Itinerary
Winter's Edge: Tokyo, Beppu & Nagano's Snow Monkeys
10 days · 23 stops · ¥180,000–¥280,000
Sun, Dec 6 – Tue, Dec 15
A December journey from Tokyo's illuminations to Beppu's steaming hells and Nagano's snow monkeys, connected by Shinkansen and local trains.
Days
Syced / CC0 1.0
Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden
Tokyo
Schedule
Day 01 of 10🛬
Arrive 14:00 · first activity from 16:30
2.5h customs + airport transit buffer
Land at HND · Sun, Dec 6 · 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 · 3 nights
Sun, Dec 6 → Wed, Dec 9 · 1 guest
16:30
EXPLORE
旧芝離宮恩賜庭園
Stay ~45 min
Hamamatsucho Station (JR Yamanote/Keihin-Tohoku Line), Exit 1
A quiet Edo-period garden steps from Hamamatsucho — perfect jet-lag cure with a pond and stone bridges.
~11 min by taxi (or metro)
17:26
EXPLORE
Event丸の内クリスマスイルミネーション
Stay ~1h
Champagne-gold lights line Naka-dori for 1.2km — Tokyo's most elegant winter stroll, free and magical.
Getting around, region by region
Your route mixes city and countryside — here's the best mode for each leg.
Tokyo central · Days 1–3
Dense rail network — trains and the metro beat driving here.
Beppu & Yufuin → Snow Monkeys & Nozawa · Days 4–8
Rural — a rental car reaches spots no train or bus serves.
Nagano & Matsumoto → Tokyo central · Days 9–10
Dense rail network — trains and the metro beat driving here.
Getting around
🚄
JR Whole Japan Rail Pass
Close call — your rail estimates to ~¥46,633 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 →01 / 10
Journey map
Trip budget · お見積り
¥23,000–¥40,500 / person / day
¥230,000–¥405,000 total
💴 Carry ~¥6,000/day in cash — many hidden spots are cash-only.
Estimated from 22 travel legs, 9 hotel nights and 3 ticketed events. International flights not included. Typical prices, not quotes.
Before you go
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Get Around
Shinkansen, regional rail passes, and city transit — sorted before you land.
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Stay Hidden
Sleep in a centuries-old ryokan. Tatami floors, onsen, and a 7-course kaiseki.
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Travel Light
Ship luggage ahead on the shinkansen route. Explore every day completely hands-free.
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