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Shinetsu Kanto Tokai Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa Islands SAPPORO TOKYO NAGOYA OSAKA FUKUOKA FURANO KUSHIRO AOMORI SENDAI FUKUSHIMA NIKKO HAKONE SADO TAKAYAMA KANAZAWA ISE KYOTO NARA HIROSHIMA NAGASAKI KAGOSHIMA NAHA

Hokkaido

Hokkaido

Sub-zero temperatures and the greatest of outdoor environments, complemented by sizzling soul food and warm-hearted welcomes. Japan's great white north offers wild, white winters and bountiful summers—a haven for dedicated foodies, nature lovers and outdoor adventure fans seeking an adrenaline rush

Tohoku

Aomori
Akita
Iwate
Yamagata
Miyagi
Fukushima

Sleek apple-red and electric-green shinkansen whisk you up to a haven of fresh powder snow, fresh fruit and fearsome folk legends Fearsome festivals, fresh powder and vast fruit orchards—the rugged northern territory of Tohoku offers a fresh perspective on travel in Japan

Hokuriku Shinetsu

Niigata
Toyama
Ishikawa
Fukui
Nagano

Mountains and sea meet in one of Japan's wildest regions, and the result is sheer beauty. Once largely inaccessible, Hokuriku is now reachable by shinkansen from Tokyo in a matter of hours An easily accessible slice of rural Japan offering unrivaled mountainscapes and coastlines, endless outdoor adventure and amazing ocean fare

Kanto

Tokyo
Kanagawa
Chiba
Saitama
Ibaraki
Tochigi
Gunma

Characterized by the constant buzz of the world's most populous metropolitan area, the Kanto region is surprisingly green with an array of escapes that include mountainous getaways and subtropical islands Experience diversity at its fullest, from the neon of Tokyo to the ski slopes of Gunma, exotic wildlife of the Ogasawara Islands and cultural heritage of Kamakura

Tokai

Yamanashi
Shizuoka
Gifu
Aichi
Mie

Served by the shinkansen line that connects Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the Tokai region provides plenty of interesting diversions and easy excursions Tokai means "eastern sea," and this region stretches east from Tokyo to Kyoto and includes blockbuster attractions such as Mt. Fuji and Takayama

Kansai

Kyoto
Osaka
Shiga
Hyogo
Nara
Wakayama

From raucous nights out to outdoor thrills to peaceful reverie, trying to categorize the Kansai region is a futile task The Kansai region is one of extreme contrasts—the neon lights of Osaka and glittering Kobe nightscape, the peaceful realms of Shiga, Wakayama and Nara, and the cultured refinement of Kyoto

Chugoku

Tottori
Shimane
Okayama
Hiroshima
Yamaguchi

Less-traveled and delightfully inaccessible at times, the Chugoku region is a reminder that the journey is sometimes more important than the destination Welcome to Japan's warm and friendly western frontier, where the weather is warmer and the pace of life is slower

Shikoku

Tokushima
Kagawa
Ehime
Kochi

Providing the stage for literary classics, fevered dancing and natural wonders Island-hopping, cycling, soul-warming spiritual strolling and red-hot dancing—the island of Shikoku gets you up and moving

Kyushu

Fukuoka
Saga
Nagasaki
Oita
Kumamoto
Miyazaki
Kagoshima

Easily reached by land, sea and air, the dynamic Kyushu prefectures are bubbling with energy, culture and activity The southern island of Kyushu is home to volcanoes ranging from sleepy to smoky, succulent seafood, steaming hot springs and the country's hottest entrepreneurial town

Okinawa

Okinawa

Ruins and recreated castles of the Ryukyu kings nestle amid magnificent beaches in Okinawa, a diver's paradise teeming with an amazing array of coral and undersea life Fly to Okinawa and discover a distinct island culture born of subtropical sun, white sand, coral, mangrove jungles and the age of the Ryukyu Kings

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KANSAI Kyoto Home to the old imperial capital and cultural heart of Japan

OVERVIEW

The former capital of Kyoto embodies the refined nature of Japanese culture and dining, offering many magnificent shrines and temples as well as numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, with iconic gardens and natural beauty

The city of Kyoto attracts millions of local and international visitors seeking traditional Japanese culture, yet not far away are also expansive tea plantations, stunning hiking spots, villages of thatched-roof farmhouses, and pristine coastline.

How to Get There

Kyoto is accessible on the JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo, Shin-Osaka (Osaka), Nagoya and beyond. Frequent JR trains and buses also serve Kyoto. The nearest airports are Itami International Airport and Kansai International Airport. Both are in Osaka, and located between an hour and an hour and 20 minutes away.

Kyoto City is a prime destination for most travelers, and is linked to many other major cities in Japan. To reach other towns in Kyoto Prefecture and the Tango Peninsula, you'll need to take local trains and buses. For even more fulfilling explorations of the area, it is helpful to rent a car. For example, it takes just over two hours from Kyoto Station to Miyazu on the coast at Tango, where buses take you on to Ine and the beaches. Remember that you can use your JR Pass on any rail or bus journeys that are JR-operated.

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Don't Miss

Grand temple and shrine complexes, castles and palaces in Kyoto City and its environs

Sumptuous multicourse cuisine and refined traditional ryokan accommodations

White-sand beaches and mineral-rich hot springs on the Tango Peninsula

Local festivals, farmhouse stays and craft traditions in rural mountain hamlets

Spring

From late March to April is the time to enjoy exquisite performances by Kyoto’s geisha communities, cherry blossoms and the fresh green of maple leaves in shrine and temple gardens.
Summer

During the hottest season, Kyotoites enjoy riverside dining, cormorant fishing performances, beach excursions, the month-long Gion Festival, and fire displays to honor the spirits of their ancestors.
Autumn

Kyoto’s autumn foliage attracts visitors from the world over, crowding the special night-time light displays. Fall also marks the harvest moon and other must-see festivals, such as the Jidai Matsuri. Many people head for local onsen or on hikes to Mt. Ponpon and Mt. Atago.
Winter

Kabuki’s biggest stars come to perform, plum blossoms emerge after the snows and countryside onsen offer a comforting retreat from the chill. Winter festivals like Arashiyama Hanatoro, an annual celebration of lights and flowers, illuminate the city of Kyoto.