Exploring Japan

We plan to visit the land of the rising sun in January 2026. It will be our second time in Japan - and this time we are travelling much further from the normal tourist spots. Our travel itinerary takes us through these four fantastic cities: Sapporo, Osaka, Okinawa, and finally Tokyo. We are flying between each of our stays.

TL:DR

Japan revisited. A walk through our proposed itinerary before we slot in day trips and experiences.

Sapporo (2 nights)

The birth place of Japanese beer, and home to one of Japan's oldest and most popular beer brands, Sapporo Beer. We'll definitely make a bee-line for the brewery tour. As it will be northern Japan in January - I expect to see snow on the ground - they get 6m a year - a winter wonderland, making it a perfect starting point for our adventure.

Osaka (3 nights)

Next is Osaka which is best known for its food. It's often called "The Nation's Kitchen" due to its delicious and diverse street food. I want to try the takoyaki - grilled octopus, and okonomiyaki, a savory pancake with various fillings. Osaka's street food scene is so good that over 300 food stalls line the famous Dotonbori district alone!

Okinawa (3 nights)

Then it's on to Okinawa - the birthplace of karate, and first introduced to me as a teenager as the home of Mr. Miyagi, and where he took Daniel LaRusso for a trip.

This should be quite different to Sapporo - no snow here - should be t-shirt and shorts weather..

Tokyo (5 nights)

Lastly we return to Tokyo famed for its unique blend of futuristic technology and traditional culture, offering a wide array of attractions and experiences. From memory it was a bit mad - the robot restaurant highlighted that. Tokyo boasts iconic landmarks like Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Skytree, and various temples and shrines, alongside bustling districts such as Akihabara and Ginza. 

January 2026 - Japan

Flights and hotels are all booked - just need to work on day trips and experiences now.

Happy travels!