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Itinerary
11 days · 22 stops · ¥120,000–¥180,000
Experience Japan's iconic winter beauty, from Tokyo's vibrant streets to Nagano's snow monkeys, and the soothing hot springs of Beppu.
Days

Caretta Shiodome Illumination
Tokyo
Perry Li / CC BY-SA 2.0
Schedule
Day 01 of 11Land at HND · from JFK · 1 traveler
Renting a car? Check the license rules
Some licenses (FR/DE/CH/BE/TW) need a JAF translation, not an IDP — 5-min guide.
Stay
Tokyo · 4 nights
Dates flexible · 1 guest
EXPLORE
Eventカレッタ汐留イルミネーション
Stay ~1h
Start your journey with a walk through one of Tokyo's most enchanting winter illuminations. It's a magical introduction to Japan's winter charm.
Getting around, region by region
Your route mixes city and countryside — here's the best mode for each leg.
Tokyo central · Days 1–4
Dense rail network — trains and the metro beat driving here.
Snow Monkeys & Nozawa · Day 5
Rural — a rental car reaches spots no train or bus serves.
Nagano & Matsumoto → Fukuoka · Days 6–7
Dense rail network — trains and the metro beat driving here.
Beppu & Yufuin → Kunisaki & Nakatsu · Days 8–10
Rural — a rental car reaches spots no train or bus serves.
Tokyo central · Day 11
Dense rail network — trains and the metro beat driving here.
Rental 1: Snow Monkeys & Nozawa · Day 5
Rental 2: Beppu & Yufuin · Days 8–10
Separate rentals — you fly (or ferry) between these regions, so return each car before you leave it.
Browse rental cars on Klook →Getting around
JR Whole Japan Rail Pass
Close call — your rail estimates to ~¥46,071 vs ¥50,000 for the JR Pass (7-day). Rule of thumb: a 7-day JR Pass usually pays off only with 2+ long shinkansen round-trips (e.g. Tokyo→Kyoto→Hiroshima). Check the official fares for your routes.
Check official coverage →Rental car recommended
Several stops on this route are in rural areas with limited rail access. A rental car from the nearest city hub gives you the freedom to reach places no bus serves.
Browse rental cars on Klook →Journey map
Trip budget · お見積り
¥21,500–¥36,500 / person / day
¥235,000–¥400,000 total
💴 Carry ~¥6,000/day in cash — many hidden spots are cash-only.
Estimated from 21 travel legs, 10 hotel nights and 3 ticketed events. International flights not included. Typical prices, not quotes.
Before you go
Stay Connected
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Get Around
Shinkansen, regional rail passes, and city transit — sorted before you land.
Compare passes
Stay Hidden
Sleep in a centuries-old ryokan. Tatami floors, onsen, and a 7-course kaiseki.
Browse ryokans
Travel Light
Ship luggage ahead on the shinkansen route. Explore every day completely hands-free.
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Travel Safe
Insurance that actually covers adventurous travel — hiking, onsen, ski slopes.
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Your turn
This itinerary was built by AI from 1,100+ verified hidden places — real routes, ferries, and events matched to your dates. Yours takes about a minute.
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