Japan / First-time visitors

Japan by rail · An independent journey

Photographs and research

Know what you are looking at, and where the advice comes from.

Photographs illustrate the named places. Some are earlier images, not a promise of present-day access or appearance. Attribution and licence links accompany every photograph; the original files retain their respective licences. Images may be cropped for display.

How this journey was assembled

The itinerary is original editorial planning built around official railway and tourism information. It is not a claim that the author personally stayed at every location. Overnight allocations, pace and optional outings are our recommendations. Railway information should be checked for the actual date, especially around timetable changes, holidays and disruptions.

Maps locate named stations and attractions. Google Maps directions are generated by that provider; the overview uses OpenStreetMap tiles and Leaflet, with attribution on the map. No straight line on this site is presented as a railway track or a booked connection.

Check with the people who run it