Japan is a country full of contrasts, from bustling cities to peaceful nature escapes. Over the course of 31 days, we explored everything from vibrant food scenes to tranquil temples, hiking trails, and historical landmarks. Here’s a breakdown of our exact route, including what we did (and what we highly recommend you don’t miss), where we stayed, and how much we spent for each city. At the end, we’ll share the total cost for the country.
Since we used IC cards for public transportation in several cities and took a few shinkansens and domestic flights between cities, we’ve included the total transportation cost only in our overall expenses at the end, rather than breaking it down by city. We’ve also included the cost of personal souvenirs/essentials and SIM cards in the final total. Keep in mind, the amount you spend on personal souvenirs/essentials will depend on you!
OVERVIEW (CITY BREAKDOWN; Detailed itineraries for each city are linked below)
Days 1-4 & Days 30-31: Osaka
Days 5-8: Kyoto (including a day trip to Nara)
Day 9: Kobe
Day 10: Himeji
Days 11-12: Hiroshima
Days 13-19: Hokkaido
Days 20-27: Tokyo
Days 28-29: Mount Fuji Five Lakes
Days 1-4 & Days 30-31: Osaka
Our trip began and ended in Osaka, a city famous for its food and entertainment.
– What we did (and what we highly recommend you don’t miss): We explored the vibrant Dotonbori district, famous for its neon lights and street food, snapped photos with the iconic Glico Running Man, sampled local street food at Kuromon Market, and toured the historic Osaka Castle. A highlight was meeting Netflix celebrity chef Toyo. We also dedicated 1.5 days to the excitement of Universal Studios Japan.
– Where we stayed: CHECKinn Osaka Shinimamiya and Smile Hotel Osaka Yotsubashi. Close enough to the action but far away from the tourist crowds.
– Total spent (Approximate CAD, 2 people): Accommodations $232 + Activities $275 + Food $213 = $720 total.
More details including Pro Tips in our Osaka blog.
Days 5-8: Kyoto (including a day trip to Nara)
Kyoto’s blend of tradition and modernity made it an unforgettable experience.
– What we did (and what we highly recommend you don’t miss): We visited the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine, wandered the bamboo groves in Arashiyama, and marveled at Kiyomizu-dera. A day trip to Nara let us meet some friendly deer and tour Todai-ji Temple.
– Where we stayed: Hotel IL Verde Kyoto. Free happy hour!
– Total spent (Approximate CAD, 2 people): Accommodations $268 + Activities $66 + Food $278 = $612 total.
More details including Pro Tips in our Kyoto blog.
Day 9: Kobe
Made our way to Kobe to indulge in their world-renowned beef.
– What we did (and what we highly recommend you don’t miss): We enjoyed an amazing Kobe beef meal that was worth every yen.
– Where we stayed: Kobe Motomachi Tokyu REI Hotel. Right in the heart of Chinatown!
– Total spent (Approximate CAD, 2 people): Accommodations $138 + Activities $0 + Food $195 = $333 total.
More details including Pro Tips in our Kobe blog.
Day 10: Himeji
A stop in Himeji gave us a chance to see Japan’s most famous castle.
– What we did (and what we highly recommend you don’t miss): We toured the white castle aka Himeji Castle, learning about Princess Sen’s tragic life, and strolled through the serene Koko-en Garden.
– Where we stayed: This was a stopover when travelling from Kobe to Hiroshima.
– Total spent (Approximate CAD, 2 people): Accommodations $0 + Activities $27 + Food $13 = $40 total.
More details including Pro Tips in our Himeji blog.
Days 11-12: Hiroshima
The history of Hiroshima was sobering but essential to understand this city.
– What we did (and what we highly recommend you don’t miss): We visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and took a day trip to Miyajima Island, where we saw the Itsukushima Shrine and enjoyed local delicacies like oysters.
– Where we stayed: Nest Hotel Hiroshima. Free breakfast!
– Total spent (Approximate CAD, 2 people): Accommodations $223 + Activities $9 + Food $104 = $336 total.
More details including Pro Tips in our Hiroshima blog.
Days 13-19: Hokkaido
We flew north to Hokkaido for a more nature-focused part of our trip.
– What we did (and what we highly recommend you don’t miss): We wore yukutas, relaxed in a traditional onsen, and slept in a ryokan in Noboribetsu. We enjoyed the freshest uni in Otaru and ate lavender and melon ice cream in Furano.
– Where we stayed: Travelodge Sapporo Susukino in Sapporo, Noboribetsu Grand Hotel in Noboribetsu.
– Total spent (Approximate CAD, 2 people): Accommodations $431 + Activities $14 + Food $380 = $825 total.
More details including Pro Tips in our Hokkaido blog.
Days 20-27: Tokyo
Back to the hustle and bustle in Tokyo, Japan’s capital.
– What we did (and what we highly recommend you don’t miss): We were swallowed by the crowd at the Shibuya Crossing, went Street karting through Akihabara, Tokyo Station, and Ginza districts, and designed our own cup noodles at the Yokohama Cup Noodle Museum. Oh, and we had an epic day at DisneySea!
– Where we stayed: Hotel Villa Fontaine Tokyo-Nihombashi Hakozaki, just a 2-minute walk from Suitengumae Station and a few subway stops from Tokyo Station!
– Total spent (Approximate CAD, 2 people): Accommodations $695 + Activities $441 + Food $475 = $1,610 total.
More details including Pro Tips in our Tokyo blog.
Days 28-29: Mount Fuji Five Lakes
A couple of peaceful days in the shadow of Japan’s most iconic mountain.
– What we did (and what we highly recommend you don’t miss): We hiked around the Fuji Five Lakes area, visiting Chureito Pagoda, Lake Kawaguchi, and Lake Yamanaka, and taking in amazing views of naked Mount Fuji in the summer.
– Where we stayed: Fujisan Station Hotel. This hotel offered free shuttle buses to select areas in the region (eg, Kawaguchiko station, Onsens, etc) and came with a free buffet breakfast! It was also a 2 minute walk away from Fujisan Station, plenty of food options, and the nicest tourist information centre!
– Total spent (Approximate CAD, 2 people): Accommodations $58 + Activities $44 + Food $133 = $235 total.
More details including Pro Tips in our Mt Fuji blog.
Helping You See the Best of Japan 🇯🇵
Oh boy, here comes the toughest part... picking the must-visit cities! If you don’t have a full month to explore Japan, these are our top picks based on our travels:
#1. Tokyo
#2. Kyoto
#3. Mt. Fuji 5 Lakes area
#4. Osaka
#5. Noboribetsu (we really loved this city, but understand that it's harder to get to, especially if you only have 2 weeks of vacation)
Overall Expenses for 31 Days in Japan (CAD, 2 people):
- Accommodations: $2,045
- Activities: $887
- Food (we never cooked for ourselves): $1,874
- Transportation (domestic flights, local buses/trains, shinkansens, long distance buses, car rental and gas): $1,654
- Souvenirs/Essentials (clothes, toothpaste, floss, etc): $304
- SIM Cards (Airalo [You can use our referral code “CELINA4205” to save $4.50 CAD OFF your first purchase]): $64
Total Cost: $6828 ($110 per person, per day)
Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below!
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