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Japan · 15-18 days

Japan with the Alps: Tokyo, Nagano, Kanazawa & Kyoto

35.7°N · 139.7°E
At a glanceA fuller two-and-a-half weeks than the classic loop, adding snow monkeys and mountain scenery in Nagano and a quieter samurai town in Kanazawa. Bridges the gap between a quick visit and the full grand tour.
~12h flight estimate15 to 18 days£70 to £375+ per dayEasy going
Before bookingEntry rules, health advice and local conditions change. Always check current official advice.Check current FCDO advice

The itinerary

  1. Tokyo4 nights
  2. Nagano2 nights
  3. Kanazawa2 nights
  4. Kyoto4 nights
  5. Osaka2 nights

Why this trip works

This itinerary combines city breaks, history and culture, natural landscapes, food and drink, and wildlife watching across Tokyo, Nagano, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Osaka. Bringing the stops together gives the holiday a clearer progression and makes better use of the outward journey than booking each place separately.

How flexible is it? This itinerary can credibly be planned with a relaxed to active daytime pace, quiet to lively evenings and off-beat to popular crowd settings within its fixed route. The typical version has balanced days, balanced evenings and a mixed setting. The quiz selects the closest credible version rather than treating it as one fixed product.

Best time to go

The strongest travel period is March to April and October to November. May and September are good quieter alternatives. Getting around is mainly by trains. The Japan Rail Pass may reduce the cost of the longer legs.

Jan8°COther
Feb9°COther
Mar12°CBest
Apr18°CBest
May23°CShoulder
Jun26°COther
Jul30°COther
Aug31°COther
Sep27°CShoulder
Oct21°CBest
Nov15°CBest
Dec10°COther

Cost

On the ground, including accommodation and everyday spending, allow roughly £70 a day at the budget end, around £130 a day mid-range, and £375+ for high-end travel. Including estimated return travel from London, a typical version of this itinerary is best treated as a planning range of £2390 to £3340 per person. These are planning estimates rather than live quotes. Available accommodation spans simple, comfortable, premium and luxury. The quiz prices the highest available tier that fits your selected minimum and total budget.

Places on this trip

Tokyo Japan · Asia ~13h flight estimate£55+/dayMild Nagano & the Japanese Alps Japan · Asia ~11.5h flight estimate£55+/dayMild Kanazawa Japan · Asia ~11.5h flight estimate£45+/dayCool Kyoto Japan · Asia ~13.5h flight estimate£55+/dayMild Osaka Japan · Asia ~13.5h flight estimate£50+/dayMild

Frequently asked questions

How long do you need for Japan with the Alps: Tokyo, Nagano, Kanazawa & Kyoto?

This itinerary works best over 15 to 18 days across 5 stops: Tokyo, Nagano, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Osaka.

When is the best time for this trip?

The strongest travel period is March to April and October to November. May and September are useful quieter alternatives.

How much does it cost?

On the ground, including accommodation and everyday spending, allow roughly £70 a day at the budget end, around £130 a day mid-range, and £375+ for high-end travel. Including estimated return travel from London, a typical version of this itinerary is best treated as a planning range of £2390 to £3340 per person. These are planning estimates rather than live quotes.

Other multi-stop trips

Japan Extended: Hokkaido to Kyushu Japan · 21-24 days ~12h flight estimate£70+/day7 stops Tokyo & Kyoto Japan · 7-9 days ~12h flight estimate£70+/day2 stops Japan Classic: Tokyo-Hakone-Kyoto-Osaka Japan · 7-14 days ~12h flight estimate£55+/day4 stops China Extended: Beijing, Xi'an, Yunnan & Zhangjiajie China · 16-20 days ~11.5h flight estimate£25+/day5 stops South Korea: Seoul-Busan-Jeju South Korea · 7-11 days ~11h flight estimate£45+/day3 stops China Scenic: Chengdu-Guilin-Yangshuo China · 8-12 days ~11h flight estimate£35+/day3 stops
Torn between ten tabs?Two minutes of questions, up to seven strong matches, realistic cost ranges and every trade-off spelled out.
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