Unlike Korea, when I traveled to Japan, I was fortunate enough to have someone to guide me through the public transportation. My aunt has a Japanese friend from high school, so we all traveled together when we visited. Although I can’t tell you the specifics, since I didn’t book the tickets and was merely along for the ride, I can safely say that you will not have an issue getting around the country.

Transportation methods we used during this trip: bullet train, bus, car, subway, train and even a boat (although for a scenic view).

Now for the list of the different things we did and where we went.

Tokyo

Tokyo Disney – This is self-explanatory. If you like Disney, this will be a must for you, but if it’s not your thing, there are plenty other things to keep you busy in Tokyo!

Sensō-ji – This is the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo. I am sure you could go during the day, but I went in the evening, and all of the buildings were lit up, so it was really pretty. There are a lot of shops and vendors within the grounds, so don’t worry about eating before you go!

Studio Ghibli Museum – This is technically in Mitaka, but still in the Tokyo Metropolis. If you are a Studio Ghibli fan, I would highly recommend this. Since my visit though, a Studio Ghibli theme park has opened, but who says you can’t do both?

Mt. Fuji

This might require a bit more planning. We rented a car to drive to the hotel that was perfectly placed to see Mt. Fuji across the lake. I can’t attest to the view though, since it was unfortunately cloudy the one night we were there. There are many places you can go with a view of the mountain, so you have your pick!

Osaka

From Tokyo, we took the bullet train to Osaka. Here we visited the Osaka Castle Museum. It was pretty crowded when we went on a Saturday, so maybe it would be better during a week day. You will most likely spend a few hours here, as there are a ton of displays on each floor (there are 8). There is an observation deck at the top as well, which provides a great view of the city!

Kobe

We took a quick bus trip to Kobe from Osaka, which is known for its beef. We just spent one night at a hotel, so there wasn’t a lot of time to explore the city, but it is also known for the scenic view of the mountains and harbor. As a warning for those with tattoos, I wasn’t allowed in the public bath within the hotel. Although I was allowed into them when we stayed near Mt. Fuji, so I would recommend researching places before you stay.

Kyoto

We took the subway from Osaka to Kyoto.

Yoshida Shrine and Kiyomizu Temple – The Yoshida Shrine is distinctive in its bright red coloring, and you can see a bright red tower within the trees from the view deck of the Kiyomizu Temple. The Kiyomizu Temple is a historical monument built in the mountains, so it requires a bit of climbing to get to, but affords a wonderful view, so I think it is worth it.

The Yasaka Pagoda is the last remaining structure of the Hōkan-ji Temple. It is surrounded by sloping streets and many more shops. The buildings are all traditional, made with dark wood, which makes it quite an aesthetic area to visit. You can also find rental shops to dress in kimonos.

Gion Matsuri (or Gion Festival) in July. This is the largest and most famous festival in Japan. A series of traditional floats are paraded in the center of the city. Some of the floats carry deities, who are supposed to purify people from disease. Musicians sit on floats and play music while groups of men pull the structure by ropes through the streets.

Other things we did in Kyoto include visiting the Golden Pavilion, a bamboo forest, and a river boat ride. As a note, if you are not comfortable in high temperatures and humidity, July would not be the time to visit Japan.

As always, thanks for reading! If you go to Japan, I hope some of these suggestions and tips help you! Feel free to comment if you have visited and have recommendations and tips of your own. Stay safe and stay happy.