First Time in Japan: Where Should YOU Go?

Key Moments
Editorial Summary
The creator provides a comprehensive guide for first-time travelers to Japan, focusing on regional itineraries and transportation logistics. The presentation begins with an overview of the Shinkansen bullet train network and explains why the creator advises against the heavily advertised Golden Route for short trips. Instead, the creator suggests focusing on either the Tokyo region or the Osaka and Kyoto region to maximize time spent exploring. For the Tokyo itinerary, the creator highlights the importance of the Yamanote loop line, recommends staying in well-connected areas like Shinjuku or Ueno, and suggests day trips to Nikko, Kamakura, and Yokohama. The second recommended itinerary covers the Kansai region, featuring Osaka as a base to visit Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. The creator also explores additional regions including Hokkaido for skiing, the Tohoku region for rural experiences, and Kyushu for its dense concentration of hot springs. Throughout the video, the creator addresses viewer questions regarding airport accessibility, the challenges of traveling with strollers in cities with many stairs, and the benefits of renting a car in more rural prefectures.
Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.
Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.
Creator's Key Takeaways
I really honestly recommend for your first trip in Japan not doing the golden route as advertised because you spend all your time in trains, planes, and automobiles.
What I do really recommend for your first trip in Japan is focusing on one of those big city regions.
I would recommend you look at flights into Haneda or HND.
I would recommend you stay in one of those areas that are in bold because those are the most well-connected.
Creator's Tips & Advice
🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:
Questions This Creator Answers
Port Highlights
Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.
About our Bacon Score methodologyVideo content sourced from the creator's original upload. Watch on YouTube