31 days in Japan Itinerary

Tokyo holds the status of most populous metropolitan area in the world--a fact you'll find tangible as you walk the bustling streets and explore its diverse neighborhoods and cultures.

Museum-lovers will get to explore Tokyo National Museum and Fukagawa Edo Museum. Get some historical perspective at Senso-ji Temple and Imperial Palace. Change things up with these side-trips from Tokyo: Ghibli Museum Mitaka (in Mitaka) and Kamakura (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Hase-dera Temple, & more). There's still lots to do: wander the streets of Odaiba, get a taste of the local shopping with Ginza, ponder the world of politics at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings, and see the interesting displays at Edo-Tokyo Museum.

To see photos, traveler tips, ratings, and other tourist information, refer to the Tokyo attractions app .

La Paz, Bolivia to Tokyo is an approximately 27-hour flight. You can also do a combination of bus and flight. The time zone difference when traveling from La Paz to Tokyo is 13 hours. Prepare for a bit warmer weather when traveling from La Paz in April: high temperatures in Tokyo hover around 22°C and lows are around 12°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 8th (Wed) so you can travel to Ishigaki.

Ishigaki, the most populous island in the chain, features the country's southernmost city and acts as a transport hub for exploring the landmasses that surround.

Visiting Kabira Bay and Cape Hirakubozaki will get you outdoors. Head to Nei Museum of Art and Inafuku Shuhan Hontenfor some retail therapy. Next up on the itinerary: add some adventure to your tour with a kayaking and canoeing tour, take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Nosoko Mape, discover the deep blue sea with a scuba or snorkeling tour, and enjoy the sand and surf at Sukuji Beach.

To see more things to do, ratings, maps, and tourist information, you can read our Ishigaki driving holiday planner.

Traveling by flight from Tokyo to Ishigaki takes 5 hours. Prepare for a bit warmer weather when traveling from Tokyo in April: high temperatures in Ishigaki hover around 30°C and lows are around 24°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Mon) so you can travel to Hiroshima.

Grapple with history and appreciate modernity in Hiroshima, a city known around the world for its tragic past and inspiring rebirth.

Get some cultural insight at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Itsukushima Shrine. Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Miyajima and Atomic Bomb Dome. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Hiroshima: Ohara Museum of Art (in Kurashiki), Mt. Misen (in Miyajima) and Itsukushima Shrine Torii (in Hatsukaichi). There's much more to do: make a trip to Peace Memorial Park - Hiroshima, take an in-depth tour of Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims, admire the masterpieces at Hiroshima Museum of Art, and step into the grandiose world of Hiroshima Castle.

For maps and more tourist information, you can read our Hiroshima sightseeing planning tool .

Traveling by combination of flight and train from Ishigaki to Hiroshima takes 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly. Traveling from Ishigaki in April, expect Hiroshima to be a bit cooler, temps between 22°C and 13°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Fri) early enough to take a train to Kyoto.

The national capital for over a thousand years, Kyoto retains much of the charm of old Japan, boasting numerous temples and shrines that seem completely untouched by the modern world.

Your inner history buff will appreciate Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine and Kinkaku-ji. Appreciate the collections at Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts Fureaikan and Daimaru Museum Umeda. Venture out of the city with trips to Himeji Castle (in Himeji), Osaka (Osaka Castle & Dotonbori) and Nara Park (in Nara). There's much more to do: contemplate the long history of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, explore the historical opulence of Nijo Castle, take in the spiritual surroundings of Sanjusangendo Temple, and shop like a local with Nishiki Market Shopping District.

To see reviews, other places to visit, ratings, and tourist information, refer to the Kyoto driving holiday tool .

Traveling by train from Hiroshima to Kyoto takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. April in Kyoto sees daily highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 22nd (Wed) early enough to drive to Fujikawaguchiko-machi.

A resort town located in the foothills of Mount Fuji, Fujikawaguchiko-machi acts as a base for many who plan to take one of the trails up the iconic volcano.

Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Matsumoto Castle and Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine. Visiting Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi will get you outdoors. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Fujikawaguchiko-machi: Hirasawa Pass (in Minamimaki-mura), Shojigataki Falls (in Hokuto) and Yachiho Highland Natural Garden (in Sakuho-machi). There's still lots to do: look for all kinds of wild species at Wildlife Areas, stroll through Kita Yatsuga-take, admire the sheer force of Fudo Falls, and take in the awesome beauty at Mt.Senjogadake.

To see where to stay, maps, and tourist information, read our Fujikawaguchiko-machi trip tool .

Getting from Kyoto to Fujikawaguchiko-machi by car takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of train and bus; or do a combination of bus, flight, and train. Traveling from Kyoto in April, expect nights in Fujikawaguchiko-machi to be about the same, around 13°C, while days are a bit cooler, around 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 26th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Hakone-machi.

Sitting at the foot of Mount Fuji, Hakone-machi has become a popular retreat from Tokyo for locals and tourists alike.

Head to Pola Museum of Art and Kamatsuru Himono Honten, Atami Ginzadorifor some retail therapy. Satisfy your inner culture vulture at The Hakone Open-Air Museum and Ikeda museum of 20th century art. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Hakone-machi: Jogasaki Coast (in Ito), Wasabi Fields of Ikadaba (in Izu) and Fuji (Nature & Wildlife Tours & Fujigawa Service Area - Inbound). There's much more to do: explore the striking landscape of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, take in the spiritual surroundings of Hakone Shrine / Kuzuryu Shrine Singu, admire the masterpieces at Narukawa Art Museum, and contemplate the waterfront views at Lake Ashi (Ashinoko).

For more things to do, reviews, traveler tips, and tourist information, you can read our Hakone-machi road trip planning site .

Traveling by car from Fujikawaguchiko-machi to Hakone-machi takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In April, plan for daily highs up to 15°C, and evening lows to 13°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 1st (Fri) early enough to travel back home.