A rail journey along Japan's classic route from Tokyo past Mount Fuji to Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, on shinkansen trains that run at up to 300 km/h and leave to the minute. Here's what a bullet train trip is like, when to go and how long to stay.
UK passport holders don't need a visa for short stays. A Japan Rail Pass costs much more than it used to, so compare it with single tickets for your route. Check entry rules on GOV.UK before you book.
Temperatures are the average daytime high in °C.
Spring and autumn are the best times. Cherry blossom season, from late March to early April, is beautiful but very busy, and autumn colour in Kyoto peaks in late November. Winter is cold but bright, with the clearest views of Mount Fuji from the train. June and early July bring the rainy season, while late summer is hot and humid with a chance of typhoons. Avoid Golden Week in early May and the mid-August Obon holiday, when trains are packed.
Going west from Tokyo, sit on the right-hand side (seat E) for the best view of Fuji, around 40 minutes after leaving.
Temples, shrines and gardens, from the red gates of Fushimi Inari to the bamboo grove at Arashiyama.
Tame deer and the giant bronze Buddha at Tōdai-ji, an easy day out from Kyoto or Osaka.
Takoyaki, okonomiyaki and neon lights in the Dōtonbori district.
The Peace Memorial Museum, then a ferry to Miyajima island for its floating torii gate.
Station bento boxes to eat on the train, a Japanese tradition. Tokyo Station sells hundreds.
Yes. The trains are fast, spotless and on time, and children love them. Big suitcases need a seat booking with luggage space, so many families send bags ahead with a luggage delivery service.
Tokyo to Kyoto takes just over two hours on the fastest Nozomi trains, and Kyoto to Hiroshima under two more. Most people spend two weeks, with a few nights in each city.
Fly into Tokyo Haneda, or Narita, which is further out. Haneda is about 30 minutes from central Tokyo by train, and shinkansen leave from Tokyo and Shinagawa stations. Fly home from Osaka's Kansai Airport to avoid going back.
Not always. Since prices rose in 2023, it only pays off if you make several long trips in a week. Single tickets are easy to buy at stations and online, and seat reservations are worth it in busy seasons.
Put Japan by bullet train on standby with everyone's other ideas. You each spread your points in secret, get one veto, and the draw picks where you go.