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Follow a classic first-timer route from Tokyo to Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima, Kurashiki, Himeji and Kobe, balancing icons with authentic moments.
Enjoy included highlights like Tokyo Tower, Sensō-ji, a Sumida River yakatabune dinner, Lake Ashi cruises, Ōwakudani, Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion, Fushimi Inari and Osaka Castle.
Delve into culture with a tea ceremony, sake tasting in Fushimi, Nishiki Market bites, Hiroshima Peace Park and Miyajima’s ‘floating’ torii.
Travel smoothly by Shinkansen, with expert Tour Managers and local specialists, plus free time to explore.
Our Japan tours combine ease, insight, and comfort, allowing you to focus on the best things to do in Japan without the hassle.
Japan is a country of contrasts. A place where neon-lit cities and centuries-old temples sit side by side, where a quiet cup of matcha can be as memorable as a ride on the world-famous Shinkansen bullet train. For solo travellers who enjoy culture and adventure, it is an exceptionally rewarding place to explore.
Our guide to the best things to do in Japan follows a classic route from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, Kyoto, and Nara, then onwards to Osaka, Hiroshima, Kurashiki, Himeji, and Kobe. This gives you the best of both worlds with big-ticket highlights and authentic moments you’ll remember for years.
Discover the best of Japan on our Japan tours.
How many of these will you tick off your list?
Tokyo’s skyline is a sweep of glass and steel, with broad parks adding pockets of green. From the Tokyo Tower Observation Deck, the city seems to stretch forever in every direction, and on clear days, Fuji is faintly visible in the distance.
Asakusa’s Senso-ji is Tokyo’s oldest temple and arguably the most atmospheric, with incense smoke drifting through the air, a low murmur of prayers, and the deep red of the giant Kaminarimon lantern. As you walk along Nakamise, the street that leads to the temple, browse the shops selling souvenirs and street food. When you reach the temple, pause at the incense brazier to waft smoke for good luck, then step quietly into the main hall. Temple etiquette is simple: move with the flow, speak softly, and bow lightly at the altar if you wish.
Hop in a rickshaw to slip through Asakusa’s backstreets. A short rickshaw ride whisks you away from the busy main avenues to glimpse scenes of everyday life – wooden townhouses, tiny shrines tucked behind lattice doors, and moss-and maple-laden gardens. To capture the scene on camera, ask your guide to stop near a side street where Tokyo Skytree peeks perfectly between tiled rooftops.
Take an evening cruise through Tokyo when the city is lit up and twinkling. Expect a small-plates feast of tempura and seasonal dishes, crisp beer or sake, and the simple joy of watching skyscrapers soften to sparkling silhouettes.
On Just You’s Japan Revealed escorted tour, you’ll make a stop close to the beautiful Imperial Palace, which is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. The inner palace is not generally open to the public, but the East Gardens welcome visitors with broad lawns, elegant stonework, and seasonal colours. Expect pink cherry blossoms in spring, fiery reds and golds in autumn, and a fresh green shade in summer.
Other things to see and do in the city include a quick photo stop at the bustling Shibuya Crossing, a pause by Hachikō (a legendary Akita dog honoured with a statue), getting lost among Akihabara’s lights and arcades, and enjoying the forested calm of Meiji Shrine with the sleek boutiques of Omotesandō nearby.
On a crisp day, Lake Ashi is a mirror to Mount Fuji’s snow-capped symmetry. As you cruise across the water, watch for the vermilion Hakone Shrine torii (the traditional Japanese gate) standing sentinel on the shoreline. Visibility is weather-dependent, with mornings often offering the best chance for a perfect Fuji silhouette.
Owakudani, the ‘Great Boiling Valley,’ feels otherworldly, with a lunar-like landscape and plumes of sulphur steam rising from a shattered volcanic crater. Many visitors try the famous kurotamago, black eggs boiled in the hot spring pools. Legend has it that eating one adds seven years to your life.
An overnight stay in the seaside town of Atami on our Japan Revealed guided tour puts you in classic hot-spring country. Onsens have been a core part of Japanese culture for centuries, offering a way to relax and socialise quietly while prioritising personal health. Onsen etiquette is essential: visitors must shower before entering, keep their hair up, and refrain from wearing swimwear. Naked bathing is separated by gender but some onsen, especially the unisex ones, allow you to cover up. Talk to your local guide, who can help you make the best choices. Some venues have restrictions on visible tattoos (your Holiday Director can advise on friendly options).
Japan’s famous high-speed bullet train, the Shinkansen, is sleek and super-punctual. Travelling on this train turns a long-distance journey into an adventure. As you settle into your comfortable seat, watch the landscape flicker between scenic rice fields, bamboo groves, towns, and mountains.
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) is a Zen temple covered in gold leaf, floating over a reflective pond like a dream. Pine islands and raked gravel frame the scene, each element placed for balance. As you follow the garden paths, you’ll find different viewpoints, small islands with stone lanterns, and a phoenix statue on the roof. Walk slowly to fully enjoy your visit here. This is a place where small details sing, from the ripple of koi beneath the surface to the scent of pine in the air.
Despite its size and grandeur, Heian Shrine feels calm. Its white and vermilion buildings are inspired by Heian-period palace architecture, with wide roofs and neat, balanced lines. One of Kyoto’s largest torii gates stands at the entrance like a gateway to another era.
Gion is Kyoto’s geiko and maiko district (professionally trained and apprentice geishas). Catching a glimpse of a geisha is special and very rare, and visitors to the area are asked to keep a respectful distance. Old Kyoto feels alive among its stone alleys, machiya townhouses, and private teahouses.
As part of our escorted tour, you can witness the meticulous, centuries-old choreography of matcha preparation and serving, then savour the bright, velvety tea. Tea ceremonies are an intimate and quiet way to experience Japanese tradition and hospitality, marked by a gentle bow of thanks.
Fushimi’s spring water makes refined, fragrant sakes. On a guided tasting, you might compare crisp ginjō styles with fuller, rice-forward junmai. Take small sips, drink water between tastings, and note the ones you like. Many cellars sell small bottles, perfect for gifts or for enjoying later.
In Fushimi, a river of vermilion torii climbs the sacred slopes of Mount Inari. They are the messengers of Inari, the Shintō deity of rice, prosperity, and good fortune. You can walk a short way for the iconic tunnel effect, or continue further for quiet bamboo and fox statues. Even a short section feels magical as you listen to the soft clack of prayer plaques and the rustle of bamboo. Beyond the vivid colour, the way light and shadow fall between the gates makes it a very photogenic walk.
The Daibutsu Hall in Nara is staggering. It’s one of the largest wooden structures in the world, housing a 15-metre bronze Buddha that radiates calm. Outside, sacred sika deer roam free. If you buy the special senbei biscuits, you can feed the deer with the flat of your palms.
If you have some free time in central Kyoto, Nishiki Market is well worth a wander. Known as ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen’, this bustling covered market is home to stalls serving up skewers of soy-glossed eel, pickles in rainbow jars, and sesame ice cream. Bring a bag for leftovers and souvenirs.
Osaka Castle is a towering structure of pearl-white tiers, green tiles, and gold flourishes. On Just You’s Japan Revealed escorted tour, you’ll stop for photos here. For a modern contrast, ride up to the Umeda Sky Building’s Floating Garden Observatory. Its two towers are joined by an open-air ring. It’s windy up here, so secure hats and scarves, then snag a photo of the city in every direction.
After the grandeur of Osaka Castle and the Umeda Sky Building’s views, the call of Dōtonbori’s streets is hard to ignore. Under its neon lights, stop to indulge in popular Japanese dishes such as takoyaki (balls of deep-fried octopus) and okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes).
Hiroshima invites thoughtful reflection. In the Peace Park, memorials and cherry trees frame paths leading to the preserved A-Bomb Dome beside the river. The museum’s exhibits are moving and meticulously presented; your local guide will provide context with care, and there’s time to pause at the eternal flame.
A short ferry ride delivers one of Japan’s most iconic views: the scarlet torii of the Itsukushima Shrine, apparently floating at high tide. As it recedes, visitors can walk the sands to stand beneath its pillars. On Miyajima Island, semi-wild deer wander the streets, and shops sell delicate, traditional sweets decorated with maple leaves.
Okonomiyaki is comfort food and a theatrical experience all in one. Batter, cabbage, noodles, egg, and sometimes oysters are piled layer by layer on a hotplate, then flipped with a flourish, sending up clouds of rich, savoury steam.
Designed to echo famous landscapes in miniature, Shukkeien Garden is a patchwork of pines, ponds, and bridges. As you stroll through, the smaller scale helps visitors to notice the details, such as the ripples around the koi, the way moss clings to stone, and how branches frame each pavilion.
White-walled storehouses with black-tile roofs line Kurashiki’s willow-draped canal, lanterns bobbing in the water. The old rice-trade wealth now houses little museums, boutiques, and cafés. It is a good place for a stroll, with the light from the water making for beautiful photos.
Even when you only see it in passing, Himeji Castle, often called the White Heron Castle, lifts the spirit as you make your way towards Kobe. It is known for its bright white walls and graceful, bird-like rooflines. This is Japan’s most famous feudal castle and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Your time in Kobe can be enjoyed in various ways. Harbourland’s modern waterfront promenades, shops, and Kobe Port Tower offer opportunities for walks with wonderful views. You can also travel the Shin-Kobe Ropeway, a cable car that travels up Mount Rokkō’s lower slopes for a broad sweep of city and bay.
Just You’s Japan Revealed escorted tour offers solo travellers a smart, comfortable way to experience the best of Japan. The carefully paced itinerary allows visitors to appreciate the highlights of this incredible country, while thoughtfully planned free time lets you explore at your own pace, making the adventure feel uniquely yours.
Your Holiday Director and Specialist Local Guides are there throughout, sharing insights, handling all logistics, and creating a relaxed, sociable atmosphere.
Discover Just You’s solo holidays to Japan.
From the natural beauty of Mount Fuji to the spectacular skyline of Tokyo, enigmatic Japan offers a unique holiday experience. Discover ancient temples, scenic landscapes and travel on the famous Bullet Train.
