A 3 Week Japan Itinerary You’ll Brag About (Even on a Budget)

Ever wondered what it’s like to soak in a volcanic sand bath one day and party with robots the next?

Welcome to Japan, where contradictions live in harmony and the weird just works. Over three incredible weeks, we traveled from the sunny shores of Kyushu all the way to snowy Hokkaido, discovering a Japan that’s layered, flavorful, and full of surprises.

Think of this 3-week (or 21 day) itinerary in Japan as a trip of a lifetime. Ancient temples, futuristic cities, neon lights, quiet forests, steamy onsens, and some of the best food we’ve ever had.

Logistics and Overview of the 3-Week Japan Itinerary

Ready to experience the best of Japan in three weeks?

This packed Three Weeks in Japan itinerary takes you through three major islands — Kyushu, Honshu, and Hokkaido — giving you a taste of everything from bustling cities to peaceful mountain towns.

Breaking Down the Journey

We’ll start in Kyushu, spending 6 days taking in the southern vibes of Fukuoka and Nagasaki, before heading to the volcanic wonders of Mount Aso and unwinding in the hot springs of Kurokawa Onsen and Beppu. ♨️

Next up is 10 days in Honshu, where you'll get lost in Tokyo’s electric streets and soak in Kyoto’s traditional charm. Don’t worry, we’ve included time for a quick trip to Nara to meet those famous deer! 🦌

The final leg takes you north to Hokkaido for 5 days. Here, you'll dive into Sapporo’s food scene, wander through Furano’s picture-perfect fields, and bask in the mountain views at Asahidake.🗻

When’s the Best Time to Visit Japan? 📆

Japan stretches across four climates, so timing is key. The sweet spot for this itinerary is spring or fall; think cherry blossoms or autumn colors, clear skies, and mild temps. We chose spring, starting in late March from the south (Kyushu) and slowly heading north.

While we were a bit late for full sakura in southern Japan, we caught them in full bloom in Hokkaido, a magical reward after chasing them up the country 🌸. Just know that sakura season is short (about two weeks) and timing depends on how north or south you are.

Summer is great for lavender fields in Hokkaido and festivals in cities, while autumn (late Sept–early Nov) offers fewer crowds, crisp air, and stunning colors, a perfect time if you want both nature and comfort. Winter has fewer tourists and dreamy hot springs but expect real cold in the north. Whichever season you choose, this itinerary works...just pack smart and check the forecast!

Want the sweet spot? Try late September to early November. You’ll get comfortable temperatures across all three islands, beautiful autumn colors, and reasonable crowds.

Is the Japan Rail Pass (JRP) Worth It? 🚄

If you don’t have much time in Japan and want to cover long distances fast, the Japan Rail Pass is your best friend. It gives you access to the famous Shinkansen (bullet trains) 🚅 and many local lines, making even a short trip super efficient.

That said, it’s not cheap — especially after the price increase in 2023. So we only used it for one week, during our fast-paced journey through central Honshu, hopping from city to city. The rest of the time, we opted for buses, slower trains, and planes (to Hokkaido) to save money 💰.

🧠 Smart tip: If you’re planning a Japan itinerary with multiple regions like we did, use the JRPass only during your most travel-heavy week. For example, we crammed Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima, and more into one week — sometimes even skipping a hotel night and sleeping in a karaoke box in Hiroshima 🎤😅

📺 Curious about our train adventures across Japan? Check out these vlogs:

🚗 Alternative? Consider a rental car — especially in less-connected areas like Hokkaido or Kyushu. It might end up cheaper than the JRP (check prices on Rentalcars), but it comes with challenges: driving on the left, Japanese signage, tolls, and expensive parking.

Budgeting Tips for a 3-Week Trip to Japan

Daily Costs Breakdown

Your daily spending in Japan typically runs between 10,000-15,000 yen per person. Here's what you're looking at:

• Transportation: 21-day Japan Rail Pass (59,350 yen)
• Hotels: 8,000-15,000 yen nightly for a double room
• Food: 1,000-3,000 yen per meal
• Attractions: 500-2,000 yen per site
• Shopping: Whatever's left in your budget!

Smart Saving Strategies

We actually wrote a whole post on money-saving strategies in Japan, but some quick tips for cutting costs without cutting experiences:

• Grab breakfast at 7-Eleven or Lawson (300-500 yen)
• Try standing sushi bars instead of seated restaurants
• Look for lunch sets (teishoku) - same food as dinner, half the price
• Use free walking tours in Tokyo and Kyoto
• Fill your water bottle at public fountains (tap water's safe!)
• When all else fails, sleep at a karaoke

Food Budget Tricks

Stay full without emptying your wallet:

• Convenience store meals (500-800 yen)
• Ramen shops (700-1,200 yen)
• Department store basement food halls (depachika)
• Morning sets at cafes (400-800 yen)
• 100-yen sushi trains
• Food courts in shopping centers

Transportation Savings

Smart ways to move around:

• Get the Japan Rail Pass before arrival
• Walk or bike in flat cities
• Buy day passes for city transport
• Share taxi costs with other travelers
• Take overnight buses between cities

Transportations costs are not always as cute as these characters at stations.

Book-Ahead Basics

Reserve these money-savers early:

• Japan Rail Pass
• Popular attractions like the Ghibli Museum
• Weekend hotels in big cities
• Special limited express trains
• Robot Restaurant tickets (if that's your thing)

Free and Low-Cost Activities

Keep your wallet happy:

• Imperial Palace gardens in Tokyo
• Hiking trails near cities
• Free observation decks
• Temple grounds (even if you skip paid areas)
• Local festivals and events
• Window shopping in trendy districts

Remember: carry cash! While major spots take cards, many smaller places don't. And those 100-yen shops? They're great for souvenirs that won't break the bank.

Being in Japan is like living in a massive theme park

Our 3-Week Japan Itinerary

Our Route at a Glance

Part 1: Kyushu (Days 1–6)

We started down south in Fukuoka and Nagasaki, soaking up laid-back vibes, rich history, and fiery bowls of tonkotsu ramen. Then we cranked up the heat (literally) in the volcanic landscapes of Mt. Aso and ended the week floating in the misty hot springs of Kurokawa Onsen and Beppu.

Southern Japan = soul, steam, and scenery.

Kyushu-style Ramen

Part 2: Honshu (Days 7–16)

Welcome to the heart of Japan. From Tokyo’s buzzing streets and quirky cafés to the Zen calm of Kyoto’s temples, this part is all about contrast. We made a quick pit stop in Nara and Osaka to bow to the deer and left with memories (and maybe a few deer bites). This leg is your crash course in everything that makes Japan magical.

Part 3: Hokkaido (Days 17–21)

We ended our journey on a high...and a chill. Sapporo wowed us with next-level food, Furano felt like stepping into a watercolor painting, and Asahidake delivered crisp air and mountain drama. If you’re craving space, silence, and snow (or lavender, depending on the season), Hokkaido has you covered.

Each leg is timed to maximize your experience without rushing. We’ve included enough downtime to breathe, wander, and discover your own hidden gems — plus, it’s fully train-friendly with the Japan Rail Pass, so getting around is half the fun.

Whether it’s your first time in Japan or your fifth, this route gives you a complete taste of the country’s diverse faces, all in one epic three-week adventure.

PART 1: Kyushu (Days 1–6)

We kicked off our Japan trip with my favorite region: Kyushu. It’s subtropical, laid-back, and surprisingly easy to explore without a car. From castles to volcanoes to some serious bath-hopping, this week had it all.

Map of Kyushu

Here's a map to help you see exactly what we're talking about! While this map is tethered towards a 7 to 10 day itinerary, it is more to show our general route, and we will go more into the day-by-day itinerary below.

Where We Stayed in Kyushu

Day 1: Fukuoka 🎌

We landed in Fukuoka, and I instantly felt the good vibes of this city. We spent the day wandering around Tenjin, window shopping and snacking our way through the streets, then made our way to the mystical Shinto temple and garden of Fukuoka.

For dinner, we grabbed seats at one of the iconic yatai food stalls...street food at its best! Don’t skip the Hakata ramen. It’s rich, porky, and totally unforgettable.

Days 2–3: Nagasaki 🍜

We took the train to Nagasaki, mostly because I’ve always wanted to see Hashima Island (aka Battleship Island). Unfortunately, the sea was too rough to land, but we still got super close, and it was hauntingly cool.

The city itself totally surprised me. We visited the Peace Park, which was emotional and deeply moving. Then we wandered through Glover Garden and watched the sunset from Mount Inasa, easily one of the best views we had in all of Japan.

Day 4-5: Kumamoto and Mt. Aso 🌋

We made a quick stop in Kumamoto to see the castle, which still looks impressive despite the earthquake damage. There’s just something about Japanese castles...they look like layered cakes made of history and stone.

Enter the ninjas 🥷

But the next day was the real highlight: Mount Aso, Japan’s largest active volcano. We couldn’t hike into the caldera (the gas levels were too high), but just standing near it felt epic. The landscape was almost Martian...vast, smoky, and surreal.

Pretending like we know how to do a tree pose in Mt. Aso

Day 5-6: (Kurokawa Onsen and) Beppu 🧖

We needed a chill day, and got exactly that in Kurokawa Onsen, one of the most charming hot spring towns in Japan (though not cheap!). We grabbed a bath-hopping pass and tried three different outdoor onsens. I don’t know if it was the water or the fresh mountain air, but I honestly felt like a new person afterward.

We stayed in a ryokan for the full experience: tatami mats, yukata robes, and a crazy good kaiseki dinner. Pure bliss.

On our last day in Kyushu, we explored the weird and wonderful world of Beppu. The Hells of Beppu are hot springs you can’t bathe in, but they look absolutely wild, bubbling blue pools and fiery red pits.

And of course, we had to try the famous steam sand bath, where you get buried in warm volcanic sand. Strange, relaxing, and just a bit claustrophobic — 10/10 would do it again. 🧖‍♂️♨️

The hot springs of Beppu

PART 2: Honshu (Days 7-16)

Next up: Japan's largest island (and the island containing Japan's biggest cities like Tokyo and Osaka). Since this has all the most popular spots, we have devoted a large chunk of the itinerary to Honshu.

Where We Stayed in Honshu

Day 7: Hiroshima and Miyajima 🎏

We didn’t fall in love with Hiroshima at first sight, but we also didn’t give it much time. The Atomic Bomb Dome is a powerful reminder of the past, and the Peace Memorial Park is worth visiting to reflect. If you have the JR Pass, hop over to Miyajima — the island with the famous floating torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine. It’s maybe a bit on the touristy side and packed with deer, but still magical, especially at high tide.

Day 8-9: Kanazawa (and Shirakawa-go) 👺

Kanazawa feels like a hidden gem. It has samurai vibes, a preserved geisha district (Higashi Chaya), and one of Japan’s top gardens — Kenrokuen. We loved the fresh seafood at Omicho Market and were obsessed with the futuristic train station.

If you have time, you can pair Kanazawa with a trip to Shirakawa-go (that postcard village with steep thatched roofs) or even Nagano, where snow monkeys soak in hot springs.

Kanazawa castle

Everything is manicured between Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden

Day 10-11: Osaka and Nara 🍡

Osaka is loud, fun, and packed with food. It’s known for street eats like takoyaki and okonomiyaki, and we had a blast wandering around Dotonbori. It’s more chill than Tokyo, which is why many travelers fall in love with it.

From Osaka, we took a quick day trip to Nara (you can do the same from Kyoto, if you prefer), a city full of sacred deer, ancient temples, and the massive Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at Todai-ji. Honestly, we liked it more than Kyoto.

Ryan is a big Osaka Fan

Even the love lockets are perfectly aligned in Japan, especially at the Umeda Sky Building/Kuchu Teien Observatory.

LEDiful Dotonbori Market at night in Osaka.

Fabio and his BPF ake Best Pet Friend (of the day)

Judgy Deer in The Primeval Hill of Nara

Day 12-13: Kyoto 🎎

Yes, Kyoto has a vibe… and also crowds. It’s full of iconic temples, torii gates, and traditional streets, but we struggled with how busy it felt. We stayed near the university and ended up at a Hawaiian diner run by a stoned Japanese woman who missed Maui — a surreal but unforgettable experience. That said, the city has layers. If you go, time your visits early or off-season, and look out for hidden bars and backstreets for a better vibe.

Do not prioritize temples as the most evocative ones are off the beaten path

Day 14-16 Tokyo (and Day Trips from Tokyo) 🗼

Tokyo is a universe of its own, so much so that we wrote a full post about 10 unique things to do in Tokyo. From neon nights to serene gardens, you could stay a month and still not scratch the surface. Here are some unmissable things to do in Tokyo:

• Shinjuku: skyscrapers and city views
• Shibuya: shops, cafés, and the iconic crossing
• Akihabara: anime dreams and gadget heaven
• Asakusa: old-school Tokyo around Senso-ji Temple

Nice to meet you Goku-San at Bandai Headquarter in Asakusa

PART 3: Hokkaido (Days 17–21)

Midway through our spontaneous Japan adventure, everyone kept telling us: “Go to Hokkaido!” We were skeptical. 5 days in the north seemed tight, but when we found a Skyscanner deal for €34 flights from Tokyo, it was a sign. Bags packed, we flew to Japan’s wild and peaceful frontier.

Map of Hokkaido

With a bit of smart planning, we managed to explore mountains, flower fields, hot springs, and seafood heaven — all in 5 days. Here’s how to make the most of Hokkaido. ⛰️

Where We Stayed in Hokkaido

Day 17: Sapporo 🏙️

Touch down in Sapporo and breathe in that cool, fresh air! Take a walk through Odori Park and grab a photo at the iconic Sapporo TV Tower. End the day at the Sapporo Beer Museum, where you can sip different brews and learn how Japan’s beer culture began here. Don’t skip the tasting set, it’s the best part!

Day 18: Furano and Biei 🌸

Rent a car or take a train out to Furano and Biei. This area is famous for its lavender fields in summer, but it’s beautiful all year. We were stunned by the surreal colors of Biei’s Shirogane Blue Pond, which really does look like a fantasy Photoshop job! Stop at the Patchwork Road for rolling hills and scenic photo ops — it’s like Hokkaido’s Tuscany.

Day 19: Mt. Asahidake 🚠

Take the Asahidake Ropeway up the tallest peak in Hokkaido’s Daisetsuzan range. You can do serious hiking up here, or just enjoy the volcanic steamy views and alpine flowers. It felt like we were walking through a Studio Ghibli film. There’s even a small bubbling sulfur vent trail that’s totally worth it!

Day 20: Back to Sapporo 🍺

Return to Sapporo for more food and chill. Join a local food tour to try regional favorites like Hokkaido miso ramen, grilled scallops, and melt-in-your-mouth hairy crab 🦀. We stopped by Nijo Market for fresh seafood and quirky snacks, then caught a sunset at Moiwa Ropeway for the city’s best night view.

Sapporo beer is all over Japan, but apparently this is Hokkaido-only Sapporo beer

Day 21: Optional Extra Day or Fly Out 🧳

This last day is flexible. You can explore Maruyama Park, visit the Hokkaido Shrine, or hit a local onsen before heading to the airport. We kept it low-key before flying back to Tokyo, but honestly, we didn’t want to leave.

In Conclusion, Are You Ready to Embark on Your Japanese Adventure?

This three-week journey through Japan isn't just a vacation, it's a masterclass in contrasts that will forever change how you see this fascinating country. From the moment you land in vibrant Fukuoka to your final bowl of ramen in Sapporo, you'll experience a Japan that's both exactly what you expected and nothing like you imagined.

Remember, while this itinerary is packed with experiences, it's also flexible enough to make it your own. Whether you're a first-time visitor or returning for more, these three weeks will give you stories to tell for years to come. Now, all that's left is to book those tickets and start practicing your chopstick skills!