Trip Bacon — The secret ingredient to the perfect getaway logo

First Time in Japan: Where Should YOU Go?

Yellow Productions
Yellow Productions
Casual
👁️ 87K views📅 3 years ago⏱️ 1:06:23

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.

What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsTips & AdviceCasual Creator
Veteran Cruiser

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

Focus on one big city region (Tokyo or Osaka/Kyoto) for a 10-day trip.
Consider flying into Haneda Airport for easier access to central Tokyo.
For an Osaka/Kyoto-focused trip, stay near Osaka Station and take day trips to Kyoto, Nara, or Kobe.

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Navigating Japan's transportation systemUnderstand the bullet train network and subway routes; focus on the Yamanote loop line in Tokyo.
Choosing where to stay in TokyoStay in well-connected areas like Ueno, Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, or Ikibukuro.
Planning day tripsTake day trips from Tokyo to Nikko, Kamakura, or Yokohama; from Osaka/Kyoto to Nara or Kobe.

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhere should you go on your first trip to Japan?
QWhat is the best itinerary for a first-time visitor to Japan?
QHow should you plan transportation within Japan?
QWhat are the best day trips from Tokyo?
QWhat are the best day trips from Osaka/Kyoto?

Port Highlights

Kyoto2½ Happy Bacon
Osaka2 Happy Bacon
Tokyo2½ Happy Bacon
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

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 methodology

Video content sourced from the creator's original upload. Watch on YouTube