Japan Trip 2026
Overview
| |
|---|
| Dates | March 30 - April 23, 2026 (24 nights) |
| Purpose | Cultural immersion (first visit to Japan) |
| Style | Relaxed pace, no work, daily soaking |
Route Map
View Full Route on Google Maps
Honolulu ✈ Tokyo Haneda
↓
┌─────────┐
│ TOKYO │ 7 nights (Mar 30 - Apr 6)
└────┬────┘
│ Shinkansen (~100 min)
┌────▼────┐
│ NAGOYA │ 1 night (Apr 6-7)
└────┬────┘
│ Hida Express (~140 min)
┌────▼────┐
│TAKAYAMA │ 6 nights (Apr 7-13)
│ (Gero?) │ possibly 1 night in Gero
└────┬────┘
│ via Nagoya (~4 hrs)
┌────▼────┐
│ KYOTO │ 7 nights (Apr 13-20)
└────┬────┘
│ Local train (~30 min)
┌────▼────┐
│ OSAKA │ 3 nights (Apr 20-23)
└────┬────┘
│ Nankai/JR (~50 min)
Kansai Airport ✈ Honolulu
Calendar
March 2026
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|
| 29 | 30 | 31 | | | | |
| ✈️ | 🗼 | 🗼 | | | | |
April 2026
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|
| | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | | 🗼 | 🗼 | 🗼 | 🗼 |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 🗼 | 🏯 | ⛰️ | ⛰️ | ⛰️ | ⛰️ | ⛰️ |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| ⛰️ | ⛩️ | ⛩️ | ⛩️ | ⛩️ | ⛩️ | ⛩️ |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | | |
| ⛩️ | 🌃 | 🌃 | 🌃 | ✈️ | | |
Legend: ✈️ Travel | 🗼 Tokyo | 🏯 Nagoya | ⛰️ Takayama | ⛩️ Kyoto | 🌃 Osaka
Confirmed Bookings
Flights ✓
| Leg | Flight | Route | Depart | Arrive |
|---|
| Outbound | HA 863 | HNL → HND | Sun Mar 29, 1:00 PM | Mon Mar 30, 5:10 PM |
| Return | AS 850 | KIX → HNL | Thu Apr 23, 8:45 PM | Thu Apr 23, 9:50 AM |
Both operated by Alaska as Hawaiian Airlines
Accommodations ✓
Trip Legs
| # | Leg | Dates | Nights | Status | Details |
|---|
| 1 | Tokyo | Mar 30 - Apr 6 | 7 | ✓ Booked | Museums, temples, sento |
| 2 | Nagoya | Apr 6 - Apr 7 | 1 | To Book | Stopover, castle, food |
| 3 | Takayama | Apr 7 - Apr 13 | 6 | To Book | Mountains, onsen, old town |
| 4 | Kyoto | Apr 13 - Apr 20 | 7 | To Book | Temples, gardens, Nara |
| 5 | Osaka | Apr 20 - Apr 23 | 3 | To Book | Food, jazz, departure |
Budget Summary
| Category | Estimate |
|---|
| Flights | ~$700-900 |
| Accommodations (24 nights) | ~$4,000-4,500 |
| Transportation (Japan) | ~$350-400 |
| Food & Drink | ~$950-1,100 |
| Museums & Attractions | ~$150-200 |
| Onsen & Sento | ~$100-150 |
| Miscellaneous | ~$200-300 |
| Total | ~$6,500-7,500 |
See individual leg pages for detailed breakdowns
Key Interests
- Bathing — Onsen and sento daily
- Museums — Science, art, history
- History — Edo period, WW2, Meiji restoration
- Temples & Shrines — Shinto and Buddhist sites
- Food — Ramen, sushi, wagyu, regional specialties
- Jazz — Live venues in Kyoto and Osaka
Quick Reference
Transportation
- IC Card — Get Suica or ICOCA on arrival (works everywhere)
- Shinkansen — Book via SmartEX app for discounts
- Local trains — Google Maps works perfectly for routing
Luggage Delivery (Takkyubin)
Use Yamato Transport (black cat logo) to send luggage ahead — travel light on trains!
| From | To | When to Send | Est. Cost |
|---|
| Tokyo | Nagoya | Apr 5 (day before) | ~¥1,800 |
| Nagoya | Takayama | Apr 6 morning | ~¥1,500 |
| Takayama | Kyoto | Apr 12 (day before) | ~¥2,000 |
| Kyoto | Osaka | Skip — 30 min train | — |
How to use:
- Ask hotel front desk (easiest) — they handle everything
- Or drop at convenience store (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) with English form
- Fill out destination hotel name/address
- Usually next-day delivery (~¥1,500-2,500 per bag)
- Keep a day bag with essentials
Tips:
Useful Phrases
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|
| Sumimasen | Excuse me / Sorry / Thank you |
| Arigatou gozaimasu | Thank you (polite) |
| Itadakimasu | Before eating |
| Onegaishimasu | Please (when requesting) |
Resources