First-timers: Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka Golden Route for 7 days. Been before? Try Hokkaido in winter or Okinawa in summer — totally different vibes.

Tokyo blooms ~5 days before Kyoto. Safest play: Tokyo in early April, then head south to Kyoto the second week for late bloomers at Arashiyama.

February for Sapporo Snow Festival + Abashiri drift ice. July for Furano lavender + Biei green fields. Skip May — still cold, low scenery payoff.

2 days is plenty (Dotonbori, USJ, Osaka Castle). Better yet, use Osaka as a base for Kyoto/Nara/Kobe daytrips — hotels ~30% cheaper than Kyoto.