Itinerary
Winter Arc: Tokyo Lights, Snow Monkeys & Beppu's Hells
11 days · 29 stops · ¥180,000–¥280,000
Sun, Dec 6 – Wed, Dec 16
From Tokyo's December illuminations to Nagano's snow-monkey valley and Beppu's volcanic steam baths, then back to Tokyo for a final winter-light farewell.
Days
Kakidai / CC BY-SA 3.0
Asakusa and Senso-ji Temple
Tokyo
Schedule
Day 01 of 11🛬
Arrive 15:00 · first activity from 17:30
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 · 4 nights
Sun, Dec 6 → Thu, Dec 10 · 1 guest
17:30
EXPLORE
浅草寺
Stay ~1h
Asakusa Station
Your first taste of old Tokyo — the lantern-lit Kaminarimon gate and the temple grounds are especially atmospheric in the late-afternoon winter light.
~20 min by train
18:50
EXPLORE
Event丸の内クリスマスイルミネーション
Stay ~1h
Walk the champagne-gold Naka-dori boulevard — 1.2km of trees wrapped in warm lights, with the Imperial Palace moat a block away. Runs through Feb 15.
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 · Days 5–6
Rural — a rental car reaches spots no train or bus serves.
Nagano & Matsumoto · Day 7
Dense rail network — trains and the metro beat driving here.
Beppu & Yufuin · 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 · Days 5–6
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 ~¥46,739 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 →⛴️
Ferry required
At least one destination is accessible only by ferry. Book in advance — island ferries sell out weeks ahead in peak season (Apr–May, Jul–Aug).
Browse ferry options on Klook →01 / 11
Journey map
Trip budget · お見積り
¥23,500–¥40,500 / person / day
¥260,000–¥445,000 total
💴 Carry ~¥7,000/day in cash — many hidden spots are cash-only.
Estimated from 28 travel legs, 10 hotel nights and 3 ticketed events. International flights not included. Typical prices, not quotes.
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Sleep in a centuries-old ryokan. Tatami floors, onsen, and a 7-course kaiseki.
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