First time going to Japan? Watch this

Topics

• The “must-see” question: why it’s the wrong framing and how to reframe by your interests
• Crowd management: timing, routes, seasonal strategy, and off-triangle destinations
• Nara as a case study for avoiding crowds
• Temples, shrines, and castles: you have permission to be selective
• Getting to Japan: airports, arrival logistics, late-night arrival and transit tips
• Getting around Japan: IC cards, buses, trains, Shinkansen/high-speed trains, scenic trains, free train guide
• Cherry blossom season: timing, forecasts, finding your own moment
• Flying vs. trains within Japan
• When it makes sense to rent a car
• Ferry options
• Don’t default to a round-trip flight to and from Tokyo: Consider open-jaw flights from another departure airport

Summary

With visits going back to 2013 and two trips planned for 2026, Anthony and Jodie of Learners and Makers are a family of four traveling full-time since 2022. They hosted their first YouTube Live to answer the most common Japan trip-planning questions they hear.

The session opens by dismantling the “must-see” question. Rather than chasing a universal checklist, Anthony and Jodie encourage travelers to filter Japan through personal interests — such as food, art, pop culture, history, sports, slice-of-life — and let those priorities drive where they go and what they do.

From there, the conversation shifts to crowds. The core advice: know your own tolerance, learn off-peak timing for major sites, and seriously consider getting off the Golden Triangle of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Nara gets extended attention as an example of a destination that rewards staying overnight rather than day-tripping — crowds thin dramatically after 4 or 5 p.m.

On transportation, they cover airport choices (Narita vs. Haneda vs. Osaka KIX vs. Fukuoka), the IC card system, local buses that most travelers underuse, and the full spectrum of train options from local lines to Shinkansen to scenic experience trains. They also offer a free downloadable train guide.

Cherry blossom season gets a brief but practical treatment. It’s early March 2026 as they record, with Osaka’s peak for the year forecasted to be around March 25. The takeaway: blossoms are everywhere, not just at famous parks, and over-touristed festival cancellations are a signal to look beyond the obvious spots. They go more in depth on planning a trip for cherry blossom season in this video.

The session closes with practical notes on flying vs. rail within Japan, when renting a car makes sense (such as traveling the Kyushu countryside to visit One Piece statues), ferries as an underrated option, and the case for open-jaw flights to avoid burning a full day backtracking to Tokyo.

More resources to help you plan your trip to Japan

Get our FREE Japan trains guide

Japan Tour Recommendations

Osaka Free Walking Tour

Nara Pottery Experience

Kyushu Travel Video Playlist

Japan Travel Video Playlist

Learners and Makers Japan travel guides, including Osaka, Kumamoto, Tokyo and more

Video transcript

Intro and setup

Hey, we’re here. This is our first time doing a live, so we’re kind of getting familiar with it as we do this. We’re really excited to be talking about Japan travel because, honestly, we could talk for days about it — and we often do. Anybody who says, “Oh, I might have a trip coming up to Japan,” we’re like, “Be ready. Let’s get some coffee and chat.” Thanks for showing up and being here. If you can hear us okay, give us a thumbs up in the chat, and leave any questions as we go or in bulk toward the end.

We are Learners and Makers — a family of four traveling full-time since August 2022. I’m Anthony, this is Jodie, and we have a tween and a teen. The very first time we went to Japan was 2013, when we just had one kiddo, and he was about yay big — a toddler. So we’ve been to Japan at just about every stage with kids. In the last few years we’ve been going every year, and we have two trips planned for 2026. As this goes live, we’re about a month out from our next visit. We spend quite a bit of time in Osaka, so we have a lot of expertise there, but we’ve also spent time in Tokyo, Kyoto, and other major spots. And we’ve done a lot of time in Kyushu as well — if you have questions about Kyushu, we’d love to answer those.

The “must-see” question

Let’s get into one of the biggest questions I see every single day from people planning a trip to Japan: what are the must-sees? What can I not miss? Here’s the thing — Japan is an incredibly varied country. If you want traditional culture, you’ve got it in spades, but you also have one of the most modern cultures on the planet, and just about every activity, interest, and food you can imagine. There is no one way to go to Japan. There’s no one set of sites you have to see.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed — which I think is where this question comes from — I’d start by narrowing things down by interest category. Some great starting points: food, culture, art, pop culture (anime, J-pop), sports (sumo, Japanese baseball), history, and what we call “slice of life” — getting a feel for what it’s actually like to live there. That last one is maybe our favorite way to travel. In mega-cities like Tokyo or Osaka, there’s so much life packed into every square meter that just going out your door and seeing what happens is one of the best things you can do. Many of those unplanned moments end up being what sticks with you after the trip.

When you get a generic “must-see” question, you get generic answers — the same things in the guidebooks that everybody’s already going to. What people are really looking for is something that feels unique and special to them. Once you narrow down what you actually want, you’re far more likely to get that. You also avoid the problem of far-flung recommendations — Tokyo is not a small city, and neither is Osaka. Getting from one “cool little thing” to another can easily be an hour and a half by train. Even in Kyoto, which is much smaller, the Torii gate shrines and the bamboo forest are on completely opposite sides of the city. So when you get down to the nitty-gritty of planning a day, those recommendations can cost you more time in transit than in the places themselves.

When you identify the interests you want to realize in Japan, then dig into the activities and areas that deliver those things — that’s where you set your top priorities. Those are the things you are there to do. Anything else is gravy. Have a few options in reserve, but be genuinely okay if you don’t get to them.

Getting off the Golden Triangle

This also guides where you actually go. Japan is similar in size to California or Great Britain — bigger than most people realize. There are four main islands: Honshu (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka), Hokkaido in the north, Shikoku just west of Osaka, and Kyushu in the south. Each has its own distinct character. Within Honshu alone, you have massive variety — big cities, mountains, the Sea of Japan side up north. Depending on what you want, the right destination is out there.

A few interest-specific examples worth knowing: If you’re into Ghibli and Miyazaki films, you want to head to Nagoya — that’s where the main Ghibli Park is. If you’re into One Piece, the best stuff is in Kumamoto on Kyushu. If you want skiing, Nagano in the Japanese Alps or Hokkaido. Even from Tokyo, these things are reachable. And just outside Kyoto, Lake Biwa offers hiking, ryokans, and a genuine change of scene without going far. As soon as you get off the Golden Triangle, you’re going to encounter significantly fewer crowds. The main reason people don’t is simply that the triangle is well-documented — it’s easy to find information about it. Other areas require a bit more research, and when you’re already doing so much research just to get ready for Japan, that can feel overwhelming.

Crowds: strategy and timing

Let’s talk about avoiding crowds. Even offseason, Tokyo is just crowded — it’s a dense city without tourists. You’re not going to avoid crowds there entirely. A lot of your strategy is knowing your own tolerance and having some savvy about timing — if it’s between 10 a.m. and 3 or 4 p.m. at a major iconic site, you’re going to be dealing with people.

Even so, there are little tweaks. Senso-ji in Asakusa, for example: the main approach runs through a huge shopping street that’s packed. But if you go around the block to the right, there’s a gate that gives you a straight shot to the temple with a fraction of the crowds. And if you’re not fussed about the stalls on the way in, walk the shopping street on the way out instead — you’re going the opposite direction from the flow.

Early morning works for avoiding crowds, and so does evening — things calm down considerably. Some experiences, though, do require open hours: the monk doing calligraphy stamps, the stall vendors, those things exist during the busiest windows, and that’s just part of the trade-off.

Japan’s most popular times are spring — especially cherry blossom season — and summer, often because that’s when people can take vacation. Fall typically has smaller crowds because kids are back in school and local holidays have passed. Winter is the most off-season for major destinations, though you’ll encounter shorter days and potentially limited hours at some sites. We did a One Piece statue tour one winter and were literally racing the sun trying to get photos before it went down.

Nara as a case study

One of the best examples we know for getting around crowds: Nara. A lot of people do it as a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, which means the crowds flood in during the day and flood out around 4 or 5 p.m. If you stay a night or two, you get the place nearly to yourself in the evenings. We were there during Obon — a big summer festival — and watched a lot of people pour in and then pour out. By late afternoon, Nara Park, Sarusawa Pond, Todai-ji — we had them almost to ourselves. Restaurants were easy to get into. It was very straightforward.

We genuinely like Nara. It’s well known for the Sika deer and the rice crackers, which is fun. But we like it because you have a great Buddhist temple and a great Shinto shrine very close together — in Kyoto, the major temples are much more spread out. Nara is about three times smaller than Kyoto, and most of your main attractions sit within about a mile in diameter. You can see a lot in a compact area, and if you time things well, you can avoid the worst of the crowds and have the main spots largely to yourself.

Permission to be selective: temples, shrines, castles

A lot of visitors feel pressure to see all the castles, all the shrines, all the temples. You don’t have to. It’s like going to Europe and feeling like you need to stop in every cathedral. Pick a few that really speak to you or have significance that resonates with your interests, or that happen to be convenient to where you’re already staying. Matsumoto Castle in the Nagano area is one of the great ones. Osaka Castle is fantastic. Himeji Castle, just west of Osaka, is excellent. You don’t need all three unless you’re genuinely a castle enthusiast — in which case, great, do it. Otherwise, pick one and redirect your energy to your other priorities.

Getting to Japan: airports and arrival

Most first-time visitors fly into Tokyo, either Narita or Haneda. But it’s not your only option. Osaka’s Kansai International (KIX) is worth checking — it’s easy to navigate, and you can get from the airport to Namba Station in about 40–45 minutes. The airport code is KIX, which I find one of the coolest around. Fukuoka’s code is FUK, and yes, I type that with a straight face. Barely.

Between Tokyo’s two airports: Narita is often cheaper but is much farther out — sometimes an hour and a half to central Tokyo. Haneda is closer, maybe 30–45 minutes. That difference matters a lot when you’ve just come off a very long flight. Fukuoka is generally the most convenient — the airport sits close to the city center and is easy to navigate.

If you’re arriving late at night, arrange transport from the airport to your hotel directly. The last trains are stressful, especially if you’re navigating the system for the first time at nearly midnight with tired kids. We’ve done it. We recommend against it. If you’re arriving during the day, the trains are completely manageable and people will help you — no problem.

Getting around: public transportation

Japan’s public transportation is genuinely one of the best in the world. Most major cities have excellent train and bus networks. The IC cards — Suica, Pasmo, and others — are largely interchangeable and work on trains and buses alike. A lot of travelers forget to check buses when a train station isn’t conveniently located. We’ve stayed in parts of Tokyo where the bus was actually more convenient than the train — more direct, shorter walk to the stop, and they come frequently.

Japanese trains span a huge range. The Shinkansen — bullet trains — are the most iconic, and they genuinely are a wonder to ride. But there are also regular slower trains if you want to save money, and then there are scenic experience trains worth seeking out. We rode one outside Kyoto — about a half-hour ride through a lovely valley, purely for the journey. It’s called the Romantic Train. The right one for your trip might be a multi-hour scenic route with dining and drinks included, or it might be a quick half-day excursion. When you’re in a destination, it’s worth checking whether a scenic train exists nearby.

We’ve just put together a free train guide — we’ll drop the link in the chat — that covers what you need to know to navigate stations and trains, plus links to our deeper articles on itineraries and city-specific planning.

Cherry blossom season

We’re recording this in early March 2026, which means cherry blossom season is close — Osaka peak is expected around March 25th. The general pattern is south to north, with blossoms arriving earlier in southern Japan and gradually progressing up to Hokkaido around early May. The forecasts are out now and update regularly as conditions change.

Even a few of the most popular spots have become so overtouristed that some communities have cancelled their cherry blossom festivals — it’s just gotten to be too much for them. But here’s the thing: everywhere in Japan has incredible cherry blossoms. You don’t need to fight for a spot at a famous park. You can round a corner on some side street and find a single cherry tree that stops you cold. It will never show up in a magazine. It will never go viral. But it will be in your memory for the rest of your life.

If you’re looking for dedicated spots, parks, gardens, castle grounds, and some temples with natural landscaping tend to be your best bets. But honestly, keep your eyes open as you move through the city. It becomes a bit of a treasure hunt, and that’s a wonderful way to find them.

Flying vs. trains within Japan

We’ve always taken trains within Japan rather than flying, but flying can sometimes be cheaper than the Shinkansen. Time-wise it’s roughly a wash — but the train has a key advantage: you leave from the city center. Most airports are 30 minutes to an hour and a half out, which means flying requires a significant leg just to reach the airport, then check-in time on top of that. The Shinkansen runs from central stations, you don’t need to book far ahead unless it’s peak season, and it’s just more convenient day to day.

That said, there are routes where flying makes clear sense. Hokkaido is one — the Shinkansen network connection to Sapporo is still under construction as of 2026 and won’t be complete for a few more years. Tokyo to Fukuoka is another — it’s a long train day, and flying is worth at least considering.

Cars have their place too, particularly in rural areas with limited transit coverage. We rented one in Kyushu to chase One Piece statues scattered around Kumamoto Prefecture — small towns, countryside roads, the car made all the difference. And ferries are an underrated option: Fukuoka to South Korea is doable, and you can ferry from Osaka to Beppu, one of the great onsen towns on Kyushu. We haven’t done a Japan ferry yet, but it’s on the list.

Open-jaw flights: don’t default to flying home from Tokyo

One last thing worth flagging before you book: don’t automatically book a round-trip into and out of Tokyo. If you’re doing a first-trip golden triangle itinerary, you’ll likely end in Kyoto or Osaka. Backtracking to Tokyo for a departure flight means roughly three hours on the Shinkansen, and you’ll basically burn the entire last day in transit. Instead, check whether you can fly home from Osaka KIX or Fukuoka. If you’re finishing in Hiroshima, you’re actually much closer to Osaka than to Tokyo. Flying out from where you already are saves you a day and lets you squeeze every last hour out of Japan.

Wrap-up

If you have questions we didn’t cover — and there are definitely more, we could do this for days — please drop them in the comments. We’re thinking about doing more lives like this, and we’d love to know what you’re uncertain about as you plan.

We don’t only talk about Japan, either. We’ve covered East and Southeast Asia, Europe, all over the United States — and traveling with kids, teens, and a disability. Jodie is an amputee, and we didn’t even get into that today.

Leave us your questions in the comments and let us know what will help turn that trip you’ve been dreaming about into the trip you’re about to take.

If you haven’t already, please subscribe — it helps us a lot. And you’ll find lots of great resources at learnersandmakers.com. See you next time.

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