Explore Japan by rail: from city streets to mountain views

17 April 2026

Japan is one of the few places where the journey can feel just as rewarding as the destination. Its rail network is fast, reliable, and easy to navigate, linking everything from neon-lit city streets to historic districts and mountain landscapes. Travelling by train gives you a clear sense of how the country changes from place to place, while keeping the experience smooth and stress-free. This featured route brings together a mix of well-known highlights and lesser-visited spots, showing just how much variety you can cover in a single trip.

Explore Japan by rail: from city streets to mountain views

Osaka and Nagoya for street food and high-speed travel

Your journey begins in Osaka, a city known for its easy-going personality and strong food scene. In Shinsekai, beneath the Tsutenkaku Tower, small street stalls serve up fresh Takoyaki (a ball-shaped batter filled with diced octopus), giving you a simple but memorable introduction to the local flavours. There’s also time to dip into the world of manga through the legacy of Osamu Tezuka, before stepping onto the Shinkansen. The shift from neighbourhood streets to high-speed travel is part of what makes Japan so interesting. By the time you reach Nagoya, the focus has moved to innovation, including a look at the technology behind Japan’s well-known smart toilets.

Kyoto for tradition and everyday life

When you arrive in Kyoto, you can expect a slower, more reflective pace, shaped by its long history as Japan’s former capital. At Rozanji Temple, the story of The Tale of Genji gives insight into life over a thousand years ago, while a visit to a wagasa workshop shows how traditional paper umbrellas are still carefully made by hand. At Matsunoo Taisha Shrine, everyday rituals come into focus, adding context to practices you’ll see across the country. The day ends with a more personal experience, meeting an apprentice geisha and hearing how this role continues to adapt in modern Kyoto.

Shima Peninsula and Nara for coastlines and heritage

From Kyoto, the journey takes a scenic turn aboard the Shimakaze train towards the Shima Peninsula. Wide windows frame the views across Ago Bay, where clusters of small islands sit just off the coast. Close by, Ise Jingu stands as one of Japan’s most important Shinto sites, known for its long-standing traditions. In Nara, the atmosphere changes again, with open parkland and freely roaming sika deer creating a calm setting. Todaiji Temple is a clear highlight, home to a vast bronze Buddha, while a visit to a traditional sumi workshop offers a closer look at the materials behind Japanese calligraphy.

Kanazawa and Kurobe for craft and scenery

This region of Japan blends history with a strong sense of craftsmanship. At Kanazawa Castle, the legacy of the Maeda family helps explain the city’s long-standing focus on the arts. There’s also a chance to see the precision behind the scenes of the Shinkansen, where cleaning teams prepare trains in remarkably short timeframes. From here, the landscape becomes more dramatic as you travel to Kurobe, where a narrow railway line follows the contours of a steep gorge, offering uninterrupted views of forests, bridges and river valleys.

Nagano and the Japanese Alps for mountain experiences

The final stretch heads into the Japanese Alps, with Nagano as the gateway. The Ryuoo Ropeway lifts you above the landscape, where the ‘Sea Of Clouds’ often forms below the viewing platform. In Obuse, the focus turns to art, with a closer look at how Hokusai created The Great Wave Off Kanagawa. Nearby, Daio Wasabi Farm shows how one of Japan’s key ingredients is grown using clear mountain water. The journey finishes in Narai Juku, a historic post town where rows of wooden buildings give a strong sense of Japan’s past.

To experience this amazing Japan itinerary by rail, contact your Travel Counsellor today.

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