Free Japan Itineraries & Guides
Welcome to The Navigatio, your travel guide to Japan 🇯🇵 We help you experience Japan and plan your own trip without the overwhelm. In our itineraries, we share what we’d recommend to our own friends and family, so you’ll be sure to get the best tips.
The Perfect 2 Day Nagasaki Itinerary For First Time Visitors
If you’re planning to spend two days in Nagasaki but are not quite sure where…
The Best Japan Itineraries
Free Japan guides and itineraries to help plan your perfect trip.
Hotel and area guides for Japan’s main destinations.
Use our randomiser to find destinations in Japan away from the Golden Route.
Explore Japan Beyond the Golden Route
Japan is so much more than the Golden Route. Even though most visitors stick to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, some of my favourite places in Japan rarely make it into a first-timer’s itinerary.
I made this randomiser to help you find places outside the usual spots and introduce you to destinations you might never have come across otherwise!
Each click sends you to a randomly selected article about a lesser-known place in Japan, complete with why it’s worth visiting, what to do there, and how to fit it into your trip. This way, you can find new places without needing to know they exist, start building a more unique itinerary and avoid the massive crowds.
Latest Japan Travel Guides
Where to Find All Pokémon Manhole Covers in Tokyo (& Map)
Of the 400+ different Pokémon manhole covers (Poké Lids or Pokéfuta) across 40 Prefectures, a few can be found in Tokyo Prefecture. To add to my collection, I took a…
Best Ryokans in Osaka (With and Without Private Onsen)
Looking for the best Ryokans in Osaka? This guide will take you through the top options for every budget, with some featuring an Onsen (either private or public). Osaka is…
The Perfect One Day Nagoya Itinerary (& Map)
I had passed Nagoya Station on the way to Kansai from Tokyo many times before I finally got off on my 4th trip to Japan. And this was only because…
50+ Actually Useful Japan Travel Tips For Visiting in 2026
In my 8 years of travelling to Japan, I’ve watched it get more and more popular. And with every trip, travelling there gets easier as I learn more and more…
Kobe Day Trip From Osaka: An Honest One-Day Itinerary
Most people will know (and visit) Kobe for the beef and the beef alone. It took me until my 3rd trip to Japan to finally visit it, and I can…
The Perfect One Day Osaka Itinerary (Route & Map)
Osaka should definitely be on your Japan itinerary. Located just a short train ride away from Kyoto, Japan’s second city, is famous for its welcoming character, delicious street food and…
Where to Stay in Hakone: Best Areas & Ryokans in 2026
Hakone is a popular onsen town not too far from Tokyo, making it a great overnight trip (one of my favourites!). You can enjoy hot springs, nature, art museums and…
Arita Itinerary: Visiting Japan’s Porcelain Towns
Hidden in one of the least visited prefectures, you can find the porcelain capitals of Japan, Arita and Imari. Over the last few centuries, these small, rural towns have influenced…
Unzen Onsen Itinerary: Japan’s First National Park
Located in Japan’s very first National Park, Unzen Onsen is one of Nagasaki’s best onsen towns. The town itself isn’t very big, but it has an almost mystical feel when…
Where to Find the 7 Sailor Moon Manhole Covers (With Map & Coordinates)
Colourfully designed manhole covers are everywhere in Japan. Some refer to the town or city they’re placed in, while others have references to popular characters, like Pokémon and Gundam. Sailor…
About The Navigatio
Hello and welcome to The Navigatio! My name is Nele (Nay-la), and I love exploring Japan. Since 2018, my husband Richard and I have been visiting Japan, now spending at least a few months in the country every year.
Having planned my fair share of Japan trips (for both myself and for friends/family), I know it can be overwhelming. That’s why I’ve created The Navigatio. On this website, you can find free guides to everything Japan.
From itineraries, hotel guides and general tips for visiting Japan, we’ve got your back. We do our very best to keep all guides up to date with the help of our editors and writers in Japan. That way, you get the best insider up-to-date information for your next trip.
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