The classic Japan trip, planned around you.
A personalised Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka itinerary for first-time Japan travellers who want the highlights without the stress, overplanning or impossible travel days.
A realistic Japan itinerary built around your pace, interests and worries.
The Golden Route is Japan’s classic first-time route. Most first-time travellers want to visit Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka — sometimes with extras like Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nara or Hakone.
The problem is that the route can become overwhelming fast once you start adding saved TikToks, Google Maps pins, hotel questions, train journeys, food lists, booking warnings and everyone else’s “must-do” advice.
We build your Golden Route around your pace, interests, priorities and worries — so your trip feels exciting, not exhausting.
Personalised around you
Your plan should match the trip you actually want.
Your interests
Anime, shopping, temples, food, coffee, gardens, museums, nightlife, theme parks, nature, photography, local neighbourhoods — we use your interests to shape the route.
Your pace
Some travellers want full days. Others want slower mornings, café stops and time to wander. We help create a plan that feels realistic for the way you like to travel.
Your worries
Trains, luggage, hotel areas, crowds, food, bookings, jet lag or feeling rushed — we take your concerns into account so the plan feels calmer before you arrive.
Your priorities
We help make space for the things that matter most, instead of squeezing in every famous place just because the internet said so.
This option is for you if
You want Japan to feel exciting, not overwhelming.
You don’t know where to start
You have saved places, screenshots and advice everywhere, but no clear plan for how it all fits together.
You don’t want the planning stress
We shape the Golden Route around your travel style so you can stop second-guessing every tiny detail.
You want realistic days
Your days are grouped by nearby areas, sensible travel time and a pace that actually works once you’re in Japan.
You want reassurance before you go
You want to feel confident that your route, pacing, hotel areas and plans make sense before you arrive.
What's included
Everything you need to plan with confidence.
Personalised route
A Golden Route itinerary built around your trip, interests and travel style.
Saved map locations
A Google Maps link with your saved locations, grouped around your itinerary.
Daily area plans
Each day grouped into nearby neighbourhoods that naturally work together.
Hotel areas
Suggested areas to stay based on convenience, transport and atmosphere.
Food & interest ideas
Food areas, coffee stops, hobby ideas and local options based on your preferences.
Useful booking links
Official websites and useful booking links where relevant for your route.
Travel notes
Transport, luggage, arrival and travel-day guidance between cities.
Online plan & PDF
A private online itinerary plus a downloadable PDF version to save or print.
How your personalised plan is delivered
Easy to use before you travel and while you’re in Japan.
Private online itinerary
Your completed Golden Route Plan will be delivered by email as a private, view-only online itinerary containing clickable maps, official websites and useful booking links.
Downloadable PDF
You’ll also receive a downloadable PDF version that you can save to your phone or print before travelling, giving you a fixed copy to keep offline.
Google Maps saved locations
Your plan includes a Google Maps link with your saved locations, so you can quickly see where key places are and how they fit into your route.
Designed for real travel days.
Your online itinerary is designed to be easy to use while travelling, while the PDF gives you a fixed copy to keep offline.
Example route flow
How your Golden Route could feel.
Tokyo
Start with Tokyo neighbourhoods grouped sensibly: for example Asakusa and Ueno, Shibuya and Harajuku, Shinjuku evening, shopping time, food areas and optional day trips depending on your pace.
Travel day
Move towards Kyoto or Osaka without pretending it’s a full sightseeing day. We keep travel days realistic so luggage, check-in times and train stations don’t ruin the mood.
Kyoto
Focus on areas that work together: Gion, Higashiyama, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, gardens, tea areas and slower evenings. Kyoto is beautiful, but it needs breathing room.
Osaka
Use Osaka for food, nightlife, shopping, Namba, Dotonbori and a more casual city feel. It can also work well for Nara, Kobe or Universal Studios Japan.
Hiroshima & Miyajima
Best added when your trip has enough time. Hiroshima and Miyajima are meaningful and scenic, but they feel much better when they are not squeezed into a rushed half-day.
How it works
A simple process from questionnaire to itinerary.
Tell us about your trip
Fill out our questionnaire so we can understand your dates, interests, travel style, priorities and worries.
We personally review it
We'll carefully review your questionnaire and email you within 48 hours with the next steps.
We confirm delivery
If we're a good fit, we'll confirm your estimated delivery date and send you a secure payment link.
We create your plan
After payment and any extra details we need, we'll create and email your online itinerary and PDF.
Just so we’re clear
Our Personalised Golden Route Plan focuses on Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, with optional Hiroshima, Miyajima or longer-trip additions. We personalise your itinerary using your questionnaire, but we don’t book flights, hotels, trains, restaurants or activities for you.
Have questions about your itinerary?
We include an optional free 30-minute consultation call after you receive your itinerary. We’ll talk through your plan, answer questions and help you feel confident before finalising your bookings.
Japan Buddy Support
Want a little extra reassurance while you’re actually in Japan? Add Japan Buddy Support and message us during your selected support days if you get stuck, confused, or need quick help with something practical.
Ready to go?
Start with a realistic Golden Route itinerary shaped around you.
Fill out our questionnaire and we’ll help turn your Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka trip into a clear plan that actually works — with realistic days, sensible routes, saved map locations, useful links and fewer planning spirals.
Start my itinerary questionnaire