwG4D-YGbbYC_CD-4T_TDeEr_T-WTDc

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