Plan your Japan trip without
the overwhelm
All train passes for Japan: regional rail passes vs JR Pass
Japanās train system is efficient and easy to use, but buying individual tickets can quickly become expensive. Thatās why regional train passes exist. They offer unlimited travel in a specific area for a fixed period and are often better value than the national Japan Rail Pass.
Why regional passes are often better
A regional pass is ideal if:
ā¢ you stay in one area
ā¢ you mix cities and day trips
ā¢ you want better value for money
For most itineraries today, regional passes make more sense.
Tokyo and Kanto area
CHICHIBU KAWAGOE Area 1 day Pass
Perfect for a day trip from Tokyo to Kawagoe or Chichibu.
NIKKO WORLD HERITAGE 2 Day Pass
Best option for visiting Nikko and its UNESCO sites.
Mt. Fuji Shizuoka tourist pass
Ideal for exploring Mount Fuji from the Shizuoka side.
FUJI HAKONE Pass
Covers trains, buses, boats and cable cars around Hakone.
JR East area
JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area)
For northern Honshu and nature focused trips.
JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)
Best for the Japanese Alps and mountain regions.
Kansai and western Japan
KANSAI Area Pass
Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe.
KANSAI WIDE Area Pass
Extended Kansai with Okayama and onsen towns.
JR KANSAI HIROSHIMA Area Pass
Excellent value between Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima.
JR WEST ALL AREA Pass
For large western Japan itineraries.
Setouchi area pass
For island hopping and coastal landscapes.
Sanyo Sanin pass
Covers both northern and southern western regions.
Kyushu
North Kyushu pass
Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Beppu.
South Kyushu pass
Southern Kyushu and volcanic areas.
All Kyushu area pass
Complete Kyushu coverage.
ALL KYUSHU BUS & FERRY Pass
Best option without a car.
Shikoku
All Shikoku pass
Perfect for slow travel and temple routes.
Central Japan and Alps
TAKAYAMA-HOKURIKU Tourist Pass
Ideal for Takayama, Shirakawa go and Kanazawa.
SHIRAKAWAGO Bus Pass
Essential if traveling without a car.
Osaka Tokyo Hokuriku arch pass
Scenic alternative between Tokyo and Osaka.
Hokkaido
JR HOKKAIDO Pass
Essential for long distances in northern Japan.
Hokkaido
JR HOKKAIDO Pass
Essential for long distances in northern Japan.
Japan Rail Pass overview
The national Japan Rail Pass can still be useful for long cross country routes, but for most trips, regional passes are more efficient and affordable.
Plan Your Japan Trip More Easily
If you're going to Jpaan you're probably facing :
Too much information
How to organize
Donāt know where to go
Train system feels confusing
Afraid of missing places
Planning a trip to Japan usually breaks at the same point: you save a lot of places, but donāt know how to turn them into a realistic route. Cities are large, distances are not intuitive, and itās hard to know what actually fits in one day.
This guide was created to solve that. It helps you understand how places connect, how many days make sense per area, and how to build an itinerary that flows.
With the interactive map, you can explore curated spots across Japan, follow ready-made itineraries and day trips, mix my routes with your own, and adapt everything to your pac
I created my Japan Travel Guide to help you organize your trip in a clear, realistic way.
Details on what you'll have
Best of both world : touristy & off the beaten path places
+ 1000 things to do, filterable by category & tags
Lifetime access to my itinerary and all future updates.
10 to 30 days curated itineraries, fully customizable
Kanto (Tokyo & surroundings) Day by Day customizable Itinerary (10 to 15 days)
Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara...) Day by day Itinerary customizable (13 to 15 days)
Tokyo Guide by Neighborhood (23 special ward)
15+ additional day trips detailed for exploring nearby destinations from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto.
Interactive map with all key spots marked & filterable by category & tags
Benefit from in-depth practical advice (navigation, accomodation, restaurants, cultural experiences)
PDF & Excel sheets (with less updates than online version)
What it looks like on the app :
If you prefer something fully tailored, I also offer a 100% custom travel planning service.
I design a day-by-day itinerary based on your dates, interests, budget, travel pace, and priorities. You simply follow the plan and enjoy your trip.
And if you like flexible, editable itineraries, you can also find my ready-made itineraries on Holicay.
Theyāre ideal if you want a solid base you can customize with your travel companions.
Marie creator behind @Tabimawari
Hi, Iām Marie, the creator behind @tabimawari.
I lived in Kyoto, learned Japanese, and keep returning to explore Japan beyond the obvious.
Planning a trip to Japan usually breaks at the same point: you save a lot of places, but donāt know how to turn them into a realistic route. Cities are large, distances are not intuitive, and itās hard to know what actually fits in one day.
This guide was created to solve that. It helps you understand how places connect, how many days make sense per area, and how to build an itinerary that flows.
With the interactive map, you can explore curated spots across Japan, follow ready-made itineraries and day trips, mix my routes with your own, and adapt everything to your pace.
MY SOCIALS
MY NEWSLETTER
Japan Monthly by Tabimawari : Subscribe to get a monthly email packed with inspiration, local tips, and events happening across Japan straight from someone whoās lived and traveled a lot.
Look for the best accommodations in Japan :
Marie creator behind @Tabimawari
Hi, Iām Marie.
French islander from Reunion island, Japan lover, and travel planner behind Tabimawari.
I spent a year living in Kyoto, learning Japanese and falling in love with the culture. Since then, Iāve kept going back, exploring every corner from Tokyo to the tiniest hidden towns.
I created these guides after spending months planning, testing, and fine-tuning every detail so you donāt have to. Inside, youāll find:
ā
Interactive maps
ā
Step-by-step directions
ā
Local spots + travel tips
ā
Offline use
Each guide is made with care, based on real-life travel, not generic blog advice.
This is what I wish I had on my first trip to Japan and now itās yours.
MY SOCIALS
MY NEWSLETTER
Plan your Japan trip without
the overwhelm
Follow me
Newsletter
Japan Monthly : Subscribe to get a monthly email packed with inspiration, local tips, and events happening across Japan straight from someone whoās lived and traveled a lot.