16 Days in Japan – Travel to Karuizawa, Nagano, Kamikochi, and Tokyo with us
Join us on our 16-day winter adventure across Japan 🇯🇵❄️ a perfect mix of vibrant city life and serene nature, all during the magical Christmas and New Year period.
We kicked off our trip in Tokyo before heading to the peaceful town of Karuizawa, where we slowed things down and soaked in the winter vibes. Our stay at Hotel Indigo Karuizawa was easily one of the highlights – cozy, stylish, and the perfect retreat.
From there, we made our way to Nagano, where most of our activities took place. We visited the famous snow monkey park, explored the stunning Togakushi Shrine (where we got engaged 💍), and even squeezed in a half-day snowboarding trip in Hakuba. We stayed at Hotel New Nagano Next, which made getting around super convenient as its located just 5 minutes from the train station.
Next stop: Matsumoto, where we checked into Raicho Guesthouse before embarking on an unforgettable snowshoe hiking tour to Kamikochi. This was truly a core memory for us. Kamikochi, known to be “the place where God descends” was peaceful, surreal, and incredibly beautiful in winter.
For the final leg of our trip, we returned to Tokyo and stayed at Daiwa Roynet Hotel Shinjuku, located in a quieter part of the city. It gave us the chance to explore a different side of Tokyo at a more relaxed pace. We visited Gotokuji Shrine, and also some photo spots you can check out around Tokyo tower.
Since we traveled during the festive peak season, we’re also sharing some helpful tips, along with a few things we’d do differently next time, so you can plan smarter!
Thank you so much for watching, and we hope this video inspires and helps you plan your own Japan winter getaway!
Video breakdown:
00:00 Intro
00:49 Day 1 – Tokyo
03:19 Day 2
09:08 Day 3 – Karuizawa
12:23 Day 4
16:02 Day 5 – Nagano
18:00 Day 6 – Snow Monkey Park
21:11 Day 7 – Togakushi Shrine
24: 00 Day 8 – Hakuba
28:05 Day 9 – Matsumoto / Raicho Guesthouse
30:31 Day 10 – Kamikochi
34:00 Day 11 – Tokyo
36:17 Day 12
38:38 Day 13 – Gotokuji, Tokyo Tower
41:08 Day 14
41:42 Day 15 – Shinjuku / Tokyo Tower
44:12 – Day 16
Disclosures: The links in the description are affiliate links. If you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
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Places we stayed at:
📍 Agora Tokyo Ginza: https://www.trip.com/t/NIR29yU0CU2
📍 Hotel Indigo KARUIZAWA by IHG: https://www.trip.com/t/rZpSaEP0CU2
📍 NEW NAGANO NeXT: https://www.trip.com/t/AesHJcK0CU2
📍 Raicho Onsen Inn: https://www.trip.com/t/WG6u5q80CU2
📍 Daiwa Roynet Hotel Nishi-Shinjuku PREMIER: https://www.trip.com/t/S0oJCqR0CU2
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