Asia
Japan
Ancient tradition and modern edge in one of Asia's most compelling countries.
I plan trips to experience Japan up close, from the ancestral to the ultra-modern, letting each place unfold at its own pace.
The journey moves between two speeds that never collide: the stillness of a temple on Mount Koya at dawn and the ceaseless neon of Shibuya at midnight. There are nights in a mountain ryokan, with an open-air hot-spring bath and a dinner that arrives in a dozen courses without anyone needing to ask for anything. There are afternoons with no agenda beyond walking, getting lost in a market, or crossing a bamboo grove before the next group arrives. And there's a deliberate gap, a day with no plans, so the body can catch up with the new time zone before the important part begins. It suits anyone who wants to see Japan up close, not in passing: less a list of monuments, more time for each place to unfold on its own.
Datos del viaje
Experiences
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A Night in a Mountain Monastery
Sleep in a mountain temple, dine with monks, and cross a lantern-lit cemetery after dark.
View experience: A Night in a Mountain Monastery
Spend the night at a working temple on Mount Koya, one of the most sacred centers of Japanese Buddhism, in a traditional tatami room with a futon. Dinner is shojin ryori, the vegetarian cuisine the monks themselves have prepared for centuries, served without hurry. At dusk, a monk leads the walk through the Okunoin cemetery, where thousands of stone lanterns and lit lamps line a path through centuries-old cedars for more than two kilometers. The next morning, anyone who wishes can join the monks' morning meditation before the temple opens its doors to other visitors.
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From Market to Plate, by Hand
A morning fish market and a workshop where you shape your own sushi.
View experience: From Market to Plate, by Hand
The day starts early at a fish market, following a local professional who picks out the best catch of the day and explains what sets a top-quality tuna apart from a mediocre one. From there, a private lesson with an itamae, a sushi chef, who teaches step by step how to cut the fish, season the rice and shape each piece by hand. The session ends at the table, eating what you've just made, without the pressure of a crowded class or a restaurant's pace.
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Tea Ceremony in a Kimono
A kimono-clad tea ceremony guided by a tea master, in a private house.
View experience: Tea Ceremony in a Kimono
Dressed in a traditional kimono chosen for the occasion, a tea ceremony master guides every gesture — how to hold the bowl, the rhythm of each movement, the silence between one step and the next — in a private teahouse away from any tourist circuit. There's no audience and no outside cameras: it's an unhurried introduction to a ritual that can take years to learn in Japan, explained calmly, with plenty of time to understand why every object and every pause has a reason.
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Onsen and Mountains in Hakone
An open-air onsen with views of Mount Fuji and a cruise on a lake with a floating torii.
View experience: Onsen and Mountains in Hakone
An open-air hot-spring bath with Mount Fuji peeking through the trees when the sky allows it, at one of the ryokan with the best views in the volcanic Hakone region. The day includes a funicular ride across steaming, sulfurous valleys and ends with a cruise on Lake Ashi, where a red torii gate rises straight out of the water as if it were floating. It's a day built to slow down: volcanic scenery, hot water, and nothing to rush.
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The Way of the Samurai
From zen meditation to handling a real katana, beyond the samurai cliché.
View experience: The Way of the Samurai
An afternoon split into two very different halves: first, a guided zen meditation session, to understand the mental discipline that stood behind the samurai long before the sword. Then, a hands-on lesson in handling a real katana, with an instructor who corrects your stance and your cut, far from any movie choreography. It's not a demonstration to watch, but a real introduction to bushido — the warrior's code — through the body, not just the explanation.
Itinerary ideas
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10 days
Essential Japan
Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka
View itinerary idea: Essential Japan
Tokyo to settle in and get lost in its neighborhoods, a break at the Hakone onsen facing Mount Fuji, and an unhurried stretch of temples between Kyoto and Nara, closing with Osaka's food scene before departure.
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16 days
Classic and Spiritual Japan
Osaka, Mount Koya, Kyoto, Nara, Kanazawa, Takayama, Magome-Tsumago, Hakone, Tokyo
View itinerary idea: Classic and Spiritual Japan
An itinerary with more spiritual weight than the others: Osaka as the point of entry, a night at the Mount Koya monastery, ceremonies and temples in Kyoto and Nara, and the rural stretch of Kanazawa, Shirakawago and Takayama. A day's trek between the post towns of Magome and Tsumago, on the old Nakasendo route, adds a breather on foot through the mountains before closing with the onsen of Hakone and Tokyo.
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20 days
Japan in Depth
Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Mount Koya, Himeji, Kobe, Osaka, Akan, Shiretoko
View itinerary idea: Japan in Depth
The longest itinerary, for anyone who wants to see Japan without cutting anything: Tokyo in full, a break in Hakone, the cultural stretch of Kyoto, Nara and Mount Koya, the architecture of Himeji and Kobe, and Osaka before flying north. It closes in Hokkaido, among the volcanic lakes of Akan National Park and the wild nature of the Shiretoko Peninsula, with a chance to spot wildlife depending on the season.
Traveller testimonials
Good trip, very solid overall. Recommendable as a personal travel advisor.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to travel to Japan?
From March to May and from September to November. Spring brings the cherry blossom and autumn the colours of the foliage, with pleasant temperatures for walking. These are also the most requested dates, so it is wise to book early and leave a day free of plans to settle into the time difference.
How long should a trip to Japan last and how long does it take to get there?
Between 10 and 15 days lets you see Tokyo, Kyoto and a quieter area without it feeling like a race. The flight from Spain takes 13 to 14 hours with a connection. With ten days I prefer three bases; with fifteen, four fit with an empty day so the trip can breathe.
Do I need a visa to travel to Japan with a Spanish passport?
Not for stays of up to 90 days. You need a valid passport covering the whole stay and a return ticket; the national ID card is not valid, and Japan is very strict about damaged passports. As of November 2026 that is what Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs states; check its official page before booking.
What should I know about healthcare and insurance before going to Japan?
Japan is very safe and its healthcare is good, but Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns that few doctors speak English and that treatment can be very costly. It therefore recommends insurance with the widest possible cover that doesn't require you to advance expenses. Have your policy checked before you leave.