Japan’s cities
When people talk about cities in Japan, they refer first of all to which island they are on and, in many cases, which prefecture, or ‘state’, they are in. Japan has four main islands, all easily accessible by rail or road. Honshu is the largest, with the capital Tokyo as its heart. The northernmost is Hokkaido, famous for its mountains and winter sports, with the main city of Sapporo hosting a famous Winter Festival every year. Shikoku is the smallest island with Matsuyama its biggest city, and Kyushu is the southernmost, subtropical hotspot. Here, Fukuoka has the highest population, but Nagasaki is the best known city for tourists.
Our Japan Vacations
Japan small group vacation, Japan unmasked
Whistlestop Japan highlights with an expert tour leader
Japan golden route vacation
9 night classic Japan trip: Tokyo, Fuji, Kyoto
Japan self guided trekking vacation, Nakasendo Trail
Self-guided walking along Japan’s ancient Nakasendo trail
Nikko and Yumoto Onsen walking tour, Japan
Explore Nikko and hike in the beautiful Oku Nikko plains.
Japan activity vacation, bike, hike and kayak
Multi activity vacation in Japan
Hidden Japan vacation
Get beneath the surface into the heart of Japan
Kumano Kodo trail self guided trekking vacation, Japan
Self guided trekking on the Kumano Kodo Trail
Nakasendo Trail walking tour, Japan
Village-to-village walking on the historic Nakasendo trail
Wheelchair accessible vacation to Japan
Wheelchair-friendly version of Japan's highlights
Japan rural cultural tour
- The Culture of Rural Japan, including Osaka and Kyoto
Japan honeymoon tour on a shoestring
Simple hotels, rustic ryokan, unforgettable honeymoon.
Nakasendo self guided walking tour
The Nakasendo Trail and Kamikochi -or extend to Nikko
Japan tailor made tour on a shoestring
Japan's classic sights on a shoestring!
Shikoku Pilgrimage self guided walking tour, Japan
Shikoku 88 Pilgimage route self-guided walking
Honshu hiking vacation in Japan
A challenging walking and hiking vacation in Japan.
Japan small group tour, in the shadow of mountains
Western Honshu's coasts - Japan Sea and Inland Sea
Japan classic tour by rail
A visually striking railway journey through Japan
Japan family vacation
Throw yourself into the whirl of Japan
Japan gastronomic vacation
A foodies' dream: a culinary journey across Japan.
Hokkaido vacation in Japan
Explore the mountains and tranquil lakes of Northern Japan.
Luxury Japan vacation, tailor made
Beautiful country that offers beauty, tradition and history
Japan discovery tour, 14 days
Discover authentic Japan in one incredible itinerary
Kumano Kodo trekking vacation, Japan
Village to village walking in the sacred Kii Peninsula
Japan cultural small group vacation
A journey along the ancient Tokaido highway
Japan vacation, ancient and modern
Explore the attractions of this vibrant nation
Japan culture tour, Shoguns & Samurai
Ultra-modern Tokyo to Imperial Kyoto
Japan ancient capitals self guided walking tour
Ancient Capitals, historic trails and cultural treasures.
Japan trekking vacation, North from Tokyo
A walking journey, rich in spirituality and tradition
Japan small group vacation by bullet train
Japan's must-see cities and beautiful, rural countryside
Southern Japan small group vacation
Off the beaten track in Kyoto, Nara & Kyushu
All the main cities in Japan are linked by the country’s super efficient bullet train, or shinkansen. Most vacations in Japan use these because not only would it be rude not to, it would be downright silly. They are the icing on the cake of an already fine metropolitan menu.
Here are seven of our favourite Japanese cities:
Tokyo




Kyoto
Hiroshima


Our top Japan Vacation
Japan small group vacation, Japan unmasked
Whistlestop Japan highlights with an expert tour leader
2021: 26 Apr, 10 May, 24 May, 7 Jun, 28 Jun, 23 Aug, 6 Sep, 27 Sep, 11 Oct, 8 Nov, 22 Nov
2022: 28 Feb, 25 Apr, 23 May, 27 Jun
Nara
Matsuyama
Small by Japanese standards with a mere half million residents, this is the biggest city on the island of Shikoku, and it’s a stunner. Shikoku is known for its pilgrimage walking trail which takes you around 88 temples. Eight of these are in the city, which also boasts the magnificent Matsuyama Castle which was built in 1603 on Mount Katsuyama (the city’s name means ‘pine mountain’). Another medieval marvel of Matsuyama is its public baths, called Dogo Onsen Honkan, a Meiji Period wooden public bathhouse dating from 1894. There is no better way of letting this exquisite, historical island soak in.Nagano




Nagasaki
These influences remain and the city has an unusually high Christian community, so churches are a-plenty, such as the Oura Cathedral, built by French Catholic missionaries in 1864. Glover Gardens is an interesting place to wander around, basically a museum of mansions and their gardens, named after Thomas Glover, a Scottish entrepreneur who settled here during the years when the city was opened up to foreigners. The best way to take in Nagasaki’s fascinating history, however, is by going to the top of Mount Inasa which has a panoramic viewpoint.